University of South Carolina Libraries
4 . . # ' ^ ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^ ' ' ' 1 l. m grist's sons. Publishers. { % jfainitrr He trspape r: jfar the promotion of the Jiolitical, Social agricultural and Commercial Interests of the people. {wo?McopJ ^vicimANCK' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, 9. C., FRIDAY, JAKUAHY il, 1907! ~ ]STO. 4. A Romance of the i5 By W. GILM CHAPTER XIV. / "I may not listen now. How should we hear. The song of birds, when. In the stormy sky. Rtdls the rude thunder?" The ladies had retired, but It was not easy for Singleton and his uncle to resume the topic which had previously engaged them. There was a visible damp upon their spirits?the elastic nephew, the hesitating colonel, the rough, honest, and direct Humphries, all felt the passionate force of Emily's exhortation, though Its argument necessarily failed upon them. There had been quite too much that was awing in her speech and manner-jas if death were speaking through the lips of life. Their thoughts had been elevated by her language to a theme Infinitely beyond the hourly and the earthly. The high-souled emphasis with which she had Insisted upon the Integrity of human life, as essential to the due preparation for the future Immortality, had touched the senBik billty of those whose vocation was at hostility with the doctrine which she taught; and though, from the very nature of things, they could not obey her exhortations, they yet could not fall to meditate upon, and to feel them. Thus impressed, silent and unobserving. It was a relief to all. when Major Singleton, shaking ofT his sadness with an effort, reminded Humphries of the promise which he had presumed to muke him. touching the old Madeira in his uncle's garreti He briefly told the latter of the circumstance alluded to, and the prompt orders of Colonel Walton soon brought the excellence of his wines to the impartial test to which Humphries proposed to subject them. The lieutenant smacked his lips satisfactorily. It was not often that his fortune had indulged him with such a beverage. Corn whisky, at best, had been his liquor in the > swamps; and, even in his father's tavern, the tastes were not sufficiently high, of those who patronized that establishment, to call 'for other than the cheapest qualities. A brief dialogue about the favorite * wines?a sly reference on the pdrf of P Singleton to the drinking capacities of his British guests, and a hypocritical sort of condolence upon the privations to which his uncle must be subjected. In consequence of the proclamation, soon brought the latter bajje. to the legitimate topic. "But what news, Robert, do you bring us? What of the continentals? is It true that we are to have an army from Virginia, or is it mere rumor?? a thing to give us hope, only the more completely to depress and mortify? Speak out, man, and none of your I t'A.i Uma... Ti-rvll nno.ioh uiiiuriiiiirrrt ? wu iviivw non ruvug 11 that I am with you, body and soul." "I believe you will be, uncle, but you certainly are not yet. With the hope, however, to make you so more completely, I will give you news that shall cheer you up, If you have the heart to % hope for a favorable change of things. It Is no mere rumor, sir, touching the northern army. Congress has remembered us at last, and the continentals are actually under way, and by this time must be on the borders of North Carolina." "Indeed! that Is well," cried the colonel, chuckling, and rubbing his hands ?"that is good news, indeed, Robert, 1 - TI v . . ' ' - -:v . .v.* i ' ' : . , \ ' {' 4 ' W .v, I ' I.UOK1NU One of the things that has discou the sorry looking prospect that has <le\ photographic reproduction of the appc The photograph was made just before and may help us somewhat out of our difficulties."' "Not so. Colonel Walton, if It please you. It will help you out of no difficulties. if you are not willing to lend a hand for that purpose. Congress cannot afford an army?it can only give us the nucleus for one; some flfL teen hundred men at the utmost, and I hut half of these continentals. We have the Delaware and Maryland lines ?brave troops. Indeed?anions the " very bravest that Washington commands?but few. too few for our purpose. unless we ourselves turn out." "Who commands them. Robert?" "DeKalb while on the march; but, If Lmerican Revolution ORG 8IMMH | we need men, and if our arms are few, the name of our commander Is a host for us. The conqueror of Burgoyne at Saratoga has been ordered from Virginia to lead them." "What. Gates! that Is brave news, truly?tn>ve news?and we shall do well to wish him success In another glass of