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?r 1 SPRING IS HERE I ?? ? ? &? i and you want to freshen up your ? 49 home in keeping with the season. 5 See mv new lines of J? <1 oP ? - 1A V, ed Room Suits, Felt Mattresses, Hammocks, 5 | Rugs and Mattings and Refrigerators.;? J? I keep constantly on hand a com- j* plete line of : : : : f COFFINS and CASKETS | and am prepared to render my ^ services day and night. 1 L. J. STACKLEY, | ?j THE FfRNITl'RE MAN J ? KINQSTREE, ... s. C. ? I Water F ^s,denccs % AND | S,OTe 5 f | a j Hotels Jl I Public buildings 5 7/foderate Cost 8 Perfect dieting. | r.ocnlino FnmriPc fnr anv nnrnnsp Jm TZ IV VS v?? m.j |WWW. ?. c?. J*. Sngman, Florence, O.C. J> ~mr~m?-%r~ iir ^ir ^jr 'W~"Er^iinl fThs Parlor Market jj ? ThrocapH Meata. Fish. Game Poultry i* 2 Oysters, Eggs and Full Line - & | ^?.2^.037- Q-roceries | ? HIDES VENTED*" HIGHE^^MARKET ? ^ i) c PRICES PAID, || ? Tixe 3?axlor 2v?a,rlret? % | T. B. Arrowsmith, Agent., ? ? KINGSTREE S. C. * BUZZARD HARDWARE GO. IS THE HOUSE. mm 1-. p: 1I/E are headquarters for all "fT" kinds of Hardware, Guns, H ! - j FT " Cutlery? Fumps, Piping, Steam ?>Jl Ii " i ~ ?T i - Fittings, Belting, Pittsburg Per| |?I ^41 - *ec* Fence, Bai b Wire, Crock' ' " "I " I ?j ni fjf | *"j j | j ' I ' 1 ' 1 HI r eiY anu vriosswarc, uw&iug lltLJ-j -~j.- stoves, Builders Material of all kinds, N. C. Pine Shingles, Paroid Hoofing, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Lime, Cement, Paint. Farming Implements, Stalk Cutters Cole Corn and Cotton Planters, Guano Distributors. : : : : SEE US BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDERS. Yours very truly, blizzard Hardware co. LAKE CITY, S C. V 1 "A dollar saved is a dollar made" There is no better way to save your dollars than by dealing with - - J. L. Stuckey, the old reliable live-stock man. I have a splendid line of EliiS. Willi III iass, that in view of the hard times am offering at 10 per cent above cost. A nice bunch of HORSES and MULES always on hand at prices to suit. J. L. Stuckey, ukecity,s. c. B ? I Rates to James The following- rates to the Jannext Friday, April 20, have been Season Ticket SO Scranton $15 85 $L Lake City 10 00 1 Cades 1G 35 1 Kingstree 16 75 1 Salter* 16 95 1 Lanes 17 20 1 Gourd ins 17 35 1 Coach excursion tickets will b< opening of the exposition and wi week thereafter. They are lirr tickets will be sold on the day p sition ami will be on sale daily d tion. CONQUEST By BOOTH I Author of "Cherry." "M COPYRIGHT. 190S. BY * 9 (Continued from last week.) I CHAPTER XIII. THERE wag a custom of Canaan, time worn and seldom honored in the breach, which put Ariel that Afternoon in easy possession of a coign of vantage commanding the front gate. The heavy Sunday dinner was flnisned in silence (on tne part of Jndge Pike deafening) about 3 o'clock, and soon after Mamie tossed a number of cushions out upon the stoop between the cast iron dogs, Sam Warden baring previously covered the steps with a rug and placed several j garden chairs near by on the grass. | These simple preparations concluded, Eugent sprawled comfortably upon the rug and Mamie seated herself near him, while Ariel wandered with appar- | ent aimlessness about the lawn, fol- ' lowed by the gaze of Mr. Bantry until Miss Pike begged her a little petulant- I ly to join them. Chfl rtflmo IaaItInnp oK/Mlf Vint* ! tJUV V UUit| IWAiUg UWUl UV4 U* VW44J J ily and touching to her lips now and ' then, with an absent air, a clover bios- I som she had found In the longer grass against the fence. 