Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-03
AN HUMBLE HERO.
Rv THOMAS p. MONTFORT-

Certainly not. What do you mean
by asking such things"
Are you pinin for me to take you by
the heels an thrash the bushes OF Of @
couple Of acres Of ground with you"
mo. But why"-
Then what you mean by comm
a-foolin around me this Away? Thins
I'm a derned fool an don't know moth
in? Reckon | don't know It's nice
day? Reckon | don't know it's rough
country? Reckon It's anybody's busi
ness whether I'm deaf or not"
Melvin was so surprised at the old
mans words and manner that 1t was
full minute before be recovered sufti'
ciently to make a reply. At last, how
ever. he said:
81 am sorry II have offended you
and I beg your pardon. | meant nc
harm, ] assure you. IL have lost the
road"
"waal. s'pose you have. ( ain't
found It"
Il thought you might be able and
willing to direct me so that can find
it."
"Did l cause you to lose It"
Certainly not"
"Am | anywise responsible for your
losIn itY'
mo"
Then It hain't none Of my duty to
help you to find 1t. reckon"
Don't you ever do anything to ac-
commodate people"
81 tend to my own business"
"And you won't even so much as d.
rect me to the roadT"
The old man was silent for q mo-
ment Then. Strengthening himself up.
be said:
81 see jest how it are. stranger. You
are gwine to keep on a-foolin around
here an chawin on the rag till my
danderI begin to rise. an then I'll jest
naturally light In on you an give you
the allfredest wust lickin ever any
body got In all this world"
Melvin drew back from the old man
and eyed him curlously. he didn't
know what to make Of such strange
conduct, and he thought the man must
be crazy. Had his situation been less
desperate he would have passed on
without waiting to exchange another
word, but under the circumstances he
felt that he must gain some informa-
tion from the old man If possible. even
at the risk Of getting fight on his
hands. So he made one more effort.
Say" he began, darkness Is com.
ing on. and l can't think Of spending
the night here in this wood"
Cant you?" the other said. "Waal,
in that case why don't you git out Of
it, then"
81 would if you'd direct me-"
The native remained silent Melvin
waited q moment, then added:
II say, won't you open your heart
just a little and tell me where can
find house?"
"Find it anywhere you blame please
for all of me. Fust l knowed any
house had been lost"
"You know what l mean"
"Reckon you mean what you say"
81 mean can't you direct me to a
house where can spend the night?'
"N1ebby could"
"Well, why don't you?"
Don't have to-"
"No, but you certainly ought to be
accommodating enough to do that
much for stranger"
"Mebby ought, but the fact is |
amt keerin durn whar you spend the
night. The whole worlds afore you.
an you can jest stop whar you darn
please. Now you have heard me, an
the best thing you can do is to git. You
have picked an nagged at me long
enough. an amt a-gwine to stand
much more of your foolin."
"And you won't direct me to a.
at amt my business to direct you to
nothin. You amt got Inc hired for no
sich purpose"
But YOU
"You git"
The old man rose to his feet and
started forward, his eyes cleaning
with anger. Melvin scented serious
trouble and put spurs to his horse and
moved on.
81 almost wish now," he said to HIM
self, that | had taken the chances
and stopped at Beckett's Mill. 1t
would be no worse to run little risk
there than it is to sleep out In these
woods and go without food. o God. II
l could just recall that one act which
shadows all my life Id give the world!