Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-Na-l 7;1 A)A ..Mk D - LL of Eleanor Merton's -friends declared that she was d like to go mad with grief. t She bac Mifd an unusually bit- I ter experience. 'Vhe beautiful. willful I orphan girl had marrled..a handsome youth who developed into a-.cruel and s dissipated .man. For three-, years I Eleanor bore her trials in sileneicwith a splendid pride; then her husband's c sudden death set her free, and she i: abandoned herself happily to her ab- 1 sorbing love for her child, his young : mother's delight. Her friends had laughed. and said that Eleanor 'Merton could talk of 1 nothing but "Reggie," and they were - sick and tired of hearing of the littl prodigy! * So they came to visit her with less and less frequency. and truth to tell-sie never missed their couing. One friend, at least. was faithful. and that was Godfrey Waring. He was a distant connection of Eleanor's. he rriend from childhood and little Regie's godpapa. Now he was also het thief counsellor in all important matters. The happiest time of the year for Eleanor was the holiday season. and ihe thoroughly enjoyed the fun of Reg gie's tiny. stocking and his little Christ mas tree. * The Christmas preparations when Reggie was approaching the mature age of four proved happier than any Vw*ver before. The boy was quite old enough to appreciate all sorts of won derful things, and every evening for almost a week, after he was safely in bed. Eleanor, with Godfrey for an es cort, visited the toy shops and bought the prettiest things she saw. and then jon Christmas Eve Eleanor and Godfrey dressed the tree. It was nearly 11 o'clock before they had finished. and Codfrey was rewarded for his srar,, of the work by an invitat;nm to "cone nd take dinner with Reggie" the ful lowing day. Wh'en Godfrey reached his rooms perhaps an hour nft:r he left her hc . found a note from Eleanor awaiting him. "She forgot to tell me the hour at whlich R'eggie .will .4ine." he said ,to uImselfi with a smile as lhe tor' open the envelone. Bumt th a wordi he~mid lHe hurried back to finmd doetor:< etm ing. pud going and Eleanor half diis traied, anid when he caught the words iunigaant diphtheria" he did not wom der at her alarm. That night no one thmoughtt of slecp. Day dawned and slowly diraggedl tiroughl all its awful length, and - though all things were (done which hut man wisdom could suggest when nigh), a camne little Reginald was dead. f Eleainor's grief was frantic, passion ate, pitiful. No wonder her friends lI feared fot' her reason. .(Godfr-ey alone 11 was of any comfort to her. and that ~ only because she could tamlk to him in- ] cessantly of her dead child. t ~Until Twelfth Night Reggie's Christ- ( ~,ts tree stood just as they had g dressed it, and Eleanor would not per- a 'mit it to he removed. Time went on, andl though Eleanor's grie-f was no less absorbing it gr'adu- ti ally becatme more quiet int its form. y Godlfrey keenly dreaded for her then approa ch of Christmas tinm, and Ito felt greatly disturbed when zttportant ~ business kep~t him away front thte city ~ untal late on Christmas Eve. It was ~ too late to see Eleanor on his return, but lie went to her early on Christmas t S c t h C G.oD.G s4w EnR swAY ANI) sHIE s"..MED) ABOUT To FALL." a ztorn'n'g anid found he4r, to his hotrror f wich thtey two had deoratedJ th.e I "E m. he saidl. "y-ou wil l drie yourself tmad "A least I .shuld be less miserable In thau 11 am now.( gre a Codfrey vwas poweriet to- 10 turn. e;'tn for a moa:ues:t, th:- current of her thoughts.j The li luseless tree. with its bur en of pretty jofs. was kept in its place ntil Twelfth Night was over, as be ore. And then it vaidshed. 1Godfrey ped, forever Another year -went by and Eleanor, till a recluse and unreconeiled, nourned for her boy. As Christums amin drew near Elean r said to 'odfrey. "I shall dress Reg nald's tree as usual on Christmas Eve. Vill you help me-or must I do it lone, as I did last year?" "Eleanor!" he protested. "I shall do it' she said firmly. and e saw that there was no appeal. -4.V "Fo 1. . . as tie. .odfr.y.told ............. usef...h.hlpe. hr.c. dam -dTbeen bouillhel fo litte ]Rgi l. ng behr Itrem strou that 1.ese p1latn. made~ frey child eiht aoul he thus~ :ererted from .1eir purpose~ and used again and again ; instrumntns of 1lorture' fr a womn xis heart. It was late when lheir inisk w:is lished