Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-07
FfEffE FfEffE PARTISAN
A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS
CHAPTER ".

Everywhere bold.-'Tis every virtue
told;
skill,
The noblest cunning that the mind
can will,
AS the best charity we do but kill,
Not succour, when we shudder at the
Ill:
The loathing and the sorrow that not
strives
Were sorry proof of manhood"
1t was not long before Singleton
reached the tavern, which he now found
crowded. The villagers Of all condi-
tions and politics had there assembled
either to mutter over their doubts or
discontents, or to gather counsel Tor
their course in future, from the many,
wiser than themselves, in their own
predicament. There, also came the
true loyalist, certain to find Difference
and favor from those around him, not
so happy or so secure as himself In the
confidence OF the existing powers. The
group was motley enough, and the
moods at work among them not less
so. Some had already determined upon
submission-some Of the weak-the
time serving-such as every old COM
munity will be found to furnish, where
indolent habits, which have become in
veterate, forbid all sort Of independ-
ence. Some fiuctuated, and knew not
what to do, or even what to think.
But there were others, Singleton imag-
ined, as he looked into their grave,
sul.en features, full Of thought and
pregnant with determination, who felt
nothing so strongly as the sense OF IN
Justice, and the rebel-daring which
calls for defiance at every hazard.
Vengeance! my men!" he muttered
to himself, as passing full into the
apartment, he became at once visible
to the group. The old landlord himself
was the first person who confronted
him, speaking still after that familiar
fashion which had already had its re-
buke from the same quarter.
"Ah. captain! (the brow OF Singleton
darkened)-squire.I mean. I ask par
don, squire but here. where every man
is a captain, or a colonel or something,
II comes natural to captain or colonel
all. and is not often amiss. No offense,
squire-its use only, and 1 mean no
harm"
Enough enough! good master land
lord! Least said. soonest mended,
Shall we soon have supper"
The ready publican turned to the
inner door Of the apartment and put
the same question to his daughter, the
fair Bella; then. without waiting for
her reply. informed the inquirer that
many minutes would not elapse before
it would be on the table.
Six o'clocks the time Of day for
supper, squire-six for supper-one for
dinner-eight for breakfast-punctual
to the stroke, and no waiting. Hen!
what's that you say, Master Dicken-
son?-what's that about Frampton?
said old Humphries, turning to one OF
the villagers who had just entered the
apartment. The person so addressed
came forward: a thin jawed, sallow
countryman, whose eyes were big with
the intelligence he brought, and who
seemed anxious that well-dressed
and goodly looking stranger, like Sim
gleton, should have the benefit Of his
burden.
why, gentlemen, the matter with
Frampton's strange enough. You all
know he's been out several days, close
in the swamp. He had fight, strang-
er, YOU see, with one OF Huck's dra-
goons: and he licked the dragoon, for
all the world, as II he'd a licked him
out of his skin. Now the dragoon's a
strong fellow enough; but Frampton's
a horse, and II ever he mounts you the
game is up, for there's no stopping him
when he gets his hand in. So. as tell
you, the dragoon stood mighty slim
chance. He first brought him down
with a back-handed wipe, that came
over his cheek for all the world like the
slap of a water wheel"
Yes, yes. we all heard that: but
what was it all about, Dickenson?-we
don't know that, yet" cried one of the
group which had now formed around
the speaker.
why, that's soon told. The dragon
went TO Frampton's house when he was
In the swamp. and made free with what
he wanted. Big Barney. his eldest
son. went off in the meanwhile TO his
daddy, and off he came full tilt. with
Lance, his youngest lad along with
him. You know Lance, or Lancelot,
smart chap of sixteen; you've seeo
him often enough"
Yes. yes. we know him.
We'll. as / tell you. the old mar
and his two boys came full tilt to the
house, and twas a Gods mercy they
came in time, for the doings of the
dragoon was too ridiculous for any de-
cent body to put up with, and the ole
colt couldn't stand 1t no how; so. as
tell you, he put it to him in short or
der. He first gave him back handed
wipe, which fiattened him. l tell you
and when the sodger tried TO get up
he put II to him again so that 1t wa:
easier for him to lie down than L
stand up; and lie down he did, with
out a word, till the other dragons tul
him UP. They came few minutes ar
ter. and the old man and the younges
boy. Lance, had a narrow chance anc
a smart run for it. They heard the
troops coming down the lane, and they
took to the BUSH The sodgers tried
hard to catch them, but 1t amt eas!
to hook a Goose Creeker when he's OF
trail for the swamp, and splashing al
ter the hogs along a tussock. So they
got safe into the Cypress, and the dra
goons had nothing better to do thar
go back to the house. WE'LL the!
made Framptons old woman stand al
sorts Of treatment, and that too oa'
to find names for. They beat her too
and she as heavy as she could go. We'll
then. she died night afore last, as nigh
be expected; and now the wonder is
what's become of her body. They lait
her out: and the old granny tina
IT, AkNn LII