Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-29

The following Story was ohSo eoie -
New England for a literal fact. The
author remembers to have heard II
from the lips of a. centenarian VINO
knew the hero in her youth, and who
believed In the adventures which 1 am
about to relate as utterly as In the
truths of her Bible. To this less cred
ulous generation, however, have moth
ing to say, except that Il tell the tale
as twas told to me-"
About the year 177-a young man
named David Kendall, serving In the
army of the Revolution as a paymas-
ter's clerk, was travelling homeward to
the town of Boston on brief furiough
He had in his possession, as he jour-
neyed, a considerable sum OF money
entrusted to him by the superior ofr-
Ger. and which he was to deliver tothe
family of the latter, residing In some
suburban town.
The Journey from New York to Bos-
ton was, in those days, no small matter
Kendall made 1t on foot, with a pair oi
pistols in his girdle and his money
slung upon his back in knapsack
The month was October, wild and
stormy. One Sabbath night, just as
the dark was closing In, threatening
and thick, Kendall, plodding some
where upon the boundaries OF northern
Connecticut, came to q lonely tavern
standing at the fork of two crossroads.
Now. from other reasons than weari-
ness or hunger, the traveller had been
seeking this same tavern diligently
and. as the warm lights beamed on him
from the curtainless windows, he went
in, and throwing off his knapsack on
the hearth, sat down beside 1t.
Lord bless us! Is it We, Dave Ken
DALI" cried mine host, an old Yankee,
with a shrewd, well-favored face.
What We got in that air knapsack,
now?"
"wen, a little money for the pay
masters wife-that's all"
"Then, I take 1t, ye're from below?''
eyes," answered Kendall; from the
army"
Travelling to Boston?'
yes"
"Things look pretty rough in York
state now-hey?"
"Not SO bad as they might" replied
Kendall, sturdily. "How's Molly?"
Attracted by the sound Of voices, a
charming brown head appeared now
in the doorway. The owner of this
head, a girl Of eighteen, fresh as
daisy, bIushed to her brown eyes as
she saw who it was that sat before her
fathers fire, and then turned immedi-
ately to-fiy. ...----.-s.
Molly" cried Kendall-"Molly,
come now! You might speak word
to a fellow, seeing as how he's come
five good miles out Of his way to have
one look at YOU"
She went shyly up to him, at that,
and gave him her hand.
How dye do, Dave Kendall? I'm
glad to see We we'll, and 1 hope we've
mended your ways" said Molly.
The old tavern keeper stood leaning
on the mantel Below huge wood fire
roared in a cavernous fireplace and
fiickered along the bare, smoky rafters
of the room. On the mantel itself lay
a row Of stumpy pipes and a pack OF
we'll thumbed cards. UP in the Chin
ney the wind screamed and roared.
"The army amt jest the place to
mend bad ways In, girl" said the old
man, his eyes falling on the cards; but
that's neither here nor there. Dave
wants his supper. A mug Of flip and
a rasher of bacon, Molly, and be live
ly."
Kendall fell to the meal with avidity
that daisy faced girl served him, con-
scious and silent and sweet. The
steam of the smoking flip filled the
room with delightful odors. He caught
her hand from the handle of the mue
and held it fast.
Molly, dear, don't be hard on pool
fellow-don't now! I've come good
way for a word with you. Say you'll
have me and be done with it," Molly
drew the little trembling hand sadly
away.
"Tn never have you," said she It'll
you've done with cards and drink
Dave I know your ways. and you're
Just a wild registering blade, and that's
ALL"
"Ah, don't, Molly, don't!"
I'm not so bad off for lovers yet
said the pretty child. half-sobbing
that I must take up with such as you
for good"
And with that she ran out Of the
room.
Kendall finished his supper, sulky
and sad. 1t was pitch dark outside
and the rain began to clatter loudly OF
the window panes. Molly came in fol
the remains Of the meal, but would no
look at him, so he went up to the
hearth where the knapsack of money
still lay warming, and taking the wei
worn cards from the mantel, turned
them. over and over in his hand.
"Darned if l don't wish somebod!
was here TO play a game WITH me! III
muttered, the ruling passion Of his lif'
Selling him in a moment with vehe
mence.
Decent folks" spoke the old inn
keeper, don't play on Sunday nights
lad"
We'll" answered Kendall, with
reckless laugh, 81 amt nowise particu
lar about partners. I'd play with tn
devil himself tonight"
A gust of wind tore down the chin
ney and whirled the gray ashes In
weird dance about the hearth. Whel
that passed a knock, low, long ant
measured, echoed on the door Of tn
tavern.
The old innkeeper arose and opene'
1t. He could see nothing for the blue
livid sheets of rain that dashed full II
his face, binding him.
Come in" he cried, whoever yo,
be. come in"
With that two men stepped acros
the threshold and into the room wher
Kendall still stood by the flickerini