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\ " ISSUED TWICE A WEEK--WBIDNBSIJAY A3NTD SATURDAY. l. k. grist & sons, PubUshers. f Jf Jamiti? |}euist>aper: 4or tt' ?romotion of the golitieat, goeial, gfflritultural, and (|ommei;eiat Interests of the ?outh. {TER8?Ncll^0oPTVTBRiiNcE .!,CE' ~VOL. 43. YORKVILLE, 8. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1897. 3STO. 22. ROB Mc( BY MARTHA McCU Copyright, 1896, by the Author. Synopsis of Previous Installments. In order that new readers of The Enquirer may begin with the following installment of this story, and understand it just the same as though they had read it all from the beginning, we here give a synopsis of that portion of it which has already been published: Chapter I.?Life in Walnut Creek, in Tennessee, centers around Topmark's store. Magnolia Tubbs, a mysterious newcomer in the neighborhood, not without attractions of a coarse type, is a nocturnal caller on Topmark. Chapter II.?Mrs. Topmark dies from the poison of herbs brought to the store by a charm working Negress, ostensibly to kill mice. Gossips and a managing mamma are trying to bring about a match between Topmark's niece, Alice Winfold, and aristocratic Colonel Talbot's son Jack. But spirited Rob McGregor, heiress of Roseoe, has been before Jack's eyes from childhood. Chapter III.?Topmark covets the Roscoe acres, which are heavily mortgaged and adjoin bis own. Rob is the mainstay and comfort of her widowed and blind father. Chapter IV.?Jack Talbot isa frequent callei at Roscoe. So is the newly made widower Topmark. Jack proposes to Rob and meets with a good humored repulse. . Chapter V.?Magnolia Tubbs holds a mysterious land claim of value, and Topmark seeks to control it. Chapter VI.?Alice Winfold places a stumbling block in the path of true love by telling Rob that Jack has proposed to her. Chapter VII.?Mrs. Talbot prevails upon Jack to act as the escort of Alice Winfold. He does so reluctantly, but ends in trifling with her while his heart is set upon Rob McGregor. Chapter VIII.?A series of mysterious persecutions of the people of Roscoe inaugurated by the theft of Rob's favorite saddle horse, Lightlady. Chapter IX.?Jack drives Alice Winfold to the great annual church meeting. Rob is there in the company of Topmark, having arranged it to spite Jack Talbot for his supposed double dealing. She believes Alice Winfold's story. Chapter X.?All the gossips have it that Jack Talbot and Alice winfold are engaged, but Jack again proposes to Rob. She cleverly evades the question. Chapter XI.?Jack Talbot and his mother, ride horseback to church at night. Mrs. Talbot tells Jack of her desire to see him happily married. They are joined by Miss Winfold and Nina and later by Rob and Topmark. Jack overhears an interesting conversation between Rob and the widower. Chapters XII and XIII.?Bethel experiences a great revival in which Teddy Barton, among others, professes conversion. Topmark calls on Magnolia and leaves a few gauds and gewgaws. Mrs. Winfold gives a quilting party to which m?lj? 1- . - ?3 Tnnnmrlr JBUUJT IB IJUb IUV1VCU UCT.au3D jvpu.?>? objects. CHAPTER XV. Mr. Topmark's letter to Mr. Howell had been a triumph of diplomacy. There bad been no mention of business?oh, not the least! He had eaid in rambling fashion that a widower was mighty lonesome, and it was near time for dove shooting to begin, and maybe "thar might be some 'lection matters" that oould be talked over to advantage when a man had neither a wife nor a crop on his mind to bother him. To himself Mr. Topmark added that Howell was rat sharp, but not likely to try putting up any game on him. He himself knew too much. If he told all he knew, it would be mighty awkward for Howell and bigger men besides. Then, too, the storekeeper was fairly Bure of his ground. He had taken opinion of Judge Graball, the first lawyer in Oldbridge, in the very beginning of things, and Graball had said, getting a olean hundred dollars for the saying, that in Mr. Topmark's hypothetical case right might lie on one side. Law was certainly on the other. If a wife bad not quitclaimed property held jointly or bought in her behalf, no sore title passed to its purchaser. Her children or children's children were entitled to recover not only the land itself, but a reasonable rent for it, this all the more if they had lived out of the state and naturally in ignorance of their rights. That condition indeed made the statute of limitation inoperative. Holders of such land could set up only adverse possession and plead in equity innocent purchase. Even if they avowed that there had been quitclaiming in the original transaction to establish such avowal legally they must submit the deed