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m p * ; l. m. grist's sons, Publishers. } % Ifamilg Uetcspaper: <Jfor the promotion of the political, ?ociat. 3tgriouItunal and (Eommeerial Interests of the people. {TES^cIlpVKitE cmtoVANCK ? ESTABLISHED 1855. ' YORKVILLE, 8. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 34, 1908. NO. 33. I 111 111 111 >lt>UIIUiLilLilL?UaiL>l ! * \ i By CLARENCE J * wiwifwffiwiwirwfwww wynwif CHAPTER XXI. The Woman Who Came and the Man Who Sent For her, It was not late in the afternoon when the train stopped at Blankford but the storm made it seem as though night was coming on at once. It was dark, very dark. A brakeman opened the door a second time, after his rude and incoherent announcement had been obeyed by those who knew, in some other way than by his assistance, the name ol the place, and all passengers who were to stop at Blankford had left the train. This time he spoke so as to be understood. (Does practice make per* feet?) "The train will go no further." he said: "the track beyond is full of drifted snow. Passengers can remain in the car or go to the hotel." There was much grumbling among t lie passengers. The brakeman gave it but little attention. It wasn't his \ fault that the train couldn't go on. Ke was used to traveling with grumblers: ne was too much of a fatalist himself to complain; so he let the others growl, unhindered and unanswered. ^ But Lurline Bannottle sprang to her feet with so genuine a fear and grief in her face that she had his attention at once: on reflection, however, I am not sure that it was not the beauty in her face which gained his attention, instead of the fear and grief. 1 i V* n fraln "MUl, sir, nun 1"I1S ucmic lire uu.i, will go on?" Little wonder she was anxious. Her ^ destination was only a few miles away ?a ride of two hours or so on a train running according to the time card. Wut this was Saturday, March 4th, 1S71, and every mlnfite's delay was w shortening the afternoon by so much. "Not before some time tomorrow: perhaps not so soon as that," replied the brakeman. "Do you know anything of the condition of the roads in this vicinity? Can teams pass over them?" "I don't know. I think it's doubtful." * "Thank you." she said, sweetly. She drew her wraps more closely about her. She gathered up her luggage. She left the car. She went at once to a livery stable. She asked for the proprietor himself. He came immediately, which leads me to suspect that the man to whom she had first spoken said some strong words regarding the remarkably handsome woman who wished to see him. "I want to hire a team." she said to him. "To go far? It's going to be a terrible night: the snow is falling fast: the roads are drifting badly: and there isn't a road in the vicinity that isn't drifted full and almost impassable already." ^ She gave him the name of a town. Take Blankford for the right angle of a right-angled isosceles triangle. She gave him the name of a place at one of tne acute angles; tne city m which she meant to go was situated almost exactly at the other acute angle. It was not any of this man's business where she was groins, and she didn't intend he should know. But Burline ^ Bannottie was not mean in little things; she was quite willing to pay for a team to go as many miles as she wished to go; and. besides, she wanted to know the opinion of a liveryman as to the possibility of driving so far that night. The man shook his head. "I don't think any driver would be willing to undeitake such a trip tonight: wait here until morning, and?" "I don't want a driver, and I cannot wait until morning." she said, decidedly. The man looked at her with undisguised admiration, to "You don't want a driver? Surely you do not intend to drive yourself such a night as this? Surely you do not intend to go alone?" "I do." The man shook his head again. "You couldn't do it. I couldn't let a team on such a night and for such a trip as this with only a woman." "No? You think we women are not quite your equals, do you?" "Well, in some respects." m f,,r All: ?Yru. iinir .?<?u (in.t I ..... .... sale?" The man laughed. "I never refuse a good price for anything I own," lie said, promptly. "Dc ^ you think you'd like to buy?" "Perhaps so. I must buy if I cannot hire." "All right. I think I'd rather you'd drive your own team tonight than ^ mine." "Well, what are your prices?team, harness, sleigh, robes and?and whip?" "1 can let you have a fair team and a good sleigh for five hundred dollars, and from that up." "How much for the best? How much for the horses with the greatest speed, and the greatest power of endurance, and?and everything else - to match?" ^ The man looked at her mockingly & Perhaps he was scarcely to blame. H? ^ might have thought she was mocking him. He pondered her question a minute or two. A man takes pride in owner ship. He was putting a price upon his best team and harness and sleigh; not a price at which to sell them, oh, no: but a price at which to offer them?a price to boast over the next day. . "Two thousand dollars." he replied. "Very well. I will take it: order the team made ready at once." She opened and threw back hei cloak. She unbuckled a very plain " and innocent-looking belt from about her waist. She unbuttoned an opening on the inner side of it, near one end She raised the belt above the table in * the office, taking it by the other end 4, and a shower of twenty-dollar gold pieces fell upon the table. She counted out one hundred of them. She put th* rest back?there were not many ol yitiMiMiMMiiiiHiiiiiikHyiiimh ; ' ; BOUTELLE. wwmmmmmmrmmm HI www them left?and buckled on the bell again. 