Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PART ONE VOL XLV NO 99 NEWBERRY, S. C.. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 11. 1908. TWICE A WEEK. $1.50 A YEA M By Miss Ma Written For The With heaving shoulders and restiv( eyes, in whose depths great shadowi lay, Milady paced to and fro befort the open grate, gazing, anon, into th( glowing embers as if to question oJ them the why of it all. All day lonc there had waged a fierce conflict ir her soul! All day long she had beer striving to rend away the veil, whiel separates the Visible from the Invisi ble, in the vague hope that some jus. tifiable reason for that which had come to her might be revealed, but alas, in the narrow limitations oJ finite comprehension, of justifica tion there was none! And th( soul of Milady, wearily foiled and baffled and wholly inadequate tc cope with the mysteries of the Infin ite, eried out in hot rebellion, and omentarily became the more embit tered; reeking not that in thE eat drama of life the Playwright f Human Destiny had exacted of others similar roles; and they, with rstwhile breaking hearts, had follow ed the lines unfalteringly and play ed before the footlights with smiling ien and masterful self possession, while she cowered and shrank and wrestled feebly against the inevitable. A child of .xury and ever shield d from that which would hurt or use the sensitive soul to recoil, the an of Milady's years had thus far n, a strain of unbroken and ex 'site harmony, singularly free from he janglitig discords of sorrow, pri tion or the bitterness of renuncia n, but today an alien hand had uched and rudely snpped the cords, d the music of Milady 's life was nshed, at least, so thought she, as elfishly absorbed in her own grief, o the exclusion of all things else, she aced back and forth, wearily uncon ious of the flight of time, the proud atrician head bowed* piteously, the ong dark lashes veiling eyes that ad not aright the message of the lessed Christ child, which, heralded down the ages, brought to-night to orrowing humanity, as it did so many ears ago, the same sweet promise of Peace on earth; good will to men;'' r tonight was CThristmas eve, but, ilady, in the selfish absorption of r grief, was rearing barriers rugh which the Christmas spirit lld not enter. All unmindful of r many blessings; all unmi dful of e comfort and luxury of her sur undings-the costly paintings, the h tapestries, the rare bits of sculp .e and antiques.- which bespoke e. prodigality of wealth and flected the culture and aesthetic ste of the owner; alig5e unmindful the loving thought of friends. de nstrated in the lavish profusion of fly gifts, that lay unopened und her. Only the elements. 'angely out of harmony with the ason, seemed to respond and re-echo e tumult in her soul. From the cove of her drawing room, over king the lake. she had watched, in lent irony. at intervals all day long, e eret waves. (held in savage lash the breakwater), lash each other in potent fury. as if in sheer venge e of the freedom denied them, ilst, with aeh aquatic convulsiom ud after cloud of white spray shot ard. to a. solendid heitrht, only to 1 again, with the helplessness of a ther, against the grim wall of rock at year after year, in mute deft e withstood the onslaught of waves. How .grandly speetacn !The angry petulance of the es in their futile dash for liber The magnificent sweep of the gathering force on the lake to in wanton recklessness in its reer through the streets of ,carrying in its wake and in the face of the unwary -great falls of beady parti Sad snow crystals sting kDYk AL D V. Lucile Smith. gp Herald and News. ,p jingly sharp pointed and cruel as the 1barb in Milady's soul. Earlier in the day, before the fog lifted, whicii shrouded the lake like a funeral pall, the dismal note of the fog horn, sounding its timely warning to imper illed boats, smote upon her ear with a significant prescience of fore boding ill; and now the mournful dirge of the wind, sweeping in great gusts the desolated streets, furnish ed a fitting requiem to her thoughts, as half unconsciously she murmured the words of th-a old Persian poet, Kaayyam: "The moving finger writes; and, hav writ, Moves