Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CHAPTER XI ? 12 ? Her elder sisters had finally given up open opposition to Smlf's plan of buff ing herself at Lovely lea. Among themselves they had agreed that her purchase of the plantation was unim portant, since If she made the sort of marriage they meant she should, she wosld be In a position to indulge her sentiment for the old home of her family and have other "more suitable" establishments elsewhere as well. Aa usual, Smif understood them per | fectly ; but It suited her to be freed from nagging arguments while she brought her plans to completion. Doc tor Blanton's ready acquiescence in her arrangements came as a complete surprise, however; until, of a sudden, Bhe suspected that he was about to propose another occupation for her. In a panic, she hurried her prepara tions and left for the South without the formality of good-bys. Once she was settled, she would write to every body. Meanwhile she was annoyed that she heard nothing from Bill-Lee. He must realize her eagerness to have the preliminaries definitely over. She did not know exactly when Stone's tenancy terminated but had vague plans that might enable her to assume possession of her property almost at once. She was sure that Stone at least would understand and sympa thize with her desire to own the home of her fathers however disappointing It was to him personally. But what could Bill-Lee he doing to prevent his acknowledging her letter? So far, she had told Stone nothing, although her plans were more or less elaborate, including first his reconcilia tion with his neighbors and next, find ing him a desirable plantation nenr enough to Lovelylea to permit of his continued use of the track and other Improvements he had installed on Its acres. Before she saw him, she pro posed to clear up the entire situation as regards the Hoxton Hunt club. With this In mind, she went directly to Culthorpe, the home of her cousin, Christopher Culpeper. Both he and his wife were delighted that Smif had elected to Btay with them out of the large number of relations she had to choose from. "Who was It told us Smif was not In the least good-looking?" Cousin Kit asked his wife as they stood side by side at a window and watched her shepherding along the drive toward the house their son Jeff's twins, fugi tives with their grandparents from whooping-cough among their brothers and sisters. "Cally Peter's oldest girl, the one who came from New York with her cheeks painted white and her mouth painted purple, and vowed that make up was all the ;j,ge In the North," Cousin Mab replied. "I never believed her. All the Lovelys were handsome." "Smlf's a picture," her husband roared so loudly that she henrd her name, looked up and waved her hand to them. "Why some man hasn't snapped her up before this heats me. In my day she'd not have been single this long." Smif soon decided that she was sufficiently established in the favor of her family to advance the cause she had at heart. She came in and sank into a chair, laughing. "Madame and sir," she said with a final chuckle, "your grandchildren are adorable but exhausting. I hnve re turned them to Mammy undamaged, al though it was touch and go. .They al most convinced me that the two colts In the near pasture were their prop erty and ought to he exercised." "The little devils," said their grand father prldefully. "Have you looked through the cards Of the people who called yesterday while we were at your Aunt Fanny Madison's?" Cousin Mab askod. Smif accepted this as her chanco. "Yes," she saijl, "and that reminds me: Don't you think it strange that Stone Neshit hasn't called? After all, he is occupying Lovelylea and I want to seo the old place again." She had looked for an explosion from Cousin Kit. None came. f Instead he scratched his forehead | contemplatively. "Oorry, Smif," he muttered a trifle shamefacedly, "I'm mighty sorry to dis appoint you all. I'm afraid that can't he managed. You see, Mr. Neshit long ago made up his mind that he would have nothing to do with any of us." "Now what do you mean by that?" Smif demanded, Instantly on the alert st this placing of the blame on Stone's shoulders. . "Well," Cousin Mab cut In briskly. "It bolls down to this: The yonng man came here from Clod knows where, and brought a pack o? hounds-?" , "So the members of the Hoxton Hunt got sore," Cousin Kit interrupt ed, "and ever since then their wives and daughters have been throwing It tip to them that they made a mess of a very simple business." '"And so you did," Cousin Mab de clftred without animus. "I grant you It was a case calling for a little tact, ? thing of which men know only the name. Any lad pf spirit would have acted exactly as young Neshit did. I'd have been afthamed of a son of my own who had done otherwise." "Well, we sent him an Invitation to Join the Hunt, didn't we? And the young cub returned It unopened." Cousin Kit growled defensively. "What?" exclaimed Smlf sharply. "You Invited Stone to Joint the Hunt?" Kit Culpeper might not have noticed this slip, but Cousin Mab raised her delicate eyebrows and pounced on It at once. "Stone?" she repeated with an Inter rogative Inflection. "You know Mr. Nesblt, honey?" "Yes," Smlf acknowledged, "1 know him. Lie Is my cousin. His grand mother ? great-grandmother, 