Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-22
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A Romance of the American Revolution
Bx w. GILMoRE SIMMS
CHAPTER XvI-continued.


occupation. She turned her chair so
as to place herself directly before him,
and the glance of her eye confronting
his compelled him to similar change
OF position. The docile cats, with
sluggish effort. changed their ground
also: and after circling thrice about
their new places Of repose, before lay
ing themselves down upon II, they
soon resumed their even and self-sat-
lsfled slumberous hum, which the
movement Of their mistress had inter-
rupted. A moment Of silence inter-
vened, during which Dame Blonay en-
ployed herself In examining Single
toms person and countenance.
He was, of course, quite unknown to
her, and q curious desire to make the
ACQUAINTANCE of new faces is, perhaps,
as much the characteristic Of age as
its garrulity. Memory. In this way
becomes stirred up actively, and the
'~decaying mind delights in such sur
vey. that II may liken the stranger to
some well known individual Of former
DAYS. 1t is thus that the present time
continually supplies with aliment the
pass from which 1t receives so much
of its own. The close survey OF the
woman did not please Singleton, who
at length interrupted 1t by resuming
the subject where Humphries had dis
continued. With becoming gravity, he
asked her the question which follows,
in respect to the extent of her pow
erS-
And So dame, you really believe
that you possess the power OF doing
what you say you can do?"
"Ay, sir, and a great deal more. l
can dry up the blood in the veins OF
youth. can put the staggering weak
ness into the bones and sinews or the
strong man: can make the heart
shrink that Is brave-I can put pain
there instead Of pleasure"
Indeed! II you can do this, dame,
you can certainly do much more than
most of your neighbors. But Is II not
strange. mother that these powers are
all for evil? Have you no faculty for
comforting good-for cheering the
heart instead of distressing it, and
giving pleasure instead OF pain?"
"Ay! can avenge you upon your
enemy" AS she spoke. her form sus-
pended Its waving motion. was bent
forward in eagerness. and her eye
ylistened, while -Aer-look seemed to
say. "Is not that the capacity you
would have me serve you in?"
That, also is a power Of evil dame,
and not Of good. I spoke Of good. not
evil"
Not that" she muttered, with an
air Of disappointment while drawing
herself back and resuming her croning
movement.
Not that! Is not revenge sweet
young master-very sweet, when you
have been robbed and wropged for
years: trampled in the dust; laughed
and sneered at: hunted and hated; Is
not the moment of revenge sweet!
When you see your enemy writhing IN
pain, you put your ear down and lis
ten to his suffering, and your heart,
that used to beat only with its own
sorrow, you feel is throbbing with a
strange, sweet joy at his-is 1t not
sweet, my master?'
"Ay. sweet perhaps to many, dame,
but fear me, still evil; still not good;
still harmful to man. Have you no
better powers in your collection?
none to give strength and youth, and
bring back health?"
She pointed to a bunch OF the
smaller snake roots which lay In the
corner. but with much seeming in
difference as II the cure Of disease
formed but an humble portion Of her
mystery and labors.
And your art gives you power over
affections, and brings pleasure some
times mother"
"Is II love- the love Of the young
woman-hard to please. difficult to
soothe. cold to sweet words-that you
would win my young master?'
She again bent her head towards
him, and suspended her motion, as II
now hopeful that, in this reference,
she had found out the true quest Of
"
the cheek Of Singleton, as In answer
ing the inquiry correctly he must nee
essarily have confessed that such n
desire was in his bosom though GER
tainly without any resort to such prac-
tIces as might be looked for in her
suggestion.
LAY. indeed such an art would be
something to me now, could 1t avail
for any purpose-could 1t soften the
stern, and warm the cold, and make
the hard to please easy-but look not
for your aid. mother. to do all this"
II can do it-fear not" said the old
woman, assuringly.
1T may be, but l choose not that
thou shouldest. l must toll for my
self in this matter and the only art
I may use must be that which l shall
not be ashamed of. But we have an
other quest dame: and upon this we
would have you speak honestly. You
have son.
The old woman looked earnestly at
the speaker: and. as at that moment
the sabre swung off from his knee,
Gathering with it's end upon the floor,
she started apprehensively. and 1t
could be seen that she trembled. She
spoke after the pause Of an instant:
Sure, captain-Ned, Ned Blonay Is
my son. What would you tell me?
He has met with no harm?"
None, mother-none that l can
sneak Of" said Humphries quickly;
mot that he may not happen upon II
II he does not mind his tracks. But
tell us-when was he here last. moth
er? Was he not here tonight, and
when do you look for him again?"
The apprehensions of the woman had
passed off: she resumed her seesaw
motion, and answered indifferently:
1.-The boy is his own master, Bill
IJumnhries. IL Is not for an old woman