Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.Y :U she filied. The ud of tier w 'Iv 3 ie in ai meIiure e stor vd the corn~ iat hlaal e(nI parlyzel. Un 'o'n# 1Eiiusl'y (lis sliin stprig of southern valor. threw bacek her shouliflers anid lifited her clini. If they were brigands they slouki not. id her a crInging (ow~mlI. Al'ter all. she was a Calhoun. ''h' inina slIt( hal first observed stop pal4 n1e0ar the liorsexs' heads and peercl hitently at her from beneath a broad mu11l riiish hat. 1ie was tall :'al ap lPartd(1 to ie 1o10e0 respectably clad h1111an his fellows, although there was 111. one who looked as though lie pos ;I'(d a '01nlet.0outlit. of weiaring alp parel. "Poor wayfarers, my it please your. hiliess," replied the tall vagabond, howing low. To her surprise, he spoke in very good EnglIsh. H1is voice was clear, and there was a tinge of polite irony in the tones. "But all people are ailike Ili the mountains. The king and the thief, the princess and the Jade live in the common fold." And his hat swung so low that It touched the grounid. "I am powerless. I only implore you lo take what valuables you may find and let us proceed unharmed!" she cried rapidly. eager to have it over. "Pray, how can your highness pro ceed? You have no guide, no driver, no escort," said the man mockingly. Beverly looked at him appealingly, ut terly without words to reply. The tears were \velling to her eyes, and her heart was throbbing like that of a cap tured bird. In after life she was able to picture in her mind's eye all the details of that tableau in the moun tain pass-the hopeless coach, the steaming horses, the rakish bandit and his picturesque men, the towering crags and a mite of a girl facing the end of everything. "Your highness is said to be brave. but even your wonderful courage can 1', V a. A '"Oh, you 'won't MC0 us?" avail no'tbiag in this Instance," said tQ0 leader pleasantly. "Your escort las fled as though pursued by some .thing stronger than shadows; your 'driver has deserted; your horses are halt dead; you are Indleed, as you hiave said, powerless. An~d you are, besides .hIl these, in the clutches of a band of anlerelleds cutthroats." "Oh," moaned Beverly, suddenly leaning against the fore wheel, her eyes almost starting from her head. 'The leader laughed quietly-yes, good slatnredly. "Oh, you won't-you won't kill us?" She had tIme to observe that there were smiles on the faces of all the men within the circle of light. "Rest assured, your highness," said the leader, leaning upon his rifle bar reE with careless grace, "we intend no harm to you. Every man you meet in (raustark is not a brigand, I trust, for your sake. We are simple hunters, :and ,not what we may seem. It is fortunate that you have fallen into honest hands. There is some one in the coach ?" he asked, quickly alert. A nrolonged groan proved to Beverly that Aunt Fanny had screwed up suflcienit courage to look out of the window. "My old servant," she half whis ipered. Then, as several of the men estarted toward the door: " t she is *old and wouldn't harm a fly. Please, please don't hurt her." "Compose yourself; ,' he is safe," asnid the leader. By ,this time It was <Tluite dark. At a wMrd from him two er three men lighed lanterns. The ipicture was morq weird than ever in the fitful glow. May -I sk, your high mess, how do yoi intend'to reach Edel weiss in your ~res'ent condition? You - cannet manag those horses and,be sides, you do hot know the way." -"Aren't yon going to rob us?" de ~auaded Beveorly, hope springing to the aE*C *3v th a oful boundl. T.-e - GEORE BARR f - M'GUT EON, k -!Y ~ Aulhor of "Graustark" Mw nd Comlr., stran uerI .lahd heartily and shook Is head. "Dlo we not look like honest incil?" Ie cried. with a wave or hI-i hand to vakrl his coim pI lonl.. lle-vly looked dibiois. "We live lb -oml, clean II'o of the wilderness. Ontdoor life is nee essary' for' Our health. We could not live il the city," he went on. with grim humior. F'or the first time Beverly no t!ed that he wore a huge black patch over his let't eye, held in place by a cord. !i( alIpear,-d more formidtible thanit ever under the light of critical in spectiol. "I am very much rollered," sald R.v erly, who was not at all relieved. "But why have you stoppei-d us in this man ner?" "Stopped you?" 