1 Five minutes later it was announced that the team was ready. Miss Bani nottie walked briskly from the offlct . to the sleigh. i "It's not fitting for a lady to go or i such a trip without some one with her." said the proprietor of the stable, firmly and persuasively. "I haven't a driver who would be willing to go, 1 suppose, but I will go with you myself if you wish." T'rl r?o thor hp fllfinP." 1 IlilllJS. JUU, l u IUI.1IV. ?V ? i replied Miss Bannottie, as she stepped into the sleigh. The man came nearer, in a slow and hesitating manner, jingling some ol the gold she had given him. He was nervous, that was evident. He lowered his voice. "I?I didn't think you meant to buy, and 1 put too high a priee upon the team. They are not wortli more than fifteen hundred dollars, and so " He held out a handful of gold toward her. "No," she said, positively; "keep it. A gentleman always says what he means, and never takes advantage of a woman." She touched the horses lightly with the whip. They dashed away like the wind. There is a difference in roads; difficulties are not always measured by miles. If Miss Bannottie had really been going to the place she had mentioned. she would have found the way much more difficult than it was in the direction she actually went: indeed, it may reasonably be doubted whether she would have reached there in time? by midnight, you remember?if at all. But in the direction in which she went, the roads, though bad enough, were better. If she had told the liveryman the truth, lie could have reassured her on that subject. She drove rapidly through and away - 1 _1 JJa-aJ n in. rmm tiianmoru. out* Miuuunm ? m.tle as she thought of another journey she had taken from Blankford once. "I?I " she began to herself: "but no matter," she said, sullenly, after a moment's musing. "I got over being foolishly sentimental long ago." She drove away through the night. The storm lessened, the stars came out. the night grew colder, the snow drifted to and fro across the road. She kept a close watch of the time. She allowed her horses a chance to rest a little, when she dared, or when the road was such that she had to. But for the most part she urged them to as great a speed as was possible. It lacked just ten minute of twelve as she came in sight of the bridge to which she had been directed to come, the bridge near the City of Boomville. "I suppose he knows the roads are blocked and the trains all late. But he wouldn't make any allowance for that; once arouse his cowardly malice, and he would make allowance for nothing'." She drove faster now. She looked anxiously toward the bridge. The road stretched in unbroken whiteness as far as she could see. The bridge was white with ridges of snow on every beam and timber. Even the trees along the road were scarcely more than mounds of snow, so thickly were they covered. But nowhere was there any sign of life: nowhere was there mo tlon: no black spot?as black as a man?marred the purity of the scene. She drove on. She reached the bridge. She drove to the centre of it. She stopped. She drew a long breath of the cold, fresh air. She seemed suddenly exultant, as though she had freedom again. The end of her journey reached. she was light-hearted and careless or seemed to be. She looked at her watch. It was less than a minute to twleve o'clock. She waited, listened: waited un'il the bells in Boomville rang out the hour of midnight through the air. Then she touched her horses with the whip i again, and drove on toward town. "I came from Italy," she said, bitterly. "and I am in season. He had to come from the town I shall see from the hill yonder?the town where those bells are ringing?and he is late. That marks the difference between us; it marks the difference between success and failure: let him beware." She turned an abrupt bend in the road. A man was coming slowly from toward the city. His head was bent forward upon his breast. If he heard the sleigh-bells at all they made nr i impression upon him. He was absorbed in thought. He was indulging in he dangerous practice of thinking out loud. i "I vva rnp/l her" he said "and she i cannot blame me now. Since she faile<l to come " "But I (lid not fail. Mr. Lyman," she said, quietly, as she halted her team I just opposite him. "I did not fail. 1 am here. And I was in season." "Well, you beautiful fiend, how did i you come?" "By team from Blankford. by rail from " "Don't mock me: I didn't mean that 1 didn't half expect you." . "You didn't? You should have , known better." "I doubt it. They say the anoienl . ench'inters used to call up the devi! , sometimes, and that he usually came ; And so " I.inline Bannottie interrupted him with a merv laugh. l "And so you think you should hav? known your incantations would raisf me? Is that it? I think you should But, Mr. Lyman, we are letting time run t<? waste, diet in the sleigh and let us talk as we ride." i "Thank you." said Lyman, as he took : a place by her side. ; lie slipped his arm around her waist , He bent his face toward hers, i "You don't know how exceedingly* , well you are looking," he said, and thert 1 was genuine admiration in his tone I "I must have one kiss, my peerless > Lurline." p Bhe drew herself out of,his embrace I She raised her hand and struck him fiercely across his face. "I'm not your Lurline;" she said, "and you cannot kiss me. Keep your thoughts and words from such subjects. Don't you dare " "Dare? That sounds well from you. Dare? Why shouldn't I dare?" "Because I have not come here, all the way from sunny Italy, to listen to such folly. I came here to talk business!" "That's a very good word?'business' ?a very good word indeed. You | should secure a copyright on your t peculiar use of it. You came