Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-30
TfffH PARTISAN
A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS

at the moment, they were generally
prudent enough to be silent. Old
Humphries alone, with uplifted hands,
now somewhat touched with liquor. and
seeing all danger over, came forward,
and hobbling up to the sergeant, cried
out, in reply
why, bless us. sergeant, you talk as
II you were among the enemies Of his
majesty, and not among his good
friends and well.wishers. Now, I'm
sure I can answer for all here. There's
Jones and Baxter, Lyons and Tom
Walker there-all for the crown,-right
loyal good fellows; who drink the health
Of King George-God bless him!-
whenever they can get drink; and
as for Jack Davis, bless us, sergeant,
there's no better boy IN Goose Creek.
though he is cross and snappish when
his fits on. and no chicken either, as
he says himself. He'll fight for his ma
jesty any day, I know. There's no
mistake in him-there's no mistake in
any Of the boys-I can answer for all
that's here except" and here the
landlord paused in one Of the longest
speeches he had ever made, and his
eye rested doubtfully upon the person
Of the stranger.
Except me-" said the latter, coming
forward, looking Hastings attentively
in the face as he spoke, and at the
same time placing his hand with some
little emphasis upon the shoulders OF
old Humphries,-"except me, Master
Humphries, for whom you can say
nothing-but about whom you are ex-
cessively curious. You only know
am not a captain, nor yet colonel;
and as I have not satisfied your de-
sires on these subjects, of course you
cannot answer for my loyalty"
BLESS me, no; that can't, stranger"
But 1 can answer for myself and
prefer to do so, Master Humphries.
and that's enough for all parties; and
I can say, as you have already said
for these gentlemen. that my loyalty Is
quite as good as that Of any around
me, as we shall all see in due season.
And now that this quarrel is ended.
let me only beg Of the worthy sergeant
here, that he may not be so quick to
draw his weapon upon the man that Is
unarmed. The action is by no means so
creditable to the soldier, and one that
he may. most probably, in time. come
to be ashamed Of"
The perfect coolness and self-posses-
sion Of the stranger, in this brief in
terlude, confounded Hastings not less
than 1t did the rest. He knew not in
what character to behold him, but
that he was rather stolid than other
wise. might have exhibited traces Of
that confusion which his mind GER
tainly felt. But the air of superiority
which the other manifested. annoyed
him too greatly to give way to doubt
or differentiation; and he was about
to answer roughly when a remark
which Davis made, of a churlish nature,
to the coquettish Bella Humphries. who
still fingered beside the sergeant, at
tracted the latter's attention, and Civ
ing a glance to ,theospeaker he threw
his collected spleen in that quarter,
while addressing the girl
"See now, that's the good you get for
saving him from punishment. He
doesn't thank you at all for what
you've DONE"
mo, that I don't!" cried the incor-
rigible Davis: II owe her as little
thanks as owe you kindness,-and I'll
pay off both some day. I can hold my
own without her help; and as for her
begging, 1 don't want it-I won't have
it-and I despise it."
Whats that?" cried Hastings, with
a show Of returning choler.
Nothing. sergeant, nothing; don't
mind what he says; he's foolish, and
don't mean any harm. Now take your
hand away from the sword, beg you"
The girl looked so prettily, as she
prayed him to be quiet, that the SOL
dier relented. Her deferential solicit
tude was all-infiuential. and softened
much Of the harsh feeling that might
have existed in his bosom. Taking
her arm into his own, with conse-
quential strut. and throwing look of
contempt upon his rival as he passed,
the conqueror moved away into the ad-
joining apartment. to which. as his
business seems private at present, we
70
His departure was the signal for rem
ovated life in several Of those per-
sons who, in the previous scene, SEEM
ed quiescent enough. They generous
" came forward to Davis and advice
and friendly counsel to keep himself
out of harms way, and submit most
civilly, like good Christian, to the
gratuitous blow and buffet. The most
eloquent among them was the landlord
Now. bless me-" said he, John
my dear boy why will you be after
striving with the sergeant? You know
you can't stand against him, and
where's the use? He's quite too tough
colt for you to manage, now, tell
you"
so you think, Master Humphries-
so you think But I'm not so sure OF
it, now. by half. can stand thumr
as we'll as any man-and l haint lived
so long in Goose Greek not to know tc
give one too But how you stand 1t
you, say, Dick Humphries-1 don,
altogether see."
"Eh. John-how 1 stand 1t? Bless
us, what do you mean, boy? He dom
trouble me-he don't threaten me-lH
good subject to his majesty
The youth laughed irreverently, and
stranger who had been standing apart
but still within hearing, noted the In
cident with considerable show OF In
terest in his countenance.
And what do you laugh at, John
Don't boy-I pray you. don't. Let's have
glass together. and don't trouble
yourself to be laughing again; there:
danger in 1t. Come; a glass.-Gooc
old jamaica! Won't you join us
stranger"
The youth declined, and Davis pro-
ceeded-