Madeira. Come, Mr. Humphries?come, sir?you see Proctor has left us some of the genuine stuff yet? enough for friends, at least." "Ay, sir." said Humphries, drinking, "and this news of the continentals promises that we have enough also for our enemies." "Bravo! I hope so; I think so. Nephew, drink; drink?and say, what has been the effect of this intelligence upon the people? How has it wrought upon the Santee?" "Everywhere well, uncle, and as it should, unless it be Immediately in your neighborhood, where you breathe by sufferance only. Everywhere well, sir. The people are roused, inspired, full of hope and animation. The country is alive with a new sentiment. Nor is Its Influence confined only to tne nopes or rrienas; u nas had it>' effect upon the fears of enemies. Rawdon already feels It. and has drawn In all his outposts. He keeps now those of Ninety-Six, Camden and Augusta only. He is concentrating his force against the coming of Gates, whose first blow must be against his lordship. This concentration has given opportuhlty to our people, and opportunity gives them courage. The Santee and the Pedee countries are full of Whigs, only wanting embodiment to prove effective. Colonel Sumter has returned from North Carolina, with a growing troop which threatens Ninety-Six Itself." "And Marlon?" "Aye. Marlon?from him I bring you better news yet, when I tell you that I left him on Briton's Neck, where we stood upon the bodies of half of Gainey's Tories, whom we had just defeated with bloody slaughter?Gainey himself wounded, and his troops for the time dispersed. "Better and better, Robert; and I rejoice that you had a hand In the business. But what. In all this time, of that sanguinary rider, Tarleton? What keeps him quiet?what is he doing? Surely, with a taste like his, the very knowledge of these risings should be .grateful." "Doubtless they will be, when he gets wind of them: but he is now with the cavalry of the legion, somewhere in the neighborhood of Rocky Mount, where Sumter is said to be looking after him. Thus, you see, we are all engaged or preparing? all but you, of the parishes. You either hug the knees of your invaders, or sleep on. to escape the sense of shame; all but your Washington, who, I am told, still contrives to keep his horse together, though sadly cut up while under White and Baylor." "True, true?our people here are but too much disposed to submission. They have given up in despair long since." "1 reckon that's a small mistake, colonel," said Humphries, interrupting ?"I beg pardon, sir, but I rather think It's not exactly as you say. I don't think our people any more willing to submit than the people on Black river and Pedee, but it's all because we IE WILLIAMSON PLAI Courtesy of Columbia Stutc. ' . ^ ' VX ' ' r'-V ' . C' it, *; ; ' . ' , . .. . .. , J - ' . -> r V'f;. *-'T V DOWN A ROW?IfOTB MASS OF Ult raged so many experimenters along tht 'eloped after the stunting process was \ arance between two rows on Mr. Melt gathering time. han't got leaders; that's the reason, colonel. I know, of my own knowledge. there's any number will turn out. if you'll only crook a finger, and show 'em the track; but it's not reasonable to expect poor men, who have never ruled before, to take the lead of great people in time of danger." Humphries spoke up. and spoke justly for the honor of his neighbors. Singleton continued, when his lieutenant concluded? "He speaks truly. Colonel Walton, as I can testify. What if I tell you that your people?here, under your own eye?are not only ready to take up arms, but that many of them are in arms?more, sir?that they have already done service in your own neighborhood. and are ready to do more?that a promising squad, under my command, now lies upon your own river, and that, in a few days, I hope to join Colonel Marion with a troop of fifty men. gathered from among your own parishioners! These are the people who are ro willing to submit, according to your account; pray you, uncle, never write their history." "Robert, you surprise me." "Pleasantly, I hope, mine uncle?It Is the truth. The whole was planned by Colonel Marion, from whom I have this duty in charge. Disguised, he has been through your parish. Disguised, he sat at your board, in the character of a Tory commissary, and your scornful treatment persuaded him to hope I that you mfght be brought Into action. < Are you staggered now?" The colonel was dumb when he i heard this narrative; and Major Sin- i gleton then proceeded to give a brief account of the little events of recent occurrence In the neighborhood, as i we have already narrated them, subsequently to his assumption of com- i mand In the Cypress Swamp. The 1 