and1( Ire ba:de hot- good-nighit. or face haunted him all nuight. aund in ie miornimg he went to her again. Before th htouse15 lhe satw three Itt 'rd, wistful liittle vagranits loitering. d as be passe'd them h'e heard one unst-jist ter see dema tings eluis to!" Hie glanced up, and where the dra ries had been pushed aside he caught glimpse of Reginald's Christmnas tree. "Mrs. Merton is out!" he saxid in sur rise, repeating the maid's words. one to church. you say! Yes. I'll >e in and wait." He was glad. He glaznced at his atch: it was a full hour until the ser-2 ee would be over. He went to the rindow and pushed the curtains aside look out, and a shrill cry of delight mie from the urchins outside-whom had forgotten-as they caught a bet r view of the gayly decorated tree. In an instant his resolution was rmed, and beckoning to the children ran and opened the front door. I'm not Santa Clans." he said. "but mr a friend of his-and you haven't d any plresents from him yet. have u ?" They grinned. .ahiashed, and vigor sy shook their heaids. "Did he bring you any toys last bristmas?" They shook their heads again. "I thought not. WVell, come in: he's t a double supply for you here." In stupefied a mazement they en tered. tattered. dirty crew, whose jargon hn their tonues were loose'ned God ey could hardly understand. Quikiy and thoroughly he did hic .ork and the tree was strippedl and e oys divided among them in an in eib!ly short time. ie was just pulling down the last nsl zarland amid their shrieks of apt ure when he-looked up and saw ecgnr-a tall black figure - in the :orway. 11cr veil was thrown back ud her face was white and shadowy. Godfrey saw her sway and she ccnmed about to fall. He sprang for -rd to support her, but she shrank Ma rmh m. "i thoua, , were Reggies friend -and min . se idJ boarsely. "-How muc I va.s mistakEn. Our hitterest fn'my F m' *i"d hlav . devis'd nothig hal so'i e: p 1:!." 1!!:t I' had rt. :.'i;. dm abr sed bfor he( heard- 11 lier stepF F ~d-Eding th a:. SI: :* :.i' Fihn.F(lt e 1Fa 13one. :a'aI F s: aarted ~ ~ ~ ~ wv whndo.nee hero nd lato~i dre yugive Xaway the~ IFoys I hmF ~!:oul:~afor myl Fown th-':ad child' "'iley inve made three living chil dren happy. Elcaor-" "Dirty he;;ars from the street. 11 was IIn in.sult to me and to Reginald's Inemory even to bring them Ino iy home--" Goif rey tiushed. "Is it their fault that they were born in the gutter, that they are dirty. ignorant and half elad? In the eyes of God. Eleanor. I believe those children are as dear as your spotless Reginald." She looked at him aghast. "I shall never forgive you." she said. "How dared you do it*' she cried again. "I dared] beeause I thought-I hoped -it might save you from this useless brooding. tli awful niser-" "What do you' know of misery ?" she ...... ... ...... .... x ....... said in sco(rn. \ "ou. whoit have never lot ed and( buied3I' a child." "I kn'ow - ily the m'isery o f Ihope momenit 's pautie.' "Eeanor, I . would~ have given miy life to give you bac1(k youmr chld F--whomF 1 red,~tFl 4)p-or to 1help youI ini any~ *t v:1y, an / thought you knew Ihat. And I thbuFght that wia: I ha~ve dune igiht myike it eaisie'r (for yout in thet future. that1 jvas all1. In swa(d (~. t-ha proved a1 bit nder, andil in placetO of youFIr indFif(ir Meei. I haIve erned'F yFur bare.' She had ,uated herself 'with her arms0( rest ing u~pot thle 3tale eFforeC hi' and1( her fae' turne.d from. hi *1. "E1'ven now~t I *9m~ not! drry it is done," heO $!i1 sloFwly, "and 1 iojxe in time you myv FFn:I tFF be'lie'e I did it in all kind ness to youF~. AndFII 'w. at leaist. you will not refuse' to sa~ good-bye." Wih her face still' hidden she biilndI ly stretched on1 t bhand and1( he took it. misunderstanipig her. "Good-b~ye--for'Aer." lie said. The small white fingers grasped his own, and still he did not understand. Now she wa~s keeping silently and lhe was filled with/pity for her. "PooXr child/ he said, "if only some one could comfort you-where I so la mentably hav'e failed." The small xchlite clinlging fingers sud denly carried his hand to her hidden lips. "Eleanor'" he cr'ied(. "Godlfrey." she murmured, still cling ing to his hand. The 'new yealr wvas still young whtn Eleanor Mertoii bee':ine Godfre'y War ings wife. hu when te nl'\ Chrstmastido' dre'w n"ear Eleamnor. said to her hushand uithl a tremulous smnile. -(Godfrey. I you take me out to-night andit Igain help men to select somet toys and a little tree? I have found some per nlegliet d childrenm-some of 'Gbod's little 'nes' -w ho will have no mirr'y-'hristm1:s otherwise. And I wanft--I 1Int you to help mie dress'5 lie tree. fia to let me have the'm all het-e and1( make them happy. on Charistmas Day-for Rtegin al's sake-" Andl Godfrey dlid ra t say nn.