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They Tv;'~ Tlt- ar iC. c u~n1 il. ocart 01t When the louse was tl of trolic a11 oft clildish laughter and tears. They are left alone. the. iny 1 "e more Beglinning life ove'r aga~i in Just as thev didl in the la1' of .Yo1*e Before they were in( or t n. And the table' is t for '.wo rse days: The children went onei bV o1n Away fro:m hone on their separate \vays When the cliliood days were done. How healthily hungry they used to be: What romping they used to do: And mother-for weeping-can hardly see To set the table for two. They used to gather around the ,'re While some one would read aloud. But whether at study or work or pi.a 'Twas a loving and merry crow o. And now they are two that gatlei there At evening to read or po . And it e 1t'.lit)S1. It toe much to bear Wiwn they tin k of the long ago. Ah, well--h. well. 'tis the way of the world: Children stay but a little while And then into other scenes are whirled. Where other homes iegiin But it matters not how far i hey roam Their hearts are fondi and t rue. And there's never a homi like the dear old home. Where the table is set for two. A GILDED SIN. BY CHARLOTTE M. BREAME. CITAPTER X. Crushing the green leaves and sweet blossoms under his feet. trampling down the smiling liowers. beating aside the trailing sprays, his heart beating. his brain on tire, Sir Marc hastened across the park. It seemed to him that the whole world had suddenly crumbled to ruins. ie muttered hit ter, terrible words to himself. If the stars had fallen from heaven it would have surprised him less than the fact that Veronica had done wrong-his ideal, the one pure, noble, gentle soul in whom he had placed alY his trust. All that was beautiful, poetical. mai denly an: charming seemed to be vested in her and now his ideal had been rudely destroyed. "I will never believe in any human being again while I live,' he said to himself-"never: So fair, so beautiful, so loving, so tender. yet so lost to all sense of what is right: I will never look again at woman's face!" He reached the railway station at Hurstwood and there. half hidden by a long black veil, he saw Clara Morton. She rose as he came up to her. "It is well," he said, "that you are a woman: if you were a man I would horsewhip you:" There was such tierce, hot anger in his eyes that she shrunk back. "You need not fear." he added scornfully. "Give me your proofs, name your price. and then never let your shadow fall across my path again." Dealing with a man was different from frightening a delicate. refined girl, Clara Morton found. She began a whole string of excuses. "Not one word,'' he said. "Simply repeat the story. Let me hear all the details, and then give mie your proofs and name your price." She told him the story. and then added: "My proofs are charred remains of the parchment that I took fromi the fire, on which you will plainly see these words, 'Last will and testament of Sir Jasper Brandon.'" "What do you want for it: T'lhe asked contemptuously. "It is not for niyself, Sir Marc-it is not indeed. I wanit five hiunidred pounds.'' "You are mo~dest in your demands. certainly, and you have ruined-But why should I waste worcs upon such as you? If I give you ihe sum you name, you must not on'y surrender what you are pleased to call your proofs. but you must take an oath to call your proofs, but you must take an oath to keep 'the secret and leave England. If you return-listen to my threat-if youi dare to return and address by let ter or by word of mouth that hapless lady, I will have you indicted for con spiracy, and your sentence will prob ably be hard labor for life. As to your conduct, it is so utterly, horribly base, I have no patience to speak of it." The woman murmured some words. He did not even listen to them. "I have no wish to hear more." he said. "I will give you a check for five hundred pounas on condition that you give me your proofs and take the re quired oath. Tremble if you dare to break it-tremble if your false wicked face is seen here again:" He took out his check-book. and go ing into one of the stationi oflices, made out a check for the sum namied On returning he placed it qutietly in her hands, and she gave hiim 'the packet containing the charred fragments of the will, and took th~e oat h upon which he had insisted. Silently he pointed to the great open gates, and she passed out of them. They never met again. As she passed out of the gates, so she passed out of his life. Whether the punishment of her wickedness ever came in this world he never knew. Then Sir Marc went away to Lon don. What to do with himself lie could not tell. Hie felt that it was impossible for him to take tip the broken thread of his life. In the first hot angry flush of his disappointment he had not realized what life without Veronica would be. Now that it stretched out before him in all its chill, terrible reality, he was at a loss how 'to endure it. There were times even when he almost wished that lie had forgiven her. Then lhe recoiled from the thought. How could he love a woman to whom the word " honor" was an empty sound? Sir Marc was most unhappy. lie read with a stony face all the para graphs which said that there was no oundation for the rumor of the ap proaching marriage of Sir MIarc Carvyll -that he was going abroad. lie miade no complaint, no moan: but lie owned to himself that his life was ended. lHe would close Wervehiurst Manor. and spend the remainder of his days where nothing could remind him of the love he had lost. There was to be no angel in the house for him. Hie knew that he must love Veronica until lie died that no one else could ever take her place-that no one else could ever be to him what she had been. Had she died, it seemed to him that his grief would have been easier to bear. That he would have retained all his love: now his love must go. while lie was stranded. Life had lost all its attrac tion for him. He had freed Veronica from her bondage-of that lie w'as pleased to think. No one could frighten her now. She was quite safe. and the terrible secret was dead and ouried. He locked away thie charred fragments: he did not detroy themi-he could never fell why: and that one simple proceed ing altered the whole destiny of his life. Had there been a lire in his room when he reached home. he would have tossed the little packet into thelames: as it was. the door of his iron safe was open, and lie flung the packet into it. Then he set about mraking arr-ange ments for going abroad: but lie found that it would be imnpossible-that he could not leave England until after Christmas without neglect ing (jutieos that his conscienee would not ailow him to neglect. Hie said to himself that he must be content. There was no help for it. H~e mu1(st shut himself Vl?1;1''. : < ~'1 1.