Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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EOTHA'S HOKEYM0?N. "One moment, if you please," j A movement of Mr. Freston's hand de tained his elderly cashier as he turned to leave the inner office. "I suppose young Chester's marriage -tatss pisce to-morrow. Do you know anything of the connection thai 1:3 is forniing?" "Only good, sir. The bride, Miss Glyn, is a daughter of my oldest friends. A truer-hearted girl than R?tha never lived; and the praise, or blame, of Chester's introduction to her rests with me." "That should indicate," said Mr. Fres ton, smiling, "that you estimate his character highly." "I have every reason for doing so." "Thank you, Mr. Gascoygne. Kindly tell Chester that I wish to see him." Rodney Chester, being junior cashfer to Messrs, Finch & Freston, bankers, - seldom entered their private office. Therefore it was with quickened pulses he obeyed Mr: Freston's summons. That gentleman greeted him pleasantly, albeit he sighed half en viously, as he contrasted his own gray hairs and declining vigor with the stalwart proportions and hand some features of the honest-eyed young fellow awaiting his commands, every fiber of whose being was tense with fullness of life, power, and joyous anticipation. "So you propose visiting the Riviera," Mr. Freston said, concluding a few words of congratulation and mquiry. "Is Nice included in your route?" "Probably we may see it; but Cannes is our destination, a relative resident there having offered us his villa while absent on a yachting cruise." "Then will you execute a small com mission for the firm? My request may seem somewhat unreasonable at such a time, but it can only be entrusted to a confidential agent. Several years ago a man named Warren became under peculiar circumstances, our debtor for a considerable sum/ thereupon disappear ing. Quite recently we have learned ,that he now resides at Monaco, under the alias of Dnval. To recover that loan will be your object. This paper," hand ing to Rodney an envelope, "contains all necessary directions, a sum for extra ex penses, and a cheque of which Mr. Finch and I beg your acceptance, with our good wishes for happiness in your new state." So ended the momentous interview. But as he recalled it during his home ward walk, Rodney Chester's whole de meanor underwent a change. The pleas ure-flush faded from cheek and brow, introspective thought filmed his eyes, the glad anticipation of marital dignity dropped from him like a mantle. Why should the name of Monaco, a place he had never visited, ring in his ears such a warning knell, and chill his veins with a terror vaguely apprehended ? Why? Because, as at the invocation of Endor's witch the semblance of a dead prophet rose from vacuity, so the ghost of a past believed by Rodney to be dead indeed, rising at an unexpected word, confronted him in the guise of a living possibility. ' When Rodney entered Knch & Fres ton's bank in Eastenbury, his parents, fondly solicitous for his preservation from the dissipation of city life, placed him with a widow who boarded a small, ttbut select, number of youths. These she Rermed "her boys," and labored under ^he delusion that she so surrounded them with home attractions, influences, and refinements, as to erect an impalpable but adamantine barrier between them and coarser allurements. Deficient in judgment,' and governed by impulse, both by and in her "boys" she was con stantly deceived. One of them, several years Rodney's senior, Mark Eames by name, unscrupulous and unprincipled, was yet possessed of singularly attractive and persuasive power. His toils were cpun with a spider's perseverance and success. Subtly he enmeshed Rodney,, initiating him into the mysteries of billiards, betting, cards and dice. Still, not easily. A country vicar's son, trained to a wholesome prejudice against games of chance, it needed nicely adjusted pressure, and much sarcastic ridicule, to accomplish his object. A night came when Rodney staggered to his lodgings weighted with gambling debts amounting to what he deemed a small fortune, granted. by Eames but .a week's grace, and possessed of no possi ble means of payment. Stay! was he not? Involuntarily lus hand clutched an inner pocket of his coat, where, unremembered till now, lay by a strange coincidence the sum he re quired. It had been intrusted to him by an old parishioner of ins father's for the purpose of depositing in the Eastenbury bank. Even in that moment of supreme temptation, Rodney thanked God he had so far forgotten it. He had just returned from a visit