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ISSUED SEMI-WEEKI t. m. grist & sons, Pnbu?her?.} %-fa mi In Jteurspaper: j'or the gromotio^oj the political, ?orial, Agricultural, and (tsmroential Jnterqsta of the feogle. ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE. S. C., WEDNESDAY, A. XTGTJST 14, 1901. NO. 65. _ -- ' i " BT STIiVAN I CHAPTER XIX, CONCLUSION. Pale as death sat the fair young countess in her dressing room. She did not tremble now, for every nerve had become fixed in utter despair. "Will you not change your dress, my mistress ?" asked Zenobie in a low, tremulous tone. "No, no/' the maiden replied, and her voice sounded strangely even in her own ear, it was so low and hollow. "Why should I dress for the sacrifice ? The dumb beast may suffer garlands about its neck before being led to the heathen altar, but, alas, God has not given me a brute's ignorance to help me now. No, no, Zenobie; I will not dress for the bride." "But the duke expects it." "I care not. He cannot ask me to do it. He may do all lie wills, lor i am helpless here, but he dare not ask." "Oh, my dear mistress!" cried the faithful girl, throwing her arms about the neck of her mistress and weeping as she did so, "would to God that I could bear this for you." "I thank you all the same, my best of friends," the couutcss replied, gazing gratefully up into her attendant's face. "But it matters not much now. I shall not suffer long. My sorrow will soon cease." Zenobie looked inquiringly up, but she did not speak. "God will soon take me home," the wretched maiden murmured after a pause. "I feel the chill hand upon my heart even now, and I know that earth cannot bind my spirit long with such a curse upon it." Zenobie had no more words of consolation to offer, so she did all she could do. She drew the head of her mistress upon her bosom, and there she held it for a long time. She held it thus until the door of the apart- . ment was opened and a female domestic entered. "Lady," the newcomer said, trembling perceptibly while she spoke, "the duke bade me tell you he flwuitPfl vour coming' below in the hall."" She stopped here and seemed to wait for an answer. But Rosalind did not speak. "What answer shall I give him, lady?" At this the countess started up, but she sank back again without speaking. ' "Tell him we will come," interposed Zenobie, who saw that the announcement had taken the last power of effort from her mistress. "Yes, yes," whispered the countess as the messenger hesitated and gazed inquisitively into her face. And with this the woman left the apartment. "My dear mistress," spoke Zenobie, now calling all her power of self control to her aid, "all means of help and escape we have tried in vain. The time has come"? "0 God, have mercy!" groaned the countess. ?"and we must meet it, since there is no further hope. It will be better to go down at once than to arouse the bad man's anger by more delay. Were there the least glimmer of hope, we would not go. But there is not. You know what I mean." A few moments Rosalind sat like one dead. Then she started up, with her hands clasped, and raised her eyes toward heaven. She did not speak aloud, but her lips moved, and she surely uttered a prayer to God, and it was none the less eloquent because it was silent. Then she turned to her companion. Her lips were set and colorless, and a deathly look had overspread her whole face. "Zenobie," she said in a tone which bore no feeling more than the gliding of a cold, icy sound, "I am ready. Once more, before the last joy of earth departs from me, let me bless thee and press thee to Tinv Imsnm I nm nurp now!" "V I She opened her arms as she spoke, and when she closed them again Zenobie was within their embrace. "Bless you, bless you ever! God keep and guide you to the end of life and then receive you home to himself! Kiss me. There, I am ready now!" The broken hearted girl wiped the tear from her eye, and in a moment more she was as cold and passionless as before. "Lead on, Zenobie. I shall walk without help." Without looking around the Moslem maiden led the way to the hall. She walked slowly, and she fancied she could hear the beating of her mistress' heart. In the hall stood ' J US COBB, JR. { the duke with some half dozen of his own male attendants. He took the hand of the countess as she approached him and gazed earnestly into her face, but he did not speak. He led her toward one of the drawing rooms, and when they entered there they found the humpbacked priest already in waiting. Rosalind came well nigh fainting when she saw this miserable villain ready for his work. She knew now that the priest was like the master. "You see, my dear countess," spoke the duke in a low, hypocritical tone, "that we have all prepared. I trust we shall have no trouble be lore mis noiy man. This last sentence was spoken in * a threatening tone, but it had no s effect upon Rosalind. She hardly heard the words he spoke. 