here to try and save your pretty neck, and to I buy safety from me, didn't you?" "Oh, yes," wearily, "I suppose so; , and I brought money, lots of it. I sup. T? I pose you ve ncen khuioiiuk again. i? t that true?" "No matter if it is. Here, let's drive out on this road a little way; I don't ^ care to go into Boomville yet. No mat ter if I have been gambling. I didn't i send for you for your money; I don't want your money; I don't need your , money; I won't touch " I "Indeed? Am I dreaming? I begin to think you didn't send for me at ! all." , "Oh. yes, I did. You have my let ( ter. haven't you?" "1 had It." "Haven't you it now?" "No. I destroyed it." | "Did you? Much as you'd like to destroy its author, 1 dare say. Is it not so?" I "Exactly as I'd like to destroy you," she said, with cruel emphasis. "I can imagine," he said, "just how you tore the letter into little frag, ments and scattered them far and near. And yet, you know I love you. Lurline." | "You lie." "I do not lie. I love you. And you believed it once." "Oh, yes, I suppose I did; I was a fool?once; I believed anything?once." "And I shall never forget that you loved me. too; never?never?never." "Did I? I sometimes doubt it." "Rut von said vou did." "Did I? That would prove nothing:. Hut I thought I did." Ho put his arm around her waist again. "Lurline, I swear I love you. I will not give you up: I will not give you up." "You did <mee, anxiously and .decidedly." "I know it, Lurline, and have cursed myself for it ever since. I can never forget that you had my name once, that you were my wife once: can you ?" "God help me. no. I cannot forget it. Nor can I forget that you applied for a divorce from me, nor " He took his arm away. Perhaps he saw that tenderness was only maddening her. "Don't Lurline. don't," he pleaded. "But I will speak," she shouted: "l will; I will; I will. I have not forgotten that you heaped shame and obloquy on my name, nor that you did it for the sake of another woman. You taught me ^o despise you, Samuel Lyman, and I learned the lesson well; you taught me so mercilessly that I shall never forgive you. I thought then that I loved you. Now I know that I never did." "Ah! Perhaps you love some one else?" "Do you think it possible. Did your treachery not teach me too truly and fully the wickedness of men to leave that possible?" "Perhaps so, but I doubt it. What about John Kane?" She looked Lyman squarely in the face. She snapped her lingers contemptuously. "That for Rev. John Kane." she said. "You don't love him?" "I don't." "Will you swear it?" "I will. I swear I don't love John Kane." "Good. Now swear he doesn't love you." "He never told me he loved me." "No, I presume he never did. But hasn't every look and action spoken louder than words could? Isn't the only reason he hasn't told you the fact that you have given him no opportunity?' "Perhaps so. I don't know. I don't , care. Now let us talk of something else. I did not cross the Atlantic to discuss my loves or my lovers with you." "Miss Bannottie, I beg your pardon; you crossed the Atlantic to discuss any topic which suited my pleasure, or met with my approval. Do you understand?" "I understand. What will you have [ me say next?" He caught her wrist in both his , hands. He lifted her hand high above , her head. "Swear you don't love Walter AldI rich!" he cried. , She turned away her head. She would not?or could not?face him. , He could see the warm flush redden her throat and her cheeks. "I will swear no more," she said. ( brokenly. I "Because you don't dare swear to a lie?" he asked, triumphant malice in ? his tune. "Is that it?" i "Perhaps so. A woman might be - * * ? - * 4 hi #-?! ? proud 01 me iove 01 win in- muntii, might she not? 1 suppose that even I such a man as you will admit that?" "Yes, if she could win it. I haven't I any knowledge of anything which Walter Aldrich ever did of which he ought . to he ashamed. Hut you know as well as I do that Walter Aldrich never > gave you a second thought." "I know it." : "You know he never cared for any other woman than Elsie Barron. You kno\V that, do you not?" "You forget Constance Craig. Mr. i Lyman." "Pshaw; he never cared for her. He > was her lawyer and her good frierd: > that was all.". "Hut hadn't they made up a lover's > quarrel just before she?she?just beI fore she died?" "No," ; . "Wasn't he engaged to Consta ice Craig just before she was married?" "No." Miss Bannottie tinned toward Ly' man with the fury of a tigress, i "Then why, you villain, did you tell . me so? Y<ru know you told me so." ! "Did I? I had forgotten it." "You did. Why did you do it?" Lyman laughed. | "To excite your jealousy, I suppose." "You knew I had nothing against Constance Craig?nothing but that, did ? you not?" t "Certainly. I presume that was why I told you. For you will remember that I had a great deal against her." "Oh, you scoundrel! you coward! r you wretch! I will kill " r I think Samuel Lyman was in more t danger, for a moment, than he had ever been in all his life before. I think he* knew Miss Bannottie well enough to realize that fact as he inter- I rupted her. a "I wouldn't do it here in the public highway, if I were you," he said, with \ assumed coolness; "I have an idea that c silence and secrecy are too precious to you to be thrown away recklessly. Put r up your revolver, m.v dear, and listen to common sense and reason." t "I?I will never forgive you." "I presume not. You don't have to." ?i "I am stilling. Get done with what you have to say to me. I cannot j breathe the same air as you do!" c "I am sorry you stifle here; we will c go to a cooler climate, if you wish. q Here, let us turn back now; I think s it is time to attend