8he stopped to pat the neck of one of the cast jron deer and, with grave eyes, prot^red the clover top first for Inspection, then as food. There were those In the world who, seeing her, might have wondered that the deer did not play Galatea and come To * ? sue baa put on ner nat arxer uinuer, > and Mamie now Inquired if she would { not prefer to remove It, offering to car- 1 ry It Indoors for her, to Ariel's room, I to Insure Its safety. "You look so 1 sort of temporary, wearing itf" she ! urged; "as If you were only here for a j little while. It's the loveliest hat I i ever aaw. and so fragile, too, hut I'll ! tajie care"? j "I aril wearing my hat," answered Ariel, "because at any moment I may decide to go for a long walk." "Oh, I hope not," said Mamie, j "There are sure to be people. A few ! still come, even though I'm an engaged girl. I expert that's Just to console me, though." she added, smiling over this worn quip of the betrothed and shaking her head at Eugene, who grew red and coughed. "There'll be plenty today, but they won't be here to see me. It's you, Ariel, and they'll be terribly disappointed if you weren't here. I shouldn't wonder if the whole town came. It's curious enough about youT* And now the young men of the town, ! laboriously arranged as to apparel. ! began to appear on the street In small ( squads, making their Sunday rounds, ; the youngest working In pnaianxes 01 threes and fours, those somewhat old-1 er Inclining to move In pairs, the eldest, such as were now beginning to be considered middle aged beaus or | (by the extremely youthful) "old bach- i elors," evidently considered it advantageous to travel alone. Of all these there were few who did not before evening fell turn in at the gate of the Pike mansion. Consciously, shyly or j confidently, according to the condition of their souls, they made their way between the cast iron deer to be presented to the visitor. Ariel sat at the top of the steps and, looking amiably over their heads, talked with such as could get near her. There were many who could not, and Mamie, occupying the bench below, was surrounded by the overiow. The difficulty of reaching and maintaining a position near Miss Tabor was Increased by the attitude and behavior of Mr. Flitcroft, who that day cooled the feeling of friendship which several of his fellow townsmen had hitherto entertained for him. He bad been the first to arrive, coming alone, though that was not his custom, and he established himself at Ariel's right, upon the step Just below her. so disposing the great body ana the ponaeru;... arms and legs the gods had given him that no one could mount above him to sit bes'de her or approach her from that direction within conversational distance. Norbert, not ordinarily talkative, bad nothing to say. He seemed to find sufficient occupation in keeping the place he had gained, and from this close vantage he fastened his small eyes town Exposition, lestown exposition, which opens furnished us by the agent here: 7 Days Days ]0 Days roach Exeiirs'n 3 25 $12 00 $7 50 3 40 12 10 7 70 3 o5 12 30 8 10 4 00 12 55 8 55 4 15 12 70 8 80 4 40 12 85 8 90 4 50 12 95 8 95 ? sold on the day prior to the1 11 be on sale Tuesdays of each lited to seven days. The other rinr fArtdnin(r hf ^VTin. I I IUJ Lt/ tut \J pt II1 V/t uiv urin<,r the period of the exposic~ ** llj CANAAN ARKINGTON, lonsieur Beaucaire." Etc. HARPER t* BROTHERS I ImiBordbry upon Ariel's profile. Eugene, also apparently determined not to move, sat throughout the afternoon at her left, but as he was thin others who came and went were able to approach upon that side and bold speech with her. The conversation of the gallants consisted for the greater part of witti- j clems at one another's expense, which, though evoked for Ariel's benefit (all eyes furtively reverting to her as each 6baft Was loosed), she found more or less enigmatical. The young men, however, laughed at each other loudly and ' seemed content if now and then she smiled. "You must be frightfully enuuied with all this," Eugene said to her. "You see bow provincial we still are." She did not answer. She bad not beard him. The shadows were stretching themselves over the grass long and attenuated. The sunlight upon the trees aud houses was like a thin, rosy pigment, blackbirds were calling each other home to beech and elm, and Ariel's eyes were fixed upon the westeru distance of the street where gold dust was beginning to quiver in the air. She did not bear Eugene, but she started a moment later when the name Joe