1 "Come, father," said Olga, turn- ? ing now to the priest. "We are 1 ready." Savotano moved forward and * mumbled a Latin prayer. Then he 1 looked upon the twain before him ' and directed them to kneel. < "No, no, no!" gasped the fair ' countess, trembling for the first ( time. "I cannot do that!" "Kneel!" hissed the duke between c his clinched teeth, and as he spoke he grasped the maiden more firmly * by the arm and forced her down. \ She uttered a quick cry of pain as J she felt the unmerciful grip, but ( she could not resist the strong arm * of her persecutor. 1 "Now go on!" the duke cried as 1 he held the maiden down. "Go on, j Savotano, and let the business be 1 done as soon as possible." 1 "Hold!" < It was a voice of thunder which 1 spoke thus, and it came frtim the \ door. The duke started to his feet, 1 and he. beheld Ruric Nevel, the gun- * maker, approaching the spot. But ( the youth came not alone. Behind c him came the huge bulk of Vladi- * mir? the monk, anymore still, back ( of the monk came the widow, Claudia Nevel, and the boy, Paul, and ? then there were, besides all this, a ( heavy tramp of feet in the hall and ( the clang of steel. "Hold! Stop this accursed mock- ' ery!" Ruric shouted as he strode up ' the apartment. 1 "Miserable dog!" gasped the duke, ' mad and frantic with rage. "How E dare you come hither ?" ? "Look ye, proud duke," the monk E interposed, coming quickly forward; j "I am at the bottom of ail this. I ' have come to stop this foul work!" 1 Rosalind had started to her feet ^ when she first heard Ruric's voice, ^ and now, as the monk spoke, a ray ( of hope darted to her soul, and, ^ with a quick bound, she reached her ^ lover's side. "Ruric, Ruric!" It was all she { could say, and, with a flood of tears, J she pillowed her head upon his bos om, and his stout arms were wound 7 f fondly about her. "Fear not," he whispered, "for, * oh, Rosalind, thou art safe now." ^ The mad duke saw the movement, ' and, with a bitter curse, he started 1 toward them. 1 "Now, by the living gods," he shouted, with his fists clinched and I his eyes flashing fire, "you have 1 I l,rt UUine IU JTUUI UCUUi; M IUU, nu, there! Without! Slaves, where are 1 ye?" In a moment more the side door ' was thrown open, and a dozen of the I duke's servants came rushing in. i "Ha!" Olga cried. "You are in time. Seize these dogs! Kill them < on the spot if they offer one act of I resistance. At them now! Down with the dogs!" < "Hold!" It was Vladimir who spoke, and every arm dropped as 1 they heard that voice. It was dif- > ferent from the voice they had < heard the fat monk use before. The duke started as though a ' thunderbolt had burst at his feet. 1 "Who art thou ?" he gasped, staggering farther back. "Olga, duke of Tula," spoke the 1 monk in tones which sounded strange for him, because they were so different from those he had been wont to use, "I am thy master!" As he snoke he threw open the long black robe which enveloped his person and cast it upon the floor at his feet, and there it lay, a huge pile of wadding and stuffing! The vast rotundity of persou was gone, : and the strange man now stood in his own fair form. His chin?that prominent chin?was no more hidden, and he was but a small man? not much larger than the boy Paul, who stood near him. Next ho placed his hand to his head and tore away the tight skullcap, and the ring of gray hair came away with it, leaving a cluster of glossy hair floating down over the neck and shoulders! "Great God of mercy," gasped Sa votano, staggering back, "it i9 the emperor!" "Aye," cried Peter, turning his darkly flashing eye upon the staggering duke, "I am your emperor! Paul, go and call the guard." The boy