'cried the man with the patch. "I implore you to unsay that, your highness. Your coach was quite at a standstill beforo we knew of Its presence. You do us a grave in justice." "It's very strange," muttered Bever ly, somewlpt taken aback. "Have yo\ observed that it is quite dar?" asked the leader, putting away Us brief show of Indignation. "Dear me; so it Is!" cried she, now able to think more clearly. "Antl you are mwies fron an inn or house of any kind." he went oi. "Do you expect Vo shly here all night?" "'i'm-I'm not afraisl." bravely shiv ered Beverly. "It is most dangerous." "I have i revolver," the weak littl. voice went on. "Oh1o! What is It for?" "To use in ease of emergeney." "Such as repelling briga(nds who sud denly aplpar upon the scene?" "Yes." "May I ask why you did not use it this evening?" "Because it is locked pI) in one of my bags-I don't know just which one and Aunt Fanny has the key," confess ed Beverly. The chief of the "honest men" laugh ed again, a clear, ringing laugh that be spoke supreme confidence in his right to enjoy himself. "And who is Aunt Fanny?" he asked. covering his patch cgrefully with hi, slouching hat. "My servant. She's colored." "Colored?" he asked in amazement. "What do you mean?" "'Why, she's a negress, Don't you know what a colored person Is?" "You mean she Is a stave-a black slave?" "We don't own slaves any mo' more." Hie looked more puzzled thanm ever-then at last, to satisfy himself. walked over and peered Into' the coach. Aunt Fanny sot up a dismal bowl. An instant later Sir Honesty was pushed aside, and Miss Calhoun was aniously trying to comfort her old fr!end through the window. The man looked on in silent wonder for a mInuto. andl then strode off to where a group, of his men stood talking. "is yo' daid yit, Miss Bev'ly-is de end came?" moaned Aunt Fanny. Bev erly could not repress a smile. "I am quite alive, auntie. These meni will not hurt us. They are very nimce gentlemen." She uttered the last ob ser-vation In a loud voice, and it hand Its effect, for the leader came to her side with long strIdes. "Convince your servant that we mean no harm, your highness," he said eager ly, a new deference in his vofe.e amnd manner. "We have only the best of motives In mind. True, the hills nre full of lawlessa, fellows, and we are obliged to fight them almost daily, but you have fallen In wIth honest men very nice gentlemen, I trust. Less than an hour ago we put a band of robbers to flight" "I heard the shooting," eried Bever ly. "It was that which put my escort to flight." "They could not have been soldiers of Graustark, then, your highness," quite gallantly. "They i''ere Cossacks, or whatever you call them. But, pray, why do you call me 'your highness?'" demanded Beverly. The tall leader swept the ground with his hat once more. "All the outsIde world knows the Princess Yetive-why not the humble mountain man? You will pardon me. but every man In the bills knows that you are to pass through on the way from St. Petersburg to Ganlook. We are not so far from the world, after all, we rough people of the hills. We know that your highness left St. Pe tersburg by rail last Sunday and took to the highway day before- yesterday because the floods had washed ,away the bridges north of Axphain. Even the hIlls have eyes and ears." Beverly listened with Increasing per nlarity. It wna trune that she hadt left tt, Pet 'bl.-r- on Suihty; tlit the ui predeen e i 11d.h41 stoppe:'l u.1; rat; ytra v In the hill.,. compeillui he;. to tr:tvel for many miles by sta:-o, and t!at h': '->vle eo i .y wa.s etyiyn:. her InII e t : - w:t th . P ' ces.-, Yetive. Ti'. ,-.