Lou den was pronounced by a young man, the poetic Bradbury, on the step below Eugene. Some one Immediately said, "Sb!" But she leaned over and addressed Mr. .Bradbury, who, shut out, not only from the group about her, but from the other centering upon Miss Pike as well, was holding a private conversation with a friend in like mis fortune. "What were you saying of Mr. Louden?" she asked, smiling Mown upon the young man. (It was this smile which Inspired his description of her a? "a revelation and a dream.") "Oh, nothing particular." was his embarrassed reply. "I only mentioned I'd heard there was some talk among the"? He paused awkwardly, remem- ' bering that Ariel bad walked with liManh T-nnd<?n in thp farp nf Canaan < that very day. "That Is, I mean to say, i there's some talk of his running for mayor." i "toot?" There was a general exclamation, followed by an uncomfortable moment or two of alienee. No one present was ( unaware of that noon walk, though there was prevalent a pleasing notion that It would not happen again, founded on the Idea that Ariel, having only arrived the previous evening, had probably met Joe on the street by accident and, remembering him as a playmate ol' her childhood and uninformed as to h!s reputation, had, naturally enough. Permitted him to walk home with her. Mr. Flitcroft broke the silence, rushing Into words with a derisive laugh: "Yes. he's talked of for mayor?by the saloon people and the niggers! I expect the Beaver Beach crowd would be for him, and If tramps could vote he might"? "What Is Beaver Beach?" asked Ariel, not turning. "What Is Beaver Beach?" he repeat- i ed and cast bis eyes to the sky,.shak- j ing bis bead awesomely, "it's a place," i be said, with abysmal solemnity?"a i place I shouldn't have mentioned In ! your presence. Miss Tabor." i "What has It to do with Mr. Louden V The predestined Norbert conceived the present to be a beaven sent opportunity to enlighten ber concerning Joe's j character, since the Pikes appeared to have been derelict In the performance i of this kinlness. "He goeu there!" he proceeded heavily. "He lived there for awhile when he first came back from running away, : and he's 11 friend of Mike Sheehan's ! that runs It He's a friend of all the riffraff that hang around there." "How dc you know he goes there?" ! "Why, It was in the paper the day after he came back." He appealed for j corroboration. "Wasn't It. Eugene?" "No, no!" she persisted. "Newspapers are sometimes mistaken, aren't they? Have you ever met any one who has seen him there?" "1 Ve SffU IJILIJ lui'it ui;mu> i I words skipped out of Norbert's mouth ' like so mr.n.v little devils the instant j he opened it. She had spoken so quick- i , I \ ly ana witn ?ucn vehemence, looking him full In the eye, that he had forgotten everything In the world except making the point to which her insistence had led him. Mamie looked horrified. There was a sound of smothered laughter, and Norbert, overwhelmed by the treachery of his own mouth, sat gasping. "It can't be such a terrific place, then, after all." said Ariel gently, aud. turning to Eugene, "Have you ever been there. Mr. Bantryshe asked. He changed color, but answered with enough glibuess. "No." Several of the young men rose. The wretched Flitcroft, however, evading Mamie's eye. in which there was a distinct hint, sat where he was until all of them, except Eugene, had taken a reluctant departure, one group after another, leaving in the order of their arrival. Ariel started to her feet, but the benl figure coming up the walk in the dark ness was that of Eskcw Arp. lit bowed gloomily to Mamie and in re spouse to her inquiry if he wished tc see her father answered no; be had come to talk with the granddaughtei of his old friend Roger Tabor. "Mr. Arp!" called Ariel. "I am sc very glad!" She ran down to him and gave him her hand. "We'll sit here on the bench, shan't we?" Mamie had risen and, skirting Norbert frostily, touched Eugene upon the shoulder as she went up the steps. He understood that be was to follow