Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-08

simple circumstance.
Throwing his bride to Lance
Frampton, the partisan alighted, and
approached the stranger, who turned
to meet him. There was quite show
of good humor in his countenance, as
Singleton drew nigh, and yet the latter
saw his real trepidation; and the anx-
ious looks which, more than once, he
cast upon the stout animal which had
borne him, seemed to say how glad he
would have been to use him in flight,
could he possibly have thought to do
so in safety.
Good day, my friend, good day. You
have ridden far" said Singleton, "and
your horse tells it. May I ask what
quarter you come from?"
"Oh. yes, to be sure you may, stran-
ger: there's no harm that can see in
the question, only as 1t happens to
want an answer. It's no safe matter,
now days. stranger. to tell ones
starting and stopping. since. you see,
1t mayn't altogether please them that
hears"
There was evidently a disposition
on the part. OF the countryman to feel
his way, and see now far he could bully
the new conner, in this equivocal sort
of speech. But he was mistaken In
the man before him, and though he had
spoken his evasive reply in manner
meant to be conciliatory while 1t re-
manned unsatisfactory. he was soon
compelled to see that his questioner
was by no means to be trified with.
Safe or not, my friend" said Sim
gleton. gravely, there are some ques-
tions that a man must answer, wheth-
er he likes 1t or not; there Is a school
proverb that you must remember,
about the bird that can sing and will
not"
The man turned his tobacco in his
jaws, and though evidently annoyed
and disquieted, replied
"Why, yes, stranger, reckon know
what you mean, though I haint had
much schooling: three months one
year. and three another, and then three
years without any, don't teach a body
every kind Of farming. But the saying
you pint to I remember well enough
Many's. the time I've hearn 1t. The
bird that won't sing must be made to
sing"
Il see your memory may be relied
upon for other matters" said Single
| ton; "and now, taking care not to for
get the proverb, you will please an
swer me a few questions"
well, stranger, I'm willing enough.
I'm all over good natur. and never fail
to git vexed with myself afterward,
when the devil drives me to be oncivil
to them that treats me we'll. AK your
questions straight off-hand. and Pete
| Larkin is the boy to answer, far as
his farming goes"
"I am glad. Mr.. Larkin, for your
own sake, that you have this temper
You will please to- say. now, where
you are FROM"
well. now. stranger, I'm only come
from a little above-and as you say,
I've had a tough ride of 1t; but It's
a good critter, this here nag Of mine,
and does ones heart good to go on
him. So, you see, when I'm on him,
goes it. l hate nightly to creep,
terrapin fashion. in a dogtrot; for you
see, stranger it's bad gait, and sick
ems a short man. though the horse that
travels stands 1t best of any"
Singleton had no disposition to in
terrupt the speaker. though he saw
that he meant to be evasive. He
watched his features attentively, while
he spoke, and when he had done, pro-
ceeded in his inquiries.
| From above! but what part? 1
would know precisely Mr.. Larkin."
We'll. now, stranger, as I haint got
no secrets, spose l may as we'll tell
you 'xactly how 'tis. Pm from cpar
across the Santee. I live pom the
Santee or thereabouts."
Indeed! and is 1t true. as we hear
below. that the wolves have grown
troublesome in that quarter"
Wolves. stranger? Well, now that
can't be: for, you see. come from all
about. and nobody that 1 seed along the
road, or in any settlement, made COM
plaint l reckon you aint hearn very
particular right now"
1T must be the owls. then-yes, 1t
is the owls have you seen any Of
them on your way?"
This question, urged with the ut
most gravity by the partisan. COM
pleted the fellows astonishment Re-
volving the huge quid of tobacco-for
such it seemed-which from the COM
mencement of the dialogue had been
going to and fro between his jaws, it
was some seconds before he could re-
cover sufficiently from his astonish-
ment to reply.
| owls. God bless me, stranger, but
that's a queer question, anyhow. To
be sure thars owls all along the San
tee You may hear them in the
swamp any time o. night, and an ugly
noise they makes all night long, but
nobody thinks O. minding them. They
troubles nobody, and sometimes. when
there's going to be a death in the fam
lily, the white owls comes into the bed
room, and they won't drive 'em out,
for you see it's no use: the sick body
will die after that. whether they drive
the owl off or no."
Yes. yes-true." said Singleton
| tot~t h. Atl, nr,e
countenance with a circumspect re-
gard. He saw that the countryman
was not the man he expected, but even
with this discovery there had grown
other suspicious as to his real char
acter, the more particularly as he
perceived how disquieted the examina-
ton and restraint had made him. At
ter moments pause. he proceeded TO
put more direct inquiry.