Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Some Reason Why You Should insist on lHavi" EUREKA HARNESS OQ Unequaled by any other. Renders hard leather soit. Especially prepared Keeps out water. A heavy bodied oil. HARNESS An excellent preservative. Reduces cost of your harness. Never burns the leather; its Efficiency is increased. Secures best service. Stitches kept from breaking. OIL Is sold in all Localities ,ahura ? Standard o0;C1~a ITCH IS TORTUREs Bezema is caused by an acid humor in the blood coming in contact with the skin and producing great redness and in flammation ; little pustular eruptions form and discharge a thin, sticky fluid, which dries and scales off ; sometimes the skin is bard, dry and fissured. Eczema in any form is a tormenting, stubborn disease, and the itching and burning at times are almost unbearable ; the ac i d burning humor seems to ooze out and set the skin on fire. Salves, washes nor other exter nal applications do any real good, for as long as the poison remains in the blood it will keep the skin irritated. BAD FORM OF TETTER. "For three years I bad Tetter on my hands, which caused them to swell to twice theirnaturalsize. Fart of the time the disease was inthe form of run nigsores, veiy pain hiand causing m much discomfort. Four doctors said the Tetter had progressed too far to be cured, and they could do nothing for me. I t vnk only three bottles of S. S. S. zand was completely cured_ 7U9 was fifteen year ;; agad I have neve :901seen any sign of my old trouble."-xma ,. B. JACMso, 1414 McGee St., Kansas City, Mo. S. S. S. neutralizes this acid poison, coolsthebloodand restores ittoa healthy, natural state, and the rough, unhealthy skin becomes soft, smooth and clear., gtcures Tetter, Bry sipelas, Psoriasis, Salt Rheum and all skin diseases due to a pois oned condition of the blood. Send for our book and write us about our case. Our physicians have made ese diseases a life study, and can help you by their advice; we make no chargeforthisservice. Allcorrespondence is conducted in strictest confidence. TUE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA, BA. THE Bank of Manning, MANNING, 8. 0. Transacts a general banking busi ness. ?romnpt and special attention given to depositors residing out of town. Deposits solicited. All collections have prompt atten tion. Business bours from 9 a. mn. to 3 p. -mn. JOSEPH SPROTT, A. LEV1, Cashier. President. BOARD OF DIR.ECTOBS. J. W. McLEOD, Vv- E. BROWIN, S. M. NEISEN, JoSEi'i SPROTT - A. LEvI. 3uggies, Wagon, 3Boad Oarts asd Qcagiee REPAIR ED With 'eatness and Despatch R. A. W HITE'S WHEELWRIGHT and BLACKSMITH SHOP. I repair Stoves, Pumps and run water pipes, or I will put down a new Pump cheap. If you need any soldering done, give me a call. L AME. My horse is lame. Why? Because I did ~not have it shod by R. A. White, the man that puts on such neat- shoes and makes horses travel with so much ease. We Make Them Look New. We are making a specialty of re painting old Buggies, Carriages, Road Carts and Wagons cheap. Come and see me. My prices will please you, and I guarantee all of my work. Shop on corner below R. M. Dean's. R. A. WHITE, MANNING. S. C. JA. WEINBERG, ATTORNEY AT LAW, MANNNING, S. C.. JOSEPH F. RHAME, ATTORNEY AT LAW, MANNING, S. C. .J. s. wIsos. wV. C. URA~r. WILSON & DURANT, Attorneys and Counselrs at Lau-, MANNING. S. C. C. DAVIS. ATTORNEY AT LAW, MANNING, S. C. DR. J. FRANK GEIGER, DENTIST, MANNING, S. C. Shortly Dede and one other left the office and circulated among Quillebert's adherents, and thereafter a pent hush settled upon them. Three women also had journeyed in from the lowlands-Mrs. Wyley, in charge of her son, to testify in behalf of Leon's freedom; Estelle Latiolais, pale and anxious, accompanying her grandfather, who had been summoned as a witness on the part of Quillebert, and Laure Luneau, with the mammoth buggy and giant mule, who, with steady look and bold speech, explained her presence to be only as a partisan of Quillebert. Mrs. Wyley and Estelle were the guests of good old Mme. No reau, mother of the clerk of court, who lived not quite a street away from the courthouse, and, nearer still, Laure fguratively flung her banner to the breeze from the "Toilette de la Gas coigne," the little millinery shop of the i petite and ancient Mile. Bereaud, where she received marked respect from the many who deferred to her as granddaughter of the doctress and to whom she sought to impart some of her own courage and energy. Among the throng were a half dozen "f. m. c.'s," as the free men of color were In those days designated, 'who lingered silent upon the skirts of the groups, fearing to be