her indoors, and, after a deep look at the bench where Ariel had seated herself beside Mr. Arp, he obeyed. Norbert was left a lonely ruin between the cold twin dogs. He had wrought desolation this afternoon, and that sweet verdure, his good name, so long in the planting, so carefully tended, was now a dreary waste; yet he contemplated this not so much as bis present aspect of splendid isolation. Frozen by the daughter of the house, forgotten by the visitor, whose conversation with Mr. Arp was carried on In tones so low that be could not understand It the fat one. though hcartbreaklngly loath to take himself away, began to comprehend that bis hour had struck. He rose, descended the Rteps to the bench and seated hltuself unexpectedly upon the cement walk at AHel's feet. "Leg's gone to sleep." ho explained In response to her startled exclama AWiU you go riding with me tomorrow afternoon f" Uon, but, like a great soul, ignoring the accident of bis position as well as the presence of Mr. Arp, be Immediately proceeded, "Will you go riding with me tomorrow afternoon?" "Aren't you very good natured, Mr. Flltcroft?' sbe asked, with an odd Intonation. "I'm Imposed on often enougb," be replied, rubbing bis leg, "by people who think I am. Why?" "It Is only that your sitting so abruptly upon the ground reminded roe of something that happened long ago, T I.M PonAon tha loot tl 1710 1 mriuic A icii vuummu, w-v met you." "I don't think 1 knew you before you went away. You haven't said if you'll so riding with me tomorrow. Please"? "Get up," Interrupted Mr. Arp acidly. "Somebody'll fall over you if you stay there." Flitcroft departed abruptly. Ariel laughed, leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knee and her chin in her hand, so that the shadow of her hat shielded her eyes from the light "I thought you looked surprised when you saw me today." "I reckon I did!" he exclaimed. "Who wouldn't of been?" "Why?" "Wasn't the whole town the same way?" he demanded. "Did you meet anybody that didn't look surprised?" "But why should they?" "Good gracious!" he broke out. "Ain't you got any look In' glasses?" "I think almost all I have are still In the customs warehouse." "Then use Mamie Pike's." responded the old man. "The town never dreamed you were goln' to turn out pretty at all,, let alone the way you've turned out pretty. The Tocsin had a good deal about your looks and so " * ?- - 1-4. A ? n.%?ta rorin in 11 once ui tt icuer nviu i una, but the folks that remembered you kind of set that down to the way papers talk about anybody with money, and nobody was prepared for It when they saw you. You don't need to drop no courtesies to me." He set his mouth grimly In response to the bow she made him. "I think female beauty Is like all other human furbelows and as holler as heaven will be If only tha good people are let in. But yet I did stop to look at you when you_ went . > ;!? I past me tCGay, ana i aepi on loottn* j long as yon were in sight I reckon I always will when I git the chance, too? ! only shows what human nature la. But j th.it wasn't all that folks were starln' at today. It was your walkin* with Joe Louden that really finished 'em, and I can say it upset me more than ! anything I've seen for a good many ^ ! years." "Upset you. Mr. Arp?" she cried. **? ^ i don't quite see." ' . The old man shook bis head deplori ingly. "After what I'd written you | about that boy"? ;j "Ah." she said softly, touching his ' | sleeve vyjh her fingers. "I haven't ' | thanked JJu for that." ' i "You needn't." he returned sharply. I i "It was a pleasure. Do you remember how easy and quick I promised you?" "I remember that you were very kind." "Kind!" He gave forth an acid and ' chilling laugh. "It was about two ! i months after Louden ran away and be" j fore you and Roger left Canaan, and' II you asked me to promise to write to ' j you whenever word of that outcast' ' j came"? "I didn't put It so, Mr. Arp." ' "No, but you'd ought of! You asked ' me to write you whatever news of him 1 should come, and If be came back to tell you how and when and all about It And I did it and kept you sharp on bis ! record ever since be landed here again. 