Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-21
CHAPTER II.
Yaney Tells q Moral Tale.

lowed at Yancy's heels as that gentle
man pursued the arduous rounds Of
temperate industry which made up his
daily life, for If Yancy were not COM
pletely idle he was responsible for
counterfeit presentment Of idleness
having most Of the merits Of the real
article. He toiled casually in small
cornfleld and a yet smaller truck
patch, but his work always began
late, when it began at all, and he was
easily dissuaded from continuing it;
indeed, his attitude toward 1t seemed
to challenge interference.
In the winter, when the weather
conditions were perfectly adjusted to
meet certain occult exactions he had
come to require, -Yancy could be in
duced to go into the woods, and there
labor with his ak. But as he pointed
out to Hannibal, a poor mans capital
was his health, and he being a poor
man it behooved him to have a jeal-
Gus care of himself. He made use OF
the dull days Of mingled mist and
drizzle for hunting, work being clearly
out Of the question; one could get
about over the brown floor of the for
est in silence then, and there was no
sun to CLINT the brass mountings of
the rife. The fine days he 'professed
to regard with keen suspicion as
weather breeders, when 1t was i'm
prudent to go far from home, especial
ly in the direction Of the Crenshaw
timber lands, which for years had been
the scene of all his gainful industry,
and where he seemed to think nature
ready to assume her most sinister as
pect. Again in the early spring, when
the young oak leaves were the size Of
squirrels ears and the whippoorwills
began calling as the long shadows
struck through the pine woods, the
needs of his corn ground battled with
his desire to fish. In all such crises
Of the soul Mr.. Yancy was fairly van
quished before the struggle began;
but to the boy his activities were per
fectly ordered to yield the largest re-
turn in contentment.
The Barony had been offered for
sale and bought in by Crenshaw for
eleven thousand dollars, this being the
amount of his claim. Some six months
later he sold the plantation for fifteen
thousand dollars to Nathaniel Ferris
of Currituck county.
There's money in the old place,
Bob, at that figure" Crenshaw told
Yancy.
There are so." agreed Yancy, who
was thinking Crenshaw had lost no
time in getting it out.
They were seated on the counter in
Crenshaw's store at Balaam's Cross
Roads, where the heavy odor of black
molasses battled with the sprightly
smell of salt fish. The merchant held
the Scratch Hitler in no small esteem.
Their intimacy was of long standing,
for the Yancys going down and the
Crenshaws coming up had for a brief
space fiourished on the same social
level. Mr.. Creushaw's rise in life,
however, had been uninterrupted,
while Mr.. Yancy, wrapped in philo-
sophie calm and deeply averse to In
dustry, had permitted the momentum
impaired by a remote ancestor to car
~ him where it would, which was
steadily away from that tempered
prosperity his family had once boast
ed as members of the land-owning
and slave-holding class.
"I mean there's money in the place
fo' Ferris" Crenshaw explained.
II reckon yo're right Mr.. John; the
old general used to spend heap on
the Barony and we know he never got
a cent back, so I reckon the moneys
there yet"
"Bladens got an answer from them
South Carolina Quintards, and they
don't know nothing about the boy
said Crenshaw, changing the subject.
80 you can rest easy. Bob; they amt
going to want him."
We'll, sir, that surely is a passel Of
comfort to me. find got all the in
stincts Of a father without having had
none of the instincts of husband"
A richer, deeper realization Of his
ioy came to Yancy when he had turn
ed his back on Balaam's Cross Roads
and set out for home through the fra
grant silence in the pine woods. HIS
probable part in the young life chance
had placed in his keeping was glori-
Gus thing to the man. He had not
cared to speculate on the future; he
had believed that friends or kindred
must sooner or later claim Hannibal,
but now he felt wonderfully secure in
Crenshaw's opinion that this was not
to be.
Just beyond the Barony, which was
midway between Balaam's and the
Hill, down the long stretch Of sandy
road he saw two mounted figures, then
as they drew nearer he caught the
fiutter of skirts and recognized one OF
the horsewomen. 1t was Mrs. Ferris,
wife of the Barony's new owner. She
reined in her horse abreast of his cart.
Aren't you Mr.. Yancy?" she asked.
Yes, ma'am that's me-Bob Yam
cy" He regarded her with large gray
eyes that were frankly approving in
their expression, for she was more
than commonly agreeable to look
upon.
"I am Mrs. Ferris, and 1 am very
pleased TO make your acquaintance.
THE same here" murmured Yancy
with winning civility.
Mrs. Ferris companion leaned for
ward. her face averted, and stroked
her horses neck with gloved hand.
This is my friend, Miss Betty NAL
roy"
Glad to know you, maam," said
Yancye.
Miss Malroy faced him, smiling
She, too, was very good to look upon,
indeed she was quite radiant with
youth and beauty.
I'VE are just returning from Scratch
Hill think that is what you call it?''
said Mrs. Ferris.
VanpV