+: N hll onc-er 1"t t : "' itl ' it'5 1e Q lI li \'e 011 eX- t ieueet. A'yliting wold be better ani ' .i in ,land. let by + i' d b'- dax -despite all his stern eit ,', \ eromiea-lhe wi ;S asking IiilSelfti whl she had ( auri nch the will -what her motive was - what she Lad gained by it'.' Was it ossible talit the Will took from her some le_;acy or gift. - Ii er iotght that she even cared fo money." he said to himself over and over again. "She s'e*med so free r0o1 all mercenary taint. ily did destroy the will" I'lu more h thougilt abuQt it the mIore~ lie wtas p zied, the greater grew t he mystery. ie drove himse?l almost mad with con jecturiig: and he neve r even faintly uessed 'e trut, i It never dawntd acl roS him. o tihe I ie wore away: he bore pa t it it' i! comlments and remarks. It was ii)o)tdc by the world in general chit i.' had bee11 (isis'l by Miss di 'n 11t ha: no one had evil an imkiit of i hie t rut i. 1 1: grew pale and thin ur ling the': few months: but they passed at iast. Two days before Christmas day all his arrangen rts were made and he was ready iesail. Ie betllught himself then that it would only be right to destroy the charred fragments of the will. for if flthey fell into other hands there would be danger and ono wild day in December, when tho wild was wailing and roaring round the house. he went to the safe and took from it the little parcel. The snow was beating furiously against the win dow. ; reat masses of cloud darkened tlhe heavy - then cgme alull in the storm. Never ulithl tlh day hie 'dies will Sir Marc forget the hour aut the scene. With some curiosity he went to the window to examine the charred fragments: quite distinctly he saw the words Ihe last will and testament of 'Sir Jser Brandon." "Poor clil"' he mntiured to him self. "What could ii:: prompted her to do this most evil deed'. A; i ~erbnrdbes fell with inut tering wings on t ie window-sill, beaten down by the snow and wind; it lay there fluttering. gas ping with its little life almost gone. le was tender of heart, this man so stern in- morals; he could not endure the sight of the little bird's agonv. He droped the parch ment and opened the window. le took the lit'tle helpless creature, he warmed it and fed it. and then bethought him self of the will. lie Hasteped to pick it up: it had opened as it full, and as he raised it he saw words that be had not seen befere. Ile took it to the window, and as he examined it his face grew white, great dark shadows came into his eyes, and he cried sG'reat Heaven: How is it that I have never even thought of this be fore?" CHAPTER XI. Great had been the consternation at Queen's Chace when Lady Brandon, in few curt words, said that Miss di Cyntha's wedding was postponed in ditinitely. The worst of it was there came no solution to the mystery whether there had been a quarrel or not no one could say. All that was known was that Sir Marc had left quite suddenly one day, and that two or three days afterward those inter ested had been told to cease all prepa rations for the wedding. No one was more astonished than Katherine when her mother told her the news: and at first she refused to believe it. "There is some mistake, maraa," she cried: "I would more readily believe that Alton did dot care for me." "Unfortunately there is no mistake," said Lady Brandon sadly. "'Whose fatult is it?' inquired Kath erine. '"Not Veronica's? I am qtiite sure that Veronica loved Sir M1arc more dearly than I can tell. It always seemed to me that her love was her life. It cannot be Sir MIare's for he loved the very ground she stood on. 1 cannot understand it, mama. What does Veronica say?" "Nothing. Sh'e only looks unutter ably sad and miserable, and begs of me not'to talk about it4." "I will go to her myself," said Kathe rine impulsively. "it is useless, Katherine," returned Lady Brandon. "She will only be more misrable than ever." But Katherine would not be controll ed. She hastened up to Veronica's room and found her favorite standing by the window. "My darling, you have been ill!" she cried. "MIama says that you fainted." Then she started, for Veronica had turned round to greet her, and the change that had come over her was so terrible that the young heiress was shocked. Veronica's face was pale and worn, the dark eyes were tearless, but there was in them a look of fathomless woe: "Veronica," cried the girl. "it is true then: I can see from your faze that it is true; there is no need to ask a question. You and Sir MIarc have parted: "Yes," she said drearily, "we have parted. Katmerine-no't for an hour, a day, or a yer. but forever. "I will not believe it! What has come between you who loved each other so well?" "1 cannot tell you," replied Veroni ca, with a long low sigh. "You must tell me," declarred Katherine. "I want to help you. I cotld not live and know that you were unhappy. Veronica. I must follow Sir M1are and bring him back." "1 cannot tell you anything about it, Katherine," said Veronica. "And et 1 may tell yoti this. lie asked me to do something for him, and I refused he placed the alternative of parting before me, and I took it. You will ask me nothing more?" "No," she replied musingly-"that is. unless you like to trust me more fully." "I cannot," said Veronica. with a shudder: "lie has gone, and we shall not meet again in this world: yet 11 was worthy of his lov'e. To me it seems that I have stood by him dead and kissed him tor the last time." Iher voice had in it a ring of weary despondency, her eyes were fixed with a str'ange dazed expression, her hands were folded and lay on her knees. She lokd pa Katherine. " yt, ie me one promise." sheI said-just one. Tell mec that you will never renew this subject. To re new it will be simply to give me bitter pain. Promise mec that you will never~ do so." I~rface had such an imploring look rehatt teyoung heiress could not Idopromise." she said: and then for one innute the dreary calmness of the beautiful face was bi'oken. "Kate. come and sit by me," she re quested:' "let us talk of you-not of ine-of you anid yotir bright life, your happy love." She took the young Iheiress caressingly into her arms. "Some and tell