1 mean ? was Lorraine Lovely." "Well, I'll be d ? d !" Cousin Kit ex ploded. "Now," said Smlf, "let me tell you his side of the affair and perhnps It will all be clearer." She told the story well and they listened with at least a partial under standing of Stone's loneliness and bit terness. "And now what can we do about it?" Cousin Kit Inquired, looking from one to the other of his companions. Smlf had taken thought to herself and had decided that It would be bet ter If she did not appear too openly In the matter. "The affair needs careful considera tion," she confessed. "Give us time and Cousin Mab and I will find a way out of the tangle." "Certnlnly we will," Cousin Mab nodded, her head already full ^ of matchmnklng schemes. Wasn't Stone Nesblt reputed to be very wealthy? Wasn't he a suitable age? Mightn't he he an explanation of Smlt's sudden j-et urn 'to the neighborhood? Cousin Kit rambled out and Smlf at once proceeded to dispel Cousin Mab's rosy dream. "You see," she confided to her grave ly, "I'm not ready yet for anyone else to know It, not even Cousin Kit. who I don't believe could keep a secret to save his life: I've bought I.ovelylea from Bill-Lee, and I'm beginning to be afraid Stone Is going to feel terribly about Itr especially as I've never told him that I had made the arrangements with Bill-Lee." This, Cousin Mab was forced to acknowledge to herself, did not look like a love affair. She did her best to keep her face from falling, but Smlf noticed the change in her expression. "Don't you approve of me as a neighbor?" Cousin Mab at once recaptured her poise. "My dear, I'm delighted," she said. "I was only wondering If you knew how the activities of ihe plantation have expanded under Mr. Nesblt. It seems a tremendous undertaking for a young woman." Smlf chuckled Joyously at the antici pation. "That's why It will be such fun to tackle It," she explained. "1 love to pull off something successfully where every one expects me to fall." She was thinking of the case of Madame Saltou, Incorporated. Instinctively she was sure that that was not an affair which her dear Cousin Mab could ever be brought to understand, so It re mained unmentloned between thorn. "Now about Mr. Nesblt?" Cousin Mab began. "What do you think of the twins?" Stnif inquired. "The twins?" Their grandmother was bewildered. "As messengers, I mean. Peacemak ers In fact. I'm certain Stone would not refuse to receive a child, and, not expecting one, his orders would only have concerned themselves with grown men. Listen, what do you say to this?" And Smlf unfolded tier plan which, In duo course, the twins Im proved on after a pattern of their own. That nfternoon, Stone, led by excited barks from Ileaucalre and confirma tory mutterlngs from Voltaire, wont through the hall to the front dooi* to ascertain the cause of the warning. "No one was visible and to his eye thore was nothing amiss. Beaucalre had disappeared down the steps with a yelp of Joy, and he and Voltaire fol lowed, to the edge of the platform. Ilelow him, flat on their backs on one of the broad steps, lay two small fig ures, gazing unwlnklngly upward. The dog was running from one to the other bestowing lavish klssos Indiscrim inately. "Hello," said Stone, "who are you and where did you drop from?" At his words both the children sat up with a unanimity of action that was like a mechanical toy. "You've got a mighty nice dog," t li*? young gentleman remarked casually. "I s'pose you wouldn't sell him or swop him?" Ills sister frowned at him darkly and also directed an admonitory kick In his direction. "Thnt's not the way to begin," she said In a surprisingly deep and low pitched voice. "Suppose you begin by telling me your names?" Stone suggested, at a loss to explain such arrivals on his doorstep. "Haven't you s Wjitler?" the girl de manded, her voice suddenly high and childish. "We've come to call on yoti." She was taking the stand that, ns their call had not been officially begun, they had not been Introduced : and Stone entered Into the game with be coming gravity, going Inside the house without further words and back to his study to await their ring at the bell and his summons by the butler. This was a visit of ceremony and must be treated as such. "The front door-bell will ring In a moment or two, Daly," he said to his butler. "There are two youngsters there. Treat them as If they were en tirely grown up, understand? Take their cards, show them Into the par lor. There they are now. Bring the cards to me. I'm anxious to know who they are." The butler returned, consumed with laughter. "Ye'll learn little from them cards, sir," he said, holding out a salver on which reposed two Imposing looking pasteboards. "I can tell you who the little divils are." "Let them tell me In their own way," Stone picked the cards up. One was engraved MRS. RUTHERFORD MADISON MADISON THE MISSES MADISON Mlddlehurgh, Virginia. The other MRS. CONNISTON COULTER Tar Hill Plantation And once again Stone asked himself If he was being made the butt of a Joke? However he went to greet his visitors, their cards in his hand. "I'm delighted to see you," be said. "Did you like our tickets?" the boy asked. "We picked the v&jry nicest, biggest ones in the card basket," the girl in terposed. "Toddy's a stupid little boy. "Why