or a record of it or an exaot and attested transoript of the original. "An thar ain't nare 6oratch ter be found er sech er paper, not in none er the county records," Mr. Topmark had said, rubbing his hands as he rode away. He repeated it with unction, inly, when he saw the lawyer, sleek and flaxen, his chair tipped comfortably back against a pillar of the porch and Teddy Barton gazing at him with open eyed admiration. Teddy had indeed paid the man from town the compliment of his life by remaining silent fall five minutes while the other talked. He had even admitted to his inner consciousness that there was one more man in the world could tie u cravat with as much style as Teddy himself. But of that Mr. Topmark reckoned nothing. He was too rapt in his own concerns. "Now, Rob, my darling," he was saying to himBelf, "I hope you'll be sensible an gimme er ohance ter settle this yere business the way I like. Ef you but knowed it, my gai, you ain't got no show without me. Thar ain't hoof ner horn you kin sell. The whole crap, ef it was in the barn, wouldn't fetch er hundred dollars. An thar's the ole man. You tauter keep him in cotton wool. You're er fool fer that, but be hanged ef I don't love you better jest because er sech foolishness. Jack Talbot is better ter look at'n me, but you won't take him, not ef you're sensible. But you ain't sensible. I don't believo I want you ter be neither. Ef I thought you'd take me fer what I've got, I wouldn't be nigh so mad after you. I'd ruther sorter make you take me an then coax you inter lovin me than ter have you drap in my mouth because er what I kin give you." jREGOR. LIOCH WILLIAMS. Be bad been silently soliloquizing in front of bis dead wife's fine, big bureau. Looking himself carefully over in the mirror, be half sighed, stroked bis stubblv mustache, then all at once sat sud deuly down, with an odd, smothering pain at his heart. It passed in a second or two. bat left him white and shaken. "I mus' put er stop ter that," he said hoarsely. "The ole witch! Black Sam had spells like that all winter befo' he died, an the niggers all said he was conjured. " As he went out on the porch Luley dropped her beloved crochet work and sidled up to him, saying, with au air of weariness, "Popper, lernrue go with you ter Aunt Sarah's ternigbt?" "Hey! Have you set out too? Who air you castin sheep's eyes at?" Mr. Topmark asked, laughing, glad to have any distraction just then. "I didn't know I had er grown daughter. When did you put on long dresses?" "I wish I could put 'em on," Luley said, sighing deeply. "Then I could marry an take Jinney an Anny ter live with me soon as our stepmother cornea Aunt Sarah says all stepmothers are mean as they can be, but I don't believe Miss Rob will beat us. That's why I want ter go ternigbt, so I oan beg her ter take yon an keep yon from chasin off after that hateful old Miss Mandy Allen." "B'George! Then maybe I better take yon," Mr. Topmarksaid, laughing. But it was Lawyer Howell instead who bore him company that night when he went driving away to the Winfold party. Bob came late and in her worn white frock instead of the half new bine one, yet she was easily the belle, with cheeks delicately pink as u wild rose freshly open and eyes dilated to a black brilliance, like the shining of midnight stars. There was a new note in her voice, too, a sort of tense, vibrant softness that thrilled the listening ear. Naturally the other yonng women, save Miss Winfold, made common cause against her. When it came to dancing, more than one sat down snddeuly and nnacocnntably when Rob was opposite her. But in the end these malcontents hurt only themselves. Thdy were left wallflowers while Rob went victoriously from strength to strength, from conquest to conquest, for she danced as one inspired. Townsman that he was, prepared to laugh at rural gambols, Lawyer Howell caught his breath at sight of her in a solo and as soon as might be asked her for the next waltz. "Yon may have it," Rob said, with her wickedest smile?"that is, if yon will convert Mrs. Winfold from the error of her way. You see, she does not allow round dances here. In fact, I half believe she thinks any sort of dancing a sin unless yon can manage to do it very badly." "Yon mean she thinks your dancing wicked I don't at all blame her. I see, Miss McGregor, you are a very dangerous person, so dangerons I scarcely dare ask for a quadrille," Mr. Howell said, DrvK r?o*ro o foint ohvncr nnrl Willi O UUVY . A?UUgH?U M Aurnv BUAU5 Baid tranquilly: "As you like about that I am so used to being thought desperately wicked I suppose I am case hardened. Anyway even the thought of not being your partner does not plunge me in the depths." "Ef