on: nor all your pity nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your tears wash out a word of it." But what was that? The reverie ended abruptly, and keenly alert Mil ady stood listening: "Evening News! Evening News! E-evening News." The high, piping notes, aboWe thel howl of the wind, died away in a plaintive wail, and shoeked and sur prised that a child should be out a night like this and thus exposed to the fierce onslaught of the gale, Milady hurried to the window and pressing a white tense face against the pane, geheld, clinging to a stand pipe for support, a half clad little fi gure, gaunt eyed, famine pinched, the drawn lines of whose face told elo quently a tale of suffering. ThW mother instinct, which, in every true woman's breast, responds to the help lessness of childhood, sirred within her in a great wave of pity, and throwing open the door, she drew the tiny waif within. ''Child .what is your name and why are you selling papers a night like this?" Milady could searce frame the words because of the emotion that chocked her at sight of the forlorn 'little figure trembling from head to foot from sheer exhaustion and lacik of food,1 and because of the deep lying pathos in the big sorrowful eyes, so old in their tired out-look on life, so strangely at odds with the babyish years. "My name ees Gustav, een Antoinette zhe ees, ah, vera seeck, een~ to buy ze meedzine een ze braid ze pa apers I zell, but tonight: zey buy nod," and the childish lips twitched. "Where is Antoinette, Gustave?" Milady questioned very softly. "Antionette zhe ees in ze Higgins Flats, Canal Row, East Zide." At which Milady shuddered, well knowing, by common report, the squalor and wretchedness of the place. "Een w 'en ze hurdygurdy comes 'neaf ze windo' een 1 plays ze Marseillais. een Antoin-i ette zhe sinks I zee ned, but turns her face to ze wall and weeps for Fran-, I for Franz, so vera far away," the I child continued dreamily. The look of pain and rebellion pass'ed from Miladvy's eyes and was I replaced by a light sweetly tetnder ' and born of high resolve-the soul1 barriers of selfish grief had sudden- .' ly given way and the Christmas spir-i it entered in.4 "G3retchen," she called, "'phone a ab quick-pack a hamper of food, bring' my purse and come with me!" " Ach, mein Gott ! a nit elike dis villi you not stir abroad!" And Gretchen:, stood horrofied and resolute. 1 A look from Milady. and mutteringi inoherent things, she reluctantly .; went away to. do her mistress bid ding. A few minutes later, seated .1 n a ab, with the warm Buffalo. robes around her, the little wai drawn closely to her side, enjoyin; for the first time the warmth o splendid furs, a strange feeling o: exultation possessed Milady, as tl horses slipped alarmingly on the citi pavements -and the storm continued t< rage-a feeling not bred of contac with the elements, but one born o: nobler impulse. The cab halted ab ruptly, and up. three flights of rick ety stairs of "Ze Higgins Flats, Can al Row, East Zide," she struggled finally gaining the upper landing panting but radiant. Into a fireless room, well nigh shorn of furniture, ox whose bare floor lay drifts of snow which all day long had filterei through broken panes, Milady founi herself. Stunned by the sight of suet abject want, she stood ancertainly ir the middle of the floor as if to cout prehend the situation, and was at las1 wakened into consciousness by th( voice of Gustav: "Antoinette, An toinette! Look up een zee. I pray, to ze good Saint Nicholas ze live lonr day. He heers, een zere comes wh m.e a blessed saint!" There on a straw mattress, a thread bare quilt for oovering, lay Antoin ette, wan, hectic flushed and cough ing her life away. Trembling with emotion, Milad. knelt beside the sick giri, who smiled back patiently. "Antoinette, why are things as they are here tonight?" she whisper. ed, scarce knowing what she said. "Ze cough waz bad, Ma dame! Wan day zere was no food, een so cold, so cold! I faints eer rops ze sewing, een ze Mistress, zhe ay 'No goot, Antoinette, no goot, en turns me away. I grows vera ill, but Gustav wiz ze menney from ze paapers buys ze braid. I will not uze ?e monney I saaves four years to pay