story, though It gave him pleasure, i was u sad rebuke to Colonel Walton's patriotism. He scarcely heard him to the end. now, neuven neip me, iwucrv, uui I take shame to myself that you,, almost a stranger upon the Ashley, should have thus taken the lead out of my own hand, as I ijiay say, and among my own people." "It Is not top late, uncle, to amend the error. You may yet help greatly to finish what has been tolerably well begun." "No?It Is not too late. I can do much with Dorchester and Goose Creek. I have Influence throughout St. Paul's, and great part of St. George's. Cane Acre will come out to a man." Rapidly moving to and fro along the apartment. Colonel Walton enumerated to himself, In under tones, the various sections of country In his knowledge which he thought might be moved at his Instigation. His nephew did not suffer the mood of his uncle to relax. "Npw is the time, uncle?now is the time, if ever. Your name will do everything In this quarter; and you may conjecture for yourself, what the shame must be. if others achieve the work which you touched not. You have now a glorious opportunity at this season; Tarleton, whom they so much dread, being absent; Wemyss In another direction, and your garrison so weak at Dorchester that they cannot easily spare a detachment. Besides. the approach of Gates promises sufficient employment to all the force which Rawdon and Cornwallis can bring up." "The thing looks well." Raid Walton, musingly. "Never better. If the heart be firm. Now Is the time, if ever?beat up recruits?sound, stimulate your neighbors. and dash .up with as smart a force as you can possibly muster to Join with the army from Virginia, They will receive you joyfully, and your corps must Increase with every mile in your progress." I "Would I were on the way; but the ( beginning is yet to be made, and on what plea shall I seek to persuade others, without authority myself, and known as one having taken protection ?" "That latter difficulty is cured by , the assumption of a new character. ( Destroy the one accursed instrument, , and, in its place, I am proud to hand you a badge of honor and of confidence. Look on this paper and pe- , ruse this letter. The one is from his excellency. Oovernor Rutledge?the | other from Colonel Marlon. Read? | read!" Walton unfolded the envelope, and , the commission of Governor Rutledge | as colonel of state militia met his , eye; the letter from Colonel Marlon * i ' . DKKGKOWTBL. ( ? line of the Williamson Flan has been veil under way. The above picture is a ,-er Williamson's L)arlli/gtnn'plantation. was an invitation to the service?a brief, manly, modest letter; such as could only come from Marion?so calm, so unassuming, yet so conclusive in its exhortations. "You see, uncle," said the major, when he saw that the other had concluded the perusal of the document? "you see. I come not unprovided. Both Rutledge and Marlon hold your name of sufficient Importance to our cause to desire its influence; and they would have you. on any terms, emancipate yourself from the villainous bondage? for it is no less?into which you have fallen. Here, now, you have an opportunity, by un honorable, and let tne add, an atoning transaction, of returning to* the service of your country. Do not let It pass you. Let me not think, my dear uncle, that my tt-nrH nlprle-pil fnr vnn to Marion. when I undertook and craved this commission, was pledged in vain, and is now forfeited." This warm appeal of Singleton, in the utterance of which he had discarded all that asperity which he had kept pace with much of his share in i the previous dialogue, was soothing to his uncle's spirit. He was moved; and slowly again, though unconsciously he read over the letter of Marion. So high a compliment from the gal tant partisan was flattering in the extreme; and the trust of Governor Rutledge, tendered at a. moment when he was suffering from the smitings of conscience, was healing and grateful. For a few moments he spoke not; but at 'ength approaching his nephew, he seized his hand, and at once avowed the pleasure it gave him, to avail 1 himself of the privileges which the , commission conferred upon him. "I will be no longer wanting to my country, Robert. I will do my duty. I This paper gives me power to enroll i men. to form troops, and to act against I the enemy, and find my sanction in | the commission of the executive. I 1 T] :? ; I : CLT7ST This picture represents a corner las been no fodder pulling foolishness, hough they might have been somewhat kv111 do so. I will pause no longer, and, ?plte of the sacrifice, will act as the ?ccaslon requires." The countenance of Major Singleion. and that of