Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-27
CHAPTER XXI. q.

years.
CHAPTER XXI.
Nov II you ask who gave the stroke
! cannot tell, so mote trive:
1t was not given by man alive
Lay of the last Minstrel.
1t was a little before daybreak on
Sunday morning, the fifteenth Of Au-
gust "a day rendered memorable by the
exploit Of Sumpter, who captured, In
the vicinity Of Rocky Mount. a large
quantity Of military stores, and nu-
merous escort, then on their way from
Ninety-Six to Camden), that James
Curry was travelling in the neighbor-
hood Of the Ennoree, some four miles
distant from Musgrove's mill. He had
few hours before left the garrison Of
Ninety-Six, and was now hieing with
all haste to Blackstock's on mission
of importance, The night had been
sultry, but the approach Of the dawn
had brought with 1t that refreshing
GOODNESS which Is always to be remark
ed. in the half hour that precedes the
first blush of morning. The dragon
had had a weary night-ride. but the
recent change Of temperature had In
vigorated his system and given buoy
ancy to his spirit. This effect was ex-
tthen. humming the words Of ditty,
and. finally, In breaking forth into a
loud full song, which. as he had a
good voice and practised skill, increas-
ed in loudness as he became better
pleased with the trial of his powers.
The song was occasionally intermitted
to give room to certain self-commun-
ings which the pastime suggested.
You may take it for sooth. that wit
without gold"
he sang In the loudest strain. trying
the words on different keys, and intro
ducing some variations In the tune
"Will make a bad market whenever
. 'tis cold"
That's true; your poor moneyless
devil, how should his wit pass current?
He was shrewd fellow that wrote it
down. Your rich man for wit, all the
world over, and so the song runs
but all over the world 1t Is we'll un-
derstood
That the joke Of a rich man Is sure
to be good"
True, true as gospel! Give the
knaves dinners plenty of Burgundy
and Port, and what signifies an empty
head. Go to college, and how Is
1t there? What is sizars joke? If
the fellow have the wit of Diogenes, it
| is sheer impertinence. But let my
young lord Cresus come out with his
fiatulent nonsense, oh, that's the true
ware for the market? James Curry,
James Curry, what ought you to have
been, If the supple jade fortune had
done your deserts justice! Instead of
id lodging dragoon, obedient to
the beck of every puppy who wears his
majesty's epaulets; but it's no matter,
that's past; the wheel has made its
turn, and here I am, doing the work
of the scullion, that ought to sit above
the salt-cellar. Vogue la galere! We
will play out the play. Meantime, I'll
be merry in spite of the horoscope;
come then, like these words and the
jolly knave. whoever he was, that pen
ned them.
"'You may take 1t for sooth that wit
without gold.'"
The singer was, at this instant, ar
rested at the top of his voice by blow
against the back Of his head, bestowed.
apparently by some ponderous hand.
that so effectually swayed him from
the line of gravity, as to cause him to
reel in his saddle, and, by an irrecov-
erable impetus, to swing round to the
ground, where he alighted on his back,
with the reins of his horse firmly held
| in his hand.
Singing on Sunday is against the
law" said a hoarse voice. that came
apparently from the air, as the dark
ness Of the hour-which was increased
| by an overcast and lowering sky, as
well as by the thick wood through
which the road ran, prevented the
stricken man from discerning anything
that might have done him harm, even
\ IL such thing had been bodily present.
The soldier lay for a moment PROSTATE,
bewildered by the suddenness of this
mysterious visitation; and when, at
length, he regained his feet, he almost
fancied that he heard receding from
him. at great distance the dull beat
of a horses foot upon the sandy road.
Curry, who as q soldier was insensi-
BILE to fear, now shook In every joint,
as he stood beside his horse in a state
Of confused and ravelled wonderment.
He strained his ear to catch the sound
in the direction towards which he
thought he had heard the retreating
footsteps but his more deliberate at
tention persuaded him that he was
mistaken in his first impression. Still
more puzzled as he came into the pos
session of his faculties Of which the
abruptness Of the surprise had almost
bereft him. he stood for some time
mute, then drawing his sword with the
alacrity of a man, who all at once be-
lieves himself in danger of an uplift-
ed blow, he called out loudly
Speak, and show yourself, If you be
man! Or If there be a party, let
them come forth. Who waylays me?
Remember, warn him, in the name of
the king, that am on his majesty's err
rand, and that they are not far off
who will punish any outrage on my
person. By all the powers Of Satan, the
place Is bewitched!" he exclaimed, al
ter pause. "Once more, speak;
whether you are to be conjured In the
name of the king or Of the devil!"
All remained silent except the leaves
Of the forest that fluttered in the
breeze: and it was with an awkward
and unacknowledged sense or faint
heartedness that Curry put up his
sword and remounted into his saddle
He first moved slowly in continuation
of his journey; and, as his thoughts