mortgage that ze ole wans may eep ze 'ome, but hides eet under ze Dillo! Wan day I ees asleep een ole Pierre comes een takes eet away, een I zee him een ze monney nod again. en now ze ole wans moost git out, en I a letter had send to theyze say ng ze monney would be zere for reesmas presen',' and Antoinette*s mice broke, and great tears silently oursed down her cheeks. Then with onderful self mastery and smiling weetly, she continued, but "I knows :had whatever ees eees bes', een I ep prayin' to ze-blessed virgin; een hough eet ecs so vera dark, some wheres ze light weel shine.'' And ooking shyly into Milady 's face, she Ldded ,wistfully, "Een Jieles he waits or me, when ze mortgage eet ees aid. I promeese to go to him, but ow I know I can nod go-ze cough aet ees so vera bad, een ze monney et ees all gone, but whatever ees ees es','' she whispered weakly. "Zey ells me thad at ze Meesion, eenI eleeves, I beleeves.'' "ftow much is the mortgage, An oinette"'' "Two hunred dollahs.'' And do you mean to say, hat for four long years, of d1 *est hardship, you have worked and ~aved and starved yourself for the altry sum of two hi'adred dollars ith which to pay this mortgage Vhy, that was the price I paid for ny last opera cloak,'' she laughed ~alf bitterly. At last the scales had fal en from Milady 's eyes and for the ~irst time she was witnessing the ragedy daily enacted, by what is ermd in polite society, "the other ilf.' "Arnd do you mean to say, intoinette.'' she ccntinued, "that for hour long years you have cherished his hope in your heart until it has ecome a vital part of yourself, a rery parasite feeding on that which s best within you, and that now you tan renounce it and renounce ithout being embittered?'' The words came slowly, huskily. 'Ahl yes, Madame! I can nod un erstan', een ze pain in ze heart for re ole wan eet ees vera itter, becaus' ze be so vera lisappoint thad ze Chre-emas resen' do nod come, but eet mus' be eel-'Whateve.r eea ecs bies','' and he look of calm resignatida that ~tmpe the sic girl's fa gave truth to the assc :on Ab,uptly Milldy arose ani eallin: Fretchen prepared to take he leave. On the threshold sh paused and beckoning to Gus tav. whispered sometting in hi ear. "Au Revior Antoinette, Gus tav!'" "Adieu, Madame, and may al the saints bless you!'" And then, a an afterthought, Milady added, wit] -a funny little laugh: "And merr; Christmas to you both!" And wa gone. Part Two. - It was Christmas morning, a migh i ty calm and followed in the wake o the storm, and the great city, as if ti [ honor the birthday of her Lord 1a [ smilingly serene in sacerdotal robe L of white, flashing resplendently in th i glinting sunshine a wondrous breast plate of nature's j, orels, prismatl( shimmering, ever changefui The jingle of sleigh bells in fron of "Ze Higgins Flats. Canal Row East Zide," brought Gustav eagerl: to the window. Milady alighted an ran gaily up the stairs followed b; Gretchen and a man servant bearin curious shaped packages. basketQ boxes, wreaths of crimson berrie< holly and a beautiful fir tree. Muel to her delight. Antoinette still slept An hour later. opening her weary lids she sat up suddenly incredulous staring: "Mon Dieu!" she cried "Ze blessed saints ees bien at work.' and as her happy eyes swept th transformed room. Gustav clappe( his small hands and cried for joy. A bright fire glowed in thi grate; warm rugs hid thi bareness of the floor; brigh holly wreaths concealed thi broken panes, which had been care fully stuffed to keep out the cold. And oh, wonderful, in the middle of th( room a Christmas tree, literally groan ing from its weight of gifts! At Gustav's invitation the other in. mates of the Flat came trooping in and Miday's cheeke glowed and hei eyes sparkled at the eager, happy lool that lighted up the wan faces of th occupants of "Ze Higgins Flats Canal Row, East Zide,'" as their eyec beheld the unusual scene. Stepping to the tree, Gretchen un pinned therefrom a Marconi Wire less? bearing a foreign address, and read aloud the following: "Received .of Antoinette Viasud Two Hundred Dollars to be applied to mortgage. Blessings! (Signed) F. Viaud.'' Antoinette Viaud sat up speeebless with wonderment, a light