Humphries, no less, flowed with an honest pleasure, as the former replied? "Spoken as It should be, Colonel ' (V'alton?spoken as it should be. The i leclslon comes late, but not too late. It is redeeming, and God grant that -? - ? i. i ? It be as prosperous 10 an a? n ia ou.vly proper and praiseworthy." > "So I believe It, or I would not now I adopt It; but, Robert, know you not that such a decision makes me a beg- ? gar? Sequestration?" i "Now, out upon It, uncle! why will I you still ballast your good works with I a weight which shall for ever keep I them from heaven's sight? You are l no niggard?you live profusely?care \ not for money; wherefore this refer- I ence to wealth In comparison with 1 honor and honorable duty?" i "The wealth is nothing, Robert; but i 1 have a strange love for these old i groves?this family mansion, descend- 1 ed to me like a sacred trust through | ho many hunds and ancestors. I I would not that they should be lost." The youth looked sternly at the i Hpeaker for a few moments in silence, out the fierce emotion at length found ? Its way to his lips in tones of like in- i Jignatlon with that which sparkled i Trom his eyes. < "Now, by heaven, uncle, had I known ' if this?had I dreamed that thou hadst < weighed, for an Instant, the fine sense I f honor In the scales against thy love l if this thy dwellilng place? my own land should have applied the torch to t Its shingles. Dearly as I have loved ' this old mansion, I myself would have ' freely kindled the flame which should lave burned it to the ground. I would i have watched the fire as It swept ! ihrough these old trees, scathing and ' Hcattering the branches under which I [ had a thousand times played?I I would have beheld their ruin with a I pleasurable emotion; ami as iney ieu 1 successively to the earth which they s ?nce sheltered, I would have shouted In triumph, that I saved you from the ; dishonorable bargain which you have I made for their protection so long." "But Kate. Kate, Robert; my sweet 1 child?my only child!" It. was all that the father said, but 1 It was enough, If not to convince, ut 1 least to silence, the indignant speaker, i Her good was. indeed, a consideration; and when Singleton reflected upon the tender care which had kept her from nrtvntlon and sorrow all her life hlth erto, he could not help feeling how natural was such a consideration to the mind of such a father. But the emotion had subsided?the more visible portions of it. at least: and Colonel Walton, his nephew, and Humphries, engaged In various conversations, chiefly devoted to the labors that lay before them. Having gained his object, however. Major Singleton was in no mood to remain much longer. His duties were various; his little squad required his attention, as he well knew how little subordination could be had from raw militia men, unless in the continued and controlling presence of their commander. The hour was growing late, and some portion of his time was due to his sister and the ladles, who awaited his coming in the snug back or family par other, and envy- in her own sex. Yet i she was dying with the mind alive, but 1 unexercised; a heart warm with a i true affection, yet utterly unappropriated: sensibilities touching and I charming, which had only lived, that < memory might mourn the more over 1 those sweets of character so well 1 known to enjoyment, yet so little en- < Joying. : It was a thought to make the proud i heart humble; and Kate looked upon her cousin with tearful eyes. She sat < nt h$r feet, saying no word, while the I brother of the dying girl, taking a place beside her, lifted her head upon < his bosom, where she seemed pleased HE WILLIAMSON PLAI* Courtesy of Columbia State. BRED BARS AJfD fl'U'lllD STALKS. of one of Mr. Mclver Williamson's cor Otherwise the numerous ears would 1 lighter. that It should lie, while he pressed his t lips fondly and frequently to her | forehead. In murmured tones, un- i heard by the rest, she carried on with him a little dialogue, half playful, : half tender In which she pressed him l jn the subject of his love for her l cousin. The mention of Kate's name, t i little louder than she usually spoke, i called for the latter's attention, who i looked up. and a suffusion of her cheek i teemed to show a something of con- I tciousness In her mind of what was i the subject between them. The eye of i Emily caught the glance, and a smile < -f archness played over her lips for i in instant, but soon made way for l that earnest and settled melancholy of .? look which was now the habitual ex- I pression of her face. They continued . to converse together, the others only now and then mingling in the dia