--The' For a man who has learned to do something well, anid do it hetter than the run of men. there is always a de mand in the world of affairs. Washington Irvings home on East Seventeenthl street. New York. in which the author lived for years. has been sol by a ,."i-* nory 3tnerir. NN "WHAT DID HE BING?" Christmnas In Holland. In Hfolland, on Christmas Eve, the children, while Indulging in various gamues, keep easting anxious glances at the door. as if expectin.-a visitor. At length their play is huished by a loudl knock at the door ad St. Nicholas clad in his episcopal robes. enters. Hle v :l i Cuso hms al. an promisnoiv echaren hin ihndxtoring heiu giapes keefertin anxiorin o est that do:oh. ah epetin af vto fail length thei poa his orhurshe.y ouh knocekinthle pdooror.aThetdooriisothe clin c shois founal resentefrs its ................. o .. ' t uh A necessity of therI~ ColoniValt Chritmas toable wai' s a~ generou pilteh aviord douinlly. A fovrmul for lcthse hi ches ius conriutednb al.d famusi Nw Eg adhueepr (is as flosOnextmrigh cu~sppl of.hr o~(r( butrin two efus ofha milk, neO( cupfulofr oeast thre faup andcc apneh o salt.r herm hogenther S'the milktt and ard,. te addo thet; and. letit stan ve neoig thed th!e ote mingredint s Kpeodse.ft. for et eise befoe ifryind. printl fowith suar~'wi an speanots plae of aipled ier contied whc a ftnpins ers dng beenuI~ lad re' btter tw ufl ofml- oecpulo est- he cup Q* . . ... . "THE HOLY NIGHT." I. GRASS. Oddities For Christmas. DW-P-T N *: X ~ TI2 a kpop ou .. TwEap.E o.5 Here is a group of Christmas novel les. Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee re dolls and Humpty Dumpty is a pin -ushion. A very pretty present for a )aby is a silver spoon, with a loop han le, and which has in the chased bowl representation of a nursery rhyme. rhese loop handles make the spoons ery safe and comfortable for little ingers. As for the tiny balloon, that s an ornamental pin cushion. BeaW Was - b~a a Qkyters, radishes; ceier.y. r Qiear soup; cro~trqs.L boded salmoI\.sauce maonie dressed cucumbers. Game (or chkken) pie ~oast lturkey, crea~med ch'estnuts, sweed-poi iatoes; pease ir~ cases; craIgbern~es Grape truii salad~d; cheese- straws. lirozen~ plum pudding; tles Coitee; rqus and raisins. Had a Fine Time. Papa-"Well, Bobby, did you have a yod time seeing Christmas down )wl?' Bobby - "Yes, sir; I busted three rums an' broke some tin horns an' usic boxes." A prelig doll in~ a slock doll brvely~ sw'urg,, \dli~erz, to! tie irmeptete sf'ruck tw'elve o'clcc.k, AcId gave th~e rnistlefoe qut 3Is\ocd\. Thern th~e starled doll heard thie soldier sayj It's irisimas Day After UNy feashirpg is dorne, i rnto l; Grsta fr is hme for N e GIitas' ..4 IPALETTO__LEANINGSOj X flinor Events of the Week in a Brief Form. Soartanburg is to have a -ie new building which will not only be a post office but a court-hcutse as w l. The Mill Opcratives Sick aad Acci dent Fraterinal i'nion of America. of Laurens. was given a commission Sat urday. The corporators are J. P. Ma hon, B. P. Estea and J. G. Wolling. Jr. The Secretary of State issued a com mission to the Union Drug Company of Union, which is to do a wholesale ani retail drug business upon a capital stock of $6.000. The corporators are H. K and E. H. Smith. Friday afternoon, in Darlington street. Florence, Press and Sam Rob ertson, two negroes of the same name. but no relation, had a dispute over a woman. The result was that Press shot Sam with a pistol in the abdomen. Press claims it was accidental, while others say it was not. Some days ago Sergt. E. F. Jones, of the headquarters staff of the police de partment of Columbia,met with a pain ful accident. Sergt. Jones was in his rose garden pruniug some of the flow ers when the knife slipped and cut his knee to the bone. Four stitches were required to close the wound. The board of directors of the Mollo hon Manufacturing Company of New berry, has decided to increase the eipi tal stock of the Mollohon Cotton Mill from $200,000 to $500,000. The buliding will be enlarged to