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Ws We are in our new quarters at the same old stand, next to Jenkinson's, where we are prepared to fill all orders for Groceries. We will be glad to see you and "figger" on any bill of Groceries you may need, and feel assured we can satisfy you both in qual ity and price. -The Manning Grocery Co. SUMMERTON HARDWARE 0., SUMMERTON, S. C. J. C. LANIIAM. C. r1. DAVIS, J. A. JAMES, President. Vice-President. Sec.-Treas. OUR MOTTO: 3 L'S. ALive and Let Live. For dry goods, go to a dry goods store. For shoes. go to a shoe store. For groceries. go to a grocery store. For medicines, go to a medicine store. For HARDWARE and its kindred articles, Paints, Agricultural Implements, Pumps, Pipe, Stoves and Stoveware, Harness and Saddlery, Crockery and Glassware. We have them all. Our long residence in the county is our guarantee of fair and h1onest treatment of our customers. hon We have recently associated with us Mr. J. M. Plowden form erly with the Dillon Hardware Company, who thoroughly under LEVI BROS., SU MT ER,S. C. -- We are giving more attention to the handling of Cotton this season than ever before, which means that while we bought more Cotton than any other firm on the market, it is our purpose to buy a still greater quantity. This we can not do unless we pay the price, and when you bring or ship to, us your Cotton, the VERY HIGHEST PRICE IS AS. sURED. Our General Mercantile Department has been thoroughly looked after and we invite an insp~c tion of our Dry Goods, Fancy Goods, shoe and Clothing Stocks. Our buyer has devoted much of his experience this season in looking after the Dress Goods selections, and we can assure our Lady friends that we are enabled to please them. not only in styles, but prices. Our General Dry Goods Stock was never more complete and better bought-"GOODS WELL BOUGHT ARE HALF SOLD. Shoes ! 'Shoes ! .There is no need wearing out shoe leather running about for footwear, when we have, direct from the factories, Shoes of the best make. and which we can sell with a guarantee. Then, we carry as nice a line of Gents' Youths' and Boy's Clothing as you will be able to see in any other city. This Department was selected with a view to style, fit and dura bility. OUR GROCERY DEPARTM Cannot be excelled anywhere, and our prices defy competi tion. We have always enjoyed a fine Clarendon patronage for which we are grateful, and we shall strive to continue to merit the patronage and confidence you give us-come to see us, Yours, &c, LEVIBROTHERS, SUIMTE"DR SC By The Substit Ca gs~ftb. 1983. by N CIIAPTER XIV. A STRO'NG m'an is to be pitied who dcliberately shuns being thrown into contrast with a rival more fortunate in the es timation of the world. George was like a sensitive. high spirite4 dwarf trying to avoid seeing tall men. The whole town was going to hear the.gov ernor's address the next Sunday; the whole town was talking of his admira tion for the belle of the place. For the remainder of the week George was un certain what he should do, but when the eventful morning arrived he went to a livery stable, engaged a horse and buggy and drove out to his mother's. He might have chosen better, for the sordid surroundings of the farmhouse, which had never seemed like home to him in the highest sense., only made him feel more depressed. "The Lord knows I'm astonished to i see you," Mrs. Buckley said as she came to the door wiping her fat hands on her apron. "Why, all the settle ment, it seems to me, has gone in town to see the governor, but somehow I didn't care to go. I'm too old to ride ten miles in a joltin' wagon to see jest a man. How do you come on?" "I:feel all right," George replied. "I didn't care to hear the speech." "You say you didn't?" Mrs. Buck ley's heavy brows ran together. She stood'for a moment eying her son with sympathet& fixity. She had heard the rumor of the governor's attentions to Lydia Cranston. They were now in the sitting room, and he stood warm ing himself before the fire. "Oh, George," she suddenly got out, "I wish you'd let me talk to you an' not git mad." "Mad? Why, mother," he exclaimed, "how could I get mad at you?" The old woman sat down in her low chair in the chimney corner. "You are m.