Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
CHAPTER IL
MY DOIRLE.


Perhaps Profess.;r Gorgensen was
right in declaring himself second Sol
omon, whose life would have repeated
precisely that of the Biblical one but
for his nineteenth century environments.
One amazing fact, however, was un-
questionable. He was correct as TO my
self. My strength was as prodigious, as
marvellous, as irresistible as that Of the
man who, many centuries ago, slew
1000 with the jawbone Of an ass and
pulled down the gates Of GAIA after
suffering woeful indignities at the hands
Of the Philistines and dying amid the
ruins, the blind victim Of the faithless
Delilah.
My mother was the only one who
suspected the truth, for Twas handicap
ped by the warning Of the professor,
that must not call the gift into use ex-
cept in the event Of necessity.
So when I wrestled with my play
mates I sometimes suffered them to
throw me, when by putting forth tithe
of my tremendous power I could have
hurled them lifeless to the earth. In the
contests Of leaping seemed to strive to
the utmost, but never exceeded the
champions by more than a few inches.
I maintained my supremacy, but by a
hair breadth.
A burly brute came to Fayville to
take charge Of the village school He
was more than feet in height, with
the frame and strength Of giant. With
little book knowledge, he gave his main
attention to administering the birch.
He conquered the obstreperous bullies,
and then showed regret that no more
insubordination cropped up that he
might have the pleasure Of subduing it.
Harmon Westcott will remain after
school" he thundered, rs I gathered up
my books and started to follow the rest
of the boys from the room. I laid the
books on the desk behind me and sat
down, wondering what the trouble was,
for he had never as yet struck me with
his merciless rod.
When we were alone, he spoke, fin
gering meanwhile the gad, as if unable
to restrain his eagerness to bring it
down about my shoulders.
$50 you have been fighting, young
man?''
mo, sir, have not been fighting"
"Silence. sirl No lying to me! Didn't
you strike Jack Gibbs?"
"Jack Gibbs raised his hand to strike
little Tim Metcalf, who accidentally
fell over Jacks feet. Tim is a cripple
and could not help himself. caught
Jacks arm and told him that if he
struck Tim would lick him. He didn' t
strike him, so there was no fighting"
"But you would have hit Jack Gibbs
if he had harmed Tim Metcalf.
Certainly; I would hit any coward
who did that"
"Then you've got the disposition to
fight; that's just as bad as if you did
fight. Off with your coatp'
I hesitated. I could do as we'll with
my coat on as off, and I would not
please this ruffian by obeying him.
"Why don't you do as told?" he de-
manded, livid with rage.
II shan't take off my coat, and if you
lay your hand Oh me you'll regret it as
long as you live"
He roared like bull, and, raising
the big stick over his head, aimed ter
rifle blow at me. Before it could de-
scend had him by the throat, bent
him backward over the bench behind
and twisted him to the floor as easily as
if he had been a eve lamb. Not only
that, frightened my grip until he gasped
for breath. I was using only one hand
and did not exert tenth part of the
strength at my command.
The miserable wretch must have
thought he was stricken with paralysis
With my other hand 1 twisted the rod
from his grasp and then swished it
through the air with force that surely
raised a ridge through his garments
with every stroke. When he had received
a dozen or so, lifted him clear of the
floor and flung him across the room. He
would have gone farther had he not
crashed into the row of desks.
"Shall I take off my coat?" I asked
mockingly.
He stared i'll dazed way and mutter-
ed an oath. He could not understand it.
GOOD day." "and I walked out of the
room and went home.