Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-24
1901, by Thomas P. Montfort.
CHAPTER x.
NEIGHBORLY GOSSIP.

Sim Banks mind"
Lord, Pap Sampson, you've been
a-sayin them words till we uns have all
done learnt 'em by heart, an you cal
keep on a-sayin 'em till you've wore
'em plumb out. If you want to. but
tell you right now you're barkin up the
wrong tree. I've said before. an say
ag'in. that all on earth's the matter
with Sim Banks is that he's fixin
have a spell Of fever"
"You have said that, Jason Roberts
an mebby you have said somethin you
know. an mebby you. hain't. My no
tion is you hain't. But If you'll allow
me l jest want to ask you one ques-
tion."
"You Jest 60 ahead. Pap Sampson, an
ask all the questions you please. I'll
answer all | kin Of 'em. an when you
ask one can't scrape up no answer for
I'll holler."
"Very WELL Now. then. Jason Rob-
erts. can you tell me why feller fixin
to have q spell Of fever would 60 mop
In round for two long weeks, not a-feel-
in sick nor nothin, but jest actin for all
the world like he'd lost ever cent be
owned IN ever friend he had to bis
back? Can you jest tell me that?"
Couldn't a feller fxin to have the
fever act that a-way%
"Mebby he could, Jason, but he don't.
You hain't answered my question.
though"
my notion Is. Pap, that thar amt no
need Of him answerin it, for l reckon
you an Jason's both got the wrong pig
by the tail"
IF you're so smart, Jim Thorn. why
don't you reich into the pen an git a
hold of the tail Of the right pig"
81 have"
"Then you jest show that pig to US an
let us see It's color, will you?
81 will. All on earth's the matter
with Sim Banks Is jest this. He's in
love with the WiddIr Mann, an he's
moonin round cause he can't have her"
That's the color Of the pig you got
by the tail, is it?'
"It are"
"Then, Jim Thorn, all got to say is
that you didn't even git your pig outen
the right pen. The one you gots a
plumb stray"
That's jest your notion, Pap Samp-
son, but you jest wait an you'll see."
Pap thumped his cane down almost
viciously.
"Jim Thorn" he said, you'll never
make me believe no sich thing as that
Of Sim Banks, not If you preach 1t till
your heads as bald as pumpkin. I've
knowed Sim since he want no bigger
than a cat, an can say, All say it open
an aboveboard, that l amt never yet
knowed him to do ary single thing
that he had any call to be ashamed off,
my land. Pap, do you think bein in
love with Mis'us Mann is anything to
be ashamed of"
ut would be for man that's al
ready got a woman shorely, al don't
know, Jim Thorn, but what Id be
dSuuincu VI IL even IL uiui nave Ho
woman"
There was a general laugh at this,
which caused Pap to straighten up and
look Important.
That's putty hard knock on the
widder," Hicks observed presently, "buI
If Pap was a widower bet he wouldn't
talk no sich way"
Nary time he wouldn't" Jason
agreed. Lord! If Pap was single, he'd
be cuttin round after the women
wuss'n hungry cat after cream"
That's all right. JASON" Pap said.
IAN reckon you amt talkin so
moughty much out Of your head as
some folks mought think. Lord a-mas.
sy, it's a pow'ful good thing for these
young chaps round here that | hain't
single. Lord. I'd soon have all their
noses out of joint even If am risin on
to TO-"
"You low you could cut 'em all out,
Pap?" Hicks asked.
Jest as easy as fallin down a we'll
Why, shucks. Jake. don't you know I'D
have the pick and ch'ice among the
women"
"Mebby you wouldn't. Pap" some
one said. IF that Mr.. Melvin were ia
turn loose an take to sparkin round"
Reckon Sim Banks wife is the only
woman Melvin kecrs bout sparkin.
young Sam Morgan observed.
Pap Sampson brought his cane down
emphatically.
"Sam Morgan" he said. 'do you
mind how Sim Banks done Jim Thorn
thar. right here on this platform. the
other night?"
81 guess do" Sam replied.
"Then let me tell you that If you ain't
ach!n to be done the same way you'd
better tighten the reins OH your bosses
q little an be sorter keerful whar you
drive"
IL hain't afeard of Sim Banks"
You better be If you git to lettiI
your tongue run on LoueeSy."
81 hain't said nary word about
Loueesy, have l."
"Waal. mebby not exactly"
"But | will say this. Pap Sampson.
wouldn't want no wife Of mine meetil
that feller out in the woods an standil
a-talkin to him, with him a-holt of hel
hands"
"You mean to say, Sam Morgan. that
Loueesy Banks done that?"
81 amt callin no names. Pap Samp
son, but l reckon most anybody ort t.
see through a board If it's got augel
hole In It"