Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

? The ? Virginia ? By C N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON. Authors of "The Lightning Con ductor," "Rosemary in Search of ?. Fa.th.er." Etc. $ Copyright, 1907. by McClure, Phil lips & Co. , ICHAPTED 51XT??N-1 ELL the truth when de ^^v^s sired, spice with prevari cation when necessary and never part with the whole truth^ar one time, since waste is sinful, was one of the maxims by which the chancellor guided his own actions though he did not give it away for the benefit of others, ajd he had made the most of that prudent policy today. Be had told his emperor no lies, even through the telephone, where forget fulness may be pardonable, but'he had arranged his truths as skillfully as he arranged his pawns on a chessboard. It was said by some who pretended ?to know that Count von Breitsteiu had ? had a Jesuit for a tutor; but, be this i an it might, it was certain that when he had a goal to reach he did not pick footsteps by the way. A flower here or there was apt to be trodden down, a small life broken, a reputa tlon stained, but what of that when Rhaetia's standard was to be planted upon the mountain top? Supposing he had said .to the em peror after his promise of plain speak ing: "Your majesty's journey today is a wild goose chase. I happen to know jtba|P those you seek are still at their %otel in Kronburg. When I heard from my brother Egon that they were leav ing Schloss Lyndalberg suddenly and secretly 1 went immediately to Kron burg and called upon the ladies. My intention was to frighten them away by' telling them that the fraud was fcund out and they had better disap pear decently of their own accord un 3ess they wished to be assisted over the frontier.. They actually dared refuse to see me, alleging as an excuse the sudden illness of their companion, which bad prevented their leaving Kronborg, as they intended. While I was awaiting this answer' I learned that some person was telegraphing from the railway station to the hotel man ager inquiring if the Mowbrays bad gone. I guessed this person to be your majesty and ventured to use my in fluence strongly with the manager, so successfully that I was permitted to dictate the reply and obtain his prom ise that the matter should be strictly confidential. 1 judged that your maj esty had meant to take the Orient ex press, but had missed it. and, as you telephoned from the station, I had no doubt that you intended to follow either by the next train or by a special. Soou I learned that no special had been ordered by any one. I ascertained the time of the next train and sought your majesty in it. Had my eloquence then prevailed with you I should have urged your return with me. and thus you would have been spared the useless journey to Felgarde. As you remained obstinately faithful, however. I con sidered myself fortunate to have yon out of the way. so that I could hurry back. and. unhampered by your sus picions, set about learning still more facts to Miso Mowbray's discredit or inventing a few if those which un doubtedly existed could not be unearth ed in time." Supposing that Count von Breit stein's boasted- frankness had led Lim to make these statements, it is proba ble that Rhaetin would not long have rejoiced in a chancellor, so wise and so self sacrificing. It was well enough for the old man to declare his willingness to retire if his master desired it. but he bad count ed, as people who risk nil for great ends do count, ou not being taken at his word. Pie loved power because be had always had it. and without power life would not be worth the living, but it was honestly for the country's sake and for Leopold's sake rather than his own that he desired to hold and keep his high position. Without his strong baud to seize the helm should Leopold's fail* for some careless instant he conscientiously believed that the ship of state would be lost. He had-done his best to disillusion a young man tricked into love for an adventuress. Now neither as chancel lor nor friend could he make further open protest unless favored by fate with some striking new development. There were nevertheless other ways of working, and he had but taken the first step toward interference. He meant since worse had come to worst, to go on relentlessly, and he would hardly have considered it criminal to destroy a woman of the type to which he assigned Helen Mowhray. provided no means less stringent sufficed to snatch her from the throne of Rbaetia. There were many plans seething in the chancellor's head, and Egon's belli might be necessary. He might even have to go so far as to bribe Egon to kitluap the girl and sacrifice himself by marrying her out of hand before she bad a chance to learn that the emperor was ready to meet her de mands. Egon had been attentive to Miss Mowbray. It might well be be lieved even by the emperor that the j oung man had been madly enough in love to act upon his own Initiative, un influenced by his brother. The chancellor's