Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-30
CHAPTER III.

stripes,
And ietter'd in our blood. Like beat
en- hounds,
We crouch and cry, but clencn not
lick the hand
That strikes and scourges."
Hastings turned furiously at the in
terruption; but the stranger though
entirely unarmed, stood his ground
firmly, and looked on him with compo-
sure.
That's a bright sword you wear,
said he, but 1t is scarcely good
stroke, and anything but gallant
one, Master Sergeant, which you make
with 1t. How now, Is it the fashion
with British soldiers to draw upon un-
armed men?"
The person addressed turned upon
the speaker with q scowl which seemed
to promise that he would transfer
some portion of his anger to the new
conner. He had no time, however, to
do more than look his wrath at the
Interruption; for among the many per-
sons whom the noise had brought to
the scene Of action was the fair Bella
Yumphries herself. The maid OF the
inn-accustomed probably to quell such
conflicts by her beauty and persua-
sions- waited not an instant to place
herself between the parties, and. as
II her own interest in the persons con-
cerned gave her an especial right In the
matter, she fearlessly passed under the
raised weapon Of Hastings, addressing
him irnploringly, and with an air OF
intimacy, which was, perhaps, the
worst feature in the business. So, at
least, the individual appeared to think
to whose succor she had come. His
brow blackened still more at her ap-
proach, and when she interfered to pre-
vent strife, a muttered curse, hat-au-
dible, rose to his lips. Brandishing the
club which he had welded with no
little readiness before, he seemed more
than ever desirous of renewing the
combat, though with all its disadvan-
tages. But the parties around gener-
ally interfered to prevent the progress
of the strife, and Bella, whose mind
seemed perfectly assured Of Hastings
invincibility, addressed her prayers
only to him. and in behalf Of the other.
Now don't strike. Sergeant-don't
I pray! John is only foolish and don't
mean any harm. Strike him not. j
beg you!"
Beg for yourslf. Bella Humphries-
I don't want any Of your begging tor
me. I'm no chicken, and can hold
my own any day against him. So don't
come between us-you in particular
you had better keep away"
The countryman spoke ferociously;
and his dark eye, long black hair, and
swarthy cheek, all combined to give
the expression Of fierce anger which
his words expressed, lively earnest
ness not ill-adapted to sustain them.
The girl looked on him reproachfuliy
as he spoke, though a close observer
might have seen in her feature a
something Of conscious error and IN
Justice. It was evident that the parties
had been at one period far more tnti-
mate than now; and the young strang-
er. about whom the coil began, saw In
an instant the true situation OF the
twain. A smile passed over his rea-
lures but did not rest, as his eye took
In at a glance the twofold expression
of Bella's face. standing between her
lovers, preventing the fight-scowled
ON furiously by the one. and most af-
fectionately leered at by the other. Her
appeal to the sergeant was so comph-
mentary, that even were he not half
ashamed of what he had already done
in commencing a contest so unequal
he must have yielded to. 1t and for
borne. Some of his moderation, too
might have arisen from his perceiV-
ing the hostile jealousy Of spirit with
which his rival regarded her prefer
ence Of himself. His vanity was enlist
ed in fhe application OF the maiden
and with a becoming fondness OF eX-
preston in his glance, turning to the
coquette, he gave her to understand
while thrusting his sword back into
the scabbard, that he consented 10
mercy on the score Of her application
Still, as Davis held out a show Of fight
and stood snugly ensconced behind his
chair defying and even inviting assault
II was necessary that the sergeant
should draw off honorably from the
contest. While returning the weapon
to the sheath, therefore he spoke to his
enemy in language Of indulgent warn
ing. not unmixed with the military
threats common at the period
"Hark you, good fellow-you're but
a small man to look out for DANGER
and there's too little Of you. after all,
for me to look after. let you on this
time; but you're on ticklish territory
and If you move but one side or the
other, you're but a lost man after all.
It's not a safe chance to show rebel
signs on the kings highway, and you
have an ugly squirting at disaffection.
NV eyes are on you now, and II l but
see you wink, or hear you hint, trea-
son.-ay, treason, rebellion-I see 1t in
vour ewes, I tell you,-but wink 1t or
look 1t again, and you know It's snort
work, very short work. and shorter
tourney. to the tight rope and the
branching tree"
The speaker looked round Significant
ly upon the company as he uttered
warning and threat. which, though ad-
dressed particularly to the refractory
countryman, were yet evidently as
much meant for the benefit Of the rest
Not that the worthy sergeant had any
reason for uttering language which, IN
all respects, seemed so gratuitous; but
this was Of a piece with the wantonly
injudicious habit Of his superiors' from
whom, with the readiness of inferiority
and sycophancy. he made free to bor-
row; and, with as little discrimination
quite as frequently employed It, not
less for the qualification of his vanity
than for the exercise of his power. The
speech had something Of its usual et-
Bookkeeping in silence those whose
love to talk might have prompted 70
occasional remark. though without any