% boy," she said, a tremor in her gen tle voice, "an' some things hurt--cut me to the-quick. Oh, George, I wish you wouldisort o' be-content with com mon folksilike we all.are. You are as good, every bit an' grain, as that Vir ginia galkbut somehow she's situated different Now, fer instance, they say she's gotta chance, an' a good one, to marry thei governor." "I think she has," George said cold ly, his lips tightening, "but what of that, mother?" "Oh, it nearly kills me to have folks think you-you want to get some'n' an' cayn't," replied the old woman plain tively. "An', George, as things go in this world, Lydia Cranston will have to take that offer. She cayn't git around it Gals kin have the'r choice, an'-mind you, I don't know a thing she may, down in her heart, like you the best on account o' you bein' youn ger-an' better lookin', but folks in her walk o' life, I reckon, have to sorter look to the future. Her folks will make her-, ef she draws back. George, I-I hope you-don't feel bad about it" "Mother, I'm all right" He sat down before the fire. He looked out through the small paned window upon a wide stretch of cotton land where he had toiled through his boyhood. To the left, inside the garden fence, was the log smokehouse, the barn and stables; to the right, the.yard where the chick ens and ducks were scratching the earth for food. The old woman said nothing-there was nothing she could say, for his reply had not reassured her. "Why do you think anything 4s wrong with me?" he suddenly asked. "Has anybody" "You cayn't keep folks' mouths shet," Mrs. Buckley said. "You've got more friends 'an any boy in all this moun tain country, but even a body's best friends will git jealous when he begins to rise In the world. Most of 'em thought you was flyin' too high. George, all along-In visitin' the best in Dar ley-an''they are tickled to be able to circulate the report that she's goin' to marry the governor of the state. You see,, they kin say that an' not seem to be taikin' agin you, but they are chucklin' all the same." "I can't help their talking nor their thinking," Buckley said, with a sigh. "But I believe I'd put a bold face on It an' laugh at the idea o' marryin' anybody right now. Then I'd sorter slack off from goin' to the Cranstons'. George, I kin stand anything better, it seems to me, than havin' 'em all think [you are miserable over it, an' when the wedding takes place" "Then you count on It as a certainty, do you?" His face clouded over, and, in spite of his self control, his voice rang harshly. She stared at him pityingly. "Thar's no use talkin' about it," she said soft-. ly. "George, you hain't ready to ad mit it, an' that's the wust sign of all. You jest cayn't see it like other folks, an' thar's jest one reason fer that you cayn't stand to think it possible." He voiced no denial. What was the use? The old woman, crude as she was, had known him from the first pul sation of the life that was now raging like a mad torrent within him. In his mind's eye he had a glimpse pt the vil lage church, packed to the doors with an eager, expectant crowd. He saw the flowers on the altar. There was a profound hush. The Cranston carriage had driven up. The governor of the state was assisting two ladies to alight. All eyes were on the party of four as they came in and moved unconcernedly to the Cranston pew. Lydia and the guest of honor were walking together. She was being admired, envied. George Buckley bowed his head; the red light from the fire touched his powerful neck and shoulders; hie was sinking into the deepest ooze of de spair. "Mind you, .I'm not sayin' one word agin the gal,'" Mrs..Buckley broke into his reflections abruptly. "In fact. I ike 'er. I can't tell you how much I do like 'er. Folks may swear they hate kings an' queens beca'se they stand above 'em, but they'll feel hon ored by the notice o' royal folks. That may be one reason I like Lydia Cran ston. I don't know, I'm only human, but I jest feel like she's of a different order. Do you know the time you in troduced me. to 'er? Well, a woman knows a woman, no matte.r how differ entthey've been raised, an' I seed that she was surprised to--to see that I was -well, jest like I .zm, but I tuk a strong lfldn' to 'er fer the way she acted" "'The way.ehe, acted?" G-eorge Buck le sn4*M1drm hsiheth. hnt'the wo WILL N. HARBEN, Author of "Abner Dan iel," " T h e u t Land of the Changing Sun.m "The North Walk Mystery," Etc. LRPER e BROTHERS man beard. "Yes; I could tell she was doin' 'er level best to make me feel easy, an' it made me like 'er. Then the next time" -The next time?" George was really surprised. "Did you meet her again?" Mrs. Buckley was silent; her eyes had fallen. She had said more than she intended. "Did you say you met her again, mother-again?" Mrs. Buckley looked up resolutely. "I never intended to mention that," she said, "an' I don't know as I ort to now, bein', as it seems. she never told you abouc it. But it was when she was over at Shirley Springs last