Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-13
Copyright, 1901, by Thomas P. Montfort.
CHAPTER VII.
TALK IN THE TWILIGHT.


A TALK IN THE TWILIGHT.
After supper Melvin and old man
Turner sat out in the yard and talked
that Is, Turner asked questions. and
Melvin answered them. Melvin was
in better humor since be was slightly
rested and his hunger had been ap'
peased, and to the hundred questions
Turner asked be returned ready and
good uatured answers, although he did
not always return true ones.
Finally Melvin found an opportunity
to lead the conversation, and then he
told about the old man back IN the
woods and pf his queer experience with
him. For the first time that evening
Turner burst into a roar of hearty
laughter.
Lord a-massy." he cried, don't you
know who that old boss was?
Certainly not" Melvin replied. How
should | know when am q total stran'
ger here|'
sTo be shore. l forgot bout that.
Still, 1t seems like everybody most ort
to know old Hi jenkins. Lord, he's
been alvin forever, pears lack, as the
feller says"
"Is he crazy"
Cray! Who-old Hi?"
Eyes"
"Old Hi crazy! Why, snakes an cat
erpillars, stranger, what you mean by
sskin sich question as that"
81 thought from the way he acted
that he certainly must be crazy.
"Great possums an persimmons! Talk
bout old Hi bein crazy! You don't
know nothin bout that old hoss or you
wouldn't never ask no sich fool thing
as that. Why, old HIS the smartest
man in all these parts. He sot on to
jury oncet down at the county seat"
"That so?"
"You bet it are! Yes, sir-ee!
"Wonder why he behaved so strange
ly with me. then?"
"Why, that's plain enough when you
come to figger it out. You jest happen
ed to run acrost him on one OF his on
days."
"Of days"
eyes, one Of his of days"
"What do you mean by that"
"Don't you know"
81 certainly do not"
"Waal, by shucks, you shorely don't
know nothin bout the ways an doin's.
of folks yere'bouts! What mean by
HIS off day is that this is his day for
chihin."
"Ah. he has the chills. does he?"
ITO be shore. Why shouldn't he
have 'em?"
81 don't know, I'm sure
Course, he has the chills, an he
shakes ever other day. He was settin
out thar on that log a-waitin for his
chill to come on when you seed him.
"And that was why he behaved the
way be did:'
"Of course Thar hain't many peo-
ple, can tell you. wants to be both
cred with questions when a chill is
comm on. an if q feller was to shoot
YOU under them kind Of provocations
YOU wouldn't never git no court to
hang him."
THE court would consider the shoot
ing iustifable. you Think
"You bet it would. Lord a-massy,
wouldn't nigh kill nobody for nothin
else on earth. guess. but jest most
know I'd shoot a feller if he come
a-pickin an a-naggin at me with fool
questions when my ager was aworkin
on me-"
"You say Mr.. jenkins shakes with
chill every other day."
ITO be shore, said that. Why
wouldn't he shake ever other day"
"It's a regular part Of his life, is it"
"Jest as much part of his life as
eatin an slecpin Is. Yes, stree! Why,
say, if anything was to happen to old
Hi so that he missed havin his chill on
his reg'lar day reckon he'd feel more
lost than if his old woman was to die.
In these parts ager is q part of q fel-
lcr's rights an privileges, same as vot.
in an holdn Office is"
"Indeed:"
"You bet your hide"
"Does Mr. Jenkins live near this?'
"No. not as you mouSht say right
near. He lives over tothcr side Of
Coon Run river. Hain't been over in
that settlement. rcckon?'
NO"
"Waal, you won't lose nothin, l guess,
If YOU never do go over thar"
why"
"Oh. them folks over thar amt jest
the sort body keers to have much to
do with Leastwise | find 'em that
away
Are they bad characters?'
mo. don't know as you can put it
that away exactly, cause they're
neaceable enough an honest all all that.
They're jest so different from we uns
over here.
"In what way are they different?"
"Waal. for one thing they're so dog
gone ignunt. Why, say, them folks
over thar hain't got no more edication
than a gang Of possums. not a blame
hi, more. Siclf ign'unce is plumb pitt