spoken to, yet held by intensest interest within hear Ing of all that was going forward. The one person who appeared unmov ed by-indeed unconscious of-the pas sion which -surged about him was Ho nore Victor Tailleur, judge of the dis trict court now and for 22 years past. Only twice had his renomination been contested and then with results most discouraging to the competitors. He was of Gascon descent .and poor through disastrous speculations of his father and elder brother. His age was 57. Thirty-five years he had been a: widower, his wife, the beautiful and pious Ernestine Lafon of Pointe Coupe, hiaving died of yellow fever in their honeymoon. In commemoration of her he had ever since paid for a pew in the church at Marksville, but had never sat in it. He gave Its use to poor wom en who could not rent pews. And her grave in the cemetery behind the church he visited daily, standing above it a brief moment with his head bowed in reverent meditation. His life was simple and studious. He read and -re read Rousseau and Paine, adored the "Corpus Juris Civills" and "Code Na poleon" and recognized only Martin, Kent and Marshall as doctors of Amer can law. Gentle, just and brave, he had long held the chief place in the hearts of his people. His grave is somewhere on the battlefield of Perry ille, in Kentucky, in an apple orchard, it is said, but no one has ever found it. As the judge's tall form and dark face, with kindly eyes and waving hair of iron gray, were seen moving toward the courthouse the throng gathered about him, returning his friendly greet ing, and followed him, or as many as could gain entrance, into the court room, the raised benches of which and the' aisle between being immediately occupied. It w'as noticed that the high land men appropriated those on the left facing the judge, the lowland men those on the right Fifty or more, un able to get within, stood on the veran da on which the door of the apartment opened. Hundreds sat and squatted in the yard beneath the unclosed win dows. The "f. m. c.'s" perched upon a portion of the fence inclosing the yard, their ponies hitched near by. The laeyers, except those engaged in the celebrated case, were already in their places within the bar. Exchang ing a few pleasant words with these and briefly conferring in an undertone with the sheriff, the judge ascended the bench and ordered that the court; be declared in session. Presently Pratjean waddled briskly in, accompanied by Quillebert. Dede followed, bearing a double armful of lawbooks and looking with his scared, metallic face and big, bleared eyes like a Caliban carrying fagots to the fire. Qullebert surveyed the lowianders with a sullen glance of defiance. Prat jean nodded jerkily to the bench and bar and persons in the audience, hig pursed lips and little eyes performing a tarantula dance the while. Relieving Dede of his unwelcome burden of books and arranging them on the desk before him, he seated himself and be came at once absorbed in making notes of seemingly grave import. The appearance of Oakfell was so long delayed that on the highland side It began te be whispered that he had given up the case. Quillebert caug'at the intimation and communicated it to his advocate. The latter bustled to his feet and, addressing the judge, said: "May it please your honor. I move that the plaintiff be called three times. from the door of the courtroom and that if at the end of the third call he do not respond in person or by attorney this suit be dismissed." And he turned to the audience a face announcing that he had disabled his opponent at the first pass. The buzz among the high landers indicated that such was their belief. "uir. Sheriff," said the judge. "call Mr. Oakfell at the door." Forcing his way through the packed aisle and1 veranda, the officer roared: "Horace Oakfell, Esq.!" "Coming!" answered a stentorian oce which seemed fairly to0 shake the Oakfell arosc and 'read thc pctition of Leon. building and whIch actually shocked one-half its occupants, for it was rec ognized as that of Jewett, and as the whispering froze upon the lips of the Quillebert party and Pratjean's coun tenance confessed to a feeling .that he had made a fool of himself Oakfell walked in with Jewett, Baldouino and Father Grhe. He held in his hand but one volume, the civil code of Louisi ana, and his companions had neither books nor documents. H~e satisfacto rily explained his tardiness, and the judge directed the trial to proceed be fore him, neither party having prayed for the assistance of a jury. "Are the parties, plaintiff and de fendant, present?