to a little business at Barron's Boomville Bank. As for i getting done with what I have to say to you, I don't expect to finish the sto- j ry of my admiration and affection for some years yet, and as for breathing, you'll have to get used to that -if you continue to breathe at all." "You may cease first," she muttered. "Bh? What's that?" he demanded. "You may cease breathing first." The man smiled, in a lofty and su- a perlor sort of way. "Possibly. But I shall watch you, $ you tiger-cat, and I'll fix it so that if I get a dose of poison or a half-foot or" cold steel you'll be given a chance to tell what you know about it." "Will you? I shall never be near enough to where you are?after tonight?to make your punishment a possible temptation to me?" "Indeed! Do you know that I think you will?" "I don't understand you." _ "You will before I am done. Do you see that gentleman on the other side of the street? He's out rather ^ late, isn't he? He must have something on his mind, mustn't he?" "I see him; who is he?" "I thought you might recognize him, even in the dark. He is a gentleman j from Boston who is spending a little . fl time here in Boomville?for pleasure, he says. His name is Prier. and Why do you tremble, Miss Bannottie? . Is the night air too cold for you?" "I am not cold," she replied, but she shook as though in an ague fit. "I had a letter once which I fancy contained certain interesting informa- . tion Mr. Prier would give a great deal ~ to possess." "1 know It. I am ready to give a ^ great deal for the return of that letter." \ "I thought so. Why? Are you afraid ^ I will betray you?" t "Not exactly. You arc as guilty as * I, and " a "That is just your mistake. That is just the one weak point in your argument, and in all the assumptions you t have ever made. You were utterly guilty; I plotted with you for a much ^ less crime than that you committed; ? any jury would believe that, and most men would sympathize with my desires, even though they could not quite approve of my way of gratifying them. So, if punishment ever comas to us t through the agency of the law?I say through the agency of the law, because t I know what to expect from you, if t you dare, and shall watch you and p guard against you accordingly?you will he loathed and despised, while I t am pitied and have excuses made for t me. It would be awkward and un- a pleasant for me to have the contents ^ of that letter made public, unless I c were beyond the reach of the law?but j, to you. it would be ruin." v "We'll not argue the question. I do v not agree with you. I think we are g equally guilty, and I think any twelve men would think so too. But I will not waste time in a vain dispute with you. What do you wish in return for giving me back the letter?" "I cannot give you back the letter." "What?" "I say I cannot return the letter." "Why?" "Because I have lost it." A strange look came over Miss Bannottie's face. It was as though she did not know whether to laugh or to weep I?as though she was uncertain whether rejoicing or fear was most fiiting. "Lost it?" "Yes." "When?" "I do not know. I looked for it after I had written to you. and it could not be found. I do not know when nor where I lost it." "Nor who has it?" "No. Though I think that if any one had it we should have heard of it long before this. Don't you?" "I suppose we should. You are very o frank. This gives me my freedom. ? This destroys all your power over me." s "Not quite so fast. It seems so at f first sight, I grant. But have you noj r already guessed how easy it would be Jj to trace the guilt home to you if one c knew you were guilty, to begin with? I Do you not remember how much aid ^ there was to your arithmetical work. $ when you were a schoolgirl, if you only t knew the answers? This letter is gone; that is true; I am not playing with " your feelings in that: it is actually i gone. I may never see it again. I e don't suppose I ever shall. But what e ci of that? If I were to assure an acute a and experienced man of your guilt, if t I were to drop a hint even, cannot you Sl guess what the end would be? Sup- ^ pose I were to go to Prier, for instance, ( v iiiid miy "Don't." whispered Miss Rannottie: J "I see all that yon would explain." s "And you recognize the fact that I you are not here to purchase the re- ( turn of your letter?" "I do." <! "Rut that you are to pay me for t keeping silent?for not going to some ? one, to Mr. Prier, for instance, and j saying to him " c "I understand. What is your price?" 0 j "I'll tell you. I am going away. I am going tomorrow or tomorrow night? e between now and Monday, at any rate, c and I am never coming back. My price is?you. Forget that you were ever t divorced from me. Marry me again, s Oo with me. Live with me. I love you, Lurline. I am determined to have * you for my own again, or " "Well, or what?" "Or that you shall pay the law's penilty. Do you understand and believe hat?" "I do." "What is your answer?" "It's somewhat sudden and unex>eeted, Mr. Lyman; cannot you give ne time to think? Such things cannot >e decided In a hurry." "Not a minute." "Nor time to talk longer with you?" "No. Here we are, at the door of Barron's Boomvllle Bank. We'll go in ind talk over the details of my plans -if you consent to my wishes. Othervise, we part here, and you take the :onsequences." i? r..i U/v vjii, ,mr. uyman, ue meiuiiui?uc nerclful as you expect mercy." "I don't expect mercy?I don't expect o tired it. What is your answer?" "You know I hate you. Oh. keep >ur secret and let mo pro." "Never. You hate me; I love you. am willing to risk the consequences if your feelings. You must abide by >ne or the other of the alternative conequences of mine? What Is your anwer?" "Oh. Mr. Lyman, you know there can >e hut one answer." "I think there can he hut one. What F It?" "Where are you planning to go?" "I am going to Canada." "fcamuel Lyman, I hate you " "I am honored." "And I will never forgive you " "I shall never ask it." "And I will be as merciless to you ,s you have been to me " "When you can be, you may, if you lare." "But " "Well?" "When you?go?go?to Canada, I? -will?go?with you." To be Continued. REDUCE THE ACREAGE. 