almo'st an gelic, shining fr<1a her eyes, while Gretchen explained that, after leaving her bedside the night before, Milady had wired the amount to her father, having obtained the address from Gustav in that brief whispered con sultation, the little fellow pledging himself to secrecy. She fur ther stated that Milady would henceforth assume the obligations of Antoinette and Gustav until the lat ter had become educated and fitted to take aman's plaee in the world. While the gifts were being distribu.. ted and the bountiful dinner partak en of by every member of "Ze Hig gins Flat. Canal Row. East Zide,' which Gretchen and the man servant had kindly prepared, Milady moved among them with gracious mien and kindly word for each discouraged soul. At the conclusion of the meal, she donned her wraps to go and noting a cloud pass over Antoinette's happy face, inuiired the reason. "Ah, blessed Madame! So moocn you ees done for me-for you I haf no Chreesmas gif' to uLlng.'' And Milady, pressing her hand warmly, replied: "Antoinette, you have brought to me a priceless gift; summed up it is this: You have taught me to renounce without bitterness. You have given me the op rtunity to know the joy that eom~ through service. You have revealed to me the true meaning of t.he doctrine of the Universal Pyrotherhood of Man. And as the chimes from old Saint Paul pealed forth joyously the refrain: "Peace on earth; good will to men,'' Milady heaved a great sigh of content, and with the light of the Christmas peace in her eyes, went her THE NEWS OF PROSPERITY. Masonic Elections-Streets Throng With Christmas Shoppers Personal Mention. Prosperity, Dec. 10.-Mrs. Th< H. Dreher, of St. Matthews, visiti Miss Della Bowers on her return fro Abbeville. Rev. Mr. Kreps went to Walhal Saturday to preach for Rev. Mr. Er ing on Sunday. Mrs. Hines, who is pleasantly r membered as Miss Bell, of Atlant visited her sister, Mrs. Caldwell, la week. Mr. Perry Simpson spent Sundi with his parents. 1; Rev. Mr. McCaulley, who was fo merly pastor of the A. R. P. chure delivered a highly instructive serm< th-are on last Sunday morning ai evening. Rev. Ira Caldwell has returned fro Florida, where he went in the cau of missions. Mr. Geo. Steele has moved into i new home on Centre street. Xt-Grace church last Sunday, Re J. H. Harms gave a most excelle: and deeply thoughtful sermon "Man.'' Mr. Harms always h something for his hearers to tal home with them. Miss Annie Singley visited Mrs. C. Singley last week. Miss Ellen Werts has returno from a visit to Mr. J. C. Aull, at maria. Miss Belle Boland, who has be( with Mrs. A.G. Wise, as nurse, h returned home. Mrs. John Cureton, and little Mai and Robert, of Chattanooga, Ten are the guests of Mr. L. S. Bower family Dr. G. Y. Hunter and Dr. E. I Kibler attended the grand lodge Charleston. The annual election of officers I the Prosperity Masonic lodge wi held on Monday night. The resu was as follows: W. T. Gibson. W. M. J. F. Browne. S. W. A. B. Wise, J. W. N. H. Young. Treasuier. J. A. Counts, Secretary. The installation of the officers-eleo will be on Saturday evening, Dec. 21 Tmmediately after th2 installation a oyster supper will be served. TlI indications and expectations are the there will be a large crowd of Mt sons in attendance. Master Robert, the little son Mr. R. T. Pugh had the misfortune t fall from a piazza lost week. He sus tained rather severe injuries, from b4 ing pinioned by several loose columni and is not yet able to walk. Prosperity's streets are so throns ed with shoppers these days that the! is every indicatiion that good tim( have come back again. Mosele Brothers. The S. S. Birge Co., an Mrs. Calmes are having sacrifice sales Mr. S. J. Kohn :has recently pm chased his old home place which hi sold to Mr. Sumpter Schumpert soml years ago. Dr. Moffatt, of Due West, wi: preach at the A. R. P. church Snr day morning at 11 o'clock. The pul: lie is cordialy invited. Mrs. Elizabeth DeWalt has returr ed from a visit to Saluda. Mr. D. E. Halfaere, who purchase a lot on DeWalt avenue some tim ago is building a cottage there a present. Mr. Kreps is in Charlotte ini at tendance upon a meeting of the exe cutive committee. On Tuesday evening "Major