Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-30
PART 1.


our half starved, half clothed Ameri'
can soldiery were bravely struggling
with foreign foes and traitorous coun'
trymen for their homes and their inde'
pendence, on a lonely forest road II
the state of Connecticut stood an ole
tavern. It's neighborhood was a bao
one-in fact, the whole hamlet arounc
X was known to ne infested with
horde Of villainoua Tories who were
willing to barter hoHoc, friends and lib
erty for the glittering gold of King
George; but, in spite of the evil ex-
ample of his neighbCrs, no shade OF
suspicion or guilt lad ever been cast
upon the character Of Mike Travis, the
inn-keeper. He was generally known
as a peaceable, harmless man, who
favored the American cause and al
ways stood ready to secretly aid its
supporters; but, though this opinion
was widely spread, strange to say, Mike
Travis'S Tory neighho"s never offered
to modest him in any way. He kept a
quiet, orderly house with well-filled
larder, and a miscel aneous collection
of spiritual things Was always to be
found in the comfortable bar-room; So
rebel and Tory sat down to his board
and Mike Travis served both with equal
alacrity, and his Golfers grew heavy
and he patted his pretty daughter on
the head and mpttered: "Ye shall have
a dowTy, Jess-ye shall have a hand
some dowry when ye marry George
Thornton" But swee. Jessie Travis
always listened to such promises with
a silent lip and {. dark frown on her
open brow; and her brave, warm heart
turned away from George Thornton and
his riches to gallant man who fol-
lowed a banner # stripes and stars
and fought for Columbia's freedom in
the ranks of Washington.
The rain had been falling all day and
twilight closed in chill, dark and
gloomy. The Travis tavern was an ir-
regular building of a dark red color
with long, low outhouses and stable
attached The signboard, on which
was painted a mounted huntsman
creaked mournfully in the night wind
and, with it's closed doors and shutters
and dull, heavy outlines, the exterior
Of the old inn presented q weird, COM
fortress appearance; but within the
scene was very different. A blazing
ruddy fire cast light and warmth
throughout the large barroona, glistened
on the sanded floor and neat counters
and threw a rich glow on the shining
hair and girlish face of little house
maid who sat beside the hearth, alone
and apparently in deep meditation.
Mary Sparks was a pretty girl OF
twenty, spirited and fearless, and a
staunch patriot. She had been in the
employ of Travis for six months, and
during that time she had learned to
hate the worthy inn-keeper most cor
daily, and to love his charming daugh-
ter and his man-of all work, Jonas
White. To this latter parsonage Miss
Mary promised her hand, and Of her
approaching wedding day she was
thinking as she sat down to rest one
moment on the great settle of the bar
room. Everything around her was
still as the grave. There was not a
single guest in the house, to Mary's
knowledge, and she was just congrat-
ulating herself upon the thought thai
few would be likely to trouble the place
on that stormy night, when the door
flew open and Mike Travis entered
He cast a hasty glance around the room
and said, in an undertone:
Mary, lass, there's no one here but
you, eh?"
No, SIR" answered Mary, rising.
Very fortunate-very fortunate, in
deed!" said the old inn-keeper, rubbing
his hand. I've got a guest here who
is not fond of society-has melan-
choly mind. Come in, my friend"
A tall, stately man, who had beer
standing in the shadow Of the door
stepped forward and advanced into the
apartment. He wore a heavy military
cloak wrapped round his handsome
figure, and hat which was drawn fal
over his brow, with the obvious inten'
tiOn of concealing mis- features as much
as possible.
What are you staring at, Molly
What are you looking at him for?'
cried Travis, impatiently. He's
friend of mine-a true American
Come, girl, hurry and bring lights anC
wine in here" And Travis stumbled
hurriedly across the bar-room and en-
tered the dark parlOr that adjoined ii
Mary obeyed the peremptory com
mand with the utmost dispatch. Sh
bore a candle into the room and PLACED
on the table glasses and wine; thel
casting one long, lingering look towar'
the inn-keeper's companion, she drop
ped low curtsey and slowly withdrew
The instant the young girls feet ha'
PASSED the threshold of the door Ira
Wis sprang forward and closed am
bOlted it, Then the stranger, will
bOyish impatience, threw off his cloal
and hat, and drawing a chair to tn
table, sat down opposite the inn-keep
or. and said. with an air Of relief:
What the deuce do you keep tina
girl for, Travis? She'll do you SOM
mischief yet. Zounds, man! wouldn'
meet that piercing look Of hers again
for an earldom!"
What" cried Travis, contemptuous
". as he filled his glass with the Grim
son wine. George Thornton, com
missioned officer in his majesty's ser
vice, afraid of a little rebel lass? Pshaw
the girl is harmless enough" Their
raising his glass. the old inn-keepe
said, in a low, cautious tone, Here
to King George and confusion to tn
rebels"
Amen" answered Thornton, an
the next moment both gOblets Wer
drained to the very dregs. And nov
tn business" continued Thornton. anc
throwing his glass upon the table, h
took from his bosom a canvas bag, an
unloosing the string, emptied upon IN
board a pile of gold coin. The old inn