logue, on those various little matters belonging to her old home and Its Associates, which a young and gentle nature like hers would be apt to remember. Sometimes, so feeble was her utterance that Robert was compelled to pluce his ear to her Hps the better to take in what she said. It was at one of these moments that i severe clap of thunder recalled the major to a sense of his duties. The >udden concussion startled the nervous maiden, and Kate came to her assist ince, so that his hand was brought mce more In contact with that of the ivoman lie loved. In the performance >f an office almost too sacredly stern to permit of the show of that other emo:lon which he yet felt?how strangely! ?In his bosom. The blood tingled and flowed in his veins, and she, too?she vlthdrew her fingers the moment her <ervice could well be dispensed with. Another roll of the thunder and a message from Humphries warned Singleton of the necessity of tearing himself from a scene only too painrully fascinating. He took an affectionate leave of his aunt, and pressing the 11 ps of his sister fondly, her last words to him were comprised in i whisper? "Spare life?save life, Robert, when you can. Ood bless you! and come back to me soon." Kate encountered him In the passage way. Her look was something troubled, and her visible emotion might have been grateful to the vtinlty of our hero, did he not see how unususuall.v covered with gloom were the features of her face. "Dear Kate?sweet cousin?I must leave you now." "I know It, Robert?I know more; you have persuaded my father to break his parole." I "I have done my best towards It, s Kute; but If he has resolved, the Im- . pulse was as much his own as from me. He could not well have avoided < it in the end, situated as he was." "Perhaps not, Robert; still, your | persuasions have been the most Im- i mediately urgent; and though I dread ? the result. I cannot well blame you i for what you have done. I now wish :o know from you, what are the chances in favor of his successful acilon. I would at least console myself by their recapitulation when he Is absent. and perhaps In danger." i Major Singleton gave a promising account of the prospects before them; such, Indeed, as they appeared at that time to the sanguine Americans, and lor, Into which none but the select few i ever found admission. Leaving Humphries In the charge i of Colonel Walton, our hero approach- i ed the quiet sanctuary with peculiar emotions. There was a soft melan- i choly pervading the little circle. The ( moral Influence of such a condition as | that of Emily Singleton was touching- < ly felt by all around her. The hlghHpirlted, the proud Katharine Walton grew meek and humble, when she gazed upon the sufferer, dying by a protracted and a painful death, In the midst of youth, rich in beauty, and with a superiority of mind which might well awaken admiration In the needing but little exaggeration to persuade. She seemed satisfied, and ho then proceeded to entreat her upon a subject purely selfish. "Speak not now?not now on such i matter. Have we not enough, Robert. to trouble us? Danger anti death, grief and many apprehensions hang over us, and will not suffer such Idle thoughts," was the reply. "These are no Idle thoughts, Kate, since they belong so closely to our happiness. Say to me, then, only say that you love me." "I love you. Indeed?to be" sure I do. as a cousin and ns a friend: but really you ask too much when you r>rni<o fnr mnpp T have no time, no feeling:, for other love In these moments." "Nay. be serlpus, Kate, and say. We know not how soon our situation may changre. I am hourly exposed in a hazardous service?I may perish; and I would, before such an event, be secure In the hope that I may look to you for that love which would mak'. me happy while living:, or?" She stopped him with a cool, sarcastic speech concluding the sentence Tor him In a manner most annoying? "Drop a tear for me when I am lead." She saw thnt he looked displeased, J yy^j n fields. It will be noted that there lave been more plainly visible, even md Immediately after, with an art jecullarly her own, she diverted his ing?r. "Nay, dear cousin, forgive me, but rou looked the conclusion and so pahetlcally, I though It not improbable hat Its utterance would find you tpeechless. Be not so tragic, I pray ,'ou. I am serious enough as It Is? toberly serious, not tragically so. Be easonable for a while, and reflect hat these very vicissitudes of your iresent mode of life should discourse you from pressing this matter. I lo not know whether I love you or ?ot. except, as u relation. It requires line to make up one's mind on the lubject, and trust me I shall