Perry, the colored divine who preaci es during his sleep. held forth at th auditorium. He is a freak, if nott mng more. Dr. John R. Langford, of Swanses visited Mr. D. M. Langford's fam ilv~ last week. Dr. Young, of Georgia, who visite< relatives here, has returned to hi: home. Mr. Bates Hawkins, of Geori has been visiting his brother. Mr. Ber 1ey Hawkins, and also relatives a.t St Lukes. Mr. L. C. Merchant has closed on his mercantile business. Mr. Leonard Sea3e has been visit ing his daughter. Mrs. Wyche. You need not be surprised if you ad hear wedding bells during the holi days, for Madam Grundy says that one of our young man is to be mar ried then. 1. Mr. John Dominick and Miss Lula zd Long, who live near. Utopia, were hap M pily married on Thursday last. We forgot to mention in last week's la letter the marriage of Mr. Jay Hart ,t man and Miss Carrie Cook, of Mt. Pilgrim. We extend to them beet e- wishes. a, Those who have not yet sent in st their contributions for the Christmas Box for the Salem Orphange are Ly requested to send them to Mr. Les ter's store before Monday, as the box r- will be packed on that day. h, The U. D. C. was entertained by n Miss Addie Werts on Wednesday. The minstrel is getting on beauti fully. Be sure to be on hand about m Dec. 29. There'll be not a little fun se and local jokes afloft that night. is Birthday Reunion. 'The home of Mrs. Nancy Stock v. man, of Little Mountain, S. C., was at the scene of a beautitful reunion on n last Friday,'the fourth, given her by as her children in honor of her seventy ke first birthday. The morning was very threatening p. but not withstanding by eleven o'clock a lively crowd of about forty d two persons were present. o- Th- children present were Mrs. Ida . Jacobs, of Augusta, Ga.; John Stock m man and family, of Little Mountain, is S.*.; Mrs. Mamie Farr and family, 'Little ountain, S. C.; Thomas Stock 'y man- ar family, of Chapins, S. C.:. i., Frank Stoe*an and family, of Po S' maria,. S. C.; Moe Stockinar. ' and family, of Poma S. C.; and her .--on George who rem with her. it There were seven children present and one absent, twenty grandchild n raen present and seven absent. Out as. -side of her children and grandehild It ren present .on this occasion were her brother, John Sheely and family, Bachman Sheely, and Mrs. Stoek man's only sister, Miss Missourie Sheely, Re vand Mrs. Shearouse and little daughter. of Little Mountain; Mr. and Mrs. Bickley, of Chapin, S. t C. - The' dirner was one. of those good n old time Dutch Fork diners, prepar eed by Mrs. Stockman's -children, and t Jserved in the hal:. SAll Mrs. Stockman 's friends and acquaintances wish her many happy ret-urns for her birthday, and that 0 she and her children may live to reach many more such happy occasions, es pecially is t.his the wish of this scribe. In Memoriam. eWalter Michael Wise was born ,May 11, 1833, and died Dec. 1, 1908, v making his age 75 years. 6 months, 20 d days. The next day his remains were . conveyed to the cemetery at Mt. Oli vet church, and, in the presence of a large assemblage of relatives and e fr-iends, laid to rest, funeral and bu erial services conducted by his pastor, Rev. J. C. Wessinger. On Nocember 15, 1866, Mr. Wise married Miss Martha E. Roberts, who survives him. This union was bless ed with six children, one of whom has gone on before. He leaves in sorrow at his death. the devoted companion dof his life, five sons, and 19 grand echildren. These have the sympathy t oif a large circle of relatives and friends. -At the trime of his death Mr. Wise -wa.s a consistent member of Mt. Olivet E. L. congregation, having been an 'elder of the same for a number of -ars. But on account of advancing eJ ge, failing health, and declining strength, he was permitted to attend the worship the sanctuary but little L, during the last few years of his life. - He served his country well during the dark days of t-he eivil war, and now has answered to the last roll call, and ~ one where there is no more struggle; no~ more strife. -A-styp-to-dynl. .ogh remedy for colds and coughs, pile ointment for piles, pneumonia and t roup salve for pneugonia or oroup. For sa.le at Mayes' Drug Stoe. . '12..11OS-1taw-tf.