Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-20
Copyright, 1900, by Sir Walter Beasant.
CHAPTER vi.

I[Gn.I or the bucks. as they
pE4 were called. when the
RSA - cardroom was closed
3@ to 60 off together to a
ElklfN AE tavern. there to finish
-- the night drinking,
singing. gambling and rioting the
whole night through and long after
daylight. Truly the town Of Lynn wit.
messed more prohigacy and wickedness
during this summer than all its long
and ancient history had witnessed or
could relate.
The assembly was held twice week,
on Thursday and on Friday. 1t was on
Thursday night that certain state
ment was made in drunken conversa-
ton which might have awakened sus-
picion of some dark design had 1t been
recorded. small company Of the said
high fiers. among whom were Colonel
Lanyon and young man named Tom
Rising. marched off to the tavern most
frequented by them after the closing Of
the rooms and called for punch. cards
and candles. Then they sat down to
play. with the ungodly and profane
discourse which they affected. They
played and drank. the young man
drinking fast and hard, the colonel,
after his custom. keeping bis head
cool.
Tom Rising's estates lay near Swaff.
ham. He was we'll known as the best
and most fearless rider In the whole
county. He was the keenest sports
man. He knew where to find fox,
hare. badger. ferret, stoat or weasel.
He knew where to put up q pheasant
or a covey Of partridges. He could play
at all manly sports. He was wild. fear
less. reckless. deboshed young fellow,
whom everybody loved and everybody
feared. always ready with blow or an
oath. afraid Of nothing If he set his
heart upon anything. You shall see
that he set his heart upon one thing
and failed. Tom lost heavily and drank
deep.
IL will play till have stripped every
man among you to the very bones," he
said Why do say this? Because,
gentlemen. after tomorrow night shall
be the richest man in the county.
D'you hear? The richest man in the
county. You don't know how? Very
we'll Do you think I'm going to tell
you? Ho. ho! When you hear the
news. you'll say twas only Tom-only
Tom Rising-had the courage to ven.
turr and to WIN"
"IIe means the hazard table," said
the colonel
mo. not the hazard table," Tom
went on. "Oh. know the table and
the woman who keeps the bank and
pretends to weep when you lose. |
know about her. I've heard talk about
her. What Is It? Don't remember.
Tell you tomorrow"
"He should stop talking" said the
colonel I'VE must not listen to his
waDderings."
Richest man in the county" he re-
peated. "Colonel. like your COM
pany. You lay down your money like
q man. In a week. colonel. I'll have
It all. There shan't be guinea left
among you all. Richest man in coun-
ty make guineas-fy." His head sank
down again. He was once more
speechless.
His friends looked from one to the
other. What did Tom Rising mean?
"Gentlemen." said the colonel, 'he
has been drinking for many days. He
has some kind Of a tit upon him.
After a sleep he will be better Just
now he dreams Of riches. have
known men in such condition to see
animals and think that they are hunt
ed by rats and clawed by devils"
Again Tom lifted his head and bab-
bled confusedly.
"The richest man-the richest man
in the whole county. After tomorrow
night-not tonight-after tomorrow
night. I have found out short way
to fortune. The richest man in the
county"
So they left him sleeping in his
chair, with his head on the table
among the glasses and the split punch.
The next was the night Of the as.
sembliug, and Molly was present.
After dancing with his lordship, who
then offered his hand to lady Of the
county, she stood up with Tom Rising,
who was by this time as sober as could
be expected after such night. He, In
the hearing Of everybody, loaded her
with compliments Of the common kind,
such as would suit milkmaid, but
were not proper for modest woman
to hear. To these, however, Molly re-
turned no reply and danced as if she
heard them not. She then rejoined
Lady Anastasia and with her retired to
the cardroom, whittier many of the
young men followed her. She stood
beside her ladyship and obliged the
young men by choosing cards for them,
which they lost or won. Tom Rising
followed her and stood beside her with
flushed face and trembling hands. 1t
was remarked afterward that he SEEM
ed to assume the care Of her. He kept
gazing upon Molly with fierce and raw.
enous looks like wolf who hungers
cftcr his prey and lives to wait for 1t.
He played the while, however, and lost
during the evening. | believe, some
hundreds of pounds, but for reasons
which you will presently hear he never
paid that money.
Molly next had second dance with
his lordship. After 1t had been finished
he offered her the refreshment Of wine