to his father, who was seri ously ill. Eames met him at the station, and, seeing his despondency, under pre text of cheering his spirits, invited him to a restaurant dinner, supplemented by wine and cards. The results to Rodney we already know. Again and again he repelled the devil- j whispered suggestion to liberate liimseif from Eames' power with this money, and then labor unceasingly for its repayment. And he would have conquered had not Eames, following him to his room, seen the notes, which, in 6elf-distrust, he was haste.ling to place in security, pounced on them like a hawk, and, rapidly counting them over, Btuffed them into his pocket, while ovenvhelming Rodney with a torrent of opprobrious epithets. A fearful scuffle ensued, which alarmed the household without benefiting Rodney, who next day sought other rooms. De nouncing Eam3s involved inculpating liimself, and incurring disgrace, dismis sal, and a ruined career. Eames, how ever, made divers efforts at reconcilia tion, which, to Ins bitter resentment, Rodney utterly ignored. After weeks of mental anguish deliver ance came in the form of mi unexpected legacy. The sharp recoil from shameful despair to hopeful freedom struck at first like a blow. Then, falling upon his knees, after pouring forth such a flood of confession, thanksgiving, cries foi I strength ana aid, as nad" never bet?re crossed his lips, Or filled his heart, he registered a solemn vow that never again through life would he stake one farthing upon any game of chance. This was the specter which, confront ing him upon his wedding-eve, whisper ing the name of Monte Carlo, pointed with cold, bony finger to a possible temptation. And once again upon his knees, looking up into the myn?u gc!d?2 eyes keeping watch over the Bleeping city, Rodney Chester reiterated those pleadings for firmness and support, and with double earnestness renewed that unforgotten vow. * * * * * Near the long, steep flight of steps leading up from the railway station to the terraced gardens of Monte Carlo stood a group of three, watching the stream of passengers ascending that ladder of the lost, from the afternoon train?a light-bearded Englishman, -with a diminutive French wife, black-eyed and vivacious, and an angular Scot, whose gaunt visage was a study in tan of the delights of yachting. Lazily he surveyed the new-comers, occasionally uttering some shrew criticism upon one or an other. His companion, from under lids drooped in 6eeming indifference, shot swift analytic glances, keen as a steel flash, at each passing face, Something of the sleuth-hound's tenacity, combined with foxy cunning, characterized Iiis frigid eyes. Another sidelong glance, yet swifter, telegraphed the result of such inspections to the small woman at his side, who caught their meaning with indefinable rapport. "Surely, yon's young Chester!" said MacPherson, surprise quickening some whaf his usually deliberate Scottish drawl. "Whatever brings him to this godless place?wi' the bit lassie, too!" "Which? that yellow-headed girl? Much what set Adam and Eve meddling with sour apples, I should say," sneered the Englishman, with an obtrusive yawn disguising a start of recognition on Ids part also, as Rodney and R?tha came slowly forward, Rodney's face slightly grave, yet filled with interest, curiosity, and quiet admiration, Ins wife's brightly expressive of a young girl's vivid appre ciation of unimagined beauty, and the excitement consequent upon a first pres entation to a place whose evil reputation enveloped it in weird romance. "It is like a vision!" R?tha exclaimed, with a catch in her breath and a sympa thetic pressure on her husband's arm, as a few steps upon the terrace spread the whole panoramic scene before them, out lined sharply as a cameo by the slanting evening sunbeams. Blue, blue sea, flecked ?with white and tawny sails?the quaint, wailed, Moorish town perched on its rocky, wave-washed promontory?a dis tant, filmy noirage, whispering of Cor sica's snow mountains and fatefid mem ories?palms waving great fans overhead, and parting dusky fronds to glimpses of sapphire sky, and showers of golden fight. "Like a vision," R?tha said; and she was right. In its beauty?and deception?it was, and is, as a dream and?awakening! Bitter enough to some is the lifting of that trance-like sleep. From the palms, the sky, the amber glow, Rotha's winged fancy dropped sud denly into the reality of finding Rodney introducing to her a brawny Highlander, who was blending congratulations with discreet curiosity, in Caledonian fashion. "The MacPherson"?as, being at the head of his