1 Do you know why I've done It? Do ' you know why I promis<?d so quick and f easy I would do It?* "Out of kindness of your heart, I think." The acid laugh was i-epeated. "No, ma'am! You couldn't of guessed colder. I promised, and I kept my promise because I knew there would never be anything good to tell. And there nerer was!" "Nothing at all?" she Insisted gravely. "XMeveri i leaveix loyou u i y?? written one good word of him." "You've written of the treatment hehas received here," she began, I've been able to see what be baa borneand bears." v I. "But have I written one word to how that he didn't deserve . it all?r Haven't I told you everything, of hir w associates, hla"? * "Indeed you have!" "Then do you wonder that I was^ more surprised than most when I saw g you walking with him today? Because- 9 I knew you did it in cold blood and 3 knowledge aforethought! Other folks; thought it was because you hadn'Abeen, M here long enough to bear his reputa- fl tion, but I knew!" M "Tell jne," she said, "if you were dia- I appointed when you saw me with* 9 him." "Yes," he snapped. "I was." "I thought so. I saw the consterna- fl tion in your face. You approved, 1 didn't you?" * "I don't know what you're talklngnbout" , "Yes, you do. I know it bothers you y to have me read you between the lines, but for this once you must let me. You are so consistent that you arenever disappointed when things turn, out badly or people are wicked orfoollsh, are you?' "No, certainly not I expect it" "And you were disappointed in me today. Therefore, It must be that I was doing something you knew wasright and good. You see?" She leaned a little closer to him, smiling angelically. "Ah, Mr. Arp," she cried^ "I know your secret! You admireme!" He rose, confused and incoherent, as full of denial as a detected pickpocket "I don't! Me admire? What? Ifs an wn'M " h? nrafMted. MI don't \Jimij ?- i - --r admire any human that ever lived!*" "Yea, you do," she persisted. 'TW~just proved it But that is the least of your secret. The great thing is this? you admire Mr. Louden!" "I never beard such nonsense/' ho continued to protest, at the same timemoving down the walk toward- the gate, leaning heavily on his stick. "Nothin* of the kind. There ain't any logic to that kind of an argument, nor no reason." "You see, I understand you!" she called after him. "I'm sorry you go away In the bitterness of being found out" ? "Found out!" His stick ceased for a moment to tap the cement "Pooh!"he ejaculated uneasily. There was a pause, followed by a malevolent chuckle. "At any rate," he said, with Joy in the afterthought "you'll never am walkin' with him again." He waited for the answer, which came, after a time, sadly, "Perhaps you are right Perhaps I shall not" "Ha, I thougnt so! Good night" ( "Good night, Mr. Arp." She turned toward the lighted bouse. Through the windows nearest her she could see Mamie, seated in the familiar chair, following with happy and tender eyes the figure of Eugene, who was pacing up and down the room. The town was deadly quiet; Ariel could bear the sound of footsteps perhaps a block away. She went to the gate and gated a long time into the empty street, watching the yellow grains of light sieved through the maples from the arc lights on the corner moving to and fro in the deep shadow as the lamp swung slightly in the night air. uui iai awujr tur pcatT , was broken by the screams of a 'potior organ," which honked and \^led In pious agonies (the Intention \c*s hymnal), Interminably protracting each spasm. Presently a woman's voice ootdid the organ, a voice which made J , vivid the picture of the woman who ^ i owned it and the plowed forehead of H , her above the nose glasses when the fit i "grace notes" were proudly given birth. "Rescue the Perishing" was the B i startllngly appropriate selection, reu- 9 dered with Inconceivable lingering up- B (Continued on page 7.) ? J