'resident Taylor Issues Address to Cotton Planters. 'o the Cotton Planters of the South. Cotton today reached the lowest >oint since Jan. 1, 1903. except from Jovember to May of the big crop year if 1904-5, when it sold two cents per tound lower than this. What has aused (his decline of three cents per >ound in spite of the fact that the ottun crop of the world is about 4,00,000 short of last year's crop? The mly answer that I can find Is "Lack if Confidence." The retailer is not mying except as he needs the goods, |ie jobber is doing the same, conseluently the mills have no orders head, while last year, and for sever.1 years past, they have had orders looked from three to six months in dvance. What causes this lack of confidence? 'hey are afraid we will raise a bum>er crop of cotton again this year. Vhy are they afraid of a large crop? 'hey look at the past. In 1903 we tad a short crop and good prices, chlch was followed by a large acre??e and good seasons and a bumper rop. The next year, 1905-6, we had . short crop and good prices, which ras again followed by a large acre.ge and a bumper crop. Had It not ieen for the September storm in the Mississippi valley and the exceptionlly good trade the market would irobably have gone to eight cents or inder for that crop. We got a good verage price fol* the good grades in he crop, and a large acreaj?e was set side for cotton last season, but owing o the weather during planting time he acreage was cut some and crops >oor in Texas and Louisana enabled is to get a good price for the most of his crop. A month ago every indica HMI WUS lllill \VC WUUIU I1UVC il 1 <1 i creage this season, and the people lid not care to place heavy orders for otton goods, knowing that with a arge acreage and fair season we irould produce more cotton than the rorld needed and the price of cotton ;oods would decline. They are good usiness men, and you can't fool hem. How can we restore confidence? In dace of planting the same acreage as ast season in cotton plant 25 percent ess. As soon as the acreage report is ut in June or even before, the trade rill know that there will be a moderite crop raised this year and we will lave the old time activity in the coton trade. Jobbers will place their irders ahead to enable them to supply heir trade and the mills will contract n advance for supplies of cotton and he market will advance much faster han it has declined. The result will ?e that you will market a crop of 11,>00.000 at an average of at least $65 ?er bale, or a total of about $750,000,100, If the weather conditions hould lie unfavorable for the growng crop and it should turn out a milion bales less it would sell for fifteen ents and bring a total of nearly 1800,000,000, and add to this the valle of the feed crops that can be grown ?n the acreage intended for cotton ;nd it will give us another $50,000,i00. Suppose that you plant the ame acreage as last year and with avorhble weather we would likely nake anyway 13,000,000, possibly nore. What would the price be unler the present trade conditions? Not iver an average of eight cents per lound and perhaps lower. Say that t averaged $4 0.00 per bale the crop vould bring $520,000,000, at least 1300,flOO,000 loss to ine souui. now o bring about this reduction. ? It is not too late yet to plant corn, lfalfa, sorghum cane, millet or cow >eas for hajr. Or it will pay you to et the land lie idle for a season rathr than plant it in cotton at a loss. Let very planter that reads this article at nice arrange to reduce his own acreage in cotton and show the article to lis neighbor, or better call a meeting it every country school house in the outh and discuss this matter intelligently, then go home resolved that iach one will do his part. If you lave any neighbors that will not reluce send me their names and I will ake r.he matter up with each one peronally. This is no small matter, and hope that members of the Southern Cotton association and Farmers' Unon will stand side by side on this great ight. With a heavy acreage Wall treet will set the price for our eot011 crop, with a light acreage we can ret our own price within reason. Don't ielay, but get busy at once. There s plenty of time yet if you will only lo your part. In 1905 by reducing the icreage 15 per cent the price advanced ive cents per pound, and we can do it igain. I will be glad to hear from ivery farmer that reads this and onlorses it. Do you want to return to the old lays of five cent cotton? If not, join his movement and we will make the outh more prosperous than ever. J. A. Taylor, 'resident National Dinners' Association. Memphis, Tenn., April 18th, 1908. lefeated In 1898 by a peculiar cnmhllation of forces, and there Is a feeing In the senate that he should re eivo recognition for his light that ear. Some of the county papers extressed the opinion this last week that lis attitude towards Governor Ansel las strengthened him for the race in 910. The office of state superintendent >f education Is the only one of the late offices for which there are as yet everal candidates. Mr. Martin beng no longer an aspirant for thl3 dace, the way is open for a new man. County Superintendent of Educaion E. C- Elmore, of Spartanburg, yas the first to announce, and he has nade a preliminary campaign. Couny Superintendent S. R. Melllchamp, if Orangeburg, was next to announce, ind he has also done much work. Re cntly Prof. J. E. Swcaringen, of Cclar Spring's Institute, announced his undidacy. Mr. Swearingen made a emarkable record at the South Caroina college a few years ago; he is tone blind, but a brilliant young man md a powerful orator, resembling in ippearance and ability his distinguished uncle. Senator Benjamin R. riMman. The office of railroad commissioner ? aln-ovo r>nnt?