clan, he, with pardonable vanity, affected to be styled?was a sandy haired, elderly man, with kind blue eyes. His rather ponderous gallantries amused R?tha; but tho unmistakable interest he diplayed in her as his1 cousin's bride won upon her, as her-bright face and manner attracted him. Strolling leisurely for ward he soon learned the young couple's experiences and projects?Rodney's mis sion tjS Monaco?his belief, from informa tion gathered? that the dinner^hour was the time most likely for finding Monsieur Duval at bJomej^nd Rotha's rejection of his proposal that ehe should remain at Nice, whither, if successful in his appli cation to Duval, they intended returning that night. "I wouldn't have missed coming for anything!" R?tha protested, flushing with pretty triumph?"Fancy being at Nice and not seeing Monte Carlo?dear, de lightful, wicked place!" "AweeL. then, wliile your gude nion's speirin' an' pokin' for tills Duval, we'll just tak a luik round ?you an' me?at the beauties o' nature outside, an' tho puir flutterin' moths o' fuil bodies within that spider's web o' the evil one's own spinin*. An' ne'er fasli yerself aboot the wee wide, Rodney; we'll neither waste the bawbees, nor male a munelicht flittin' to the Bon nie Elaine." So, with dry humor, spake The MacPherson. It was a good arrangement, placing R?tha in safe keeping, yet leaving Rod ney's movements free. He laughingly departed, though Rotha's wistful glances followed him with girlish transparency. Quickly, however, attention and imagin ation were both distracted and en chained. The gleaming marble palace rose before her like childhood's fairy tales embodied, uniting the 6trange si lence of enchanted sleep with tho mag nificence, coloring, and radiant briS rncy of Aladdin's halls. The spells of the place held her forcibly. The op pressive stillness, broken only by omin ous, fate-filled tcries, the blankly apa thetic faces, the social differences merged in the united purpose of the crowd, held her senses in the mute re pression of concentrated intensity. Time seemed annildlated, space fo cussed, sensation condensed to a diamond point. Once again in the open air, she drew her hand across her eyes, as though brushing from her brain some fever-im [ age. "It was dreadful!" she said, shudder ing; "dreadful. But"?dreamily?"I un derstand now the fascination of which one hears and reads." * * * * * Meanwhile a little scene passed be tween the bearded Englishman and his small French wife. Something in her husband's expression arrested madame's attention as Mac Pherson followed the young couple. It is true,' is It not, - ;tnat you also know those two?" she questioned, with a flick of her finger towards the Cheaters. "Him," was the laconic answer, "and" ?savagely?"hate him. Plague him, how I hate that fellow!" "Fi done, mon ami!" and madame tapped his arm lightly with her daintly gloved hand. "Oh, you English, how you are drole, with your 'hate,' and your 'hits'?f?? coarse?si bete. We have more pobtesse. We say simpiy \*e not lofe." "Then I, too, will not 'lofe'" he re turned impatiently. "Nay, I will not 'lofe'"?mockingly ? "dearly! closely! His wife shall be your bosom friend, Marie-" "His wife, Mark?" interrogatively. "Bah! yes. The marriage was in The Times. We will cherish?follow them devotedly! I, in shadow; you, openly* and it will go liard if-" but here en sued a whispered colloquy, to which Bub sequent events alone supplied the key. ***** Ro'dney returned too late for Monte Carlo to be quitted that night. He had found the lair, but not the wolf. Nor did several ensuing days bring him more success. Yet they were halcyon days to him and R?tha, filled -with explorations of the queer old city, inland excursions, wanderings about that terraced, flower freighted paradise, with its gay crowds and gayer music, and, for R?tha?when she could induce the MacPherson to take her?the strange attraction of these silent halls, where veiled vice, open misery, doubtful triumph, aud undoubted ruin sliifted to and fro as in a ghastly kaleid sfbpe.' Daily the fascination grew upon her, exciting an influence whoso powct in explicable to herself?was iacommunica ble as invisible to others. Rodney, true to Iiis self-distrustful resolution, fleeing the shadow of temptation, refused to en ter the gaming saloons even as a specta tor. For R?tha it seemed different. The scene amused her; and though to Mac Pherson it was old and stale enough, he found in studying her?young, fresh, and innocent?the charm she felt in watching others. Not to please her, or, far more, to save from destruction the Bonnie Elaine?his