Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-08
LEN LAMBERT'S DAUGHTER
BY HORACE M. DuBOSE.
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To his salutation he hardly waited
for Tenny Lambert to make reply
when he asked: where's Lem
Il don't know" rather .carelessly re-
turned the girl; he haint been home
for more'n a week.
The youth was silent but a moment
and then asked: Don't you 'uns reck-
on, Tenny, that he's down to old man
Persones's camp, the same as usual!
Il reckon that you 'uns mought pos
sibly find him there, responded the girl
automatically, for there was little
friendship and courtesy wasted be-
tween the Lamberts and the Bardwells.
Though two generations of them had
grown up in the same valley Tenny
Lambert had been taught to suspect
every human being who bore the name
of Bardwell, and Prince had inherited
the antipathy of his house for the
whole tribe of Lamberts of which there
were many members scattered through
the coves of the Smokes. But these
are precisely the conditions out OF
which the little blind god delights to
bring surprising miracles.
The story of the Lamberts and the
Bardwells was an old one in these
mountains. In the time when the eX-
else laws had been less stringently eX-
ecuted, they were moonshiners in a"
open and defiant way; but with the
more vigilant execution of the no H.
to make and market their goods open
ly. and became strikers and smuggling
agents for small Illicit distillers who
piled their vocation in the most mac
cessible Businesses of the mountains.
The two families had been alternately
in the confidence of the revenue Of
ficers Spying and countersypinS had
kept alive decade after decade a feud
which more than once issued in Vio-
lence and bloodshed.
1t thus happened that a Lambert
and a Bardwell seldom met on easy
terms, and Len Lambert's daughter
had up to this time kept the traditions
of her house.
Young Bardwell seeing her reticence
and suspicion said:
"Tenny, I've come to do YOU 'uns
turn"
What is it?" she asked almost as
nonchalantly as before.
The revenues are on the way to
the mountains" he observed in a gen.
uinely serious tone.
At the word revenues" (by which
the youth meant government revenue
detectives) the girl exhibited a mark
ed change of manner, and letting her
self down to a standing position. she
inquired with spirit:
rs the Bardwells gettin' ready to
hide out?'
No. Tenny," he answered, AN that's
what makes me come to you 'uns. It's
the Bardwells, all eXceptin' me. that's
leadin' the revenues up here. They
low to clean out the whole Lambert
clan, and then they'll have the moon
shinin' all to themselves"
An what makes YOU 'uns want to
tell we 'uns of this secret of the Bard
well CLAM" asked Tenny still doubtful
of the sincerity of her visitor.
Because. Tenny." answered the
youth. I've been six months down to
Bryson to school, an I've learnt that
| don't want to be a mOOnshiner: but
| do want to be somebody: an then,
if you'll believe me Tenny, | don't
hands of them revenues, an he's jest
as sure to be nabbed before daylight
tomorrow mornin' as I'm standin'
here. unless somebody warns him; an
Tenny, l mean to warn him myself,
ef can jest make sure he's at old Per-
sonses' Camp"
The girl now started with some
thing like fright. but desiring a still
further proof of the sincerity of sup
posed enemy who showed such uneX-
pected interest in her and hers, she de-
manded:
Now, Prince Bardwell. on you 'uns's
word and honor, you 'uns amt mean
in to trap the Lamberts SOS to get a
reward from the revenues"
The youth, at this challenge, drew
near enough to make himself heard in
the almost whispered tone which he as
sumed:
ION my word an honor. Tcnny, I'm
a doin' this for you 'uns-only for you
'uns. Tenny; I love you 'uns, Tenny-
jest YOU 'uns-'till | can't stand it no
longer" and with that he took the
girls big brown hand i'm his own and
held it to emphasize his faith and pas
sion.
In that moment a new and w0ndrOuS
light broke on the soul of Tenny Lam
bert and she not only thought, in her
wild imperfect way, the thoughts of
the vaguely Illuminated rustic before
her. but she felt the impulsa and pas
sion of love-first love with all that love
means to a nature to whom light and
tenderness have hitherto been strang-
erS. Could the sign under her honey
red hair have been seen it would have
shown a maidenly flush. but she was
too much a child of nature 10 under
stand her own emotions. She could
only say:
Prince, | believe what YOU 'uns say
an if YOU 'uns will jest save the Lam
hertS from the revenues. I'll believe IN
YOU 'uns. Prince, es long es live"
That's all the pay | want, Tenny,'
said the youth. and he pressed hen
hand with more than warmth. and was
about striding away when he turned
quickly and said:
"Tenmy. Of the revenues don't get
me. III he right here on this spot by
the first streak of day tomorrow morn
in"
An YOU 'uns will find me wait
in for YOU 'uns. an a sittin jest where
| am now. Prince"
Tenuy Lambcrt's eyes knew no slccI
| that night. Between the natural SuliC-
;,IJ. b,. f.lt f,r. bar fat \,