Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-31
| gled, and the boarders were variously

lsistency Of hard poultice, he placed
lit all up to one side Of his plate in the
from Of a terrapin, and smoothed Il
all over nicely with his knife. Nearly
opposite to Ned, but little below
him, sat a waspish little gentleman
who had been watching him with in
lcreasing torments from the first to the
Hast movement of Ned's knife. His tor
lures were visible to binder eyes than
INeds, and, doubtless, had been seen
by him in their earliest paroxysms
This gentleman occupied a seat near
est to dish Of steak, and was in the
act of muttering something about
''brutes" to his next neighbor, when
Ned beckoned' servant to him, and
requested him "to ask that gentleman
for small bit of steak" The servant
obeyed, and, planting Ned's plate di-
rectly between the gentleman's and
and the steak dish, delivered his mes
sage The testy gentleman turned his
head. and the first thing he saw was
Ned's parti-colored terrapin right un-
der his nose. He started as IL he had
been struck by snapping-turtle, red
dened to scarlet, looked at Ned (who
appeared as innocent as a lamb, look
ed at the servant (who appeared as in
nocent as Ned), and then fell to work
on the steak as II he were amputating
all Ned's limbs at once.
Ned now commenced his repast He
ate his meat and breads in the usual
way, but he drank his liquids In all
ways. First a sip Of tea, then Of cof-
fee; then two Of the first and one Of
the last; then three Of the last and
one Of the first, ard so on.
His steak was soon consumed, and
his plate was second time returned
to the mettlesome gentleman "for an
other very small bit Of steak" The
plate paid its second visit precisely as
1t had its first; and as soon as the fiery
gentleman saw the demolished
terrapin again under his nose he seiz-
ed fork, drove 1t into the largest
slice of steak In the dish, dashed 1t in
to Ned's plate, rose from the table,
and left the room. cursing Ned from
the very inmost chamber Of his soul.
Every person at the table, except Ned,
laughed outright at the little mans
fury; but Ned did not even smile;
nay, he looked for all the world as II
he thought the laugh was at him.
| The boarders one after another re-
tired, until Ned and the landlady were
left alone at the table.
"Will you have another cup Of tea
and coffee, SIR? said she, by the way
of convincing him that he ought to re-
tire, seeing that he had finished his
supper.
mo, 1 thank you, madam" returned
Ned.
"Will you have a glass Of milk, and
a cup Of tea or coffee, or all three to-
gether?"
mo, ma'am," said Ned. II am not
blind, madam" continued he. ito the
effects which my unfortunate eccen-
tricities have produced upon yourself
and your company; nor have I wit
messed them without those feelings
which are we'll calculated to inspire In
man Of ordinary sensibilities, I am
aware, too, that I am prolonging and
agravating your uneasiness by detain-
ing you beyond the hour which de-
mands your presence at the table; but
I could not permit you to retire with
out again bespeaking your indulgence
Of the strange, unnatural appetite
which has just caused you so much
astonishment and modification. The
story of its beginning might be inter-
esting, and certainly would be instruct
ing to you If you are mother; but
am indisposed at this time to obtrude
1t upon your patience, and / presume
you are still less disposed to hear It.
My principal object, however, In claim
ing your attention for a moment al
this time is to assure you that, out OF
respect to your feelings, I will sur
render the enjoyment Of my meals fol
the few days that I have to remain In
Savannah, and conform to the customs
of your table. The sudden change Of
my habit will expose me to some in
convenience, and may, perhaps, affect
my health; but l will willingly incur
these hazards rather than renew your
modification, or impose upon your
family the trouble Of giving me my
meals at my room,"
The good lady, whose bitter feelings
had given place to the kinder emotion
of pity and benevolence before Ned had
half concluded his apology (for 1t was
} delivered in a tone Of the most melt
ing eloquence), caught at this last hint
and insisted upon sending his meals II
his room. Ned reluctantly consented
after extorting pledge from her tha
she would assume the responsibilitie:
Of the trouble that he was about Il
give the family.
LAS to your boarders, madam" sale
Ned, in conclusion, II have no apology
to make to them. / grant them tht
privilege of eating what they please
and as they please; and, so far as the!
are concerned shall exercise the same
privileges, reckless Of their feelings Of
opinions; and 1 shall take 1t as a sin
gular favor If you will say nothing t
! them or to any one else which ma!
/ lead them to the discovery that / an
: acquainted with my own peculiarities
The good lady promised obedience t
} his wishes, and Ned, requesting to b.
conducted to his room, retired.
A group Of gentlemen at the fireplace
had sent many significant "hems" AM
: smiles to Mrs. Blank during her tete
r a-tete with Ned; and as she approached
them, on her way out of the room
they began to taunt her playfully upol
the impression which she seemed t
) have made upon the remarkabl
stranger.
Really" said one, II thought tn
/ impression was on the other side"
= And, in truth, so it was" said Mrs
/ B. At this moment her husband step
, ped in.
' "I'll tell you what 1t is, Mr. Blank,
Y said one of the company, you'd bette
:, keep a sharp lookout on that stranger
L.. col xr,ifl