bride, his darling, his heart's core?would the canny Scotch man have staked a sixpense. Another of Rotha's pleasures was the acquaintance of a French woman who, since her arrival at Monte Carlo, had reg ularly occupied the seat next R?tha at dinner, chatted with her in the drawing room, and beguiled with friendly arti fices the tedium of Rodney's involuntary absences. Who so unassumingly enter taining, helpful, kind, as Madame D'Armet? She, too, poor tiling! waiting waiting in lonely patience for the con stantly delayed return of a husband de tained in Paris by diplomacy's red tapeism! With such companionship how could R?tha debar Rodney from the delight of spending an occasional hour aboard the Bonnie Elaine? R?tha was no sailor, and nothing short of necessity induced her to quit dry land. "After that horrible channel, too," she said reproachfully, one day when Rod ney, upon the principle "practice makes perfect," was trying to persuade her to acceptMacPherson's proposal of along day's cruising expedition. "No, Rodney, not even for you would I brave the lovely siren sea. But you she has be witched?enchanted. Go, then; Mad ame D'Armet will take care of me. Only ?only?come pack soon!" Should he go? Rodney debated, as he hurried towards Monaco for another effort at unearthing Duval. To the en ticing charms of yatclung, this expedi tion added that of glimpses at scenes and shores whose interest was, to him, very great. R?tha was willing, safe, con tent. It would be but a few hours' sep aration. Leaving Nice early in the morning, they would be back by night fall. Well! chance should decide. If he found Duval, and succeeded in his em bassy, he would go. Not otherwise. Ho did succeed. Duval, this time, missed evading him by two minutes. Making a virtue of necessity, he paid the larger portion of his debt, and Rod ney returned possessed of notes valuing 200 pound rifling. What to -O with them was now his puzzle. Business hours were over banks closed. When they reopened in the morning he would be miles away on the sea. He would confide them to R?tha?she was a careful little woman. No one need know anything of the mat ter, and in her custody they would be perfectly safe. "Suppose I lost them!" R?tha asked, regarding the notes apprehensively. "Rodney, I wish you would lock them up somewhere. I have no idea where to put them." " Nonsense!" he replied lightly. " Women are clever Inders ? always. Don't they often tuck money away in their petticoats, or boots?" "Certainly not," promptly. Paper in petticoats would rustle?coin iu boots equal pilgrims's peas. Your knowledge of feminine resources is evidently de fective." Nevertheless, after his departure she so far followed his suggestion as to fold the notes into a small packet, and fasten it securely inside her bodice. But the charge worried her. An un expected voice, or step, startled her, flushing her cheek, and involuntarily drawing her hand to the treasures rest ing-place. All day she sat in her room, vaguely uneasy, longing for Rodney's re turn. Nor would she had left it had not Madame D'Armet penetrated to her re treat, and persisted in dragging her out of doors. "Such a lofely evening?so gay?so bright! Only le petite anxious aud pale ?pale as the spirit that keep a secret watch." Not pale now. Rotha's cheek was scarlet. "Viola! have I not reason? Your hus band, he takes his pleasure. You?you stay to guard?what? Gold? Jewels? Papers? Bah! what is it you say?'euro kill cats?' Pouf! blow it away. Come! it lives not with music and flowers." Poc ? R?tha! Scarcely beyond child ttooV, arid one of a large family who,' in daily intercourse, practiced little reti cence, it was impossible but that mad ame's pertinacity had wiled from her something of Rodney's difficulties with Duval. mtuition, supplemented by an espionage which had revealed, by aid of Rotha's mirror, the fastening of the package within her bosom, assured madame of the debt's- payment, and Rotha's possession of the money. Presently, seated in an alcove, she turned the conversation mix" ing myth and reahty in ber storiC 8U0" cesses, dazzling R?tha with tides of gold, and mountains of silver, laughing at her objections, scruples, and book-culled reminiscences of crime and ruin. "Voici!"