me, dear, how happy our ar-it will comfort me a little. Yotu are all the world to me-it will Icomfort me so much to hear that you are really happy: talk to me about it." It seemed to ihe luncl' desolate soul1 and the aching heart thiat there wvould be some little support, some little comfort in hearing that her great sacritice had not been in vain-in knowing that Katherine would gain from hier-V'eronica's-sorrowv. "It seems so seitish for me to talk of hapiness while you are so sad. Ver'oni "It will comfort ine," she pleaded "yotu do not know wvhy, btit it wvill comfort me." "Then," salid thle you ng heiress, "I I am happy. \'eronica. )Yv life is so .2 b'ight. so beati ful. that'I1 would nots change it for any other life." Sihe "Go on," requested Veronica. amt rich."' said the young girl. and-I am like a child-I love my' psto. I -love my gi'and, beautiful lien 1:=1i .na raised her head knd faint sud" camte over her jite roubled face "You are su : of I tt t"he t, ioin(l di eagerly- niite sute "Yes. indeed I a: retpilie dl hai b ine. "No onet roul even gesh learly I love the ChaC . -Now tel lie aiuit (lii o u . sl:l 1eronics. -- iWat cau I Ili you. (ear, saw i iat 1y love anmi my1 life are one that I iaVte n ;tr. thouotgat, or wish. or (esire. hat does not begin and end in Alton 'ow. has that comforted you?' -Yes. more than anything you could lave said. You could have thought of iothing that would comfort me one ialf so much. You will leave me now. Kate--1 am the better for your com ng. dear -and when ime meet again 1ll will he forgott en. except that we ove each other." "It had not been all in vain then: D Lhe sun of her life had set in darkness 1 :nd gloom, but she had made one at a least happy. So the past was mentien- s 3d nO iutoe. Slii I id lt 1)1ear her life. r She never complained. She was like a devoted daughter to Lady Brandon. She was the most loving of sisters to ' she young heiress. But day by day the grow iote and more sad; she grew pale and thin: she began to hope that e Heaven woul take pity on leer api I c let her die soon. So t he winter mint hs d canie round, itcl at Christ ma. pre parations wer, begun for the murriage s of the young heiress. Lady Brandon had invited a large circle of guests. and one of them, not knowing of the c recent contretemps. having just, re- t turned from Spain. spoke of Sir 3iare r Caryll, and saitl t1it he was going to t tar up h4 esidenict abroad, a Veronica ov'rheard it, She did not speak: the lovei' face grew paler, and a mist of unshe 1 tears dimmed the t beautiful eyes: but soon afterward she went to Lady l:randon's room. her marvelous self colt rol gone at last. She stood before her with a look that Lady Brandon neve forgot. Yot m lit n i(3 Z0 go wa3 she said: "I cannet leilain here. I can not bear it, You must let me go lame 1 to Ven ice to die." C Theia she wept a. she had r t in her life before. as one wl ' I hope-wept until Lady Bra,.ao was f alarmed, and she herself was exhaust ed. Then Latiy Brandon said to her "You shall go: I will take you. You shall go to Venice. or where you will: only wait-wait, for my sake, until the wedding is over." So for the sake of the woman who had influenced her so strongly she waited, but it seemed to her and to every one else that those days brought t her nearer death. 'Do people ever die of a broken heart?" she thought. "A year ago I was strong and well. I had .color in my face and light in my eyes: I had strenth in my limbs and joy in- my heart. Now my strength has left me: people look grave when their eyes rest on me; life is a heavy burden that 1 would fain lay down --an d why? What has happened? I have lost my love: The man who took my heart' from me has left me, and--I may hide it as I may-1 am pining for one look at his face before Idie. Oh, Marc, my sweet- I heart. could you not have trusted me even ever so little? I shall send for him when I am dying, and ask him to hold me in his strong arms. Oh, Marc, you might have trusted me. for you were all I had in t' e world!" So she wore her heart and her life away, longing only for death, that,. dying, she might see him again. TO BE CONTINUED] How to Secure Good Luck. D~r. Henry Wallace gives the follow ing plan as the best to bring good luck. lie says: Go to sleep at ten, wake at six, and get up when you wake. Eat what is set before you and dont grumble. Do the work that I lies before you in the very best way 1 you can, all the wvhile thinking how you can do it better. Until you arc forty do more than you ask pay for: after that you will get pay for more than you do. Don't wobble either in your walk or your purposes. Don't learn to chew or smoke or drink. Don't allow yourself to lie or swear or take advantage of the necessities of the unfortunate. Look habitually on the bright side of things, but don't fear to look on the dark side when it is turned toward you. Believe that God intended you to be a credit to im and that nothing really bad can happen you so long as you trust Him. Be economical without being stingy, plain spoken but not rude. Be as shrewd as you can but honest by all means. for no one wants to employ shrewdness without honesty nor diplo macy without sincerity. If misfor tunes come, make the best of them and don't cry over spilt milk. If you do all these you will be lucky, for you will be the sort of man always in de mand everywhere in all this wide world. A job will always be waiting for you and the older you b~ecomne the more protitable will be your job. We want every b~oy who reads the above to remember it as it contains good ad vice, and is sure to bring success to ay boy that follows it. - A Groom and His Grip. Rather an uneque case was trieda Monday at Newvberry. The Observer says: "The court was engaged thet greater part of the day in the trial oft the ase of Rev. L. P. Boland of Betht Eden, Mississippi, against the South- ~ mn railroad for 81,999.99 damages. n the afternoor. of the 29th clay of t May, 1901. Mr. Boland, who had just :ompleted his course at the Luthern :heological seminary in Charleston, t .ent to the Southern depot in that d 3ity and left his valise, taking a check j or the same and paying ten cents for ts storage over night, it was to go n Jut of the city the 30th on the early t norning train, which was also to carry Mr. Boland to Springfield. Orange- c urg county, where he was to get mar- t ried that afternoon. In the valise r was his wedding suit. When Mr. Bo- b~ .and reached Springfield and presented us chcck to the agent the valise was ot forthcoming. and he had to get arried in his second best suit. Hence p :his suit. The valise came in all g ghr the next day; but the damage s ud then been done, and Mr. Boland t ~stiated the injury to his feeling at a )ne cent less than $2.000. The jury I ae the plaintiff 8130o damages. e Four Teachers Murdered.l The wvar department Wednesday re-d ,eivedl the following cablegram re farding the school teachers who have ~ >een missing from Cebu, P 1., June [0th John E Wells. 