he don't ask you after that, I'll shoot him. I've a great mind ter do it anyway. None er these yere young chaps shan't eass you with meeroun," Mr. Topmark said, grinning. Rob gave him a long look, then turned to her next partner and whirled away without a word. At near 11 o'clock she set the company agog by saying carelessly to Jack Talbot in the face of everybody: "Oh, Jack, make haste and get through your dance! You have got to take me home before 12 o'clock." "Lemme do that, Miss Rob,"Mr. Topmark said eagerly. Jack shouldered him aside and took Rob's hand. He could scarcely trust himself to speak, so great was his joy, but somehow he managed to say: "Get your shawl. We will go at once." "Shawl I I never thought of one this dry, beautiful night. I'll meet you at the gate. Bring around the horses," Rob said, slipping away over the narrow front porch and on down the gravel walk that led to The front gate. Thero were prim, spiny cedars at guard either side of it. Whito moonshine drew silhouettes of them upon the sparse turf at foot. Lanterns feebly flickering amid the green boughs, in Miss Winfold's judgment, gave the whole affair a touch and tang of style. But Rob, the audacious, set one light upon the ground and said as she sprang up beside Jack: "I could not take a chance of scaring Timothy and Clover. The darlings 1 Thpv Trmst: en 50 miles before morninff." * ? # * The company broke an hour later. Scenting thunder in the air, Lawj t Howell pleaded that the night was bo fine he had rather walk the mile to Topmark's. He had a foxy sharpness that had made plain to him some part of what was under the curds. Topmark angry was, he kuow experimentally, an ugly customer. Let his wrath expend itself properly on his own flesh and blood, not an innocent stranger seeking diversion and honest profit. As the gate clicked behind him Mrs. Winfold burst out: "Brother, ef you kill me fer it, I must say it. Oh, do promise me you won't let that dcspisable little vixen make a mock of you no more, like she did ternight. I thought 1 should die, I did, seeiu the airs she put on." "Did you?" asked Mr. Topmark. with an ugly snarl. "Sis Sarah, lemme tell you this is a mighty bad time fer snivelin an backbitin. 1 stand tor what I told you. I mean ter marry that girl in "Lcmmc do that, Miss Rob." spite er all the women in Christendom, eben herself." "What? With folks talkin as they do? An after the way she acted tornight nobody cain't deny nothin that may be said of her an Jack Talbot"? Mrs. Winfold began, bnt paused at sight of her brother's livid face. He drew a hard breath, then broke out: "All they says is lies, the damnedest sort. You know that?yes, as well as I do. The gal is er reg'lar touch me not, but she don't need ter be. The man don't live that could try ter make free with her when she looked at him as she can. Another thing?you have got ter stop your scaudalizin. It's good words fer her er noue ef you wanter keep friends with me." "I'll treat her like she was a queen from this time on," Mrs. Winfold said spitefully. "But the Lord knows I don't see nothin in her ter set you an all yon men so crazy after her. Ef you git her, the worst wish I make you is that yon may not be sorry of it the last day you live." "Thanky. I'll risk it. I'm of age," Mr. Topmark snorted. "Iconldn't make you understand?I won't try it?that she's one er the sort that's worth all the pretty women in the world. I cain't make you understand, neither, how I feel about her, bat I reckou yon do know plain English when yon hear it, an this I've got tersay?she's my choice er all the world." "Don't mind mommer, Uncle Ben. She's a little foolish over us, yon know," Alice said suavely* But Mr. Topmark was striding away without so muoh as a good night Rob hardly spoke throughout the three mile drive to Roscoe. When they had got half way from the outer gate to the house, she laid a timid hand on Jack's arm, Baying softly: "Stop here, please. I don't ask what yon are thinking of me, Jack. I am too sure you have not got out of your habit of helping people who oannot help themselves." "You mean you know I would go to the world's end for you," Jack said, his breath quickening. "Sweetheart, only tell me"? "Hush! I cannot listen to? to such things now," Rob said. "You must know I am asking no service for myself. I would rather die than do that, even from you." "Then who?" Jack asked, dropping bis band over hers. "Rob, darling." he went on, "I am not sordid enough to make conditions over helping whoever you say I must, but won't you promise to see and hear me some day soon? There is so mnch we mast dear up. Until tonight, dear, I was wild, mad enough almost to think you had brought yourself to