hastened from the palace, and when he returned lie was followed by a party of the Imperial ?uard. "Mercy, mercy, sire!" gasped the lulr/* oiT-?lriTirr rl/\Tirn nn V\lC LtiDOC J un.Lj Olliaiiig uvnu i/u mu ouvvw* But the emperor answered him not. He only turned to his guard ind bade them secure the duke and ;he foul priest. Rosalind Valdai gazed upon the xansformed man until the strange ;ruth worked its way lo her struggling mind, and then she turned >nce more to Ruric. She gazed up nto his face, and she saw the holy unile which rested there. The joy?ul truth came to her now, and, with >ne long, low cry of frantic hope ind bliss, she sank upon her noble over's bosom. She could not speak. She could only cling closely and nore close to her loved protector, ind, with her head pillowed close by ;he heart that beat for her, she wept iway all the grief of her opened iouI. "Olga," spoke the emperor after ;he nobleman had been firmly jound, "your race of iniquity is un." "No, no, sire!" the duke cried in tumble, supplicating tones. "Say irtf en I Tn Ihic cinrrlp tllinur I mav J\/l> OU Ail Ml*" Q - iave been wrong, but let my mad, ;onsuming love be some palliation 'or my offense. Oh, you will not ;rush me with public shame for ;his! You will not cast from you me who loves you well!" "Oh, miserable man," uttered Pe;er, with a look of utter contempt lpon the base wretch, "add not perjury to your already accumulated ;rimes! Hark ye, some months since I knew there was conspiracy n my capital, and I knew there was nuch of evil, too, which was never eported to me. I resolved to ferret t out, and to that end I meant to ningle among my people without ;heir knowing me. So I had that obe made and so stuffed and wadled that I could even hide my chin n the seeming fat. I assumed the jarb, and my own master at arras lid not at first know me. Once in twhile I made my page assume the jarb and be seen in it about the :ity, and thus all thought of suspecting me-was cut off. been it the work, Olga, and I have found >ut all I sought. It was mere accilent that first threw me in the way )f this young gunmaker, and it was )y accident, too, that I overheard ;he Count Damonoff and his corasanion discussing the subject of ;heir mission to the gunmaker's shop. Of course I followed that icheme up, and I should have matched our fair young countess :rom your grasp ere this had I not ieen desirous of arriving at another joint first. Perhaps you know that :he Princess Sophia and the Minis;er Gallitzin have planned a grand jverturn of my throne? Ah! You ;remble! And now, my noble duke," A?M*\A?AW nAnfiniiA/1 in O /I juc cmpci ui V/Uutiuuuu iu a uw jyv* tone, "I have learned of your own juilt in that affair. Oh, you do love ne, do you? But I know you now. Two of your tools are in my hands. They are named Totma and Viska. They have made a full confession, ind 1 now know all your villainies. [ know what you have planned igainst this noble countess and igainst her noble lover. 1 know what you planned against the Count DamonofT, and I know, too, what pou have planned against your emperor. Not a word, sir! You are the Duke of Tula no more. A more worthy man wears the ducal coronet from this hour. Ruric Novel shall issume the station you have disgraced, and I know he will ennoble it once more." As Peter ceased speaking he wav3d his hand to his oilicers, and they bore the prisoners from the room. The priest said not a word, but Olga sursed loudly and bitterly. When the dark villains had gone, Peter stepped forward and took Rosllind's hand. There was a tear in his aye, and his nether lip trembled. "Fair cousin," he said in a low, soft tone, "1 could not promise thee that thou shouldst not wed with the Duke of Tula, for 1 had even then planned that you should do that TV.i ?i Ml a I 1 1 tning. isux u will noi ue very nuru, will it?" The countess gazed up, and a murmur of thanks was upon her lips, hut the gushing flood started forth anew, and she could onlv look the joyful blessings slu couid not speak. Peter imprinted a kiss upon her pure firmv and then gave her hand to Ruric, and as he did so he said, with a warm smile: "You must be her guardian hereafter, and should you tire of the duty your emperor will be ever ready to grant her the asylum she needs." ? * * A week had passed awav from the time of the strange