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"Of course," continued he, "you, sir, bein' a strenger " "I beg your pardon, Colonel Kipp: I am a stranger to your city, and of course " "Don't signify a dump, sir," interrupted he, rather good-humouredly, in return for the show of deference I had made, as also, perhaps for my politeness in having styled Swampville a city. "Business in Swampville, you say?"
The "ten mile down da crik" proved to be long ones; but throughout the whole distance I saw not a creature, until I had arrived within a mile or so of the "settlement!" I had been already apprised that Swampville was a new place. Its fame had not yet reached the eastern world; and even in Nashville was it unknown, except, perhaps, to the Land-Office.
Joshua Stebbins is neither one nor the other; although, as will shortly appear, his assumption of the ecclesiastical style is not altogether confined to his dress. Of late he has also affected the clerical calling. The ci-devant attorney's clerk whilom the schoolmaster of Swampville is now an "apostle" of the "Latter-day Saints."
Besides, strenger, I've some partickler bizness jest now, that I'm 'bleeged to see to." "Oh, never mind! I shall not need any refreshment till I reach Swampville." "Wal, then, I'll bid you good-mornin' at the same time wishin' you luck o' your bargin." "Thanks good morning!" I leaped into the saddle, and turned my horse's head towards the entrance of the enclosure.
While waiting in Swampville for the letter of Lilian, I had learnt something of the history of the ci-devant schoolmaster not much of the period subsequent to his departure from that place little more than the fact that he had joined the Mormons, and had risen to high office in their church in short, that he was one of their "apostles." This fact, however, was one of primary significance.
Notwithstanding all this, the young hunter was evidently an object of interest whether friendly or hostile and might have been the cynosure of the supper-table, but for my undress-frock and spread-eagle buttons. These, however, claimed some share of the curiosity of Swampville; and I was conscious of being the object of a portion of its surveillance.
I saw him with his arms around her with my own eyes I saw this. What farther proof needed I of his perfidy?" "All that you saw, I admit, but " "More than saw it: I heard of his faithlessness. Did not she herself declare it in Swampville? elsewhere! boasted of it even to my own sister! More still: another was witness to his vile conduct had often seen him in her company.
"No," answered I, imitating his laconism of speech. "No!" "I have been in the service. I have just left it." "Oh ah! From Mexico, then, I prezoom?" "Yes." "Business in Swampville?" "Why, yes, Mr Kipp." "I am usooally called kurnel here," interrupted the backwoods militario, with a bland smile, as if half deprecating the title, and that it was forced upon him.
"Why, Josh," said he, attempting an easy off-hand style of talk, "ye're bran new, spick span, from head to foot; ye look for all the world jest like one o' them ere cantin' critters o' preechers I often see prowlin' about Swampville. Durn it, man! what dodge air you up to now. You hain't got rileegun, I reck'n?" "I have," gravely responded Stebbins. "Hooraw! ha, ha, ha!
A buckskin hunting-shirt was an everyday sight in Swampville not so a well-mounted military man, armed, uniformed, and equipped. No doubt, my splendid Arab, caracoling as if he had not been out of the stable for a week, came in for a large share of the admiration. We were soon beyond its reach.
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