tolerate that brute, Topmark. Your dear eyes told me better. They, are . rank traitors to your scheme. When may I oome, dearest? Do, please, say tomorrow 1" Hob shivered in spite of the warm, dry summer air. She had let her hand lie passive in his grasp. Now she drew it away and said very low: "You must never say such things any more, Jack. Wc?we?belong to our fathers and mothera " Then in a voice wholly changed she unfolded his duty. He must drive on to the bridge, get his mysterious passenger and carry him due west as far and fast as Timothy and Glover could safely go before daylight. When it was ended, she said imperatively: I "Put me down here. No, there Is nothing to be afraid of. I will not rob my protege of another minute when each one may be so precioua " Without a word Jack drew rein. Then when she had left his side he sent the horses forward at a slapping trot without even one backward look at the slim shape alone in the moonshine. CHAPTER XVL Rob was utterly without fear. She thought nothing of going anywhere about the plantation at any hour of day or night. She walked slowly along the mill road, her head bare, her eyes upraised, now to the twinkling stars, now to the lace of branchy boughs thrust between her and the sky. "It is almost too delicious to sleep tonight," she said. "I have a great mind to moon about here in the dew for an hour. But niaybo I had better go home. Though pappy ie safe in Lion's guard, he may bo wukeful and fret for me." So thinking, she went quickly forward, stepping so light the grass hardly bout for her tread. The house was dark and silent when she came to it Lion's big bulk made a shaggy blur of white upou the floor of the long hall. Dnnro nf ovirl otnnrl fn vagrant air, and from tho big square ! front room to the right came the sound of gentle breathing, even and regular as that of a child. Rob listened to it a j minute, then stole back into the sliver ( moon rays. She was tensely alive, every ( fiber strung to its utmost pitch, and sleep out of the question. She strayed J on to the garden and luid her cheek against the full dew wet roses. She plucked a clove pink, too, and set it at her throat. Jack loved the pinks mc c of all her flowers. Afterward she never smelled them without recalling that j eerie night. On she wandered to her mother's ' grave, a green mound of dewy myrtle, 1 into the orchards beyond, almost out ! into the road again, then stopped short Her keen~ear bad caught a most uncommon sound for the time and place. It was low, but vibrant, the tramp of many hoofs sharply in motion. "I wonder?let me see what that means," Rob said half aloud, making 6wiftly toward the house. As she entered it Lion sat upright, with his nose in air, as though on the point of howling. Rob softly silenced him and caught her rifle from the rack. It was her sole personal extravagance?a magazine gun, light and trustworthy. Lion, watching her, crawled to her feet, giving out little, low, appealing whines, yet not offering to uncrouch without her word. * 'No! Keep guard! Good boy 1 Guard 1" Rob said, shaking her head and running lightly away. The dog quivered all over in his eagerness to follow, but lay obe diently on the floor, head to the wind. "I#do wonder what it can be," Rob repeated. Then she langbed aloud and added, "I wonder why I wonder when I shall certainly soon And out" Teddy Barton was always hospitable, especially with his employer out of the way. But those about him the night of the party were amazed at the lavishness with which he set out things to eat and drink, particularly to drink. One round of bottles was not empty before fresh ones were in their place. There was no great company of the revelers, only two of Teddy'8 chums, a man or two from the hoop pole region who were each in Mr. Topmark's debt, and Enoch Annis whom Teddy called familiarly Noob. All these Teddy kept uproariously going. By midnight, what with his wit and whisky, they were drunken ripe for any sort of adventure?all, that is, save Annis. He had grown more sober and saturnine apparently with each glass. Indeed, he said contemptuously aside, "Teddy was blame slow in briugin things to a head." But Teddy answered only with a wink and an explosive giggle, then struok up wildly: "Cyarve dat possum I Cyarve dat possum! Cyarve an cook dat possum, chilluns! Cyarve him ter do heart 1" Then ingeniously he led the talk to night ridings and raidings, repeating vainglorionsly tales caught from his elder brothers of what he called "patter rollin" in the slave times and later with the Kuklux. It must have been lull a Jive, oe saia. "oay, now, wny uus try jest er little of it? Niggers a-plenty seattered all round the country, an good men