~" inquired the judge. "The plaintiff is present by attor L - sai rOanl "And tne defendant is present by at torney and in person," responded Prat jean, with special emphasis on the words "in person" and a scornful glance at Oakfell, which was greeted by a whispered "Aye, yi yii" from the left. "That is sufficient. Read your plead ings, gentlemen," requested the judge. Oakfell arose and read the petition of Leon. It was concise and perfectly plain, reciting merely that the plaintiff was born the slave of Fabian Quey rouze, deceased, and was inherited by the heirs of said Queyrouze; that for the period of ten years, with the knowl edge of his masters, he was suffered to enjoy freedom within the state and thereby became a free man In virtue of the article 3510 of the civil code; that aftdr the expiration of said prescriptive period the defendant, Constant Quilie bert, by deceit obtained control of plaintiff's person and unlawfully de prived him of his liberty until the in stitution of this suit, falsely claiming to be his master. The petition con cluded with the prayer that the plain tiff should be judicially declared and recognized a free man and released from the custody and dominion of the defendant. Pratjean in his turn recited In a dis jointed way the answer of Quillebert. It denied that the plaintiff bad ever en joyed freedom by the permission of any person entitled to his services and asserted that, having by his own ad mission been born a slave and never emancipated in the manrer and form provided by the laws of the state prior to 1857, he was without right to sue and stand in judgment in the courts of the state. and hence the answer prayed that the plaintiff's demand be rejected. It was apparent to all professional minds that Pratjean's plea was drawn far more artfully and skillfully than was Oakfell's petition and opposed dif ficultiess of a technical kind which would scarcely have been anticipated to a demand so simple as Leon's. At the conclusion of the reading Oak fell said: "One of my witnesses is an old lady who has never been within a court of justice and shrinks from appearing in open court before an audience compos ed entirely of men. I ask the consent of the other side to have her testimony taken before your honor in chambers." "I refuse consent," snapped Pratjean, braving the indignant glances directed upon him by the judge and every other -espectable man in the courtroom. "My client has received no courtesies from the other side, and for him I insist" "You need proceed no further, sir; the request is withdrawn," said Oakfell. At his instance Jewett left the court room and in a moment returned escort ing Mrs. Wyley and her son Binker, on whose arm she leaned. At first she seemed greatly agitated and dazed by the strange surroundings, but the assuring words of the judge, the presence of her brave and devoted son and her Inborn Dutch good sense soon restored her equanimity. The narration she gave of the coming of Leon to her, his life under her keeping, ais inveiglement by Quillebert and the atter's oral reply to the written in uiry concerning the boy's detention was so circumstantial, direct and evi ently truthful that Pratjean shrewdly realized the peril of venturing upon his favorite mode of cross examination and dismissed her with but few questions fairly and politely put. He greatly re Fretted he had forced her to' testify in open court. Oakfell produced the records show ing the settlement of the Queyrouze estate with the French heirs, and omit tng any price for Leon from the pro eeds of the sale of slaves, and the deed, joined in by Quiliebert. for Olive and her three children, excepting Leon from the sale. By Father Grhe and Valsin Monillot he proved the admission of Quillebert, made at unsuspiciouis times. that Leon ws not his slave. On the part of Quilliebert, rr-atjean exhibited the inventory of the Quey rouze estate, in which the child Leon was appraised as an asset. Jadot, Brille and Titbout testified to Leon's admissions of Quilleber-t's o'wn ership of him, as they had promised over the gumbo and rum at Dede's. The distress of Leonidas Latlolais was so apparent that the pity of all feeling men went to him when he was summoned to the witness chair and made to state under oath that on the' day of the memorable race between the mares of Judge Elgee and 'Quiliebert Leon said he was the slave of Quilie bert and begged him (Latiolais) to buy him. In an unhappy moment he had communicated to Quillebert the jock ey's application to him, and that inde fatigable casemaker had by dint of per sistency, wine and accommodations of card debts argued from his memory the "if" prefixed to Leon's pr-ayer. Oakfell made no effort to replace it. This closed the evidence