209 Montgo nery avenue, Providence, R I , and I 1s cousin, Louis A Thompson, samet tddreess: Earnest Jleger, ~1413 Vinet treet, Cincinnati: Clyde A France, P 3ereas, Ohio, missing Cebu, murder: d by Ladrones; bodies recovered: n our murderers killed; eight others ~aptured by the constabulary Killed Near Greenville. n Bud Thomas shot and killed Will C urton Wed.nesday near the Reedy tt -ork~olored church, thirteen miles outh of Greenville. The two negroes " iad been attending services at the la hurch. but on their return becamea volved in a quarrel. Burton floored Thomas with a stick, and a-s Thomas ained his feet he tired a bullet which a A GODU) MEETI NTG. andidates for State Officers Speak at Spartanburg. HEY WARD HAD THE CROWD. ine Thousand Or More Voter: ijs ten l Attentively to What the Candidates Had to Say. Ieyward had the crowd at the meet 1g Wednesday. le received much lore applause both at the beginning nd end of his speech than any other peaker and was several times Inter upted with loud applause. Although he spoke in the afternoon nd near the end of the meeting the rowd was larger during his speech han at any other time during the ntire moting. le received more lose attention than any other can idate and there was no leaving the rounds or shifting about during his peech. All the newspaper men present con eded that lie hid the crowd and all he papors will so state. His cordial eception much exceeded the expecta ions even of hip most sanguine friends .nd it is generally conceded that he vi11 carry Spartanburg County. The lateness of the hour prevents he speeches of the candidates for overnor being given. About 1.000 persons attended the tate campaign meeting in Trim ier's grove on Kennedy street. lose attention was given each speaker, ut there was very little demonstra ion as to the candidates for the minor ,ices. As soon as they had spoken he candidates descended from the latform and iningled with the voters or the real work of the day. The peakers have been speaking for about month and alp had their speeches vell in hand and delivered them with ase and facility. County Chairman Stanyarne Wilson )resided and introduced each speaker n a courteous and happy manner. [he order of speaking is arranged by ,he candidates themselves through an >rganization which they maintain. tev. W. A. Rogers offered a fervent )rayer. LDJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GFNERAL. Col. Jno. 1). Frost of Richland aid he had been associated with 225 partanburg boys in the Spanish war. le told of his record and qualifica ions. Colonel Frost has a magnifi ;ent voice and made himself easily end clearly beard. Col. Jno. C. Boyd of Greenville said ie was not a graduate of any military cademy but was it the civil war with .ee and Jackson and was fully com )etent to fill the office. le enlisted n the war at 13 years of age. le aw service in the days of radicalism. le spoke of the regard in which he tood before the people of Greenville. olonel Boyd interested the crowd and aused some amusement, lHe invited he veterans to come to Greenville to he reunion. Capt. .J. M. Patrick of Anderson aid he had never held public offce or -n for one and did not know how to sk for a vote, lie told of his record Ls a military instructor and read a re yort of General Lawton made upon he Patrick Military Institute at An lerson. R AILROAD COMDI~sSIONER. J. C. Wilborn of York thanked his 1earers for previous support. lie ould not reply to his nine opponents Ls he had not sumfcient time. It was ot good practice to turn men out of uice. lie told of reductions in rail oad rates made during his term of ~tice. J. G. Mobley of Fairfield said the alroad laws were not enforced and or that reason he was a candidate. Vilborn had compared himself to cal ioun and McDutle but hua doneC noth ng. H. .T. Kinard of Greenwood had narried in Spartanburg County. He ad had expeience in the legislature ,nd in dealing with railroads and bad ntroduced a bill in the legislature enalizing the railroad companies for ot settling claims promptly. lie ave tigures showing the high charges n fertilizers. A. C. Jepson of Florence said he ad 40 years of experience in practical ailroading. lie told of the functions f the railroad 'commission and of his ualiications for membership on it. L practical railroad man was needed n the board. James Cansler of York County en ertained the crowd with humorous eferences to the other candidates. Ie brought out uproarious laughter nd held the closest attention. W. l'yod Evans of Columbia said here were unfair charges made by he railroads and all the people have o pay for It. lie told of other' mne ualities. lie promised, if elected, o stay in Columbia and attend to the usiness of the office. B. L. Caughman of Saluda said the eople were discriminated against and old of inequalities, lie had intro uced and secured the passage of the im Crow car law. Mr. Wilborn replied to Mr. Caugh ian's charge as to bonus required by. he railroads. J. G. Wolling of Fairfield made an arnest and effective speech on the roubles the people have with the rail ads. lie made a tine impression by is speech and manner. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. Frank B. Gary of Abbeville ex laned the duties of the lieutenant overnor and told of his record as peaker of the house. H~e stood on le dispensary as he stood two years go. lie favored annual sessions. Le said no member of his family had ver been untrue to a trust reposed n him, lie would not abuse or vil fy his opponents. lie was a candi ate on his own merits and fitness. 'actionalism had passed away and all ow go hand in hand working for the est interests of South Carolina. Cole L. Blease of Newberry said he ad the unanimous endorsement of e people of his own county. lie at eked Mr. Gary's position on the dis nsary law. Mr. Sloan's position as also criticised, lHe favored bien lal sessions of the legislature. lie scussed education and the old sol Jno. TI. Sloan of Columbia compli ented Spartanburg's exhibit at the harleston Exposition. Hie referred ti h vote he received two years ago. e served in the house and senate and tthe constitutional convention, lHe an advocate of the dispensary law s id favors education. ATTORNEY GENERAL. 