week. One mornin' she come here to see me, an', George, as God is my judge, I never spent a happier hour in all my life. I don't know how it was, but she jest had a way o' makin' me feel good. Ef she ever thought she was better'n common folks. nobody could 'a' told it. I was piecin' a scrap quilt, an' she set down an' set to work on it. I never seed the like. Her little, slim. white fingers jest moved like lightnin'. An' talk! She could think o' more cheer ful things to say than anybody I ever seed. It was that way till nigh 12, an' then she left. George-she kissed me!" Buckley was staring, an unfathom able expression in his big, yearning eyes. "She kissed you, mother? God bless her!" And he rose and put his arms about the old woman's neck. His eyes were glistening. - "Yes, she did twice, out at the gate. I never intended to tell you about that, fer I-I didn't think it was exactly the sort o' thing to-to make you take yore mind off'n 'er, but she did it, an' to my dyin' day I'll always think well of 'er an' stand up for 'er. They may make 'er marry that man or some other in the'r circle, but fer about one hour me an' her was on the level God's been tryin' fer centuries to bring folks up to. Yes; she may not be strong enough to go her way with all them ropes tied to 'er, but ef she's, ever a mother she'll be a good un-with a soul an' heart. I like 'or, George, an' I don't blame you fer acceptin' her friendship. Ef I was a man I would, of that was all the crumb she ever drapped my way. Lovin' a woman like that's jest ambition, an' ambition's right an' upliftin'." Mrs. Buckley was looking at her son, but he had turned his face away. He stood still, his features working, his strong breast heaving tumultuously. "The Truitts are a-havin' a world of trouble with Jeff." said Mrs. Buckley irrelevantly. "Somebody set fire to the'r barn last ,night. They managed "Se kissed you, mothier i God bless her!" to put it out, but Jeff got another White Cap letter a' warnin' to skip out. It had a skull an' bones on It. Mrs. Truitt's been tryin' to git 'im to leave, but old Bascom won't lot 'im go. Now, George, git the rifle an' shoot me the fattest chicke y-" see in the yard. I'm gain' to fry it' fer you. I'll bet you hain't half fed thar at Hill yer's. Them nigger cooks don't know ow to prepare a meal a' vittles." "Mother" - ho turned suddenly and resolutely on her-"you haven't told me all about her coming here." "Yes, I have. George. s' help me God!" "Not all you-thought, mother." The woman hesitated, and then she faltered: "No, i'll admit that, George. How could I? I laid awake nearly all that night studyin' over it." "Tell me what you thought, mother." ~Why, George? ]'" "Mother, this is the darkest day I have ever spent. I had one other as bad, but I drowned it in whisky, but now"-he smiled rigidly--"I am facing the music with a clear head. Mother, what did you think?" "Well, George," after another pause, 'I sorter believed she kissed *me an' an' looked like she wanted to cry in ray arms beca'se I was yore mother. I never could make out-women are sech riddles, even to '.he'rselves-I nev er could make out whether it was a goody kiss intended for you or-or another sort I watched her tell she got clean across the pasture field, an' he walked all the way with 'or head own. Now git the gun." He sat down suddenly. "Mother, I couldn't kill a living thing today," he said. I want everything to live and breathe. How can I give her up when -when she kissed you?" CHAPTER XV. SNE evening after supper in the middle of that week Kenner met George in the oflice of the Johnston House, the only hotel in the place. It was full of traveling salesmen and wagoners from the mountains, who had come in to sell their cotton. "I've been honeyfugglin' some of 'em up," Kenner smiled. "tell ing 'em this Is the best market, an' so forth, ,in the' south. Theyll git to be levin' it after awhile. -'Ef you hain't gn+ not+Mn' to d et's4 walk-nver in Roh Hanks' store." George agreed, and they started out together. "That boy's a big puzzle to me," Kenner continued thoughtfully. "Sometimes I think Hiflyer did right in backin' 'im in his business, an' then ag'in I think maybe his own daddy knows 'im better'n anybody else." "Why, I thought Bob was simply do ing wonderfully well," said George in surprise. "Ef he'd jest let his old habits go he'd be all right," replied Kenner, "but the boys say lie's as bad about flirtin' with the gals as he ever was. You know thar's a little orphan in Mrs. Styles' boardin' school on the hill. The gal's from Louisville, Ky.; she hain't more'n sixteen of she's that, an' she's