and horses jest goin ter waste at the sto\ All fellers that air game hole up the right hand, b'Georgel" Everybody was game. Just wait till he could get out a few things. The fun should be had in style?yes, if it broke the store. Topknot? Hang Topknotl Who was he anyway? Besides he was so love crazy he "wouldn't never know it ef half the stock was taken, let 'lone jest ernough white stutf an black ter dress the Kukluxers like they oughter be. Fact, it'd be the best sort er joke, an ef the ole man dares ter cheep?why, tell him ter go ter Halifax." ? Some half an hour later there was a grotesque procession down the road and over the creek. Two and two the men rode, their horses half covered with white cloth. The riders had black cloths over the face and carried stout stioks, from which other oloths, black and white, floated and flapped as they moved along. Teddy, riding in the rear with Noch, gave a low, satisfied whistle. "HuhI Don't b'leeve the ra-ale Kuklux looked any horribier'n us fellers," he said. "Hey, thar, all er you! Stop yere at the creek an git your mouths full er gravel. Then the devil that owns you cain't tell by listenin who you air." When they were again in motion, Noch rode at the head, and Teddy brought up the rear. They had changed face and were going straight toward Roscoe. When some one asked confusedly where they were bound and who was to be diBCipJiuea, isocn auswerea, wua an oath, "Ob, we'll show you befo' we tell you." Then they rode in iilence for ten minutes or more. Speech was not easy with those disguising pebbles. More than one of the gang made to spit them out and discourse with drnnken gravity, bnt was stopped by the man at his elbow. Presently Nooh fell back and 6poke with Teddy in a hushed undertone. The conference was brief, and at the end Teddy said: "No vi'lenoe. Remember that 'bove all things. We jest wanter make the witch woman swaller some er her own stuff, then take her ter the swamp an leave her. Mayby she'll find herself; mayby she won't That's none er our lookout" "The swamp!" Noch echoed. "It is er good place an couvenient Nobody never thinks nothin out er the common ef they do see buzzards a-flyin round over it." In a little while they began to ride in Indian file along an overgrown path. It oame out upon the brink of the spring before Aunt Phemy's cabin. There was a little oloar space set with grass about ?.^.11 nn/1 fhftm fKfiTT DflW tjfhaf l/IJU Wt'Il UCUU, HUU Uiiviw vu?'j UM Tf ?MH. spurred them to swifter aotion. Though the moonshine flooded it, a leaping fire glowed at the water's edge. It was newly kindled and fed with dry thorns. Before it, with a thorn in the breast, hung a waxen image slowly wasting in the heat. It had been so placed that the moon shadow of it fell in the grave posture, feet to the sunrise, head to the sunset. Annt Phemy stood watching breathlessly the melting away. Now and again she muttered strange, guttural words and cast fresh thorns upon the fire. "It's the full er the moon ternight She's workin the dead man conjure sho's er gnn," Teddy said, his teeth chattering. He would have run away at once, for all his masking, but Noch's hand fell over bis in a grip he dared not misunderstand. "It's all the better. We've caught her in the act," he said in Teddy's ear. A horse neighed impatiently. Aunt Phemy looked up, saw the grotesque mummers, and with one sweep of her foot scattered the fire, then darted toward her house. But before she had made three steps Noch had gripped her shoulders, her throat, and was bearing her earthward in spite of her struggles. Baying over life shoulder to Teddy: **00 in. Find her bags an bottles. We'll serve her as she does the rest er the world." The old woman writhed and moaned. She could make no other outcry. They i had borne her to her thrashold. She could hear them rummaging within, i Then the grip on her throat was relaxed a trifle as a thick honey paste, full of . acrid, pungent flavors for - all its sweet, was thrust within her mouth. "Dunno what it is; some er devil stuff. It?it'll do, I reckon," Teddy said thickly. His teeth were chattering. Still he was wishing himself well out of it all, even that he had never embarked in such enterprise, though, refusal might have cost him Mr. Topmark's favor. 