1t U. X. Gunter, Jr., would not make s speech in his ltcme county but would I rae his canidracy with the popnle. He said the relatM. between Mr. Stevenson and hifnsif were friendly. He introduced his cofmpetitur. W. F. Stevenson also spoke of lie friendly relation between Mr. (uu ter and hiinself. lie said that if all the ugly and red headed men could vote for him he would be elected and Maused considerable amusement. lie was a lawyer and had been elected speaker of the house. Ile had served >n a committee to investigate the sinking fund and he had introduced a new sinking fund law. le gave some facts and statistics concerning the state finances. Ile told of his services >n the penitenttiary investigation :omrnittee. lie had helped to place Thesteriield County on a fine financial basis. SECRETARY OF STATE. J. T. Gantt told of the state's in )ome and expenses and contended that .ixes were too high. Other states icrived a large part of their incomes from indirect sources among which many come from the secretary of Mtate's otlice. That office in this state bad largely increased in recent years. Hle referred to the exhibit at the Lharleston Exposition of property froim the secretary of state's office. J. Thoopas Austin of Greenville said nis ancestors were buried in Spar tanburg County. le would win the the office, if at all, without attacking his opponents. le discussed educa tion. Ile told of his record in poli tics. J. II. Wilson of Sumter made a pleasing address and greatly inter ested his hearers, lie had enlisted in the Confederate army. When he came back from the war he had to plough or perish and he ploughed. He told of his part in the red shirt cam paign of 1876 and record in politics: is the chairman of the committee on ways and means of the house. His county has endorsed him. SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION. 0. B. Martin of Greenville amused the crowds with some jokes. le had been engaged in public school work for 14 years. le had supported Mr. McMahan in many respects, but dif fered as to taking the county superin tendent out of politics. He replied to an attack made on him in the Educa tional. He had opposed changing the text-books. John J. McMahan of Columbia re plied to his opponent's criticisms and stated the law regarding the adoption of books. Roolks had to be adopted in 1900 and told of the ditliculty of choos ing books, The state school board was appointed by the governor and made the book adoption in many cases in opposition to him and he is not responsible for it. A year was given in which the change was to oc cur. The legislature could have stopped the adoption, but it did not. Old books are taken back in exchange for new ones. All books had to be sold at the lowest price and lower, If the price eves went lower. A new adop tion was absolutely necessary in order to have a uniform series. He was disappointed at Mr. Martin's style of campaigning. He hoped that the schools could be improved. COMP'TROLLER GENERAL. W. HI. Sharp of Lexington spoke In tine style and promised to execute the lawvs if elected. His speech was well received. A. W. Jones of Abbeville explained the nature of the comptroller general's office and said it was an important place. ie gave his record. N. W. Brooker of Columbia said he had saved the the state $50,000 by his work for the sinking fund commis sion. He made a complaint about a delay in the payment of some insur ance fees. J. Laurens Walker of Greenville said he was a neighbor of Spartan burg. He favored the assessment of property at its full value, lHe had been treasurer of Greenville County until appointed as chief clerk to the comptroller general. - - Spartanburg Journal. Cotton Ginneries. A census bulletin relating to cotton ginning has been issued covering the industry up to 1900, when the census was taken. There has been a universal demand among the ginners for the collection and publication of these statistics at more frequent intervals during the marketing season. In recognition of this, there was incorporated in the congressional enactment creating a permanent census bureau a provision for the collection and publication of statistics of the cotton crop at Inter vals during the ginning season. This is now being done in South Carolina and other cotton growing states. The statistics have been compiled by Mr. Daniel C. Roper, of this state, and they convey some interesting infor mation. The number of ginneries in the state last year were 3i,o18, being a decrease of :30 as compared with 1899. Georgia has the largest num ber, 4,793, being followed by Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, this state coming next. The average number of bales ginned in each ginnery of the state were 243, while Indian territory had an average of 880. Texas 613. Georgia 293, Mississippi 308, North Carolina 173. The cost of ginning a bale in South Crolina was for a square bale $1.29 and a round bale $1. In Georgia the cost for the square bale was $1.26 and the round bale 90 cents. The average cost in the whole country was 32.:30 for square bale and $1.75 for round bale. With 4,314 active ginneries in 1899, >r 13.2 per cent. of the numberreport ad for the United States, Texas handl ad 27.6 per cent. of the entire Ameri 3an crop of 1899,.- expressed in com Enercial bales, while Georgia, with 4, 729. or 16 per cent, of the entire numbers of the United States. handl ad only 13.4 per cent. of the crop. Ihe ginneries east of the Mississippi iver handled 54.9 per cent. from the rop of 1899. 