a purty, daredevil little trick. Well, you know the old lady's powerful par ticular about the gals under her charge, especially the boardin' pupils, but Bob manages to meet that gal two or three times a week unbeknownst to Mrs. Styles, an' they take walks an' buggy rides together. She's a bright little thing, an' the boys say she's sim ply crazy about Bob an' everything he does. He's jest havin' his fun; but, George, you know that's unbecomin' in a feller that's makin' the start Bob is. Why, we elected 'im on the board o' trade t'other night" "I should think it was unbecoming of him," said George emphatically; "the boy ought to be talked to." "I generally do my lecturin' to the young gang in a roundabout way," re plied Kenner. "I always tell 'em the devilment I used to do an' make 'em feel like I'm one of 'em, an' then end up by showin' 'em whar I was wrong. I'm goin' to try to talk Bob out 6' this prank o' his." They found the young grocer in the rear of his store, with his coat off, di recting a negro porter who was stack ing a car load of flour in bags against the wall. "Hello!" said Kenner. "How's busi ness today?'" "Little off," replied Bob, "but a fair average; we are goin' to have a rush tomorro*. Did you see all them paper sacks full o' coffee and sugar on the counter as you come in? That's to save the boys time in weighing up. Look out there"-to the porter-"didn't I tell you to stack 'em straight?" Kenner and George sat down at the store and Bob drew up an empty can die box and sat on it' The negro fin ished his work and went to the front "Looky' here, Bob," said Kenner, with a seductive smile, "I've been bankin' on you, my boy, an' scotchin' -fer you, but you are gittin' old enough to sorter quit yore devilment I've been hearin' about the way you are a-carryin' on with that little Louisville gal, an''I hat ed it" "Oh, never mind that, Mr. Kenner." Bob put his broad, red hand over his mouth and laughed. "I know what rm about Don't you bother about me." "That never will do, Bob-mind.what I say," replied the cotton buyer. "You've started' out beautifully; - you are the wonder an', I may say, the pride of the town, but if the like o' that get's out yore ratin' will drop like the deuce." "I tell you I know what rm about," said Bob, "an' I don't want no med dlin'." He was quite serious and his face had clouded over. Fearinghe -had been too hasty, Kenner took a new "I was a powerful devil when I was a young chap," he said to George more than to the mani at whom he was speaking. "In r ~y day an' time thar was actually the wust set o' young men in this town that ever lived. I wasn't much inclined to go into mis chief, but thenm boys lest made me. It's plumb foolishness to try to lay down rules fer other folks to live by I l'arnt how silly all that was though, Bob, an' I like to try to influence:young fellows to steer clear o' the holes I fell in." "That's the way with all o' you-dern ed old codgers," Bob said, now in a thoroughly good humor. "You have all the fun, an' when ft's over you amuse yourselves by trying to keep the younger generation from doing the same thing.". "But It must be in moderation, my boy," said Kenner seriously, "andsthat little boardin' school gal-is still in short dresses. You've got a future before you, Bob, and are maing a bully start. Don't do anything -to give the old man a chance to throw it up to nts that we was wrong in standin' up fer you." Bob avoided Kenner's serious stare. "I've got up a new scheme,'" he- went on evasively- "I'm going to. fill up a big wagon full of groceries and go away up in the mountains with a: lot of catchy handbills. I intend to take along some of the goods to show that pey are the right sort, and I'll set around and eat with the people and rrack jokes and make friends like a candidate for office. I'll beg you I make it pay. I'm going to sts.rt some of 'em this way that are now Duying n the other side of the mountains." "A bang-up idea," said Kenner ad miringly. "I've been up thar a good deal myself, an' better folks never lived." CHAPTERL KVI. SRS. CRANSTON availed herself of the first oppprtunity to speak confidentially to Kitty Cosby about Lydia and George Buck ley after Miss Cosby's arrival from Virginia. "You remember, I wrote you I had something particulair to tell you, Kit ty," she remarked on the first after noon as.she and the guest were stroll ing on the lawn together. "And you bet you roused my curios ity, Mrs. Cranston," replied the girl,. who was quite pretty, decidedly styl ish and tall and graceful, having brown hair and hazel eyes that seemed con stantly laughing. "I know it's