?picking up tliree pebbles, and laying one upon the little table? "three am I, myself. There,'' placing a Second, "lies starvation. Had I but 5 franc," laying the third midway between the two, "I would risk the whole upon the game!" ' R?tha looked at her wonderingly. The woman's earnestness impressed her 'with a kind of awe, as at an influence impelling her she knew not whither. She shivered. "It is a power of which I know noth ing," she said. "Neither, did I wish it, have 1 money so to risk." "Then what is this?" playfully touching Rotha's breast, "this secret of Monsieur Ro-od-ney's we guard so jealously?" "Ah?" exclaimed R?tha with involun tary betrayal, "that is not mine?not his ?not?" "Ciel! to lose such a chance! Me, had I but a fraction of that treasure, from what of misery might it not deliver!" A little wringing of madame's hands, a few tears, a voluble detailment of wrong, wrested advantage, poverty, op pression, and Rotha's heart, burning with indignation, throbbed to aid. With quick zeal she reviewed her resources. She liad 10 pounds absolutely her own, in her dressing-case at the hotel. Were she, from Rodney's packet, to lend mad ame that amount, sho could replace it on her return. Surely Rodney would not blame her for using her own money as she pleased?for helping madame, too! Impulsively she drew forth the parcel, opened it, and offered madame a note of the sum mentioned. The other drew back, her greedy eyes gloating over the prize revealed. "Stay, mignonne!" and she waved the gift aside, "it is to the young luck comes; you shall stake it for me, and be my 'Dame of Good Fortune.'" They entered the salon; R?tha in a fever of excitement, doubt, and fear; madame cold, calm, self-possessed. She changed Rotha's note for gold? directed and suggested her play. How Rotha's fingers trembled as she placed her first stake, picked up her first win nings! Time after time she won. A small ocean of gold heaved upon her hand. People turned, watched, mut tered over her success. The fascination of the place, which had been growing upon her insensibly, suddenly leaping to gigantic power, over-mastered will, mo rality, and judgment. "Courage! Cour age!" whispered the temptress beside her. ??$$at? ? bid fortune adieu with her fa vor at its flood?" And Rotha's hand drew from the packet another note. Then the tide turned?she lost. Reverse fol lowed reverse. Dismayed, bewildered, with a fierce fear clutching her heart, she followed madame's counsels, laying down notes and gold until all was gone. As the croupier's rake gathered in the last pile she looked round with the wide eyed, uncomprehending misery of a child. Then, as the hideous truth burst upon her brain, she threw up her arms with a despairing cry, and fled away. Where, she knew not. On, on, speeding along the flower-laden terraces, down slopes, and steps, and roads, like a hunt ed animal. Lights died, voices .grew faint and far, palms ceased rustling, flower-scents faded. The sea's salt breath, the plash of waves, rocks' uncertain footing took their place. A broad moon looked down upon her from a lonely sky, as she gazed out upon a lonely sea. She had wandered to the shore, but by what pathway, or for what purpose, she never could recall. A dumb agony of fright urged her on. Over sharp boulders and scraped ridges, she stumbled forward till she reached the furthermost point * of a projecting reef. There she cow ered down, and waited?for what? Billows boomed around her?spray flew over and drenched her?night shadows mocked her with phantom inniges. The Tete du Cliien frowned behind, the piti less sea stretched in front. Somewhere belld were ringing. Were they tolling beneath the waves knells for drowning seamen, or pealing from village steeples happy bridal chimes? Surely they were her own wedding bells?how merrily they rang! And that was Rodney's voice. Ah, yes! they were throwing flowers; how sweet and pink was the mimosa bloom ; how heavy the air with jasmine and seringa! It was the balaille des fleurs, of course! How gay and bright the people looked; how pleasant was life, wandering thus with Rodney by her side! Now they were hemmed in by geranium* hedges, luxuriant, bril liant, dazzling walls of blossom. Oh ! they were choking, scorching, killing her 1 Not geraniums tit all, but forked tongues of fire?fire that changed from flames to ice, devouring and freezing her by turns. And Rodney had disappeared. She was alone. "Rodney ! Rodney!" she shrieked?and then blank darkness fell, and silence. That shriek saved her. Half demented at finding his young wife missing upon his return, and unable to gain tidings of her, Rodney had wandered to and fro in mental agony tis great as Roti la's. What guided him to the shore he knew no more than she what prompted her flight to the rocks. Her cry discovered her hid ing-place. Very tenderly Rodney gath ered her to his breast, and carried her back to shore, and into love's safe shelter. * -t * * * * .