first act on parting with Leopold was to telegraph Captain von Breitstein to meet the train by which he would return to Kronburg. Therefore on arriving at the station he was not surprisea to see Egon's hand some face prominent among others less attractive on the crowded platform. "Well?" questioned the young man as the old man descended. "I'm sorry to say it Is very far from well. But between us we shall, I hope. Improve matters. You have kept your self au courant with everything that s happened in the camp of the en "Say *nny oue.' and I can answer yon more easily. Who do you think has ar rived at the hotel?" , 1 "The devil, probably, to complicate matters." "I've heard him ca'led so. but a good I looking devil and devilisbly pleasant. I met hiiu in bis motor, in which he'd drlveu Into town from his new toy, the huutiug lodge In"? "What! You mean the Prince"? "Of Darkness, you've just named him." Egon gave a laugh at his own repartee, but the chancellor heard nei ther. His hard face brightened. "That's i well." said he grimly. "Here we have Just the) young man to see us through this bad1 pass If he's as good looking as ever and in his usual mood for mis chief. If we can interest him in this affair.- he may save me a great deal of trouble and you a misalliance." "But your wedding present to me"? began Egon blankly. "Don't distress yourself. Do what you can to assist me, and. whatever the nd. you shall be my heir. 1 prom ise you. Is the prince at the hotel now V" - "Yes. He had been to call on you at your.town house, he stopped his auto mobile to tell me, and. hearing from me that yon would be back this even ing, he decided to stay all night at the hotel, so that he could have a chat with you after your return, no matter at what hour it might be. I believe be has left a note at your house.^ "I will go to him. and we can then discuss Its contents together," said Count von Breitstein, and the chauf feur who drove his electric carriage was told to go to tin- Hohenlaugeuwakl hotel. The prince, who would, the chancel lor hoped, become the deus ex machiua. was engaged in selecting the wines for his dinner when Count von Breitsteiu's card was sent; In. He was pleased to say that he would receive his visitor, and, Egon having been sent about his business, the chancellor was shown into the purple drawing room of the spit reserved for royalty. As he entered a young man jumped up from an easy chair, scattering sheaves of illustrated papers, and held out both his hands, with a "Welcome, my dear old friend!" It would have been vain to scour the world in quest of a handsomer young man than this one. Even Egon von Breitsteln would have seemed a mere good looking puppet beside him. and the chancellor rejoiced in the physical perfection of a prince \vh<- might prove a dangerous rival for an absent em peror. "This is the best of good fortune!" exclaimed Count von Breitsteln. "Egon told me you were here, and without waiting to get the note he said you had left for me I came to you straight from the railway station." "Splendid! And now you must dine with me. It was that I asked of you in my note. Dinner early, a serious talk and an antidote for solemnity in a visit to the Leopoldhalle to see Mile. Felice from the Polles Bergere do her famous fire and fountain dance. A box, curtains half drawn, no one need know. that the chancellor helps his young friend amuse himself." "I thank your royal highness for the honor you suggest, and uothiug could give me greater pleasure If I hud not a suggestion to venture, In place of yours, which I believe may suit you better. I think I know of what you wish to talk with me, and I desire the same, while the business I have most at heart"? . "Ah. your business is ray business, then?" "I hope you may so consider it. In any case it is business which must be carried through now or never and Is of life and death importance to those whom it concerns. How it's to be done or whether done at all may de pend on you, if you consent to interest yourself, and 't could not be iu more '?ompetent hands. If I'd been given my choice of an assistant out of the whole world I should have chosen your royal highness." "This sounds like au adventure." "It may be an adventure and at the same time an act of justice." "Cood. Although It was not in search of an adventure that I came to you, any more than it was the hope of game whic h brought me on* a sudden impulse to my little bunting lodge, still I trust I have always the Instinct of a sports man." "1 am sure of that, and I have the less hesitation iu enlistiug your good will because it happens that your bird and mine can be killed with one shot." "Chancellor, you excite my curios ity." The old man smiled genially, but un der the bristling brows glowed a Game as of the last embers in a dying fire. "Upstairs," said he, "is a pretty w om an, a beauty. She claims the name of Helen Mowbray, though her right to it is more than disputable. Her love af fairs threaten a public scandal." "Ah, you are not the