scene just recorded. The former duke, Olga, had been convicted of treason and was now on his way to the eternal wilds of Siberia. But let me say here he never jeached the land of his banishment, His proud heart broke on the road, and he died, unknown and uncared for, in a peasant's cot among the rugged mountains of Uralia. He had hogged of the officer who guided him not to tell his station, and the peasants supposed they were burying a common traveler when they laid away the mortal remains of Olga in the cold grave they had prepared. Savotano, the humpbacked priest, was executed as a common murder er, while his companions in crime were punished as their various degrees of guilt demanded. And now comes the closing scene. Within the largest apartment of the ducal palace were assembled a brilliant company, and the emperor himself was master of the ceremonies. Ruric Nevel, the gunmaker of Moscow, knelt at the emperor's feet, and Peter drew his sword and laid the glittering blade upon Ruric's shoulders, and as he did so he said: "Arise, Sir Ruric, duke of Tula, and receive thy just titles and bonded instruments!" The youth arose, pale and trembling with the strange excitement of the moment, and then the emperor handed him a broad parchment roll, with its heavy seals and vignette bearing the arms of the dukedom. "Now," cried Peter, whose brow was flushed with the joy he himself was making, "let the rest of the work go on. Come, holy father, we need your help to perform the rest of the ceremony." ."l I i? nunc whs puie uu lungu. ..*o uc i felt the warm hand of Rosalind trembling within his own the rich blood mounted to his brow and temples, and in his dark eyes the strange love light danced like reflected sunbeams. The word was spoken?the bond of union was made?and, after all, Rosalind Valdai had become Duchess of Tula. The widowed mother was the first to bless them, and the emperor came next. Then came Paul and Zenobie, hand in hand. "Aha!" spoke the happy duchess as she caught the new light of Zenobie's eye and then turned to the glowing face of Paul. "You are^ playing at the game of love." "You will not object," whispered the fair girl, hiding her face upon the bosom of her mistress. "No, no, Zenobie." "And you, my master," spoke Paul, gazing eagerly into RuricV face, "you will not say nay." "No, no, my noble Paul. If you can win her, you have my consent." But she was won already. But there was yet one more to come. Conrad, Count Damonoff, somewhat pale and weak, but yet on the sure road to health, moved slowly forward and took the hand of the joyous bride. Then he reached forth the other hand and took the palm of Ruric, and as he thus held both their hands he said: "Mv lord and lady, and, I must */ say, my best of friends, let this moment atone for all of darkness between us in the past. Be you happy both, and may God bless you. Let me be accounted among your friends, and let the future prove how grateful I can be." "Aye," cried Ruric, grasping the count's hand more firmly, "let the future show how grateful we can all be for the blessings o; this hour, and while we look to God for help we will not fail to remember in our prayers the author of our joys?our noble emperor, Peter of Russia." And so closed the scene as it should?with one long, loud shout of? "God bless our emperor!" Peter never forgot that moment. In the long years thereafter when he sometimes let the clouds of passion settle upon his soul he remembered that scene and that shout. It was one of the bright spots in the memory of his youth which he cherished always. THE END. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. Dentil of Col. S. W. Vnnee. Colonel Samuel W. Vance, state phosphate Inspector, died in Columbia last Friday night. aged 54 years. Cone On n Sen Voynge. On the advice of his physician, Senator McLaurin will take his daughter on a sea voyage in the hope of assisting her safe recovery from fever. It was the senator's expectation to leave Greenville yesterday. A Choice of Evil*. At Chester last Saturday, Mr. Latimer explained why he voted for Senator McLaurin in 1897 in preference to ex-Governor Evans. He said he did not care much for either dose: but after comparing them carefully, he decided that of the two McLaurin was preferable. McLnurln In Oeonce. Greenville special of Friday