1 "Look fer snake p'ison. She's got it, T I know. I've beared tell she kills folks r sometimes with briers dipped in it," t Noch said alond. In the brntal joy of t v? i She was too Quick for him. \ killing he bad grown reckless as Teddy ' was affrighted. At his words the old . woman shrank and shivered, moaning more than ever, but still he held her 8 fast "Yon're p'ison slow, findin that thar p'ison!" he oalled after a minute. "Hurry up er I'll"? Something cut his speech short, a bullet that hissed and sang sharply through the air a yard above his head. And some one, a slight girl, came on the run, her eyes burning, her faoe as white as her froob. "Out of this! Begone or I shoot you like the wild beasts you are!" she cried, stopping short and flinging her gun to the shoulder. She was so white, so frail, so slender young, any one of them could have crushed out her life with one hand, but not a band was lifted. The men stood still, shaking and staring, while she ranged herself beside the old black woman, who leaned heavily against the house. Rob gave a low, contemptuous laugh, then went on: "This iB brave work for men?attacking a harmless woman at dead of night I could guess who you are. I will not n I do not want to name creatures so inef- 11 fably mean and wile. Be off at onoe, I tell you! Remember this is Roscoe and b I the mistress of it" e "Ho! You won't be long, my fine c lady!" Noch shouted as be made for his a horse. The rest were already mounted g and galloping for life across the fields, o Tbey bad scattered furiously almost at b tbe bullet's ping Nocb stopped and g faced about. He was alone with tbe v breatnless old woman, tbe slim, scorn- 1 ful girl. Why not wring their necks D and make an end of them? His band 0 itched to feel that soft throat in its 0 grasp. He bad bated aristocrats all bis life. Now he bated her with a hot, per- & sonal grudge. p With a hoarse cry be made to spring v upon her. She was too quick for him. v She set her back against tbe wall, flung s her rifle to tbe shoulder and fronted p him in tbe moon rays without one thrill j of fear. Her fine nostrils dilated, her eyes flamed with the primal fire, the el- 0 omental human impulse of combat. Her v finger on tbe trigger was as steady as r steel. She half smiled as she said, coy- ^ ering the heart of her adversary: "How I would like to kill you if only you were worth killing!" j( Among men Nocb Annis was no cow- n ard. He owned a sullen, brutal, bulldog courage, crafty and cruel, but courage for all that. Yet now he slunk ^ away, muttering as he set his horse in full run: "That thar gal, she's the devil er one er his mighty big impa " c In some way Rob managed to get the n old woman inside and stir the hearth c embers to a leaping blaze. Then she found a lamp, lighted it and looked at q Aunt Pheiny, who sat cowering and j shaking, but uttering no sound. As Rob turned to her she pointed eagerly toward q the water paiL Rob ran and fetched a g dipper of water, which she drank with ^ great effort. "Are you hurt, Aunt Pheiny? Tell me. J! Show me where," Rob said, bending olose to the old woman's ear. The black lips were ashen and shriveled as by the 1 touch of a strong corrosive. They tried * to speak, but no sound came over them ? save a faint, inarticulate, husky cry. * "Can you hear me, Aunt Phemy?" J* Rob asked, her own lips quivering. r* The black woman nodded. ^ "Can you speak?" ^ She shook her hoad. s' "Did they?they hurt you, burn, tor- * ture you?" Rob asked, her eyes again ^ flaming, her hands beginning to clinch. ^ Again the old woman shook her head. Then she stooped, picked up an over- 81 turned earthen pot full of pungent, vis- J cid paBte, held it a minute toward Rob, w then pointed down her own throat. 8< "I nnderstand. They mado you swal- L low that," the girl said. Again the old ? woman nodded. Next breath she had * thrown the pot into the fire, where it hissed, and its contents sent up weird green and yellow flames. a TO BE CONTINUED. P n |6f "God can do all things," said o mamma. "No," said Marjorie, "God d cannot steal." "Why ?" said mamma, * expecting the reply, "Because he is vv good." "Because," said the little sage, ft "everything is his." h piswItettMUis Reading. ROCK HILL HAPPENINGS. Hie Amelia Pride Book Club?Daughters of the Confederacy. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Rock Hill, March 11.?About a r'ear ago a number of our ladies deciled that thev would organize a club vhich should combine the pleasures coming from social gatherings and from egular literary work. They were iu sarnest and have succeeded in their mdeavor. The organization was lamed "The Amelia Pride Book Club" n memory of Mrs. C. J. Pride, who, )esides being a personal friend of the nembers, would have been their paton had she lived to see its day. The neetings of the club are held binonthly at the homes of the members n town. Each year a new and welllelected lot of books is bought. These ire read and studied and discussed. The first anniversary meeting has ust been held, and it was the good ortune of the club that this celebraion was at the home of Mrs. Dr. ifassey. At this meeting