47.4 per cent. from the ~rop of 1900, and 53.2 per cent. from ;he crop of 1901. In this connection, there is a table howing the qluantity of cotton ginned n each county of the cotton states for 901. h ere are some of the facts as to ~his state: Orangeburg 53,980 Ander on 40,68:3, Sumter 34,093. These are he largest, the other counties ranging rom 13,000 up. Georgetown ginned mnly 1,212 bales. Bleaufort 2.761, liorry .018. Richland 9,8318. Fooled Several People. The Columbia Record says the police f that city are in possession of sever 1 bills that look exactly like United urrency and have been passed on everal parties. The old Mechanics nd Farmers Loan association, issued ome years ago, and also had a large uantity of unsigned ones that in ome manner have gotten out and are oating around the city. Signed or nsigned they are of no value, but everal people have been "worked.' lerchants would do well to watch out r them. THE COTTON BELT. How the Crop Looke as the Hiarvesi Season Opens. NORMAL DEVELOPMENTS NOTED Much Depends on the Weather Dur ing the Month of August. The Crop Opening Rapidly. The growing cotton continues tc make normal development over the en tire belt, except in limited localities distributed throughout the dil'eren1 States, where local droughts, or pool soils, insects and improper cultivatior caused slight deterioration. Attentior is called to the special and exhaustivt report from Texas which indicates condition seldom, if ever, excelled. Since that report was issued, ther have been heavy rains over westerr and southwestern Texas, the region, where drought prevailed, and thes( rains may develop the plants in thos( sections, as the season is not too fal advanced to make an average crop. Open bolls are no longer confined t< Texas, but have been noted in a num her of States. and the crop is openius rapidly in Georgia where a "first hale has already been marketed. While th< past week, covered by the attache( State reports, was an unusually ho' one, the temperature has been muel lower during the current week, and al though not low enough to be harmful it has generally been below normal The earliness of the crop, evidenced b, the fact of full grown bolls being note( in every section of the belt, also indi cates that the crop is heavily fruited and the plants, no doubt, already bea a fair sized crop, with a full month, o more, of time during which the plant can take on fruit without danger fron frost, however early frost may occur Whether it will be a record breaking crop depends on the weather durin August. In North Carolina very warm, dry sunny weather prevailed during thi greater portion of the past week, an( drought appears again to be causini some injury to crops, except at place in the extreme eastern and westeri portions of the State, where ligh showers occurred on the 15th. Cottoi stands the droght well; it looks greet and healthy; has made good growth ii the south portion, where the weed i of good size and plants are fruitini well; in the north portion and on stif lands the plants are small and ar shedding forms considerably; wher poorest the crop is blooming to the top In South Carolina showers occurret in every county, but they were partia and generally light, and at a fe' points only did they supply enoug moisture for the need of growing crops Cotton improved in a number of locali ties, but gsnerally it deteriorated dur ing the week, depending on the rain fall distribution. Over by far th< greater portion of the State there art reports of blooming to the top, o shedding, of the plants turning yellow and a few reports of rust. Generall: the plants are small, but bloomin, freely, and in a few sections there art nearly full grown bolls. The crop a: a whole is in a condition to be greatl: benefited by rains, should they occu within the next two weeks. In Georgia the weather was gener ally dry during the week in the north western and portions of the middle counties, and rain is badly needed it those districts. Light to copious show ers occu.rred elsewhere, with hig' temperature in all sections. Cotto! continues promising on the whole al though it Is shedding, blooming t top and being damaged by the bol weevil in scattered localities. In the majority of sections the plants mad< vigorous growth during the week an' are heavily fruited in the northerr and middle counties, with nearly ful grown bolls in some fields. The firs1 open bolls are reported in Burke and Thomas counties. In Florida cotton on uplands is suf fering for rain and there is much rus1 and some shedding. The plant i doing better on lowlands, where a fail growth is maintained, although copi ous rains at this time would do great deal of good. A few bolls neal the ground are opening. In Alabama, scattered showers wert received in many central, east cen tral, and a few southern counties with a few heavy local rains, but the very long drought continues practicall3 unbroken in many western middle, and northern counties. Cotton continue! clean, and, while small, it is health3 and holding up remarkably well; ir sections where moisture has been re ceived, it is taking on new growth; as a whole, it is well fruited through con tinuing to bloom too heavily at the top: there are several complaints oj -shedding of leaves and bolls, anda few complaints of rust. In Mississippi as a rule, the partly cloudy showery weather has kept cot ton in a~ healthy growing condition, and although the plant is small, it is well formed, blooming freely and fruiting satisfactorily, except in about 12 of the north-central and northeast ern counties where it is greatly in need of a good soaking rain. Blooming tc the top and shedding are reported from those counties having deilcient rain fall. Laying by cotton is generally in full progress. In Louisiana showery weather with: frequent thunderstorms prevailed throughout the week over the greater portion of the State. Some rain oc curred every day in the week in one part or another of the State; the show ers were local in character and ranged from a mere sprinkle to a good rain. The condition of cotton has been some what improved by scattered showers, although the rainfall has not been suf ticient for the needs of the crop, except in scattered localities. The plant is generally small and growing very slowly. hut has a healtyy appearance: it is blooming to the top in many localities, and in places it is shedding. The crop is fruiting well in some sec tions, while in others it is not doing so well. Fields are generally clean and the crop looks healthiest where it has received the best cultivation. In Tennessee nearly all growing crops were seriously affected by the drought. No rain of any consequence fell during the week, excepting a few scattered showers on the 19th and 20th. Cotton is fruiting fairly well; there are some complaints of blooming at the top and of shedding. Tobacco is checked in growth by the dry weather; it is very irregular in some fields. In Texas on the 16th, the corres pondents of this section. numbering 700. were requested to make special report regarding the cotton crop: they were advised to include in their re ports information as to the develop condition of tile soil as regards mois ture, elect of the recent rains. extent to which the boll weevil are prevalent, whether or not there is rust or stied ding. and the date when pickingz will begin. if not already in progress. '1im reports belw are representative ones. and have ibeeni chosen with a view to having as many as possible of the cot ton-producing counties included in the bulletin for last week. As regards the condition of the cotton plant. practically all correspondenls vast, of a line running through Nueces, ice. Karnes. Gonzales. Caldwell. 