to The News and Courier: Senator McLaurin delivered an address at Oakway today, some ten miles from Westminster. Something over 2,000 people were present and listened with marked attention, and gave him generous applause whenever he made a telling hit. His address was before and under the aus pices of the Woodmen of the World. His line of speech was similar to that made at Greenville, and he had the crowd with him fully on his exposition of expansion, merchant marine and the Paris treaty. In no case was the applause more pronounced than that which followed his denunciations of bossism, ring rule and puppet committeemen. The large crowd was totally unexpected, and his reception for the first time before a strictly farmers' , meeting makes his friends and followers quite jubilant. AT UNION i AND CHESTER. : t< Charge of the Heavy Brigade a Against McLaurinism. ti PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF 16 TO 1, ? ri tl Junior Senator's Ship Raked Fore t| and Aft, While Candidates Out-Vie t] Each Other In Their Attention to p Tillman?John B. Cleveland Makes p a Plea For Business Progress and p Provokes a Threat ot the uire Pan- s ishment That Is to Re Visited 0 Against the Mill Men. E Con denned from the Dally Papers. Ship subsidy and expansion were un- ^ mercifully pounded at the big political meeting that was held in Union last ^ Thursday and Friday. All of the candidates in the state for the higher offices had been invited, and quite a num- a ber of them were in attendance. It developed, as had been generally antic- " lpated, that Senator McLaurin was the sole object of attack, and the ambition p of the speakers seemed to be to see ? which would lay It on to the junior ^ senator'the harder. There were about 500 people present on the first day, and on the second day 81 the crowd was variously estimated as 81 numbering from one to two thousand, including, however, quite a large num- a ber of ladies. It was a quiet, well-be- J5 haved audience that listened to the ^ speakers, and so long as the speeches were orderly and dispassionate, the a crowd listened quietly; but when the speakers, as some of them did, became violent, a large element of the crowd c became violent also. ? The speakers during the first day were Senator D. S. Henderson, of n Aiken; Congressman Joseph T. John- " ston; ex-Congressman J. J. Hemphill; 0 Mr. John B. Cleveland, of Spartanburg; n Congressman A. C. Latimer and Col. n Robert Aldrich, of Barnwell. The sec- n ond day's speakers were W. Jasper Talbert, Hon. John Gary Evans, exCoj^ressman George Johnstone, ex- a ucgg^ressman aianyarne wiison, aim Senator B. R. Tillman. Messrs. Henderson, Hemphill, Evans, Johnstone p and Latimer are generally understood p to be candidates for the seat of Senator o John L. McLaurln In the United States senate. Messrs. Talbert and Wilson are t understood to be candidates for gov- t ernor. The former has so announced: but the latter has made no public announcement. Mr. John B. Cleveland Is not a candidate; but is earnest In the belief that the further development of C TTrg~Cottuir inlli Interests- of the south depends upon an intelligent national ( policy that will establish our trade in foreign countries by means of the der velopment of the merchant marine and otherwise. Col. Robert Aldrich said he r was not a candidate for any office. Senator McLaurln was not present, ex- t plaining that he had a previous engage- ^ ment that was dependent upon the condition of his daughter. j With a few exceptions the speeches were generally temperate. All of them but that of Mr. Cleveland, were directed against the doctrines of Senator _ McLaurln. The opposition speeches were based principally upon sentiment, ^ and while some of the speakers under- y took to make antl-shlpsubsldy and t( antl-expanslon arguments, succeeding ^ very well from their standpoint, most t of them relied mainly upon the well- y known popular antipathy agaipst the y word "Republican," and they sought c to clinch the case against Senator Mc- 1( Laurln by so denouncing him. Senator Henderson persued this line, so j, did Congressman Johnston. Mr. Hemp- a hill made about the same speech as at v Filbert recently, while Mr. Latimer, Q got closer down Into personalities, 8 made a very good argument, punched g Senator McLaurln with much vigor and