about Lydia." Mrs. Cranston led her into a summer house near the carriage drive. It had two compartments and entrances from different walks. Before answering. Mrs. Cranston peered cautiously tbrough the wooden latticework that separated the two rooms. "What are you doing?" Miss Cosby asked. "I was looking to see if anybody was on the other side," was the answer, in a satisfied tone, as Mrs. Cranston seat ed herself. "We had -a lot of trouble here in the summer at a lawn party, owing to some people hearing them selves talked about There was a poony pair on that side and a couple of old maids on this one. The lovers were blissfully silent, for reasons of their own, and they heard some things about themselves that they didn't like. Yes, I want to talk to you about Lydia." "I knew it," cried the visitor, laying ertwo hands on Mrs. Cranston's arm an sitting down beside her. "She's going to marry the governor, and youl want me to help prepare for the event" Mrs. Cranston shook her head and 'went on with a lengthy explanation of the existing state of affairs, in which thenane of George Buckley appeared s..oftn as that of Governor Telfare. "Now, you see the nx we are I, Mrs. Cranston ended., The young lady wag\ silent, her fair brow wrinkled. "Why, Mrs. Cranston, it's simply awful!" she said after a pause. "It will never do for it to go on like this. It will. be ruinous. Has the child lost her reason? Why, if he is as bad as you say, how on earth does be happen to be in-in good so ciety-even here?," "Perhaps I am not quite fair to him," Mrs. Cranston admitted, "or to Lydia either, in not mentioning what has real ly been in his favor. In the first place, he is by far the best educated and most refined young man in the place; his employer sent him off to college and gave him extraordinary advan tages; then he happens to be a great reader, and Lydia is, too, you know yes, he has most remarkably polished manners and is decidedly good look ing." "Oh, and you put that last! How ridiculous!" Miss Cosby laughed mer rily and then suddenly subsided, for her hostess was looking at her with a pained expression. "It's no laughing matter, Kitty. We are in an awful fix. You know how headstrong Lydia is, and if she were just to get the idea that we were op posing her she'd be worse than ever. So I knew your influence would be good. You will bring her back to the old associations, and in an indirect way you can show her the social ad vantages of marrying Governor Tel fare." "Oh, I can do all that," said Kitty, "and if she is not alreadyIn love with this-this nondescript I'll bring her to her senses. But tell me about him that's the main thing. What's he like? How does he conduct himself? Why, I can't imagine a-a son of a common thief, a lowborn mountaineer, a penni less bookkeeper, being even for a min ute on a social footing with the only child of Major Cranston-even if you are living in the backwoods, out of all creation. If the two were shipwrecked on a lonely island together I should think"--Kitty was displaying her fine, even teeth in a jovial smile-"fthat the very waves would throw up a sort of bar4er." "The religious element here gbverns everything," returned Mrs. Cranston, with a patient smile. "These good, Christian people would think we were awfully stuck up if we refused to ad mit a worthy young man to our house just because his father had gone wrong; besides, he had established him self before his father's trouble. We simply drifted into the situation, and things -went on till now we don't know where we stand. But to be perfectly fair to him, Kitty, he's simply a mascu line marvel. When I began to fear him I began to watch for vulnerable places in his makeup, but I've found precious few, I tell you-precious few. You know I've seen good society,. if any Virginia woman has, and I'm go ing to tell you that I have never met a more polished man in all my life-no, sir, not in Richmond, nor Boston, nor Charleston. .ge has actually made me blush with shame. I remember once I disputed his word about one of Bal zac's heroes, only to have him prove that I was wrong a few minutes -later in the nicest manner. "He happened-to be dining here,-too, one night when Bishop Page stopped over with us on his way to Florida. There were several~ young men pres ent, among them 'Tarpley Dandridge, who belongs to one of the very- oldest families in Georgia and Is considered the catch of the county. Well, he sat there like a stick in the cushion ofhis chair and let Mr. Buckley conduct the entire conversation with the bishop. In fact, Bishop Page simply directed most of his remarks to