first one who has spoken of this pretty lady since 1 crossed the frontier this morning," ex claimed the young man, flushing He paused and bit his lip before going on, as if he wished to think or regain self control, but at last he laughed not al together lightly. "So the lady most talked about for the momeut Iu all Rbaetia is under the same roof with me." "Fortunately she Is close at hand," said the chancellor. "To you more than to any other I can open my heart in speaking of our great peril. This girl has drawn the emperor into a flt of moon madness. It is no more seri ous than that, aud were she out of the way he would wake as from a dream. But this is the moment of the crisis. He must be saved uow or he is lost forever and all our hopes with him. Blessed would be the man who brought my poor master to his senses. I have tried and failed. But you could do it." "I?" '?The sword of Justice Is ready for your hand." "That sentence has a solemn ring. I don't see what you want me to do. But what Bort of woman is this who has bewitched your grave Leopold?" "Beautiful and clever as women are clever, but not clever enough to fight her battle out against you and me." The priuce laughed again. "It Isn't my metier to fight with women. I pre fer to make love to them." "Ah, you have said it! That Is what I beg your royal highness to do." "How am I to get at her when Leo pold stand? guard?" ... t 1 ?'He will not be on guard for some hours." "Ha, ha! You mean me to under stand that there's no time to waste." "Not a moment." "What is the girl like?" "Tall and slender, pink .and white as a flower, dark lasbed and yellow hair ed, like an Austrian beauty; eyes gray or violet, it would be beard to say which for a man of my years, but even I can assure you that when the j lady looks down, then suddenly up again under those dark, lashes, it's something to quicken the pulse of any man uuder srxty." it would quicken mine only to hear y<?:ir descriptiou if you hadn't just put a maggot in my head that tickles me to laughter instead of raptures," said the prince. "Tell me this?has this girl a tiny black mole just over the left eye brow, very fetching, and when she smiles does her mouth point upward a bit on the right side, like a fairy sign post showing the way to a small round scar almost as good as a dimple?" The chancellor reflected for a few seconds anfc then replied that unless his eyesight ami his memory had de ceived him both these marks were to be met with on Miss Mowbray's face, lie did not add that he had seen her but once and at the time had not taken interest enough to note details, for it was "plain fiat the prince had a theory as to the lady's real identity and to es tablish it as a fact might be valuable. "Is it possible that you've already met this dangerous young person?" he asked eagerly. "Well. I begin to believe it may be so. I'll explain why later. Thereby hangs a confession. At all, events, a certain lady exactly answering the de scription you've given Is very likely in this neighborhood. I've .heard that she was shortly due in Kronburg, nnd It ws\s iu my mind when deciding sud denly to speud a few days in the woods for the sake of seeing you that I i might see her also before I went home j again. As a matter of fact, the lady I add I have had a misunderstanding I at a rather unfortunate moment, as I'd , just imprudently taken her into my confidence concerning?er?some family affairs. If it is she who Is masquerad ing In Rbaetia as Miss Mowbray and turning your emperorjs head, it may be that she's trying to revenge herself on me. She's pretty enough to beguile St. Anthony, let alone a St Leopold, and she's clever enough to have thought ottt such a scheme. Our small quarrel | happened about four weeks ago, and I've lost siglit of the lady since. She disappeared, expecting probably to be followed, but she wasn't. The only question is. If she's playing Miss Mow bray. where did she get the mother? I've heard there is a Mowbray mother." "There's a faded Dresden china shep herdess that answers to the name." said the chancellor dryly. "But these ? mantelpiece ornaments are easily man ufactured." - The prince was amused. "No; she wouldn't stick at a mother if she wanted one." he chuckled. "Aud, while she was about it, she has apparently annexed a whole family tree. The black mole and the scar dimple?you're sure of them, chancellor? Because, if you are"? "Oh, I am practically ceitain!" "Then the more pieces in the puzzle which I fit together the more llkelj does it seem that your Leopold's Miss Helen Mowbray and my Miss Jenny Brett are one and the same." i ."Miss Jenny Brett?" "Did you never hear the name?" "If I have I've forgotten it." "Chancellor, you wouldn't forget if you were a few years younger. Jenny j Brett is the prettiest If not the most talented singer ever sent out from Australia, the fashionable home of singers. She is billed to sing at the Court theater of Krouburg in a fort-' night, her first engagement in Rhae-j tia." f I "You are