for Quille There was no more striking contrast in the entire proceeding than that be tween the arguments of the two advo Oakfel's was calm, direct. unimpas sioned and devoid of appeal to the~em o tons. Het relied solely and simply up on a literal application of the article of the code which he thought rendered judgment in his client's favor unavcid able. From Mine. Noreau's cottage Istelle eagerly listened, catching cauly at times the sound of his voice, but never a distinguishable word. Pratjean's dry, harsh voice vexed the ears of the assemblage within and rat tled upon those without for an hour and a half. Laura heard every syllable, and often'her pretty brown hands beat together In approval. He read copious ly from French commentators upon the impossibility of courts entertaining the pleas of persons not sui juris. H~e quoted numerous decisions by the state supreme court declaring emancipation necessary to clothe one born in slavery with the quality of suitor and magni fled into political significance the in stant cause which, he said, the pesti lent abolitionists throughout the north and their secret confederates in our midst were watching with unsleeping eyes, for it was the first of a series of mines they had laid for the destruc tion of southern society. He warned the judge against lending the aid of the law and courts of Louisiana to those enemies of the Union, those as sassins of Caucasian civilization. In these flights he hopped from place to place and threw his arms about in a maze of gesticulation which served his* utterances as an obligato accompani ment .supports a wild song of passion. Had he spoken no word his pantomimic art would have conveyed an intelligible~ address. Indeed it is said of his class in Louisiana that if deprived of the; power of gesture their speech would; not be understandable to one another.; His voice at times broke into falsetto tones maddening to the sensitive ear, but his oratory was effective, and it was difficult for the sheriff to suppress the applause whIch repeatedly broke from the left and the spellbound groups In the yard. I Oakfell was unaffected by this dis a mtep.a5 nraetically a eLe tition or his opening speeco, reiterating his dependence upon the plain meaning of the article of the code. He con cluded by declaring him an enemy to the state who would describe an appeal to the courts of the land for freedom as a political menace to the common wealth. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when the speeches were concluded. The judge announced that he would give his decision at 5 and left the bench. Oakfell, Father Grhe, Baldouino and Jewett induced their friends to remain in and about the court, while the high-' landers hastened to the cabarets to give a noisy ovation to their Mirabeau. The frequent shouts of "Magrificent! Grand! Glorious!" which rose from those places evinced the happiness of Pratjean's admirers under the inspira tion of unlimited absinth anisette. At the appointed hour all resamed' their places of vantage, and, while the tension under which enforced silence put them was painfully visible, there was about Pratjean, Quillebert and their supporters an unmistakable air of confidence that the victory was with them. Pratjean's grand effort had removed every lingering doubt from their minds. First the sheriff came out of the, judge's retiring room, left the building and in a moment or two returned. Ie tapped the courthouse bell three.times' and took position at the right of the judge's dais, facing the audience. Judge Tailleur walked slowly to his seat. He looked inquiringly at the' sheriff and, receiving an assuring bow, busied himself briefly in placing the: papers in the suit upon the desk before him. From the benches every head was stretched forward, scooped hands were held behind strained ears, and suppressed excitement was depicted upon every face. Even those of stron gest nerves and best schooled in self control could not wholly conceal the effect of the situation upon- them. Jewett moved uneasily in his chair. Baldoulno sat with arms folded upon his mighty chest and by straining them together and looking at the ceiling thought to produce an appearance of calmness he did not feel. e'ather Grhe ook snuff inordinately, and Oakfell looked to the floor and for the first I time almost regretted that he had in augurated the litigation. Pratjean crossed and recrossed/his feet and. im patiently pressed his finger against the throbbing lips, and Quillelert's muddy eyes expressed satisfaction. The still ness was broken by a girlish voice at some distance exclaiming. "lierrah for Quillebert-ha, ha. ha, ha'" the merry