Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-30

What no! Wldt ho' '''
He hath been bitten by the Tarantula
All in the Wrong
MANY years ago l contracted an IN
timacy with a Mr.. William Legrand
He was of an ancient Huguenot tam-
ilv. and had once been wealthy; but
series of misfortunes had reduced MIN
to want. To avoid the mortihcation
consequent upon his disasters, he lett
New Orleans. the city of his foretath-
ers. and took up his residence at Sui
livan's Island, near Charleston, South
Carolina.
This island is a very singular one
II consists of little else than the sea-
sand, and is about three miles long
Its breadth at no point exceeds a quar-
ter of a mile. 1t is separated from the
mainland by a scarcely perceptiple
creek oozing its way through wllder-
ness of reeds and slime, favorite re-
sort for the marsh-hen. The Vegeta-
tion az might be supposed, is scant, or
at least dwarfish. No trees ot an!
magnitude are to be seen. Near the
western extremity, where Fort Moui-
trie stands, and where are some mis-
cradle frame buildings. tenanted, dur
ing summer, by the fugitives from
Charleston dust and fever, may De
found. indeed, the brstly palmetto; but
the whole island, with the exception OF
this western point, and a line OF hard'
white beach on the sea- coast, is COW
cred with dense underground OF the
sweet myrtle, so much priced by the
horticulturists of England. The SHRUB
here often attains the height or htteen
or twenty feet, and forms an almost
impenetrable coppice, burdening the
air with its fragrance.
In the inmost recesses of this cop
pice. not far from the eastern or more
remote end of the island, Legrand hao
built himself a small hut, which he oc-
cupied when first, by mere accident,
made his acquaintance. This soon
ripened into friendship-for there was
much in the recluse to excite interest
and esteem. found him well educated
with unusual powers of mind, but in
fected with misanthropy, and subject
TO perverse moods Of alternate enthu-
siasm and melancholy. He had with
him many books, but rarely employed
them. His chief amusements were
cunning and fishing, or saunterlng
along the beach and through the myr-
ties, in quest of shells or chronological
specimens:-his collection Of the lat
ter might have been envied by
Swammerdam. In these excursions he
was usually accompanied by an old ne
gro, called Jupiter. who had been
manumitted before the reverses OF the
family, but who could be induced
neither by threats nor by promises to
abandon what he considered his right
of attendance upon the footsteps OF ms
young "Massa Will" 1t is not improb-
able that the relatives of Legrand'
conceiving him to be somewhat unset
tied in intellect, had contrived to in
still this obstinacy into Jupiter, with
view to the supervision and guardian
ship of the wanderer.
The winters in the latitude of Sulll-
vans Island are seldom very severe,
and in the fall of the year it is rare
event indeed when a fire is considered
necessary. About the middle OF Octo-
her. IS, there occurred, however a
day of remarkable chilliness. Just be-
lnl
through the evergreens to the hut OF
my friend. whom l had not visited Tor
several weeks,-my residence being, al
that time, in Charleston, distance OF
nine miles from the island. while the
facilities of passage and re-passage
were very far behind those of the pres
ent day. Upon reaching the hut | rap
ped, as was my custom, and getting
no reply, sought for the key where
knew it was secreted, unlocked the
door. and went in. fine fire was
blazing upon the hearth. 1t was
novelty. and by no means an migrate
full one. threw off an overcoat, took
an armchair by the cracking logs
and waited patiently the arrival of my
hosts.
Soon after dark they arrived, and
gave me most cordial welcome. Ju-
piter, grinning from ear to ear, BUSTED
about to prepare some marsh-hens fol
supper. Legrand was in one of his hts
how else shall l term them?-of en-
thusiasm. He had found an unknown
bivalve, forming a new genus. and
more than this, he had hunted dowr
and secured. with Jupter's assistance
n sCarabaeus which he believed to he
totally new, but in respect to which he
wished to have my opinion on the NOR
row.
And why not tonight" l asked
rubbing my hands over the blaze, anC
wishing the whole tribe of scarabae
at the devil.
"Ah, if | had only known YOU were
here" said Legrand. but it's so Ions
since I saw you; and how could fore
see that YOU would pay me visit thl:
Very night of all others? AS | wa:
coming home | met Lieutenant C
from the fort, and, very foolishly,
lent him the bug; 50 it will be impos
sible for YOU to see it until the morn
ing. Stay here tonight, and l will sent
Jup down for it at sunrise. 1t is tn
loveliest thing in creation"
"What?-sunrise?
Nonsense! no!-the bug. 1t is of ;
brilliant gold color,-about the size o
large hickory nut.-with two jet
black spots near one extremity of tn
back. and another, somewhat longer
at the other The antennae are
"Dey amt no tin in him. Massa Will
keep a tclin' on YOU" here interrupt
ed Jupiter: de bug is goole-hug. solid
ebcry bit of him. inside and all. SCI
him wing.-neber feel half SO hehby {
hug i'm my life"
Well. suppose it is, Jup." repli"C
I.egrand. somewhat more earnestly,
seemed to me, than the case demand
ed. lis that any reason for your let