Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-22

err lied before. Go-you're foul-spo-
ken fellow, and your bones shall ache
yet for that same speech. Google
Goggle-Goggle! as II it wasn't curse
enough to be blear-eyed without hav-
ing every dirty field-tackey whicker-
ing about It,"
Our object Is not to offend. my
good woman" said Singleton, inter-
posing gently; "but to ask a civil
question. My companion only employs
a name by which your son is generally
distinguished among the people. You
must not allow him to anger you
therefore, but answer a question or
two civilly. and We shall leave you.'
You have smooth words, captain,
and know what good Is.
I have lived among decent people. and
[ know very we'll how to behave like
one II they would let me: but when
such ill-spoken creatures as Bill Hum
phries asked me questions, it's ten to
one don't think 1t worth while to
answer them; and answer I will not,
except with curses, when they speak
nicknames for my child. know the
boy Is ugly and blear-eyed. I know
that his skin is yellow and shrivelled
like my own, but he has sucked at
these withered paps, and he is my
child: and the more others hate and
abuse him. the more l love him-the
more will take up for him."
Now, Mother Blonay. you needn't
make such a fuss about the matter.
You know meant no harm. Confound
the fellow. / don't care whether he
has eyes or not; sure I am, know
the name which people give him with
out minding the blear. / only want
you to say what you've done with
him-where he Is now?"
You are too quick-too violent,
with the old woman,
said Singleton In q whisper.
Major, don't know her? The old
hag-I see through her now, jist as
easy as / ever saw through any thing
in my life. I'll say now she knows all
about the skunk"
Perhaps so, but II she does, this is
not the way to get at her informa-
tion."
But little hope Of that now, since
she's got her back up. Confound Cog
gle! IL had him under stout hick-
ory reckon I'd make her talk to an
other tune"
This was loud enough for the old
woman. who replied
"Yes-youd beat with blows and
whips a far better man than yourself.
But go your way, and see what Will
come Of this nights work. / have
curses, have I?-if I have, you shall
hear them. I have bad mouth, have
I?-you shall feel it. Hearken, Bill
Humphries! I am old and weak, but
I am strong enough to come to you
where you are. and whisper in your
ears. AS what l say will do you no
pleasure, you shall hear it,
And. tottering forward from her
seat. she bent down to the chair upon
which he sat. and though he moved
away In an instant, he was not quick
enough to avoid the mOmentary con-
tact of her protruded and hag-like lip
with his ear. that shrunk from the
touch as with an instinct Of its own.
She whispered but two words. and they
were loudly uttered for Singleton to
hear as we'll as Humphries.
Your sister-Bella Humphries!"
The trooper started up as II he had
been shot: staggered he certainly was
and his eyes glared confusedly upon
those which she piercingly fixed upon
him with 0 fendish leer. She shook
her long bony finger at him, and her
body. though now erect, maintained
it's waving motion just as when she
had been seated. Recovering in a mo-
ment, he advanced with threatening
action exclaiming:-
You old hag of hell! what do you
mean by that? What Of Bella? what
Of my sister,"
Google Google Goggle-that OF
her! that Of herr" was all the reply;
and this was followed by low chuck
ling laugh. which had in 1t something
exceedingly annoying even to Single
ton himself The trooper was ferocious
and with clenched fist seemed about to
strike This, when she saw, seemed
to produce in her even a greater de-
gree OF resolution. Instead of shrink
ing. she advanced, folded her arms
upon her breast and there was a deep
concentrated solemnity in her tone as
she exclaimed
Now may the veins dry up, and
the flesh wither. and the sinews shrink
and the marrow leave the bones!
Strike the old woman, now. Bill Hum
phries-strike. II you dare!"
Singleton had already passed between
the parties. not. however. before he
had been able to see the prodigious
effect which her adjuration had pro-
duced upon the trooper. His form was
fixed in the advancing position In
which he stood when she addressed
him. His lips were cOlorless, and his
eyes were fastened upon her own with
steadiness which was that OF pa
ralysis. and not OF decision. She, or
the other hand. seemed instinct with
life. subtle. concentrated life. The
appearance Of decrepitude had gone
the eye had stronger fire, the limbs
seemed firm on the instant, and there
was something exceedingly high and
commanding in her position. mo-
ment after. she sank back in hei
chair almost exhausted-the two cats
anxiously purring about her, having
stood at her side. as If bent to CO.
operate in her defence, on the first ap-
proach of Humphries. He now re-
covered from the superstitious awe
which had momentarily possessed
him: and heartily ashamed Of the
show of violence to which her myste.
rious speech had provoked him, begar
to apologize for 1t to Singleton.
Il know it's wrong, major and
wasn't exactly In my sober senses, ol