- s !,.'< ev :..- - Vnetd thrlott::hl .x ::tI:1 andl 1:e hill' wou!cl not heIlle-e * e.' :-. In a. !'-1.- 1 delide:l that ih woald he lb.<t I , for U t:! - at!.n-: : C4:0IuO :-o Gr'a:t.-u'.X. It re:i:.:Ii-ie:!. Only: l-or Ia'' to lir:-ross 1p :4. : 1: P tuty th '.m iort:.vlia I or this. alte a ':11,0:1. "Wt1t wis 41.1 t l'h t le u--le hw." silo " l hils I -:.Ie I ~ td. luii; "Youl v: tw - h ever, th:M I :!. t: C 011. lent vI " it'i s .Hor tit'5e 1; 11 (1 iii * Vo:;i .11. "Its <:ie a i yurs to u ar:ia not the prin s. 4 Is t:s ' to n:l:y thty u il so ah:i m: trs, a'ter all?' i l re serve thi.; you orveor. to (L) io.' - the 1o !:. attoi-n who ru levr th e.e wl:I oh l I oit 'ler y a.It thi mm h servlis of nlysell' atnll y 0onp'yn lols.. We arew ord t o:: i. - -"I ;,Ill-:ory g:-:nt e'ui to Endml t ht youl :rt n1 b - !< he ie" : ''Von* "l ll milve \-l:" you or a then. o:n 3- s ou - )h:t bo - wisfl t ly re warled for y.urt, good intent ionls." "I? Ohl, Your hihess, I ayo mt ll the lt hterl. apoo, suhject for re Ward at your heA. I may as well id mit tht I am a potale and have n o letgal right 14 the rosenrit ot' yOur hIlls. Tie onl rew d i Ian ask Is for giveIe. iot torespa1sshIg pon the prop erty of other's." "Youl hti eceive pardon for all tra n lresons but you must get me to s;oite phien ->f stiftety," snid1 Beverly en gerly. "Adl <ouingly, too, yon might well sha hi: bloy'e l :tid. lightly. "The hiornes have rested, V' think, so with your permission we may proced. I know of aint ee where you may slpend thee igt comfortably aind be refreshed for ti roueg joleiy tomnorrow." "Tonorrow? How vn I go oil? I am alone!" she erled despaotingly. "Permit omie to remind you that you ere nr enter ione. You have a rag geT rumlowig. your highness, but it shal he a loyal one. Will you re-enter the conc ? It 1s not fte to toe palae I speAik on, ad ie ylfie will drive You there. Come. it Is. netting Clgte, od your retinue, it lest, Is hlngry." te filng oen tie coahe raor,ad his hat swe ote ground once MOre. The light of at lantern phayed lit fully upon his dark, gaunlt face, with its gallant SmIle and ominouts ptch. Shae hesitat ed, fear entering her soul once more. Hle looked up qiuickly and saw the inde cision Inl her eyes, the mlute appeal. "Trust me, your ighn.1less," hle said gravely, and she allowed him to hand her Into the coach. A finment later he was upon the driver's box. reins. In hand. Calling out to his companloss In a language strange to Beverly, he cracked the whip, and once more they were lum beriug over the wreched road. Dever i.' Heati ly stak Oavi u the seat with a deep sigh of relguation. "Well, I'm In for it," she thought. "It doesn't matter whether they are thieves or. angels, I reckoii I'll ,have to take what comes. le lwdoesn't look-very hiuch, like -In ailgel, but lie looked at ie Just now ais If he thoutght I were Olne. Dear inle, I visht I wer'e back in Wash inW't ol' ('lIAI"PTI4lt V. , W of the ien vllked (close 1)' Side the door, one of tleim hea llg a htern. They con vered In low ton(esn in a lang1:1ge whai Hverly could not ulndersatild. A fler awhti le she found ler.<elf a nalyz lg the g4 ltrh a tal mnin tier of tie tncit. She was szlyitg to -ht'rsil th.t here w(ero her fist real Speei1lins of 1 rau S1:- ' psa'.'tr, :atid they were to Imiark anl inelfaceable spot inl ier ie-n ..The-y were ciark, strong faced mien oCl' mediumil height1, w%%ith lierve bIclk eyes anI long huhte'k hair. As no Iwo were dressed alike, it was ilupo;-;Pile to revognie charnteristic style.