laugh, fresh and hearty,. disclosing the personality of Laure Luneau. This: produ'ced a stir of relief. and luiwedi ately upon it the judge pronounced his decision. He said: "The prohibition of emancipation in the state does not apply to the acquisi tion of freedom by prescription, as pro vided by article 3510 of the cvil code. This article is not repealed by the stat ute of 1857. They are- not upon t he same subject matter. The slave after the prescriptive time must be free, and he becomes subject to.the laws relative to free persons of color, for if the master. cannot claim himt he is free.. "The intention of the heirs of Quey-. rouze to allow this plaintiff to enjoy his liberty is clearly established.- This Is sufficient, especially where the contest is wIth a mere usurper, with one wvho got possessIon of the plaintiff under the pretense of affection, of being his god father and in order to enable him to see his mother. One who could thus act ought not to have the favorable consideration of a court of justice in his attempt to reduce to slavery one over whom he has no right but that of te strong over the weak. He got p)os session of him under false pretenses and should be allowed to derive no benefit from a possession obtained by treachery nnd frrom a control over the plaintiff esercIsed without permission from his naister or heirs. "In such a contest the technical rules of law ought to be construed withi as! much rigidity in favor of as against him whose only hope is in the protec tion the courts of the state can afford "I am therefore of the opinion that the judgment must be in favor of the freedom of the plaintiff against the de fendant, and it is so ordered, adjudged and decreed." Those nearest Oakfell shook his. hand wvdrmly. Pr-atjean held a hand kerchief over his lips, and his eyes could scarcely be seen. Quillebert all but foamed at the mouth and glared viciously, murderously, at his adversa ries. During the delivery of the judg ment 12 ef the sheriff's deputies, whom every one knew to be heavily armed, though their weapons were not expos ed, took positions in the crowded aisi". When the last words f the decree fell from the judge's 11~ 300 men, mad dened with excitement. leaped to their The judge arose and In a voice which arrested the movements of all said: "My friends, I am not unaware of the extraordinary feeling that has been en gendered by this suit. But there must be no violent manifestation. All must Thoe 71carcst Oakfell shook his hand warmly. submit to the law. I have had the sheriff to take sufficient measures for the preservation of the decorum of this court and the public peace. I admon ish you to leave this place quietly and disperse to your respective homes speedily. Do not bring disgrace upon our parish and misery upon some of our citizens by an unseemly demon stration of approval or disapproval of what has just occurred. I am the friend of all of you, and as suck I give this advice." The words from the judge had the effect he wished. The courtroom emp tied slowly and noiselessly. The sher 1ff had stepped near to Quilebert and Pratjean and said in a low tone: "I know what I am talking about. Stay where you are until all the others are gone." They heeded his warning. As Oakfell was mounting his horse ant of Mne. Noreau ran to him ana gave him this note: God has befriended you and your cause. I am so proud and so grateful. EsTtu. LaTroLis. CHAPTER XI. "TN A GARDEN LAY A LUTE." 4 So sweet a commendation as that you sent to me at the close of the trial, made molselle, had to be ac knowledged in personW Those two short lines made me very happy, I assure you." Oakfell and Estelle were sitting on the veranda of the Latiolais mansion in the early even ing of spring's first month. The twin kle of stars was upon the bosom of the full bayou, which was often rippled by the plunge of leaping fish. The odors of china blossom, rose and jasmine fill ed the air, and the whippoorwill's plaint softened the wildly joyous pot pourrli of a saltant mocking bird in the feathering top of a crooked kneed cy press. "The sisters of the convent would have chided me for boldness in sending those lires to you," Estelle said, "but I could not restrain mysclf. And, Mr. Oakfell, I could not have survived your defeat. I am sure I could not. You must not judge ine as severely as the sisters for my forwardness of speech." "The sisters tire :ssuredly good in in tention and good in deed, but their se clusion unfits them to judge of the proper rules of life which have relation to the thoughts, desires and impulses of the great human family. The eno tional struggle through which you have passed in consequence of this