Mr. Buckley, and It really was an intellectual treat. He tripped the bishop up twice, and the old man flushed, but laughingly ad mitted he was wrong. He was most favorably impressed' with Mr. Buckley, and, of course, I did not enter into awkward explanations. Yes, his man ners could not be improved. He must have associated with refined people when he was ofi' at college. I shall always say that the surest sign of a gentleman is for him to put his elbows on the dinner table without seeming to do It. I don't say Mr. Buckley puts his on, but he doesn't sit up like a post and not know what to do with his hands, as some men do. He acts, even on occasions like that dinner, as if such things were an everyday affair. The maidi, in passing around the table, awk wardly touched his elbow just as he was about to drink from his glass of claret and shook some of the wine out on my best cloth. Now, I once saw the same thing happen to a man in Richmond, and he promptly laid the blame where it belonged, to acquit him self of appearing awkward, but 'Mr. Buckley treated it with superb indif ference. He was telling some story, and he did not even pause, but, taking a salt cellar, he poured some of the salt on the spot, and as he continued to talk he kept rubbing It in as if he hardly knew what he was doing. The salt saved the cloth from a bad stain, and It was all done as a prince might have done It. "You know the negroes can never for give the poor whites for rising into prominence, and Milly, when she was clearing away the things from the table that evening, called to me. 'Come here, Miss Amy,' she said, with a sneer; 'everybody done lef' deir napkins on de table 'cept dat po' white trash, en he lef' his in his chair.' Of course it was a little thing and has no weight one way or another; but, do you know, the next month when I was back in Rich mond, and your aunt Tilly had that young English lord to dinner, I watch ed everything he did and noticed that he dropped his napkin In his chair when he left the table. I have since learned that It is quite customary over there. We don't do It, you know, but really they would look nicer in the chairs than a lot of linen wads stuck about among the finger bowls and salad dishes. They would be less sug gestive of the lavatory of a crowded sleeping car early in the morning. Kitty Cosby drew a full breath when Mrs. Cranston paused. "And on top of all that you say he's good looking," she said, with a pretty smile. "Well, I'll tell you, you'd bet ter send me back to Richmond. My folks have certain vague matrimonial plans for me, and I don't know whether I'm safe here or not. I always, did love 1to kick over the -traces." "Oh, do be-sensible, Kitty!" "Well, you certainly have got trouble ahead," said the girl, more seriously. "Lydia would hate to cause discord in tefamilyi I know, but nine girls out of ten would fall dead in love with that sortf man under those circumstances, .1and they would want' to stick to him "Oh, Kitty, how could- we-how could we possibly write back that our only child was to marry a man like that? What would the Parsons, the Wood burys, the Delmars, think? And Aunt~ Hallie, who at once gets the particu lars. and if the name were not down in lo1thin 9 FOR FAI L AND WINTER. 3 Our Fall and Winter Garments are now ready, and 3 -whatever your needs may be in Men's, Boys' or Children's Clothing, Hats and Furnishing Goods, we would like the 'pleasure of supplying. We would certainly like to number you among our regular patrons, and we hope to win you by the excel lence of our Clothing and the reasonableness of our prices. In New Quarters. e now occupy the Ryttenberg Building, Main and 3 Liberty streets. I D J.CHANDLER ~ I CLOTHING 00. I ~ Sumter, S. C.I Srmifmmmrmim t1,,rfimimmttimilmimb WO.DOUGLAS BR.' SOES THE )() LDOLASSOES for en hES SZEIGLER BRO.'S SHOES for Women and Children ex ~E cel in quality, style and fit any other shoe on the market. 2 Now to more circulate and prove the merit of these C Shoes we will, during the month of November, sell shoes a Sless than regular price, on the following conditions: C Any one bringing this advertisement will get our W. SL. Douglas $4 Shoes at 83.50; $3.50 Shoes at $3; $3 Shoes C at $2.50. The Zeigler Bro. 's Shoes we will sell accordingly.' SRemember, SIt is only during this month that we can sell these Shoes Sfor that price. After December 1st regular price will go e into effect again. SNow if you want to make 50 cents or as many times S50 cents as you choose, come to the NEW IDEA and get Sthe best Shoes made for yourself, wife and children. UTlE NEW IDEA, M. M. KRASNOFF, Prop.