right. It may well be that' she's been having a game with us?a ; game that we can prevent uow. thank; heaven, from ending in earnest" ' "Oil. yes: we can prevent mat." "Your royal highness met the lady in your own country?" "N-o. It was in Paris at first, but Pm afraid I induced her to accept au engagement at home. . We were great' friends for awhile, and really she's a charming creature. I can't blame my self. Who would have guessed that she'd turn out so ambitious? By Jove. I can sympathize with Leopold. The girl tried to twist me round her finger and, I verily believe, fancied at one time that I would offer her marriage." "It must be ,tbe same girl. And the emperor has offered her marriage." "What? Impossible: But?with the left hand, of course, though even that would be unheard of for a man in hls" "I swear to your royal highness that if he Isn't stopped he will force her on the Rhaetian people as empress." "Gad?little Jenny Brett! I didn't half appreciate her brilliant qualities." "Yet I would wager that she appre ciated yours." The prince shrugged his shoulders. "I believe she really cared something for me?a month ago." "Then she still cares. You are not a man whom a woman can forget, though pique or ambition may lead her to try. I tell you frankly I believe that Prov idence sent your royal highness here at this moment, and my best hopes,' are now pinned on you. You?and no! one as well as you?can save the em peror for a nobler fate: Even when 1 supposed you a stranger to this lady who calls herself Helen Mowbray l thought that if you would consent to meet her and exercise your fascina tions there might be hope of averting the danger from my master. Now I hope everything. I beg, I entreat, that your royal highness will send up your name and ask the lady to see you with out delay. She will certainly receive you. and when the emperor learns that she has done so it may go far to disil lusion him. for. pardon me. your royal highness has a great reputation'as a lady killer. Still more valuable would be, however?indeed, he would be cured of his Infatuation forever?if?if"? "If what?" inquired the young man, tired of the chancellor's long wiuded aess and beating about the bush. "If you could persuade her to go out to your hunting lodge. Then Leopold and R'haetla would be saved by you. What could be better? What could be more suitable,?" "\Vhat indeed." echoed the prince, "for every one concerned except for Jenny Brett?" "Considering the havoc she has work ed among us nil. need she be consid ered before the interests of a great country and. perhaps I may hint, an innocent and lovely royal lady whom this girl is doing her best to humili ate?" "I'm hanged if she need be so con sidered! Anyhow I'll do what you ask. I'll send np my card, and then we'll see what happens." The prince took from his pocket a small gold case sparkling with jewels, a trifle which advertised itself as the gift of a woman. Out of this came a card, with a crown over the name In I the fashion of his country and some others. An equerry waiiing in an ad joining room was summoned, the card given to him. passed on to a hotel serv ant, and then for five minutes, ten min utes, the old man and the young one waited, talking of a subject very near to both their hearts. At last, when they had no more to say. word came that Lady Mowbray and Miss Mowbray would see his royal highness. "The value of a well regulated moth er!" laughed the young man, who had not troubled to inquire for Lady Mow bray. "Well, whatever comes of this interview, chancellor. I shall presently have something to fell you." "The suspense will be hard to bear," said Count von Breitsteiu, "but I have perfect faith in you. We understand each otuer completely now, but I'm growing old, und the past few days havfi tired me sorely. Remember. I pray you. all that's at staue,and du not hesitate for an Instant Have no false scruple with such a person as this. The emperor will soon arrive in Kronburg. He'll lose no time in trying to lind the girl, and once they've had "IUI send, up 7)ii/ ard." another meeting all onr plans, all our precautions, may he in vain. lie searches for her to offer his crown." The prince listened and did not smile as he went out He bad bliUlen the ohrineeJJor await (Continued on page Three.) Rheumatism Developed Burning, Painful Sores on Legs?Tortured Day and Night?Tried All Kinds of Remedi.o to No Avail?Wife Had Debility and Pains in Back. BOTH USED CUTICURA AND ARE WELL AGAIN "My husband had been a great suf ferer with rheumatism for nearly fifteen years. At first it was in his bones, but after a while it was in the flesh and finally running sores broke out on his logs, from below the knees to the ankles. There are no words to tell all the dis comfort and great suffering he had to endure night and day. He used every kind of remedy and three physicians treated him, one after the other, with out any Rood results whatever. So one day I happened to read about Cuticura Remedies. I asked him if he would not try them. 