got great applause. j Mr. John B. Cleveland made what c he designated as a "bread and butter" ^ speech. He said that the south raises j 80 per cent, of the cotton of the world, v and the United States manufactures g less than 5 per cent, of it. Europe cannot touch us either in quality or price; s but she has the market and the ships. ^ Last year, on account of the distur- g bances in China the factories In this h country which cater to the foreign trade, were brought to the verge of a ruin, and being forced into other lines j( injuring the factories that make goods j, exclusively for home consumption. p Many weaker mills were forced to the n wall and the industry was threatened. If the cotton industry is to be devel- ^ oped to the advantage of the cotton c manufacturer and cotton producer, ^ something must be done to develop for- ^ eign markets. ' Our occupation of the c Philippines gives us the advantage In competing for the China trade, and we 0 want to develop that advantage to its f " "?A A tnorlpo nffprfi ruiiesi eXlClll. mum n...v. u. a splendid market for cotton goods, p Last year the one republic of Argen- 0 tina took $16,000,000 worth of cotton g goods from Europe. This is $4,000,000 v more than we sold to China. We sold t to Argentina only about $500,000 worth. v There are several reasons why Euro- ^ peans control this trade that we should d control, and one of them is the fact q that Europeans subsidize their ships s while we do not. Having no steamship fl lines of our own to South America, we e have to send our cotton goods to that v country by way of Europe. To estab- f lish steamship lines without subsidies t< is impracticable for the reason that we n cannot get sufficient return cargoes, n For instance, while Argentina buys b $16,000,000 worth cotton goods, her prin- a cipal exports are fresh beef, hides, v wheat, etc., all of which we produce u in greater abundance than she does, tl We can only send our goods to her in a ships that are guaranteed profitable s voyages, whether they have return car- c oes or not. Mr. Cleveland argued at i mgth the benefits that would accrue > the mills, the cotton producers, the , peratives, and the people of the south enerally by the further development f cotton manufacturing. He was lis?ned to attentively; but received no pplause. The features of Friday's sessions of le meeting were the speeches of exiovernor John Gary Evans and Senajr Tillman. Mr. Evans announced his andldacy with great vehemence. He eminded his hearers how he had told hem In 1897 that McLaurln was a pollical traitor, and he Indicated that at hat time Mr. Latimer was an accomllce, having been a McLaurln man. [e declared that McLaurln should be ulled down and out, that the people hould be careful not to substitute anther traitor [Mr. Latimer] In his place, [e was vigorously cheered as Mr. Latner had been on the day before. Senator Tillman spoke for about an our and a half In his characteristic tyle, and was cheered quite liberally hroughout. He took a hand primary n this proposition: "All of you who re Democrats and who understand he teachings of your fathers, and are ot after the false gods hold up your ands." A great many voted for the roposition; but It was not unanimous r boisterous. On the other side there as no voting. Referring to Senator IcLaurln's intimation about rebates, enatol* Tillman said: "It will take omebody of more character and reponsibility than this man John L. Mc.onrln fn moke tho nonnlp hpllPVP that ny dishonest dollar ever crossed my aim. It will take some one, he flercer continued, "with more character belnd him than this man has to make nybody believe such damnable slanera." But the most significant fact of he senator's speech was that which ontalned an intimation of punishment f the cotton mill corporations should heir officers continue to advocate these ew doctrines. The threatened punlshlent included shorter hours for the peratives and Incorporation of the ill! towns. At tne conclusion of the leetlng the crowd hurrahed for Tillrnn. The Chester meeting was attended y about 1,000 people and was largely duplicate of the Union meeting exept that the denunciation of Senator IcLaurln was more bitter and lntemerate. Senator Tillman called a hand rimary on the question as to whether he crowd endorsed the recent action f the