1strop;. Lee. Williamson. IBurnet, Llano. San Saba. Lampasas. Hamilton, Mills, and thence westward to the upper Colo rado valley, thence northward to Wise county, and from Wise northward to the border, the cotton crop is norma 1 ly developed. making rapid growth, with moisture ample generally for present needs. and in nearly all in stances is fruiting very satisfactorily. West of this line, the plant is general ly very small, is scantily fruited and in many sections has not had sufficient moisture to give relief from the pro longed drought. It seems that the frequent showers of the past four weeks has developed the usual num ber of insect pests, and in scattered sections shedding. In the lower r Brazos valley the boll weevils are be coming more numerous and are caus ing considerable damage: elsewhere _ this pest has not appeared in suffici ently large numbers to cause much apprehension. Boll worms and sharp shooters have appeared in scattered parts of the northern and south-cen t tral portions of the State, but have not caused material danfage. Shed . ding is complained of by correspon dents in the south-central portion of the State and the lower Brazos valley. and at scattered points in the north ern portion. Cotton is opening as far . north as Tarrant county and picking is becoming general in the southern counties. Picking will be general in r the central portion between August 1st and 15th, and in the northern por tion of the State between August 15th and September 1st. The crop is al most universally in a fine state of cul tivation. GREAT FLOODS. The Destruction of Crops is Appall s 1 ing in Many Places. t 2 Millions of dollars worth of property 1 has been destroyed out West by great 2 floods of water. A dispatch from S Keokuk, Iowa, says explorations of ? the flooded districts of the Mississ I ippi river from Keokuk south, shows a conditions beyond the appreciation of e realization of any but those of long experience with the Father of Waters 1 in its most destructive mood. 1 The situation is growing worse ? hourly and a great conflagration in a 1 great.city would not be more rapidly - destructive of values. There is ab ~ solutely not the slightest chance of - stopping this most costly flood in the history of the great river about St. e Louis. .A correspondent of the Asso B cdated Press went over the worst dam f aged area in the steamer Crescent and found everywhere the greatest crops V ever known under water deep enough I to fioat a steamboat. People at the e river cities give accounts of losses ag s gregating many millions of dollars. V Hundreds of farmers, rich ten days r ago, the penniless and homeless. NEARLY TEN SIILLION Loss. .Careful estimates gathered from the a statements of the best informed peo a pie indicate the loss up to today is . about six million dollars. with every a prospect of two or three millions ad 2 ditonal by the rise above, not yet . reaching the lower stretches of the y rivers. Most of this loss is on the SMissouri side of the river between Keokuk and Hannibal. Passing the water-lapped lumber yards of Keokuk, jthe mouth of the Des Moines river is Inearly two miles wide. Normally 1there are two mouths and an island bdelta covered with farms, which are Snow under raging torrents. Alexan dria was protected to the last by the -Egyptian levee, the breaking of which b would send four feet of water all over the town. Gregory. is submerged ex r cept the White church, in which ser vice was held Sunday, the congrega Ltion from the country reaching the r church by the railroad track, which is still above the flood in a waste of waters miles wide. Other towns and cities on the islands are beyond the danger line. DI~fENSE FIELDS IN A GREAT LAKE. Immense fields are seen in a great lake with the shore visible only with a glass, where the high bluffs bound the bottoms. Islands dotting the 1river at its normal stage have disap peared. except for the tops of trees or fringe of high shore willows, slightly protruding like a circullar coral reef. Occasionally a house on piles or stilts is seen, but generally only roofs rise to mark tihe center or farms of corn. In the middle of the present river the tracks of the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern railroad, normally on the Missouri shore. are now a few inches about tihe water and under it in some stretches. Shore lights for pilots are standing in the midst of a waste of waters where steamboats can rnn over them. The river is five to ten miles wide, and another lake seventy miles long is added to the map. THOLSANDS OF ACREs OF CORN GONE. All this territory was practically covered with corn a fortnight ago, estimated to make seventy-five to a hundred bushels to the acre. Pre vious estimates of the loss have been greatly increased by the prospective yield being found much greater than ever before, experts telling of many farms that were good for one hundred bushels to the acre before the flood. Tihe loss is total. Experience is that if wvater stays forty-eight hours even four inches under the surface it kills corn and every stalk wet by waves perishes f'rom rotting roots. The height of the flood is indicated by an incident at LaGrange. The steam boat warehouse was well back from the river bank and stands high. A strong current and gale caused the pilot to an imperfect landing and the cornice of tihe roof of the ware-house was torn off by the forward guards of Silver Cresent. The river is rising all the time, six inches during the day, in the immense area of 700 square miles, and the worst is to come. WHERE THlE CHIEF FLOOD IS. The chief flood thus far is on the Missouri side from Keokuk to Louis iana with Canton and WXest Quincy as centers of the country hurt worst. On the Illinois side there are three con tinuous levees for forty miles from Warsaw to Quincy above the water. which thlus far are safe but farmers. are afrrid of crevasses from musk rat holes, and every rod of