Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-19

Il declare, I've a mind to skin yot
If you don't keep still! Miss Con
stance" Polly addressed her eldes
child, I'm surprised at you! Yot
might be a heather savage for all yor
got on your back-get into some dud!
this Instant" Cavendish was on hi!
knees again beside Yancy, and Polly
by a determined effort rid herself o.
the children. why, he's a grand
looking man, amt he?" she cried. La
what pity"
You can feel his heart beat, and
he's bleeding some" said Cavendish.
Let me see-just barely f1utters
don't it? Henry. go mind the sweeT
and see We don't get aground! Kep.
pei, you start "a fire and warm some
water! Connie, you tear UP my other
petticoat for bandages-now, still
around, all of you!" And then began
a period of breathless activity. They
first lifted Yancy into the circle of IL
cast by the fire Keppel had
luG III VI ilebl otohSo w
fore the shanties. Then, with Con-
stance to hold a pan Of warm water
Mrs. Cavendish deftly bathed the gap
ing wound in Yancy's shoulder where
Murrell had driven his knife. This she
bandaged with strips torn from her
petticoat. Next she began on the rag
ged cut left by Slosson's club.
He's got a right to be dead" said
Cavendish.
Get the shears, Dick-I must snip
away some of his hair"
All this while the four half-naked
Cavendishes, very still now,
stood about the stone hearth In the
chill dawn and watched their mothers
surgery with a breathless interest.
Only the outcast Henry at the sweep
ever and anon lifted his voice between
sobs Of mingled rage and disappoint-
ment, and demanded what was doing.
Think he is going to die, Polly?"
Cavendish at length. Their
heads, hers very black and glossy, his
very blond, were close together as
they bent above the injured man.
"I never say a body's going to die
until he's dead" said Polly He's
still breathing, and Christian has
got to do what they can. Don't you
think you ought to tie up?"
1.-The freshet's leaving US. I'll run
until we hit the big water down by
Pleasantville, and then tie up" said
Cavendish.
II reckon we'd better lift him to one
of the beds-get his wet clothes off
and wrap him up warm" said Polly.
"Oh, put him in our bed!" cried all
the little Cavendishes.
And Yancy was borne into the small
er of the two shanties, where present.
ly his bandaged head rested on the
long communal pillow. Then his wet
clothes were hung up to dry along
with a portion Of the family wash,
which fluttered on a rope stretched be-
tween the two shanties.
The raft had all the appearance Of
a cabin dooryard. There was, in addi-
ton to the two shelters of bark built
over a light framework Of poles, a pen
which housed a highly domestic fam
lily of pigs, while half dozen chick
ems enjoyed a restricted liberty. With
Yancy disposed of, the regular family
20
The little Cavendishes, reluctant but
had their faces washed
and were dressed by Connie,
while Mrs. Cavendish performed the
same Offices for the baby. Then there
was breakfast, from which Mr.. Caven-
dish rose yawning to go to bed, where,
before dropping off to sleep, he played
with the baby. This left Mrs. Caven-
dish in full command Of her floating
dooryard. She smoked a reflective
pipe, watching the river between puffs,
and occasionally lending hand at the
sweeps. Later the family wash en-
gagged her. 1t had neither beginning
nor end, but serialized itself from day
to day. Connie was already proficient
at the tubs. 1t was knack she was
in no danger Of losing.
Keppel and Henry took turns at the
sweeps, while the three smaller chill
dren began to manifest a love for the
water they had not seemed to possess
earlier in the day. They played along
the edge Of the raft, always in immi-
nent danger of falling in, always be-
ing called back, or seized, just in
time to prevent a catastrophe. This
ceaseless activity on their part earned
them much in the way of cuttings,
chastisements which Mrs. Cavendish
with no great spirit.
"Drat you. why don't you look at the
pore gentleman instead Of pesterin'
body most to DEATH" she demanded
at length. and they stole off on tiptoe
to stare at Yancy Presently Richard
ran to his mothers side.
Come quick-he's mutterin' and
mumblin and moving his head" he
crleu. II was as the CIlllu Sdlu Ian
cy had reused from his heavy stupor.
Words almost inaudible and quite in
articulate were issuing from his lips
and there was a restless movement Of
his head on his pillow.
He pears powerful distressed about
said Mrs. Cavendish. Il
reckon I'd better give him a little
stimulant now."
While she was gone for the whisky,
Connie, who had squatted down be-
side the bed, touched Yancy's hand
which lay open. Instantly his fingers
closed about hers and he was silent;
the movement of his head ceased alb
ruptly; but when she sought to with
draw her hand he began to murmur
again.
Il declare, what he wants Is some
one to sit beside him!" said Mrs.
Cavendish, who had returned with the
whisky, a few drops of which she
managed to force between Yancy's
lips All the rest of that day some one
of the children sat beside the wound
cd man who was uviet and satisfied