Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-15
CHAPTER II.
The Bill of Sale.

The Bill of Sale.
An old-fashioned hostelry stood al
the junction of two roads. 1t was an
unpretending wooden house, whose
sign swung from the branch Of an
old oak, and had so swung for fifty
years or more.
The landlord was a fat man in a
white jacket; the landlady was a
portly woman in calico wrapper
who took great pride in a brood OF
young chickens that were continual
ly foraging in the cool hall. There
were but few boarders at the inn
consequently the host was more than
usually courteous as the stranger
came forward and requested accom-
modations.
When he made his appearance al
the support table, everybody became ST.
lent. He wore a heavy beard, was
dressed in a suit Of Scotch tweed, and
looked altogether a man Of impor-
tance.
Presently the conversation turned
upon general matters. The landlords
son came in with his new wife, fus-
sy little woman with huge red bow
at her throat.
Shall you go to the sale tomor-
row?" queried the young Benedict OF
his opposite neighbor.
What sale?" the clerk at the feed
store asked, with his mouth full OF
cold beef.
Didn't you hear? I thought ev-
erybody know'd Widow Wlllets was
to be- sold up"
Jack" said the bride, taking her
big blue eyes for the first time off the
strangers face, II want the crock
cry. They say things is going for
nothin.'"
Every likely. Git all the crockery
you want, and I'll foot the bills" said
the young man, with look that Ian
guished between biscuit and bliss
There's nothing want but the old
mans gun: but they say the widder
values that as the apple Of her eye
Silly of her, for he was bad lot, thai
old man of hers"
What was the matter with him ?
asked the stranger, composedly.
| "Oh, he drank like the dickens
and went to the dogs. Old Pinchbeck
down here, got hold Of the mortgage
some way; he's a spry chap, that
Moneys money to him. He wouldn't
"a foreclosed, I guess, if the widder'S
daughter d "a married him. She's 6
pretty little girl. sixteen years old"
"Oh, Jack, you don't call her pret'
ty?" said the young wife, with un'
necessary emphasis - that pale
thing!"
| Sixteen" muttered the stranger
to himself-"s sixteen years old
woman grown. How long has hel
father been dead?" he asked aloud.
Cant tell you," said the yount
man, clearing his plate, and heapint
it again. II only know that he wen
off one day. and was found smashed
by a train Of cars. That was the las
of him"
"I remember him." spoke up thu
bride, anxious to thrust her prett!
face and new Importance into notice
"he was an awful man. Lucy wa
just as afraid of him as could be
Lucy and I went to school together
but somehow she wasn't a favorte
Poor thing! she was so ashamed o
her father. They used to call hin
Nosey Willets-his nose was so red
Why, the boys used to stone him al
the way from the tavern; and he'd d.
any mean thing for a drink. If
man will make a beast Of himself
why, he deserves all he gifts; and yo'
can call that temperance lecture.
you will"
"a very good one" said the travel
er, rising.
"Will you have catalogue?" ask
ed the young man, whose name wa
Jim. The stranger took the pape
quietly, and went out.
p, A new moon silvered the peaceful
hills and valleys, and pleasant gar
, den-spots in the picturesque lttl
) town, as the stranger left the inn an
sauntered slowly down the street. H
, paused for a moment 70 look at tn
interior of a barn where sturdy bo
| was ministering to the comfort OF wv
or three fine horses. Beams rougf
as if hewn out of granite; draperie
of dusty cobwebs. the broken, uneve
floor. the saddles hanging on the wal
5 with other gear the sleek quarters
the coach horses, the ruddy face o
! the boy distinctly pictured in tn
, light Of the huge lantern hung nea
the door. appeared to attract hin
for he moved away with apparent re
luctance.
5 How peaceful the place seemed a
$ that hour! There was no sound say
= the laughter of children, the tinklin
t of cow-bells,. or the careless song o
the busy worker within doors.
D On strode the man, busy wit