state executive committee and ot 150 votes. Mr. Latimer repeated he warnings made at Union against he cotton mill owners. THE NEWS IN CHEROKEE. <'rop Conditions?The Meeting at Un1o??Snitdny School Celebration. lorretpondence of the Torkrille Enquirer. Etta Jane, August 10.?The recent ain storm has done Irreparable Injury o the corn crops along the creeks and Ivers. In many places the water rose bove the tops of the corn and filled the >ud with sediment and thus ruined it. duch of it was small, being the third r fourth planting. This is covered up n mud or washed away entirely. Much f the land is bare. A good crop of rass can be gathered almost anywhere, and I suppose farmers will take are of it as much as they can. Our people are still hoeing and plowng their late crops. Corn on uplands, where regularly worked, Is fine. Coton is very good. One farmer who is nclined to be cheerful at all times, old me the other day, while the river was over some of his corn, that he would make more off his cotton crop In onsequ?nce of the rain than he would Dse on his corn crop. The political meeting at Union for the ist two days has been a very decent ffair. Mayor Young, in his address of welcome, urged that no vituperation r mudslinging be indulged in by the peakers, and from what I hear, his uggestlon was fully carried out. It 3 much regretted that Senator Mc,aurln was unable to attend on acount of his sick child. Our people aven't taken the political fever yet. l few chronic cases are on hand and will be till they are removed from this phere. We have very little sickness in this ection now. Mrs. John Foster, who as' been sick nearly all summer, is till very low and but little hopes of er recovery are entertained. It will be forty years next Monday Ince the first troops left Yorkville to Din the 12th regiment at Lightwood Cnot Springs. There were three comanles from York county in the regilent, A. B and H. Mr. H. T. Estes and his sister, Miss lattie. are visiting friends in Chester ounty. Also Mrs. Amanda Lee and er daughters, Misses Dorothy and lattie, have gone to visit relatives in 'heater county. Thursday of last week the children, f Salem church entertained their riends with a Children's Day exercise, rhieh was highly enjoyed by those resent. To add to the pleasure of the ccasion, Rev. C. A. B. Jennings, Mr. I. M. Rice, Jr., and Rev. S. T. Creech . ere present, and made addresses after he children's exercises were over, In fhich many good thoughts were rought out. The church was nicely ecorated with flowers and evergreens. >n the right side of the speakers' tand hung the Salem Sunday school ag, on one side of which was inscribd, "From Bethlehem's Manger to Calary's Cross." On the other side, "It Is "inished." On the left hung the Unlpd States flag. The Sunday school lurched into the church with the baner at the head of the column. This anner is made of a cross of yellow with dark background. 0\er the cross ere "Faith. Hope and Charity," these ords forming a crescent. Underneath he cross was "God is Love," forming nother crescent. Over the speakers' ta?d was the word "Welcome." The lasses formed in front of the stand, V and the school joined in singing, "Stand ftp. stand up for Jesus," etc. The pro- ? gramme was a very good one and the proceedings were greatly enjoyed by all. It is estimated that fully 800 persons were present, and at intermission the grounds were literally covered, and the meeting resolved itself into a general picnic occasion, where all who wished, enjoyed themselves for about an hour and a half in the most pleasant manner possible. This is the first time in the history of the church that an occasion of this kiifd was mapped out and managed exclusively by the scholars of the school. Sam Strain was the master of ceremonies and each scholar acted his or her part well, so much so, that we are willing to acknowledge that it was by far the most successful occasion of tte kind that it has ever been our good fortune to attend. j. l. s. TEXAS CROPS. Mr. T. P. McDUl Writes a Letter That In of Especial Interest to York Connty Farmers. Correspondence of the Vorkrille Enaulrer. Corsicana, Texas, August 7.?Thinking perhaps the people of old York. would like to know something about the cotton crop in Texas, I have made special inquiry for the past two weeks, besides