Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-24

q, 1906.
The judges were now approaching
with the target, and a singular COM
bination of circumstances had kept all
my party in utter ignorance Of the re-
suit of my shot Those about the tar
get had been prepared by Billy Curlew
for a great shot from me; their ex-
pectations had received assurance from
the courtesy which had been extended
to me; and nothing had happened to
disappoint them but the single caution
to them against the "dry gripes," which
was as likely to have been given in
irony as in earnest; for my agonies
under the weight of the Soap stick
were either imperceptible to them at
the distance Of sixty yards, or being
visible. were taken as the fiourishes
of an expert who wished to "astonish
the natives" The other party did not
think the direction Of my ball worth
the trouble of question; or II they
did. my airs and harangue had put the
thought to flight before 1t was deliv-
cred. Consequently, they were all
tranfixed with astonishment when the
judges presented the target to them
] and gravely observed, TITS only second
best, after all the fuss"
Second best!" exclaimed I, with
uncomfortable transports.
The whole Of my party rushed to the
target to have the evidence Of their
senses before they would believe the
report; but most marvellous fortune
decreed that 1t should be true. Their
incredulity and astonishment were
most fortunate for me; for they blind
ed my hearers to the real feelings with
which the exclamation was uttered, and
allowed me sufficient time to prepare
myself for making the best use Of what
| had said before with a very different
object.
Second best!" reiterated /, with an
air Of dependency, as the company
turned from the target to me. Second
best only? Here, Billy, my son, take
the old Soap stick; she's good piece,
but I'm getting too old and dim sight
ed to shoot rifle, especially with the
drop sight and double waboles."
"why. good Lord almighty" said
Billy, with look that battles all de-
scription. "a'n't you driv the CROSSE"
"Oh, driv the cross!" rejoined !.
carelessly. What's that? Just look
where my ball IS! do believe in my
soul its centre is full quarter Of an
inch from the cross. wanted to lay
the centre of the bullet upon the cross,
just as II you'd put It there with your
fingers"
Several received this palaver with
contemptuous but very appropriate
curl of the nose; and Mealy Whitecot-
ton offered to bet half-pint that !
couldn't do the like again with no sort
Of wabbles. he didn't care what" But
had already fortified myself on this
quarter by my morality. A decided
majority, however, were clearly of
opinion that / was serious: and
they regarded me as one Of the Won
ders Of the world. Billy increased the
majority by now coming out fully with
my history, as he had received II from
his father; to which listened with
quite as much astonishment as any
other one OF his hearers. He begged
me to go home with him for the night,
or, as he expressed It; to go home with
him and swap lies that night, and 1t
shouldn't cost me cent" the true
reading of which is, that IL would go
home with him, and give him the
pleasure of an evenings chat about old
| times, his house should be as free to
me as my own. But could not ac-
cept his hospitality without retracing
FIVE or six miles Of the road which /
had already passed. and therefore I
declined 1t.
well, IL you won't go. what must !
tell the old woman for you? for she'll
be mighty glad to hear from the boy
that won the silk handkerchief for her,
and I expect she'll lick me for not
bringing you home with me-"
"Tell her." said l." that I send her
quarter of beef, which I won, as I
did the handkerchief, by nothing in the
world but mere good luck"
Hold your jaw, lyman" said Billy;
II ant a gwine to tell the old woman
any such lies; for she's rael reg'lar
built Meth'dist'
AS / turned to depart-"Stop a
minute stranger!" said one; then, low
ering his voice to a confidential but dis
tinctly audible tone, What you Offer
ing for?" continued he. I assured him
was not a candidate for anything;
that had accidentally fallen in with
Billy Curlew, who begged me to come
with him to the shooting match and.
as it lay right on my road, had
stopped. "Oh," said he, with con-
ciliatory nod, IF you're up for any
thing, you needn't be mealy-mouthed
about 1t fore us boys; for We'll all go
| yOu up " thS
YES" said Billy, dang old Roper II
we don't go our death for you. no mat
ter who offers; II ever you come out
for anything. Lyman, jist let the boys
Of Upper Hogthief know it, and they'll
go for you to the hilt, against creation,
tit or no tit, that's the tatur."
thanked them kindly, but repeated
my assurance. The reader will not
suppose that the district took Its name
from the character Of the inhabitants.
In almost every county in the state
there Is some spot or district which
bears a contemptuous appellation, usu-
ally derived from local rivalships, or
from a single accidental circumstance.
HALL.