think of t In season. But, Just now. I cannot 1 Realizing the truth of the old a iamson had tlie above photograph mt itate might get an Idea of the kind of ?and hear me. Robert, firmly and hon??tly I tell you, while these difficulties ast. while my father's life is in danr.. ..r.,1 tvHIla uklpr Ilex In m V arms helpless and dying, I not only cannot, hut will not, attempt to answer you. Forbear the subject, then, I pray you, for a better season; and remember, when I speak to you thus, I speak to you as a woman, with some pretensions to good sense, who will try to think upon her affections as calmly as upon the most simple and domestic necessity of her life. Be satisfied, then, that you will have Justice." Another summons from Humphries iBisccllaueous iUaitiiifl. STANDPOINT OF THE EXCHANGE. It it Claimed That tha Contracts Ara Fair and Equitabla. The controversy In the cotton exchange over the revision of quotations for spot cotton and the criticisms made by advocates of a reform In methods has elicited vigorous defences of the management and arguments Justifying the present system. Various officers of the exchange insisted that the New York contract was the fairest in the world and that the system could not be changed to that of New Orleans, for Instance, without leaving the murket susceptible to corners that would throw the whole trade Into confusion or disaster. "The entire spirit of the exchange," said Walter C. Hubbard, the president, "Is opposition to coiners. Early experience demonstrated that frequent revisions of the premiums and discounts made It possible for the revision committee to put such prices on or off as to prevent the delivery of cotton In this market with the consequent loss to those who had made Contracts of delivery. The jj^esent system makes such corners Impossible, and It also enables the exchange to fa olllta io thu /lalluarv In Vaw Ynrlf of all the cotton the planters will raise." "The New York exchange," said Samuel T. Hubbard, a former president of the exchange, "adopted thirty years ago a policy of offering to southern growers every facility for the delivery of all grades of cotton in this market. The purpose was two-fold. It was desired to benefit the south and to prevent corners In New York. "More than fifteen years ago the New York exchange found It better to have the differences in discounts and premiums settled twice a year. The change in differences from month to month or week to week. It was seen, furnished opportunities for very rapid changes in the value of cotton delivered. Therefore It was considered preferable to have a world established value of the contract with reference to differences as fixed In November. Such regulation, it was felt, would also be advantageous In permitting the planter or shipper In the south to send cotton here with knowledge that there would be no difference in the rates for the various grades between, the time of shipment and the receipt of the cotton here. "In the early days there was a revision committee of five, which Is the number In most of the other markets at present. Now, a committee of five is controlled by three and since three constitute a quorum the committee is sometimes controlled by two. I recall In my experience an Instance when the discount on a various grade was lowered at the urging of a dealer who had' accumulated all of that grade there was In the country. The result was a heavy profit to the dealer. Occurrences of this kind were frequent and it was partly to put a stop to them that the present system was established. "At the corresponding period last vear there was an unusual amount of high grade cotton in the market, and there was objection because the purchasers under the exchange's form of contract were obliged to pay a premium. Now thdVe is criticism because discounts on the low grades are not high enough. The differences last year eventually adjusted themselves and I have little doubt that there will be the same result this year. "It Is not coi4*ect to consider the price arbitrary. When, as this year, the greater part of the cotton Is low grade the weight of that cotton depresses the price of our contract, which of course Is based on middling." The only change, it was learned, that Is now under consideration by the management Is that of making three 'HE WILLIAMSON PLAI Courtesy of Columbia State. MR v .- .^g*gj^ ." *^J > (^*9? . ^ f^S ?