'No,' said he, 'it's no use, I've spent enough money now.' The next day I ordered five dollars' worth of Cuticura Soap, Cuti cura Ointment, and Cut icura Resolvent. Ho began to use them without confi dence but after three weeks all the sores were dried up. The burning fire stopped, and the pains became bearable. After three months he was quite well. Two years later tho pains and sores came back after he had been working hard and had taken cold. But as soon as he used Cuticura again it cured him. Two years ago I used Cuticura Pills for general debility. They did me a great deal of good and made me well. Three months since I had pains in my back and Cuticura took them away, too. I can prove this testi monial at any time. Mrs. V. V. Albert, Upper Frenchville, Me., July 21, 1907." A Single Treatment Consisting of a warm bath with Cuti cura Soap, a gentle application of Cuti cura Ointment, and a mild dose of Cuticura Resolvent, or Pills, is often sufficient to afford instant relief, permit rest and sleep, and point to a spetxiy cure of torturing, disfiguring eczemas, ra?dv itchings, irritations, and inflam mations of tho skin and scalp, from infancy to age, when all else fails. Cutlrura Siiap (25c.), Ointment (.r,0r.i. Resolvent (50c i. uri<1 pills (25e. per vial <?( (iU>, are .sold thraiitrhiutttin world. Potto r Drug ft Chora. Corp., Sole Cr..pi., i::7 ('oiiimniix Avn., Uagtnn. cj-Mailed tree, Cuticura UooU ou skin Diseases. Sewing Machines. NEW DROP-HEAD MACHINES sold on 3sy payments. Good prices allowed for old Machines in exchai. . Second-hand Macl?nes 'rom f 5.00 to $15.00. Also parts t .id attachments furnished * \\1 standard makes. Prompt attention to mail orders. New Bicycles SiW . a Easy Payments. AJrc Bicycle parts and sr..crie furnished lor all standard makes General Repair Shop for lowing Machines, Bicycles, Guns, Clock* d Watches. anGive me your work. Satisfaction guaranteed. j. H. SMITH. Market Street ? ? Opposite New Postoffice. Tfee Edisto Savings Bank, ? IORANGEBURG, S. C. I Capital.8100,000.00. Surplus. 830,000.00. ? f . . H. Moss, President. M . < iii;. Vu ]j . S. Dibble, Vice Prcsidert. m. L. ( X\a, ( as] a I DIRECTORS ? M O. Dantzler J. M. Oliver . R. Lownm W. F. r Fa'ev 5 % B. H. Mess T. C Doyle Sol Kohn J. W. Smoak j K Money saved is money made, and the wlV b) sxve Is to doostt \ ou $ % money in the savings department and draw interest on the first ia'v ? a January. April. July an^ October si the rate of four per cent oe? **???- 5 * This bank's absriute safety; is best attested .by its capital Lock, it % z surplus and by tin character and standing of its offices and board of J O directors. Money lo:;: < ri on good security. - Z r>?-x-.c303::c:ccoDCOC-; "*'?- r ?NSIIM880MMtOIMlC." COCCO:;o The Oraagefcurg Collegiate Institute Orangeburg, S. G. Our new building is now completed, and at the opening of the sec ond terzn January 2nd we will be able to accommodate about twenty five new boarding students. Catalogue and terms on request. W. S. Peterson, President. "The Buggy House," Samuel G. Parier, Manager. BUGGIES: We sell the celebrated Hackney buggies and the old established Columbus, besides we offer the following well known makes:' Corbet, Barbour, Parker, White Star, Oettinger and Taylor-Cannaday. OUR LEADER: JUST LISTEN: We will sell you a Hackney bag gy for the stfer of $05.00. Remember this is cheaper than a Hackney has ever been sold on this market before. The Hackney is the buggy that wears, it cost twenty dollars more to make it than the cheaper grades that x are offered in competition at this price, buy one and you will not have to biiy a new one or trade for a new one next year. BUT DON'T FORGET: The old reliable Columbus?Be sure it is a Columbus. WAGONS: We sell only the Hackney wagon?The "Tough" Wagon that lasts on our rough roads. SUNDRIES: Harness, Saddles, Whips, Laprobes, Etc., Etc. Orangeburg S. C. Wm. C. Wolfe. R. E. Wannamaker, Thos. F. Brantley, DIRECTORS. ll-7-3m. % Merit Wins- Every Argument- Every Advance- Every Aim " i fit flu? ltiwlr VI ill T?.niTo-v ('11.. Leadership in nny business is proof of iuperority and merit which alone r.ill win out in every instante. You hear in favor of the liest buggy is just one more reason why you should try a "KOCK HILL." merit known to vehicle construction is re presented in a "KOCK HILL" buggy. They are sold?komm and Jmircd by thousands everywhere. of the Kock Hill Buggy Co., since its organization has been to keep the quality to the very highest standard realizing that quality will he rem embered when prices are long for gotten;?Hence the famous trade mark?"A Little Higher in Price But?." WE HAVE NOW OVER ONE HUNDRED VEHICLES IN STOCK ?VCLU OF EVERY KNOWN DESCRIPTION JUST RECEIVED FROM "ROCK HILL" WE WANT EVERYBODY WI THIN REACH OF ORANGEB?RG TO CA I CEPT THE NAME WHICH HAS A LWAYS STOOD FOR THE BEST K NOWN DING A CAR OF FASTER STYLES PLEASURE DRIVING RIGS AND WE ARK AFTER YOUR BUSINESS. ,L IN AND SEE THE NEW STYLES. EVERYTHING NEW EX SOUTHERN BUGGY.