lawsuit he pious nuns could not understand and therefore, mademoiselle, conld not ap preciate. It follows that they would not be proper judges of the appro priateness of any speech or communi cation between you and me on the sub ject. As for me, the result would have been maimed without your. expressions of satisfaction. They were the rewards for which I labored." Estelle lowered her head and held silence lest attempted reply should be tray her agitation and her adoration of this man. She felt sorely the loss of a ,mother's training, which so effectually habituates the creole girl to still the maidenly sentiments. "My brother has not seemed to join in the general rejoicings of my friends," Oakfell remarked, to the great relief of the embarrassed girl. "But he is also somewhat of a recluse, a poet and dreamer, who loves to view men and their affairs from a height. Of late I have feared his health wa impaired and have suggested to him to spend the coming summer in the mountains of Virginia. He does not take to the idea, however, and expresses a reluctance to going a way from the plantation." "I, too, have noticed his changed ap pearance and manner. Formerly he came often to our house; now I seldom see him, and then he appears almost unfriendly. Maybe he is in love, or maybe I have offended him." Estelie suggested. "Not the latter, I am certain," said Oakfell, "and I do not think the for mer, but if such should be the case I wonder who can be the happy demoi sele?' "I could not guess," replied Estelle. "but I do) know one who ardently ad mres him." "Who is she?" "Laure Luneau. She was very jeal ous of the friendly visits M. Evariste formerly paid to me. Alas, she has no cause for jealousy now!" "Do you regret it?" asked Oakfell, alarmed. "Regret what?" Estelle looked up, surprised. "That the Gascon gypsy girl has no cause for jealousy of you concerning Evariste." "1 regret that he visits me so sel dom, but not the other." Estelle, with womanly instinct perceived that the stig of jealousy had momentarily thrown Oakfell ofl' his guard, and she rejoiced in this as the beginning of proof that he loved her. "But why do you call Laure a gypsy?" sbe queried. "I should not have done so." Oakfell admitted, "bat suppose the thought rose from her black and brown style of beauty and her connection with the un canny fame of the doctress, fo whose trade and its good will she doubtless will succeed as forced heir of her grand mother." - "Not Laure," laughed Estelie. "Reli gion sits too lightly on her. The doe tress must be duly religious. You must not speak irreverently of the doctress, Mother Deshautelles, for she is kind to the poor and sufferIng and has given relief to those who could not buy it from the doctors." "I speak irreverently of nothing that Is honestly meant, however mistaken it be. and upon your avouching will re spect the doctress in the future more than I have done in the past." Oak fell concluded he could not safely dis cuss the peculiar powers attributable to the old woman, but was loath just yet to abandon the granddaughter as a topic and added: "Laure was decidedly a campaigner against us in the suit. I wvonder why she felt so interested." "There is a strange sympathy between her and M. Quillebert, I have heard my gradfather say, and M. Quillebert has sure control over the persons whom he takes into friendship. I dread' his in fluence over my poor grandfather and daily pray God to destroy it. He is a wicked man, whose smile !s as danger ous as his fro wyn." "Should the supreme court sustain the judgment in Leons case I have rea son to believe Quillebert will quit this parish," Oakfeli said, "and then your grandfather will be released from the hurtful intimacy." "If the supreme court sustains the judgment!" Estelle exclaimed. "Can you doubt it, Mr. Oakfeli?" "There should be no doubt, yet the judges of the high tribunal are only me, subject to human passions, preju dices and imperfections of judgment. I have no absolute reliance upon any future event which depends upon the mental operations of men. Quillebert has taken an appeal and, I am Inform ed, will retain a leading member of the cIty bar to prosecute it. However, the ase cannot be heard until fall, and much may happen before that" "Yes," said Estelle spiritedly, "you may be selected as a member of con gress at Washington, as I have hear I my grandfather say." "It Is true thbat some of my very par tial friends talk in that vein, and I con fess to you, mademoiselle, that I anm not averse to the idea if the people deem me deserving of the honor and trust." "Oh, do try, Mr. Oakfell! You wvill certainly eucceed. You are in every way worthy. You