>?tprl for Commission iUiscctliinrous grading. OUTLOOK IN STATE POLITICS. Campaign of 1908 Now Fairly Commencing. NVws and Courier: Columbia, April 19.?Special: Thl.s week sees the opening practically of the summer campaign in South Carolina. as on Saturday the precinct clubs meet to reorganize and this is the foundation of the Democratic party organization. In this state, of course, everything is settled in the Democratic primaries, which are held in August. The precinct clubs elect delegates to the county convention and the county conventions, which meet on Monday, May 4. elect delegates to the state convention, besides selecting a member from each county on the state executive committee. The state convention, held on May 20, will elect this year delegates to the national convention, and the state committee will arrange the details of the primary campaign subject to any regulations adopted by the state convention. As the rules now stand, adopted in 1904, there Is a provision for only one campaign party, and not two parties, as in 1902. At one time It seemed likely that two campaign tours would be necessary, on account of the fact that there was a fight on for governor besides a large number of candidates for the United States senate, but since the candidates have been thinned to a stand it may be possible to get along with only one campaign, so that the candidates for all offices, state and national, can stump the state together, going from county to county, and addressing the voters. However, these stump-speaking tours are not as popular as they once were and do not draw the crowds which turned out in the '90's, hence they do not cut as much figure in the results. A few weeks ago there were seven nondMotoq mil fnr the United States senate to succeed the'late Senator Latimer, but Messrs. Darsan. McCullouph and Henderson have s withdrawn, and this leaves at present Messrs. O. R. Martin. John Gary Evans, George Johnstone, E. D. Smith 1 and D. C. Hey ward. From expressions In the county press It appears to he^the opinion that the race Is between Ex-Governor Evans and ExGovernor Hey ward, but Mr. Martin seems to object to the promulgation of this opinion, and doubtless the other candidates do also, but they do not express themselves as freely as s does Mr. Martin. In 1902. when Messrs. Evans and a Johnstone were also candidates for * the senate, the votft In the first prl- s mary stood: William Elliott ; 13.658 r John Gary Evans 17.893 r J. J. Hemphill 13,261 t D. S. Henderson 13,771 Geo. Johnstone 13,556 A. C. Latimer 22,971 1 I Total 95,110 j The second primary was between ( Evans and Latimer, and in the sec- v ond election Mr. Evans received 36,- F 371 votes and Mr. Latimer 53,890, Mr. Latimer being elected by a majority t of 17,519 over Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans c had been defeated for the senate In r 1897 and again by Joseph H. Earle F In 1S96. By John L. McLaurln in c 1897. a In the year 1902 Gapt. Hey ward made his entry into politics, and the * vote in the tlrst primary resulted as a follows: c D. C. Hey ward 36.551 M. F. Ansel 17,685 F W. J. Talbert 18,218 I J. H. Tillman 16.398 t \V. H. Timmerman 6,515 Total ! 95.367 The second race was between Hey- 1 ward and Talbert, and the vote re- 8 suited: Hey ward 50,830, Talbert 40,- v 4 94, Capt. Hey ward being elected by r a majority of 10,336. " In 1904 Gov- ^ ernor Htfyward was re-elected with- 1 i out opposition. The year 1902 also saw the political debut of- the Hon. O. B. Martin, who f in that year was first a candidate for the office of state superintendent of r education against the Hon. John J. ' McMahan, receiving 48,850 votes 8 against 45,891 for Mr. McMahan. there being only the two candidates. * Since then Mr. Martin has not had f opposition for this office, being re- * elected in 1904 and 1906. These votes may or may not indl- ' cate anything as to the relative or the 1 real strength of any of the present candidates, as conditions and issues * change so rapidly in politics. For instance, Mr. E. D. Smith, who is so popular all over the south as the ' Southern Cotton association orator, * was overwhelmingly defeated for congress in this district when he ran against Congressman Lever several years ago. *s The withdrawal of Mr. Feather- * stone from the race for governor ^ leaves the Hon. C. L. Blease, senator 1 from Newberry, as the only candidate against Governor Ansel. Mr. Blease * was always a stalwart state dispensary supporter, and since that insti- a tution's abolition he has come out on s an extended local option platform. r Governor Ansel, on the other hand. ^ f announces his platform this year to be restricted local option, favoring the law making the entire state prohibi- 4 Hon with the rigni to counties to exempt themselves by majority vote (J and sell whisky through county dis- 1 pensarles. Iiv 1906, when he was ' elected governor. Mr. Ansel favored J the present county option system, and in 1902, when he was defeated, o he favored the state dispensary as c 'Hhe best solution of the liquor ques- r tion." Before that time he had been ' regarded