-jc Wl len R?tha recovered from the illness which supervened upon exposure, ex haustion, and distress of mind, the young couple returned to. England, gainers in earnest purpose if iu some degree sobered in spirit. The actual money loss was re paid from the sum which both had looked (1 Idrward, with pfOud pleasure, to spend ing together on the furnishing and .adorn ing of their expected home. In strait ened means, and the discomforts of lodgings, they paid the penalty of their joint fault, whose largest share of blame, Rodney insisted?and truly?belonged to him. He had no right to burden another with his own responsibilities, nor to ex pose his inexperienced wife to an ordeal such as overwhelmed her. R?tha main tains that, had her moral courage and I honesty been of tougher fiber, she would I never have fallen into such a trap. On one point they are agreed?that no game played for money shall ever be counte nanced In the pretty domicile into which they lxave lately moved. Mark Eames, having gratified his mal ice, troubles them no more, although he and Madame D'Armet, alias Eames, still prowl about Monte Carlo. The MacPherson is a constant visitor at the pleasant home, which, owing to a shrewd guess at the state of affairs, his cousinly generosity assisted in develop ing sooner than could otherwise have been possible. He has taken a great fancy to Rodney secundus, and recently presented the infant with a silver pap boat, modeled after the design of the Bonnie Elaine.?Prize Story in Cassell's Magazine. Systematic Manner of Handling Cottonv There is no business in the world down | to a finer basis, and yet simpler, than the cotton business. You would hardly be- | lieve that it could be possible to trace a | single pound of cotton back through a long channel of persons handling it in its course from the planter to the spin ner, and yet it is so. In the first place, when he brings it in on his plantation, the planter brands the bale into which it is packed. Every bale has a number and a brand, and when it is shipped certain i numbers go to certain factors, and notes are made for those certain bales. When the factor receives it he puts his number and brand on it, and thus when we re ceive it the bale bears two brands and numbers. Then we put on our marks, and when the factor sells a bale or 100 bales, the order of shipment or delivery is made for those certain marked bales. We do not j receive an order for 100 bales of cotton to be taken miscellaneously, but for 100 certain numbered and marked bales, and | in getting them out it may be necessary ] to first move 1,000 bales. When the cot ton is shipped out to the eastern spinner j or to the spinner in Europe or on the ! Continent, and anything is found to be ! wrong?bad cotton, stuffing or anything | to make it weigh heavier?it is quickly j traced back through all of the various people who have handled it to the j planter, and reclamation awarded at tho proper place.-Superintendent Reifsnyder | in Globe Democrat. Electric Lamps on l'assenger Cars. A railroad man expressed the opinion recently that it would not be long before passenger coaches will be hghted with electric lamps. As soon as the electric i headlight fo." locomotives shall have been nade a success, which he was confident t eventually would be, the system could be easily extended throughout the entire train, thus doing away with the smoky, ill-smelling lamps which are one of the positive discomforts of railroad travel under tae present system. Electric lamps would be peculiarly suited for the lighting of railway carriages, and along suffering public will hope that their ad vent ma}' be near at hand.?Chicago Journal. - The Thrift of the Chinaman. A gentleman who was engaged for years in searching Chinese steamers 6tates that he often saw ? Chinaman land at the dock in San Francisco, with noth ing in the world in the shape of capital, except a fishing net. In about a month the same Chioaman would appear as a snipper of from three to ten tons of fish. He had associated himself with four or five others; they had secured a second hand boat and gone to work. In a few months he was not only a shipper, but an importer, receiving large lots of rice, Bugar, dried fowls, and other articles of Chinese food, as well as clothing.?Chi cago Herald. How Cellars Should He Ventilated. The purpose of ventilating cellars is to make them cool ami dry. They are often ventilated so as to be warm and damp. This is done when the air admitted to them from without is considerably warmer than the air within them. Com ing into the cooler cellar, this air, while it raises the temperature of the cellar air, itself is cooled, and deposits its mois ture, which soon becomes evident at visible or palpable dampness. Therefore all the ventilation of cellars in warm weather should be done at night, and the cellar should he kept closed between sunrise and sunset.?Boston Budget. Great Importance of the Hon. For the year 1883 the poultry product of this country was .