will honor the peo ple. You will make me so happy. Oh, what am 1 saying? Forgive my igno rance." And, sobbIng her confusion, she ran into the house. Oakfell rose and stepped toward her, but she was too fleet. He resumed his chair and meditated upon this incident, which assured him that he possessed Emtenae' Inters-t, possibly. her love. His heart wenea over witn joy anu thankfulness, and at one moment he resolved to declare himself that even ing, but at the next determined to await the overcoming of troubles and passage through trin. that conrronted Ila "I did not mean to th-ank you, sir." him not far off. If.success were his, hers should be the trophies; If deTeat well, he would see. Having dried her eyes, but not- driv en the red from her cheeks. Estelle re turned, leading Odette by the hand. and said: "She asks to be allowed to come and thank you, Mr. Oakfe!!. for your brave defense of her fiance." "I require no thanks. I have al ready my reward, I hope, for what I did'in Leon's case." said Oakfell. look ing anxiously at Estelle. whose eyes turned quickly away. "I did not mean to thank you, sir. I would not know how." the girl cried, kneeling and taking his hand. "I only wanted to say that 1 pray for you morning. noon and night and will do so as long as i can repeat a prayer." "This is very pleasing to my feelings. Odette. for I know it proceeds from a true and honest heart, but understand that every obligation to me can be dis charged by your love and fidelity to your mistress." . "My- mistress!" Odette exclaimed. springing to Estelle's side. "Love my mistress! I would gladly die for her 20 times a day. L.ove my mistress! Why, she is my religion. It may be wicked, but when -1 kneel and close my eyes and pray/ to the Mother of God It is only the sweet image of my mistress I see. There is but one angel on the earth. and that is my mistress." "Hush. Odette. you silly girl," said Estelle. "1r. Oakfell will think I teach you such nonsense." "Indeed he will not, my mistress," Odette replied. "for he must see you just 'as I do, because be Is not blind, and he Is white and educated and smart." Both laughed at this ratiocination and welcomed it as a diversion from what had threatened another embar rassing situation. Oakfell prepared to take his leave wben Odette said: "Mistress. may I ask Mr. Oakfell a question?' "Certainly. Odette, unless Mr. Oak fell objects." "I am sure I do not," he said. "It is this," Odette's voice faltered "can Leon come back now without dan ger?" "Yes." Oakfell replied. "Quillebert's appeal does not suspend the judgment" -addressing Estelle-"anld pending the appeal I do not believe he would dare to offer injury to Leon. who could live on my plantation until the suit is end ed. Do you know where be Is?" he in quired of Odette. -"I can get a word to him," she an swered. "Then let him come to my place, If you wish." When Estelle gave her hand fo" good night, Oakt'elI sa id. "This- much at least of reward you will not deny me." and. pressing his lips lightly upon it, rode away the very bapplest man under the stars. "Oh. Odette!" sighed Estelle, sinking 'into a chair.-. "Ah, my happy mistress, he loves you! He loves you! And whose love could be like his?" said Odette, leaning over her. "He did not say so," complained Estelle. "Bring my guitar." While the affectionate slave sat atI her feet Estelle plucked delicious chords from the" Instrument, and her voice rose clear and tender into the perfumed night, singing: "nagarden lay a lute, - - whre a careless band had Bang it. -one who saw it lying mute Toitup and strung it." The whippoorwill and the warbler in the cypress hushed to listen. [TO BE CoNTINrUED. Writing a Book. The following confession of a novel st as to the method in which he wrote one of his books is not without inter est. He had had the story outlined in his notebook for a long time and ought to have been able to write it. but did not feel able. Then one day he hap pened to think of it again and saw, al most as If It had been a stage scene, the little tableau with which the book was to close-one of those ends which are also a beginning. So he began to work and in a short time had conmplet ed the first three chapters. Then, for no reason that he can give, there was a jump, and he wrote the chapters which are now numbered XXI and XXII, the last in the book. Then he went back and wrote straight on from IV to XVII. The story had been with him so long that it was the easiest thing In the world to write it, and so he got through this part of the work with remarkable celerity. In the eIghteenth chapter nothing happens. Every day for a fortnight he rose, breakfasted and tried to write that chapter; every night he tore up a big pile or manuscript whigh he knew to be hopelessly bad. Then he got desperate. The chapter should be written and should stand, whether good or bad. IHe wrote it and left the house because it was bad and he had resolved not to tear It up. Nest day e wrote chapter XIX, and on the mor row he rewrote chapter XVIII and somehow or other contrived to get into it all that he had failed to get before. Then he wrote chapter XX, and the book was completed.