personal observation, and I find the condition of the cotton crop is . described by men who, for business reasons, have made a personal inspection of it, far worse than the casual observer would judge it to be. I have interviewed men of large experience in the cotton business recently, and none have been found who estimate the crop at more than a fourth of a bale to the acre, while more declare that it will take six acres to make a bale on the average, than estimate it at Ave acres or less. The ground has not been so dry, it is stated, in many years, and it is declared that it would take a steady rain that would aggregate four to six inches, to place it In condition to furnish substance to vegetable life. Several owners of large ginneries have been interviewed, and without exception they estimate that their gins will not be called upon to press more than half the number of bales of last year. It is said that three-flfths of the cotton of Texas is made north of the I. & G. N. railroad, and reports from all that fertile section indicate that the ? condition of Navarro county, where I am located, represents the general condition In north and Central Texas. Indeed, it Is freely predicted by experienced observers, that all Texas and the territories will not make 3,000,000 bales this year. There is nothing in the reports from the southeastern states to indicate that this shortage will, be mqde up by Increased crops In that section, and the general outlook appears to be for a crop-faf dhftrt of"' the one of last season. Taken all in all, It is not at all probable that prices will range any lower for the coming season than those prevailing during the season of 1900-1901. Cotton Is opening very rapidly, and a great many farmers think one-half the crop will be picked In the present month of August. New cotton is bringing 7J to 10 cents. The corn and oat crops are a total failure here. Corn is selling at SI to $1.10 per bushel, and oats are bringing a price never known before in Texas? 65 cents per bushels. The usual price Is 12j and 15 cents. Hay generally brings from $4 to $6 per ton, but is now worth $14 and very scarce. I would like to tell the people of York county something more about Texas and her great oil fields as well as cotton neias, Dut my iener its already growing lengthy. With kind regards to the good people of York county. Thos P. McDill. HICKORY GROVE ITEMS. The Late Dr. Hambrlarht?Pemonal and Other Matters. Correspondence of the Yorkrille Enquirer. Hickory Grove, August 10.?The Whlsonant family, so deeply afflicted about two weeks ago, In the death of Miss Anna Whlsonant, has again been called upon to mourn for one of Its members. Dr. Hambright, who married a Miss Whlsonant, died at Smyrna, a few miles from our town, on Saturday, the 3d instant. Dr. Hambright, in his youth, was a promising physician, but for many years he has given most of his time and attention to farming, making no effort to extend his medical practice. Many of our people attended the funeral at Smyrna on Sunday. Following so close upon that of Miss Whlsonant, *vho was visiting at Dr. Hambrlght's when her death occurred, the occasion was one of unusual solemnity. It is said that Mr. Warren Whlsonant has given up^ils livery business. If this Is true, It will be hard on the drummers, who will have to telephone to Yorkville for a rig. The Hickory Grove brickyard has been keeping up its fires for sometime past. That smacks of prosperity. Mr. James Castles has had his house painted. The colors are well chosen, and the effect Is quite pleasing. Mr. John W. Llnley left today for the Anderson County Institute. Mr. Llnley does not expect to return to Hickory Grove; but after a short visit in the upper part of the state, will take up his duties as principal of the Millville graded school in the town of Anderson. His friends here are sorry to let him go and many of them gathered at the depot to bid him Godspeed. Mr. Archie Linley is on a visit to his brother, Dr. W. J. Linley, at the quarantine station, Savannah, Ga, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Moorhead are visiting relatives through the country. All the good housekeepers are busy now, canning peaches for the winter store. Melons and canteloupes are seen on every hand, and the delectable "ros'in' ear" is in full blast f