it was deciled that there should be something nore than at the ordinary gatherings, rhe extra on this occasion was an issay by the Rev. J. W. Cantey Johnion on the poem "In Memoriam." rhe members have been studying this joem and were, therefore, the better )reDared to eniov the treat he crave hem. Another feature of the meeting was he presentation to each member of a nemorial of the meeting in the shape >f a very pretty booklet of tinted japer, each page having inscribed on t quotations from "In Memoriam." These were" presented by the president. At these meetings some light rereshments are served. On this occaion this portion of the entertainment vas much enjoyed, and the more so rom the taste displayed in arranging be tables. Of these there were two, >ne decorated exclusively with vioets ; the other, with jonquils. Little >unches were prepared for each guest md the whole table was strewn with oose blooms. The effect was beautiill. During the meeting an election was leld for officers for the coming year. i.s matters had progressed so smoothly tnder the first set chQsen, it was deified to trust them a while longer and hey were re-elected: President, Miss Cmma J. Roach ; vice president, Mrs. L C. Izard; secretary, Mrs. W. C. lutchison, one unusual and pleasant eature of their records is that the seretary has written them very ftilly, ccurately and in poetic poem. These dill no doubt long be treasured. As he meeting was about to adjourn Mr. ohnson spoke a few words of comaendation and cheer, bidding them C?VAAl4 11 MM /I A VITA uuu upccu, oo u\i nc, The store'room heretofore occupied iy Mr. W. G. Reid has been, remodeld and divided. The lower portion f the brick front has been removed ,nd a front entirely of glass and iron ubstituted. This gives an abundance f light. One portion is now occupied ?y Mr. Abe Moses, with a stock of dry ;oods; the other by Mr. I. Blumberg pho carries a full stock of jewelry. ?he handsome front and the arrangeaent of the windows adds another rnament to the business portion of ur city. The building committee of the Asociate Reformed denomination at this >lace are going to press on with the pork of building their new house of porship. It will be erected on White treet, between the house now occuiied by Mr. L. Sherfesee and the White lemorial manse. At a late meeting of Catawba Camp f Confederate veterans, Colonel Cad /allader Jones the commander, had ead his resignation, as he could not e present. The camp decided not to ccept; but to ask this gallant old eteran to allow bis name to stand anger at the head of their roll. Coloel Jones now makes his home in Coumbia and is engaged in writing a arrative history of his family. His imily connection is large and includes lany who have been prominent in he affairs of their country. In this /ay his work wiU be valuable to all s a history, and especially so to bis onnections and friends who knew so lany of those whose acts he will hronicle. Mrs. Frank Hall, of Wilmington, N. !., a sister of Rev. Alexander Sprunt, ) visiting her brother and family here. A chapter of the "Daughters of the Confederacy "-was organized here this i vening. For a name the members ecided on "The Ann White Chapter" < i honor of one who supported the Confederacy and to whom its memory * ras dear. The charter members were i svelve in number; but this most likely rill be only a nucleus. The officers I lected were : President, Mrs. R. T. I 'ewell; vice presidents, Mrs. A. R. Pitherspoon, Mrs. J. F. Reid and < Irs. John Gelzer; secretary, Miss l lizzie Sherfessee; treasurer, Mrs. T. i .. Crawford. Such organizations bould flourish throughout this land j s the best means for keeping alive j tie memories from which we are to . raw our inspiration. < The pupils of the vocal class gave a :>ng recital last Saturday afternoon at ^inthrop college. The young ladies i iking part were Misses Rachel Town- j 3nd, Mae O'Bryan, Annie Oates and j .ucilla Booker. We will make no ] omparisons, but can truly say they ] ere all the "the very finest." g. 8. i < The Way They Did It.?Chaun- < ey M. Depew says that he has had ] ersonal experience in seeking office? 