^^HHfefc3BBHHI?3MBBBHB SHOWING FINELY FORMED EARS. .iniTA that thp nrnnf of the pudding la in ide of a little lot of corn raised on his fi nubbins that grow on stunted stalks. below, and a sudden rush of wind i along the casement, warned him of i the necessity of concluding the interview. He had barely time to press her hand to his lips when she hurried him down to her father. A few brief words of parting, a solemn renewal of their pledges, and, In a few moments, the two partisans were on horse, speeding down the long avenue on the way to their encampment. (To be Continued.) t* The largest mail in the world is that which leaves Canhon street, London. on Friday nights for China, Japan and other parts of the world via Brlndisi. revisions a year. Two revisions, September and November, are permitted now, but as a matter of practice there is but one revision, that in November, The date suggested for a third revision is in March. Mr. Hubbard said there would doubtless be a long argument before the change is made. The agitation on the part of southem growere is attributed by some members of the exchange to Harvle Jordan and Richard Cheatham, the president and secretary of the Southern Cotton Growers' association. A letter sent some weeks ago from Memphis was shown yesterday in which the prediction was made that Messrs. Cheatham and Jordan were about to go gunning for the cotton exchange It was said in the letter that Washington was to be the scene of their operations. Remarkably heavy losses, it has become known, have been sustained by cotton men who contracted to deliver the highest grades. While the supply of these grades is the smallest in years the demand is the heaviest Some big houses after the gulf storms had injured the crop bought at any price tbey could whatever high grade cotton was obtainable in the south and In Egpyt. Others, who did not take this course, were forced to settle in some cases at a loss as high as $60 a bale. Losses of $10 to $20 a bale were common. Another difficulty cotton men in this city have labored Under is the high insurance rate since the San Francisco Are. The rate, though easing some now, has been as high as 6 per cent of the value of the cotton stored. The high rate has led to the reconstruction of warehouses, a matter involving great expense. Insurance underwriters have agreed to reduce the rate to 40 cents* per $1,000 when the improvements are completed.?New York Sun. TALE8 OF A WARRIOR. How 8ir Evelyn Wood Felt Whin Wounded In Battle. Sir Evelyn Wood served In the Crimean war. He tells this grim Incident of the contest: "I waa greatly Impressed by the courage of a young sergeant who was trying to collect men to accompany him through or over an abatis. After calling in vain on those Immediately to follow him he lost his temper and shouted, Til tell my right hand man to follow me, and If he fails ril shoot htm.' He brought his rifle down to the 'ready* and said, 'Private -?, will you follow me?' I was almost touching them and, seeing by the sergeant's eye that he was In earnest, stood for a few seconds studying the determined look on the man's face. The private looked deliberately on the hundreds of Russians above us and then ran Ills eye right and left of where we were standing, as If estimating the number of his comrades, who certainly did not exceed 100. and with as much determination as the sergeant said. "No, I won't.' The non-commissioned officer threw his rifle to his shoulder with the Intention of carrying out his threat, but in doing so, struck by & grapeshot, he fell dead." How does It feel to be wounded? Sir Evelyn Wood tells this of the Zulu war In the seventies: "I was parting . the thick bush with my hands when Arthur Eyre, pulling me by the skirt . of my Norfolk jacket, protested, is really not your place,' and pushed in before me. Two or three volleys cleared that part of the bush, but between 9 and 10 o'clock, as T turned round to speak to a staff officer who was bringing me an order from the general, an Ashantee lying close to me shot the head of a nail Into my chest immediately over the region of the heart. Sticks were flying freely all the morning, and when I recovered from the stunning effect of the blow I asked Arthur Eyre, who was bending over me, 'Who hit me on the head?* 'No one hit you, sir.' Tes, somebody * the eating thereof, Mr. Mclver Wllarm In order that the farmers of the did, and knocked me down.' 'No, I'm afraid you are wounded.' 'Nonsense; It Is only my head is buzzing; I think, from a blow.' He pointed to my shirt through which trickled some blood, and said, 'No, you have been wounded there.'" Colonel Wood was very badi.. hut mpuvproii?Chicago News. Ur "De preacher wuzn't feeling good las' meetln' day, rfn' he made de stove preach de sermon." "Made de stove preach?" "Yes; made It red-hot from % top ter bottom an' den toP de sinners ter take a good look at it an' go ter thlnkln'!"?Atlanta Constitution.