twice the present size and the num'ber of spindles will be increased. to 28,000. The Secretary of State has granted a charter to the Domestic Building and Loan Company of Columbia, which is capitalized at $400,000. The officers are Willie Jones, president; M. B. Mc Sweeney, vice, president, and J. M. Bell, secretary and treasurer. Mr. David A. Layton, an old Floren tine. who, for several years apst, aas lived at Catfish, Marion county, will soon open a large builder' depot at Florence. He has purchased the Lam bert planing mill, near the Coats Line station, and is having the plant refit ted and furnished throughout. This Is an enterprise that has long ago been a necessity there. Some days ago young Sam Lightsey disappeared as completely .from his home near Fairfax as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up. All searches and efforts to gain Informa tion as to what had become of him failed. Saturday, however, a party of young men out hunting while passing through some thick woodland near the young man's house, stumbled over his dead body. He had been foully mur dered, and the body hidden away in the woods. At Earley's Crcss Roads, about five miles from Darlington, the barns and stables of Dr. R. E. Lee were destroyed by fire Saturday morning about 4 c'co(k. Four mciles, two horses. about five hundred bushels of corn, be sides forage, wagon, etc., were lost. About fiftys bales of cotton-which. er~,,, piled near ah~ barn came na being burned, but were moved after slight damage. The origin of the fire is un known, but ail the circumstances Indi cate incendiarism. Mr. Gco. E. Budd, an attorney ofs St. : 7 Paul, Minn., has written the secretary of state asking on behalf of one .of his e lients as to exemptions for taxation in this State of new manufacturing enter prises, and adding: "If the business should be located in your State it would be the largest enterprise of Its kind in the South and one of the larg est in the United States ~or in the world." No information si ven as to the kind of enterprise Mr. Bndd's client wishes to establish. Late Saturday afternoon the jury in -. the case of Falls & Jenkins, machinery manufacturers, of Pawtucket, R. I., vs. Messrs. 3. S. and W. C. Blalock, and Mrs. M. E. Browning, gave the plaintiff ompany a verdict for $5,314.70 against Mrs. Browning. This amounit is the balance due with interest on a certain ontract for machinery used In the odville Manufacturing Company Cot on Mills, the payment of which was guaranteed by Mrs. Browning, daugh er of Mr. J. S. Blalock.' The dispensary constables are very ctive just now and are seizing a great eal of whiskey Imported for Christ nas purposes. There are about 3,000 gallons of contraband on hand, which as been captured during the last nonth, and more is coming In daily. While mnuch Is coming in, a great deal ore Is being sent out to the various lspensers In tne State. Mention has een made of the robberies saffered by he dispensary while goods are In tran lt, and the Christmas season is a fa rorite time for such occurrences. Only mne or two small losses have been i' orted so far. The expert bookkeepers who annually go over the books of the ispensary and make a report to the Legislature, began work Monday. About 9:30 o'clock ?konday,. Mrs. J. B. L. Hall. who lived near Carswell In stitute, several miles below Anderson. was at her well drawing a bucket of water, when the rotten floor gave way and she fell in to the well . Her hus >arnd was near, and seeing her fall or earing the noise made by the fall, he ushed to let himself down Into the ell by means of the rope; he then ried to climb cut the same way, hold ng Mrs.- Hall in his arms, but found it mpossible; so holding his wife ud bove the water, which was several feet deep, he cried for help, but it was >robably an hour before he got assist meea an'd was drawn out. Mrs. Hal1 ied later in the day. She was about 26 years of age, and leaves a husband. nd several small children. Another Suit Fied. * Montgomery, Ala., Special-Jackson W. Giles, colored, filed in the Supreme ourt a petition for mandamus to com el the State board of registration to ssue to him a certificate and place his iame upon the list of qualiiied voters. he suit is designed to test the legality >t the new constitution of Alabama. rwo suits of similar character have een filed by Giles, both of which were ecided against his contentions.