*??0,0(J0,(J00. Under an equal division each uan, woman and child in the country would have paid over $1 to the poultry farmers. But we paid more than'that, for we imported about half as much as we produced. China alone sent us 12,0t)0,UU? eggs. These are tremendous figures. Our poul try interest, it seems, is more than double the value of the dairy interest. It wss worth in 1883 $100,000,000 more than the cotton product of that year.?Wheeling (W. Va.) Register. The Skull lCcslsts Time's Itavages. Why does the skull better resist the ravages of time than any other bone? This is a question propounded by a nat uralist who has observed the fact on opening the gr.-.ves of mound-builders, mid has frequently remarked that the skulls of buffalo, elk, and other animals on the western plains are in a fair state I of preservation long after the other bones have entirely decayed.??Scientific Jour-' nal. .Substitute for tho "Wooden J'ail. Various processes have been brought i forward for producing a satisfactory sub- j stitute for the ordinary wooden pail, and j the most successful effort in this direc- , tion appears to have been accomplished I with paper pulp.?Cliicago Herald. SPRIN&--1886--SPRING. Theodore l^ohn heodore 13lohn IS NOW OFFERING UNUSUAL AT tractions and jr^'Tfr bargains for swung and summer wear, DRESS AND WHITE GOODS. We display a grand collection of New and Seasonable Styles at prices lower than ever. EMBROIDERIES AND'.LACES in very large variety, and unequalled bar gains arc guaranteed. PARASOLS in all the newest designs at prices tbat defy them all. JERSEYS! JERSEYS!! In all the latest Styles, at lowest prices. MATTINGS! MATTINGS ! MATTINGS ! In White, Red, Check and Fancies at very resonable prices. WINDOW CURTAINS, LACE CUR TAINS, RUGS, AC, in large asssortmcnts Call aud see our large NEW STOCK. The prices arc light and we solicit your patronage. THEODjORE KOgj INSURANCE AGAINST STORMS Al CYCLONES. HOME INSURANCE COMPANY, OP HEW YORK. ISSUES a TORNADO POLICY ON HOUSES AND ANIMALS. In view of the frecpuent occurrence of disastrous Cyclones and Tornadoes, In sec tions of the country v.'u have heretofore been*cousidered cxemnt from such storms, we deem this a fitting opportunity to cars your attention to the fact that the HOME is now prepared to issue Its policies against losses from such disasters, at such rates, as to be within the reach of every property owner. DURING ONE YEAR 9 TORNADOES OCCURRED IN VIRGINIA?12 IN NORTH CAFOLINA?22 IN SOUTH CAROLINA?38 IN GEORGIA-IS IN ALABAMA?7 IX MISSISSIPIT-1 IN LOUISIANA-.' IX TEXAS. L<*scs .-ucl! ;i- the folllowmg, wen- re ported: TOWN NEARLY DESTKUYED-lUU BUILDINGS DESTROYED?22HOUSES DEMOLISILED?iu BUILDINGS DE MOLISHED, LOSS OF PROPERTY ;;-eo(i!0u-;..V BUILDINGS DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO I'ROPERTY 8100.00C?. t The following extract from the Signal Service Bureau report, indicates the im portance of such Insurance as is offered by the HOME INSURANCE COMPANY: "It is well nigh impossible *o construct any buildings strong enough to completely j resist the extraordinary violence of the Tornado cioud: you can r.ever expect to save your buildings. The narrow belt of destruction rentiers it practicable for a whole state, through Insurance Compauics.. to bear the loss tha*. occurs at any one point. j General Insurance is the wisest pc//''> 2^- DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT STORM SCATTERS YOUR PROPERTY TO THE WINDS. BUT PROCURE A i POLICY IN THE HOME INSURANCE CO.. OF NEW YORK, AGAINST TOR NADOES, CYCLONES AND WIND STORMS. JNO. A. HAMILTON, May 'JO- Orangeburg, S. C. Carolina Cultivator. Patented October 13, nAHMEKS AUK INVITED TU I examine tlii< CULTIVATOR at the ollice of Mr. Kirk Robinson. Ii cultivates COTTON, CORN or VEGETABLES dur ing their early urowth, world lie BOTH SIDES of plants AT THE SAME TIME, and will harrow cotton before coming up without injuring stand. It BARS OFF or Ihlows dirt TO the plants as maybe desir ed. It is simple, durable, and a great labor-saver. It to?k lirst Premium at the last State Fair. Send b>r descriptive circu lar. Price. ?8.50 and freight from Colum bia, S. C. Address, JAS. H. FOWLKS. Patente. Orangeburg, s. C. April 1.