the redoubt is watehled day and night. The break ing of these levees would flood 175 square miles in Illinois and Adestroy "2,00.00U to 3.000,000 worth of corn. The levees beluw Quincy are in the same situation. except that they are 'jwer and less lirm. TIE DEVAST.1\I'N APPALUNG. O)pposite Quincy in Missouri. is still San:tiwr renter of special devastation. wlici is appalling. North 12 miles to Lacrange and south to ilolton. large prairiPs are well under water, reaching fromn the Illinois ilutj to the Missouri bluffs at ;east ten miles. Levers has til, thrown around farms are disap prating in a fierce current rushing Iroam above through the dam of the Burlington bridge, carrying everything before it. Lone Tree.prairie. ten miles square. is deserted. the population having lied to Quincy, and the bluffs on the Missouri side from which they watch the complete destruction. Around LaMotte. Silverton, Busch station, Clemens. and Ashburg, north of Hannibal. there is more wheat than at other places and all in the shock is washed away. The chief crop there is corn, however, and there is the same ruin as at other places. In the vicinity of Quincy and Hannibal there is much unnecessary loss on account of the peculiar condi tions of the flood. A smaller flood bf - gan to subside, when warnings fr( m the Keokuk weather bureau observer were received unheeded, as being after the fact, when actually it was before the new and greater flood. Levees protecting the Missouri bot tom between Keokuk and Quincy stood the strain of today's flood which failed tooverflow them. The Egyptian levee is still several inches above the Des Moines river, which is nnw sta tionary here at its mouth. Reports from Ottumwa show a fall of two feet. The only threatening indications tonight are heavey clouds at Oska loosa. Unless heavy rains shall come, the Des Moines will begin to fall hele to-morrow. The situation is much brighter. The Mississippi here shows a stage of 15.4 feet, the highest since 1897. and is still rising, but not as fast. as it was this morning. The crest of the Mississippi rise probably will pass here tomorrow. Great damage has al ready been done, but the worst prob ably is over. RAINS WOULD HELP CROPS Should They Come Within the Next. Two Weeks. The following is the weekly bulletin . of the condition of the weather and the crops, issued last week by Direc tor Bauer of the South Carolina sec tion of the United States Weather Bureau's Climate and Crop service: The temperature was above norral during the week ending Monday July 21st, with an average of about 84 de grees. The highest was 103 degrees at Heath Springs on the 17th and at Seivern on the 18th, the lowest 6.2 de grees at Santuc on the 17th. This, the second hot wave of the month, was of comparatively short duration, for by the end of the week the ten pe:ature was again normal or below. The winds were generally light and dry, but without the wilting effect so noticable during the previous hot wave. Showers occurred in every county, but they were partial and generally light, and at a few points only did they supply enough moisture for the need of growing crops. The rainfall was heaviest in the southeastern por tions, but was not general in that sec tion. Over the greater portion of the State, crops are r.uffering for rain,. se verely in places, and in others not so much. This has caused a great, diversity in the condition of crops, so. that now there are places in every county where they are doing well,. and other places where they are partly ruined. This applies particularly toi corn and cotton, while other crops are: affected in like manner, but in vary ing degrees. Showery conditions pre vailed at the close of the week. Field crops have been laid by in. clean condition, except some cotton: that is receiving its last plowing, andi stubble corn that is yet smanl. Some early corn has reached ma turity and is a fair crop, but hot. weather and drought cut short alarge portion of early corn, while late corn is generally promising, and in a con dition to be benetitted by timely rains. Cotton improved in a number of I10 calities, but generally it deteriorated! during the week, depending on the rainfall distribution. Over by far the greater portion of the State there are reports of blooming to the top, of. shedding, of the plants turning yel low, and a few reports of rust. Gen erally the plants are small, but bloom ing freely, and in a few sections there are nearly full grown bolls. The crop. as a whole is in a condition to be - greatly benefitted by rains, should they occur within the next two weeks. Tobacco cutting is being rushed to the neglect of other farm work, and the crop is curing nicely. In a num ber of localities this year's crop is the best ever raised. while in other locali ties it was badly damaged by heat and drought. Rice is threatened. by salt water in some districts. Caterpillars have nearly all disappeared after damaging young rice. Peas continue to look well. The majority of reports continue to indicate an inferior fruit crop. with much premature ripening and dropping, except grapes which are fine where not rotting. Minor crops. such as sweet potatoes, cane, pastures. grass for hay, and gardens, need rain. An Important Ruling. The postmaster general Taas issued an order providing that after October 1, 1902, each person desiring the rural free delivery service must erect at his cost and by the roadside, so that the the carrier may have access to it with out dismounting from lbis vehicle, a mail box conforming to the specifica tion approved and published by the department. Such boxes as conform to the requirements may be stamped by the manufacturer, "Approved by the postmaster general," and will then come within the protection of the law passed at the last session of' congress, making it a criminal offence, to tamper with mail receptacles on rural free delivery routes. The order provides that the same box must not be used for more than one family,. except in the case of near relatives or those residing in the same house, and rural carriers are directed not to serve those who subsequent to October 1 have not complied with the require ments of today's order. Agents, in spectors and all other officers of the postoffic department are prohibited from becoming agents for the sale of rural free delivery boxes. DR. Harrison Randolph, president of the Charleston college. was offered the presidency of the Arkansas State college, but declined. Dr. Hartzog