1 ot for himself, however, but for J thers?from every Republican presi- < ent. He says that Mr. Lincoln 1 'ould always listen attentively to 1 'hat you had to say, and then tell a I inny story. On his way back to the i otel he would think over the story, j and finally see that it landed bis candidate way out of sight. General Grant always received an application for office as toasts to the memory of Washington are drunk? standing and in silence. President Hayes listened for a while, then broke out in lamentations that the attention of the president of the United States should be diverted from the great affairs of state to distribute patronage. Then he would make a memorandum in a little red book which was to remind him not to do it. General Garfield would put his arm around your neck, tell you how much he loved you, and then forget what you had asked of him. Proairiont Arthur wnnlri linfpn with polite attention to all you bad to say; then refer you to some man in New York whom you were never able to find President Harrison would sink down into bis chair until you had presented the claims of your candidate, and then change the subject. Major McKicley's methods have not been developed. FACTS ABOUT GREECE. The kingdom has a population of 2,187,208. The flag of Qreece is a white cross on a blue ground. About one-half of the people are farmers and shepherds. The area of the country is about 24,977 square miles, or half the size of Pennsylvania. No part of Greece is 40 miles from the sea, nor 10 miles from the hills. About 70,000 of the inhabitants speak the Greek language only, and all but 20,000 profess the Christian religion. The chief characteristics of the average Greek are his inquisitiveness, fondness for excitement,love of discussion, desire for knowledge, an aptitude for learning, and aggressive pa triotism. There are three distinct races within its confines, speaking different languages, wearing different costumes, and holding little social intercourse with each other?the Greek, the Albanian, and the Wallachian or Roumanian. The present king, George I, came to the throne in 1863, in his 18tb year. He draws an income of $260,000 annually, including $20,000 from Great Britain, France and Russia. He is the son of the present King of Denmark, Charles IX, and brother of the Pricess of Wales, and the Dowager Empress of Russia. He married in 1367 the Grand Duchess Olga, eldest daughter of the grandunole to the present Emperor of Russia. She has six living children?five sons and one daughter. The king has a palace at Athens, built by Otho, at a cost of $2,600,000, and a summer residence at Corfu . He shares the legislation with a single - * 1 ?ll.a xl.. 1 _ - cn a moor, canea me souie, uie iueubers of wbioh are elected by the people every fear years. There are seven ministers of administration, whose salary is $2,140 ti year each. For purposes of local government, Greece is divide into thirteen non-archies, under officers called nomarchs. It has an excellent legal system, based upon the old Roman law. Its regular Btanding army consists of 16.280 infantrv. 8.112 cavalrv. 8.842 artillery, 1,080 engineers and transport tation men, 8,400 offioers and men, making a total of 28,470 troops in the land forces. STATE DINNERS. Admirers of President McKinley are already enjoying in anticipation some of the state entertainments that will be given now that he has assumed the responsibilities -of bis new position. The cost of a state dinner at the White House runs from $500 to $1,000, according to the price of wines furnished. State dinners, as a rule, are uninter- * eating aside from their picturesqueness. The scene, however, is one of beauty and sumptuousness in effect. The walls of the large dining-room are banked with tropical flowers and plants. The table is gorgeous with gold and silver plate. The centre of the table, which accommodates 38 persons, is adorned by a large mirror, representing a miniature lake, which is surrounded by a bank of flowers. The mirror has a golden frame, and was purchased by Dolly Madison. At either end of the board are golden candelabra. With additions, the table accommodates 60 persons. The president's place is at the centre of the north side, the length of which extends from east to west. The wife of the chief executive of the nation is seated opposite to her busband upon these occasions. The wives of recent presidents have abtained large grants from congress for the purchase of costly table funnishings. The spoons and the forks are of pure gold, and some of the china is almost priceless. The cups; for instance, could not be duplicated for $100 each. VST Congressman Dolliver, of Iowa, a tho author of the now famous ahrase, "Advance Agent of Prosperity," as applied to Major McKinley. [inpatient men are fond of writing etters to Mr. Dolliver, asking him vhen the show is to come along. To me such correspondent, a resident of Calhoun county, la., Mr. Dolliver replied to the following effect: "First? Major McKinley is not yet president. Second?It takes a long time to get >ut of such a condition as the country ias been in for several years. Third? STou know you can go ouC to Hell Slough in your county and get so deep n it before breakfast that you can't get out before sundown." s il