-London Post. His Ability. "And how is my old school friend Bimson getting on?" said the man who. had returned to his native city after a long absence. "Oh, he's doing first rate." "But he was such a bright boy we al ways expected he would display espe cial ability." Well, I don't know that he hasn't, displayed especial ability." "I never hear him mentioned in con nection with any of your elections." "No; that's just the point. He has shown ability to go ahead quietly and; build up a business. He doesn't have to ,.,m for ofc. "-Wa nhinn Star. May nor meet with a unanimous approval, but there are none who disap prove of Commercial. expansion at home. The LEVI BROTHERS of Numter. in order to meet the demands of our growinag and expanding business, were forced to seek more commodious quarters. Accordingly we contraete.. for and leased the old J. T. Solomon store next to the court house. anid after an expenditure of considerable uoney we have now one of the handsomest and best equipped stores in the city, to which we extend a most cordial invitation to the readers of THE TIEs, and in this connectiqu we desire to express our gratitude to the people for the patronage and the manifestations of confidence reposed in us. The Sumter cotton market is one of the best in the State and we reckon ourselveb among the heaviest buyers; this we could not do if we did not pay full Imarket price, and having the very best facilities for handling cotton we can guarantee prices to those favoring us with their patronage. vinvitnnivwyywyywynvy i this season is advancing, but we have a magnificently selected stock, con-. E D ry G oods I tracted for early and ahead of anyad vance, that we think will be of inter SuInAL1AAUAAIAAAALUsiAliAAA u*AAAAAUAAIAr est to the people to examine before buying esewhere. are our ftvorite stock and we believe that we have as large and as complete line, from the best factories'An the, United States as any house away from wholesale trade; in fact we dot Iarge jobbing trade in Dry Goods and-Sbo"es. v5YIJiviiIVVYYIYvIfV1IY7VYYYViIVi1!nTiV can only be properly selected by ex, perts and - have had the advantage of alm exp. who makes a thorough study of the styles to seleet this stock, and we want everybody-to come and and see how well and cheaply we can dike them out. f f T is a line that we defy competition' in -style, shapes, quality 'and prices. No :="matter who you want a Hat foi or :. Hats :a what price you want to pay for it, we minAAAAAAAAAAAtiAAL msla can suit you in every respect. have a full line of Boys' Hats'also. TyvyhYVTIvnYYYTYIynvHVYIynTYVVI!YTymy bought altogetler in car load lotid with a view of competing with job Grocees bers. A farmer can secure fro anything in the Grocery line, either Fancy or Heavy goods,-atpilces that can only produce profits by the ol ume of business done. Our store will continue to be headquarters for the farmers of Claren don, and'in our new quarters we can give our friends more attention be cause we have wnore room to do business. We want you to come to see us, next door to the court'huse and youn have our guarantee that your wants will be supplied regardlessof compf tition. Nm. En Holmes & Co 209 East Bay, - -CHARLESTON, S. C. --Dealers in PAINTS, OILS, VARNISH AND BRUSHES, LANTERNS, TAR PAPER AND. BUILDING PAPER. Headquarters for the Celebrated Palmetto Brand of Cylinder, Planing, En gine Oils and Greases. Write Us Abut . . . It yields from 35 to 40 per cent More Mortar thani any lime made. GAGER'S ILIME is packed in Magnificent Cooper age. Supplied to tihe trade in car lots direct from kilns by CAROINA PORTLAND CEMEN CiL Sole Selling Agent4 Southern States, CHiARLESTON, - - S. c. ~Southern Fruit Co.I & W. H. MIXSON, Manager. (# WHol'ESALE DEALERS IN 2 FRUIT and PRODUCE. ~ $tk ejmanurncturers' Agents for L.... SBARRELS, BASKETS, CRATES, Etc. High Grade Vegetable Seeds. - ClhARLESTON, - - - - - S. C. Jf T he Manning- Times .AND.. SBoth for $1.50.'DS Every new yearly subscriber will be entitled to THE FARM - AND HOME and THE MANNING TIMES for $1.50; also every old subscriber who pays up his arrears. This is a grand offer and we hope the people will appreciate it.