as a prohibitionist. Mr. Ansel, while a man of positive per- t sonal convictions, has always been a 1 close student of popular opinion, and {l his successive platforms indicate th? trend of public opinion in this slate i fairly well during the last few years, f That the prohibitionists will be con- j tent to have such a law enacted as Mr. Ansel now advocates seems evi- t dent from Mr. Fe'atherstone's with- ( drawal, but it is possible that some f out-and-out. uncompromising prohi- j bitionist, as Mr. Joel E. Brunson, may ' run this year on an ironclad prohibi- J tion platform. I While Mr. Featherstone in his withdrawal announcement does not say J so, it is presumed he will be a "vindl- r date for governor in 1910. He was J i t Caughman's term expires and he s a candidate for re-election. So far t is known that he will have opposllon fi;om Mr. J. A. Summersett, of Columbia, Major Fishburne, of Chare.ston, Major H. W. Richardson, of Columbia, "Cansler of Tlrzah," and jerhaps others. It appears now that the other state (fflcials will not have opposition, Secretary of State McCowan, Attorley General Lyon, Comptroller Gen ral Jones. State Treasurer Jennings, ^.dj. Gen. Boyd. However, the camjalgn has just started; and the elecion Is yet four months off, but the ntries for state offices close In June. In 1906, the total vote In the first >rlmary ran to about 97,000, and here was much Interest In the race or governor and attorney general as veil as for the legislature and couny offices. With a warm fight for tnte and county offices this- year, the otal vote may go to 100,000. At any ate, to win the candidate should nuke sure of at least fifty thousand '<>tes Jas. A. Hoyt. BRYAN STIRS UP JOHNSON. The Minnesotan Will Not Run From the Fight. Chicago. April 15.?Governor Johnon, of Minnesota, before leaving for lome today, had something to say ibout a statement sent out by the 3ryan bureau at Washington, which et forth that Johnson was twice Jected governor through "luck" and eprimandlng him for his "ir.ipertllence" in becoming a candidate for he presidency. "I have had as many importunities o become a presidential candidate >oured into my ears without respondng as any man in the country," said 5overnor Johnson, "and I fail to see vhy any man should style it an im ertinence on my part. "My attitude has been plain and I hought I had made it clear to everyone I am not actively seeking the lomination, but if the Democratic >arty sees fit to select me as the canlidate I shall be perfectly willing to iccept the honor. "By what right does anyone say hat when people come clamoring for id mission to my cottage I must not pen the door? "I don't know how the other man roposes to conduct his campaign, >ut so far as I am concerned I shall ry to make at least a dignified con est for the nomination. "I propose that this fight for the lomination shall be conducted In such l way that Democrats of the country rill say, at least, it was made in a nanner dignified enough for the ofice. Other candidates may act as hey see fit. They cannot force me nto a different behavior." "You said 'fight,' " it was suggest>d to him. "I never ran away from a fight," he eplied, "and I do not suppose I'd run rom one now. but I am not attacking tnyone. "Mr. Bryan has said that he would >e the candidate of the Democratic tarty if it wanted him to lead it again. have no quarrel with Mr. Bryan on hat score. I should not attack Mr. iearst if he were a candidate for the residency again. "And If I am not nominated at Denver my opponent will at least enow that he has been through a ight when the contest Is over, for I ~ "P > man leave many u wm ?>i . Philadelphia Record. Gloves From Whales. Newfoundland whalers seized with a pirit of enterprising economy, are retorted to be attempting to place whale ilde on the market, for the manufacure of whale leather. It is not surprising that such an atempt should be made. It must vex he spirit of any whaler of well-balmced mind to see, after all the hardhip and danger of his calling, an enornous and altogether disproportionate ?ulk of his quarry cast away as reuse. Prom a large right whale of, say, 45 o 50 feet in length, about 250 barrels f oil and one and three-quarters tons if baleen, or whalebone, may be obalned. The remainder of the gigantic arcass, which may be as much as 50, ons, has hitherto been considered use- I The average whale hide. If laid out m the ground, would cover a surface if nearly 1.5U0 square feet, at which ate one whale, if its hide could be nade into boots and shoes, would well tock a boot shop. It is also hoped that the intestines of he whale will be made remunerative. This product is descibed as very thin ind tough and suitable for glove manlfacturers. It is not likely, however, that whale ntestlnes could be manufactured into food motoring and driving gloves, for vhich reindeer at present holds the Ield against all other skins. At various times many skins have >een tried, such as the skins of crocoliles, cats, pigs, calves, lambs and even ats. Many of the men's cheap dress floves on the market are made in Na !es of the skins of the local sewer rats. 3ut practically all of the skins men* ioned have been found treacherous, ilove skins must not only be pliable nit also perfectly tough and firm, since they have to be sewn up right it the edge. If whale intestines be ound to possess these three qualities, 10 doubt there would quickly be a narket for whale gloves. THE INDIVIDUAL EAR. Stop and Consider This Easy Way to Lose on a Corn Crop. What constitutes an ideal "ear of corn? This question must be answered by 6very corn breeder If he wishes to succeed. He must have an ideal In mind and work to