- of alt tire. Moijte were in tl- ritde, baggy Costilliles of the peasat .as it, hau imagined him; other.s were lresed in the tight ltting but tillapithiated uni forms. of the soldilery, while several were inl cloithes partly Eiuroje. an adlt partly oriental. There were lhats and fezzes nd caps, some with feathers in the banids, others without. The 11111 nearest tile coach wore the dirty gray uniforimi of an ariy olieer, full of holes and i'eits, while another strode along In a paIr of baggy yellow troul sers and a dlusty Loidon diner Jact'ket. All in all, It was the motllQst band of vagalboinds she had ever seetn. Tlu-re were at least tell or a dozeii In the par ty. While a few carried swords, all lugged the long rilles ( and crooked dag gers of the Tartars. "Aunt Fanny," Beverly whispered, suddenly moving to the si(e of the sub dued servant, "where Is my revolver?" It had come to her like a flash that 1a subsequent emergency should not find her unprepared. Aunt Fatiy's Jaw dropped, and her eyes were like white rings In a black screen. "Good Lawd, wha - what fo', Miss Bev'ly" Now, Just you' pay 'tention to me, and '11 tell you something queer. Get my revolver tight away and don't let those men see wnitt you are doing." While Aunt Fanny's trembling fingers went In search of the firearm, Beverly out lined the situation briefly, but explielt ly. The old woman was not slow to understand. Her wits sharpened by fear, she grasped Beverly's Istrue tions with astonishing avidity. "Ve'y well, yo' highness," she said, with tite reverence, "Ah'll p'oeuah do bottle 4o; pe)p'mint fo' yo' If yo' jes' don' lz~ne me )ullIn' an' haulln' 'mongst dese boxes. Mobbe yo' all 'druther hab do gingeh?" With this% wonderful subterfuge as a shield she dug silyly luto one of the bags and pulled forth a revolver. Under ordi nary circumstances she would have been nmotally afraid to touch It, but not so in this emergency. Beverly shoved the weapon into-the poelet af Agents her gray travefiig jacket. . "I feel. muc butter noiy, Aunt an ny," she said, and Aunt Fanny gave a vast chuckle. "Ya a s, ma'am, Indeed-yo' highness," she agreIl suavely. 'The coach rolled Ilong for half an hour and then Htoppe with at sudden Joll. An ianstanat later tie t:ll driver aippe'ared at the window. hiS hetd un CoVereld. A n.1zin hard by field a lan "Quta vandon :ar delta nlet, yos serenit," sa"d the leOw der, showing hi white teeIth inl a tri tItphIai n t .sin I l. Ills Ox Ipo.4ileV e sei-Ited to be glowing, with pleasttlre and exelte., "What''"(murmur ly. A puwzledl emx hIs face; then hil - Is eye tookz onl a 1; "Au. I s ." he sat gaa *, , highiiess prefers not to sleak the la, gunge of ranustark. Is it Ievessary for me to repen t In Eulish' " "I really wih0 you wouild." said Bev erly, catchiing1 ier breathI. .Ju.to See how it souns(". you know." "Your every wish slall be grntitled. I beg to iforni you f1hat we have reached the Inn of the Hawk amI Ha ven. This Is where we dwelt 'jist night. Tomorrow we, too, aludoni the place. so Our forttines my im togetier for some hours at least. There Is but lit tle to offer you In the way of nourIsh ment, and there Is none of the coin forts of i Palace. Yet princesses caln no liore be choosers than , beggars whenm the fare's in on1e )ot. Coiie, your highness, let me conduct you to the guest chamber of the 1inn1 of the Hawk and Iaven." Beverly took hIs hand and stelpped to the ground, looking about In wonder and perplexity. "I see no inn," she murmured appre hiensively. "Look aloft, your hlghiiess. That great black ennopy Is the roof; we are standing upon the floor, and the dark shadows just beyond the circle of light are the walls of the Hawk and taven. [To B1 CONTINUED.] Bears the lhe Kind You Hsve Always Bought Bignature .of A cold is much mo:e asily enred when the howels are opened. Ktnn ni 's Lioxative Honey and Tar opens the - ela and driven the cold out of the system in young or old. Sold by Pickene,'Drug Co. Memory bells are toys given by the Japanese youths to their a'weethearts. They are constructed of, slips of glass so- delIcately poised that the least vibra tion. sets them jingling. The delicate tinkling serves to remind their owner of the giver; hence the pretty, fanciful an.,. memory bells. iond 1oisonage results from chronic onattiatinv. whi-? is qu O! ') , Pilk . - fronx 'w - vigo - 5 ache. Ing -r , . . Guama ie by rickens Drug Co. Al ' ill L3W CO