that end. The ear of his ideal must be determined by the condition of the soil and climate. In buying seed corn it ^s not advisable to secure it from a long distance. Seed corn should not be shelled until near planting time, but early in the spring a germination test should be made of each ear and the poorest ears discarded and the^good ears shelled and the corn made ready for planting. There is perhaps no one thing that will do as much to increase the yield of corn on every farm as the testing of each ear to be used for seed. The Importance of discarding the ears that are poor in vitality is essential when we realize that one good ear will plant one-eighth of an acre. The simplest and best method of testing the germination of each ear Is by using a germination box. The most convenient box Is 3 by 4 feet, with wire stretched crosswise forming squares large enough to hold six to eight kernels. Pill the box with sand. Number each one of the squares. Take a few kernels from each ear and put In each of these squares. Then wet the sand and place a damp cloth over the box, keeping the sand and cloth moist and warm. Keep a record of the time of germination and note the kernels which fail to grow. After the germination test the next step is to prepare the corn for the planter?by removing the mixed kernels, the ununiform kernels; the injured or rotten kernels and the tip and butt kernels, when the corn should be carefully shelled. The value of testing the vitality of corn which is intended for seed cannot be overestimated. It is strange how many farmers, even today, are willing to plant corn without the least certainty that the seed will germinate and produce good, healthy plants. There are thousands of acres that have been planted over each year on account of the poor vitality of the seed. I wish every farmer would stop to consider this. Get a seed tester and test your seed this spring. The vitality of each individual ear of corn intended for planting may be determined. Tou can discard the poor ears, keeping the good ears for seed. Some farmers say they have not the time to test the seed. Stop and consider that it only takes in ton (rood PATS for each iiuill VlQtiV %v acre. Suppose you plant an ear of low vitality. Then you are losing oneeighth of your crop, and it takes only a few minutes to make the germination test.?J. B. Petersen, Kansas. THE DEED OF A HERO. , How a Brave Boy Helped to 8ave the Indian Empire. Not all the courage of war Is expended on the battlefield. A boy once performed a deed which contributed greatly to save the Indian empire. At the *tlme, In 1857, he was a mere lad employed as an assistant In the telegraph service. His name was W. Brendlsh, and he sent at the risk of his life a dispatch from Delhi to Umballa which bore the first news of the outbreak. This message, repeated to every town which could be reached, proved of priceless value. Colonel Edward Vlbart In his "Sepoy Mutiny" tells the story of how, to quote the Judicial commissioner of the Punjab, "the electric telegraph saved India." It was the custom to close the telegraph offices on Sunday between the hours of 9 to 4. On May 10, 1857, as the operator at Delhi was about to close his station he received a message from the Meerut office announcing an uprising In that section. At 4 o'clock, when the office was reopened, connections with Meerut were found to be interrupted/ The telegraph force at Delhi consisted of the chief and two young assistants, Brendlsh and Pilkington. The office was situated outside of the city about a mile from the gates. On discovering the break in the connections the chief sent the two lads to test the cable across the river. They found that they could signal to Delhi, but not to Meerut, and reported the fact on their rteurn. It was too late to do anything that night, but the next morning Mr. Todd, the chief, went out himself to investigate the line. He never returned, and, although his fate Is unknown, there is little doubt that he was murdered. The office was thus left in charge of the two lads. Signs of trouble began to be evident close at hand. Brendlsh. stepping from the door, met a wounded officer, who cried out to him, "For God's sake get inside and close your doors!" The revolt crept closer and closer. The boys felt that their lives were in < danger. Soon they became sure of it. But before they fled to a place of comparative safety they waited to send out to the Tndlan world the news of the revolt. Brendish ticked out the message which caused Sir Edward to say: . "Look at the courage and sense of that little boy! With shot falling all round him. he stayed to manipulate the message that was the means of saving the Punjab." The government rewarded Brendlsh for his services by giving mm a me pension, and as an old man he died in the India he had helped to preserve. The Valve of a Word.?As soon as the apartment house was ready for occupancy the janitor placed a "rented" sign in several of the second and third story windows. When the agent saw the placards he said a good many things not exactly complimentary to the discretion of the janitor. "What did you stick all those notices up for?" he asked. "Because," was the reply, "the apartments are really rented. I thought it a good plan to let folks know they were going off so quickly." "That is all right in principle," said the agent, somewhat mollified, "but you didn't go about it in the right way. That is not the proper kind of a notice. Never use the word 'rented' in a high class apartment. Always say 'leased.' It makes a better impression. 'Rented' sounds cheap. Any agent who wants his apartments to bring a big price will tell you that."? New York Press.