Some Man Hasn't Snapr cJ Her Up Beats Me." They aren't tickets. Tickets are what yon have when the circus comes. These are cards ? for visits, you know. You have to have 'em when you make real visits. We never did before." "What ar< I to call you." Stone asked, flicking the pasteboards with a finger. "The names on these are so formal." "I'm Patsy Culpeper," the little girl said distinctly. "What?" Stone cried explosively. "Who sent you here?" "Gran," said Patsy, "and she gave me a message. And I've forgotten It." "So have I," said her brother. Suddenly his sister began to paw all over his Inadequate attire. "There was a letter," she declared, "what did you do with It, Todhunter Culpeper?" "I had it when we laid down on the steps to think because we were so erzausted." Toddy wrinkled his brow. "I know," they both cried together. ' the puppy has It. He took it to give his master. " Retrieved from the steps where Beaucalre had dropped it on Stone's appearance, the note wns reclaimed. It proved to be a few lines from Mrs. Culpeper : "Dear Mr. Nesblt : "Will you take a dish of tea with me tomorrow afternoon? I shall be all alone save for the twins. "Cordially yours. "Mabel Todhunter Culpeper." "Who is Mabel Culpeper?' he asked the two. "My sister," Patsy told lilrn. "She's a borrld little girl. She's got whoop lug-cough." Stone essayed another tack. "Who wrote this note?" "I,et nie Ree it, old mnn," Toddy suggested, holding It upside down and examining It with Interest as If he had never laid eyes on It before. "From that blob," he put a finger on the s?>al, "I'd Ray Gran ? only she us'ally puts a stamp on when she writes to my mother." The angular handwriting also point ed to old Mrs. Culpeper. Stone wrote her a short note of nr ceptance but was disinclined to trust It to the twiiiR" tender mercies, "How did you come here?" he asked "We left our carriage at the gnt?? Wo needed fresh air," Patsy asserted primly. So. Stone walked with them and handed tils note to the o'd col ored coachman who was drowsing on the box of the Culpeper victoria. Stone wus amazed and somewhat distrustful on receipt of Mrs. Cui paper's message, yet to his mind he had no alternative. He must accept an Invitation coming from an elderly lady. Tho more he dwelt on the thought the more distasteful It be came to him but go he must. He need have had no apprehension of stiffness or social strain. Mabel Culpeper was born a Todhunter of Charleston, and the graceful manage ment of men was part of her heritage. She met him as If he were an old friend and shortly they felt entirely at home together. Tea was brought and with It came the twins, hand In hand on their best be havior, at least until the cakes were consumed. "This is a pnrty !" Patsy announced. "I always know It Is a party when I see those little blnck cakes." "Certainly It's a party," her grand mother agreed. "It's your Cousin Stone's coming out pnrty." Stone started nnd made no attempt to conceal It, looking lo her for an explnntlon. ? "That Is the only complaint I have to make of you, Stone," she said easily. "Down here blood Is still thicker than water. You must have known that Lorraine Ixively and my mother's mother were cousins." Rut but I didn't," Stone stam mered, bewildered. "I had no idea of such a thing." "Then I forgive you." Mrs. Cul peper was benignity itself as she fired her next shot. "Of course you will have to make your peace with your Cousin Kit when you see him. He hail set his heart on your Joining tfie IIox ton Hunt when they invited you?' " "Invited me!" Stone cried. ?'That's the very first 1 ever heard of It !" "Well, dear hoy." Mabel Culpeper had a disarming smile, "you will own that letters cnn't be expected to talk, and If you send them back unopened ? " She looked at him and saw that it was unnecessary to say more. So that was the letter I returned. What a little fool I must have seemed." "Not a fool ? only a spirited boy. I assure you "that I was proud to claim you when recently I learned that yon were my cousin." "My dear," Mrs Culpeper told Smlf later. "I really liked our new cousin. If I were younger. 1 would dispute his possession with that fat Miss Mer cedes, who has given every one In the neighborhood to understand that she has him in her pocket." Smlf replied. "Of course Miss Mer cedes means to marry him and, frank ly, I think he d he happier married. Me badly needs companionship." "Not the companionship of that county fair exhibit," Cousin Mah stated with a firmness that defied contradlc Hon. "She is shrewd hut totally unln terestlng, and I suspect conies of vul trar people of the Middle West. There'* a burr In her speech that cnn't other wise he accounted for. It Is the most persistent of our provincial accents, and although she neems to fancy so. calling you 'honey' every other minute doesn't make one a southerner, does It. honey? Frankly, I don't like tin young woman, although she gives tlw most delicious dinners In the state." "So I've heard. . . . Well. SOoner or later she'll he hack nmoriK us, ten yea rs yonnper and many times more beautiful. Then we'll see if Stone can resist her." "J to von approve of the mnlch?' Cousin Mah was watching her keenly and Smif bent for a light for her cigarette. 'I do and I don't," she owned with entire candor, waving nway with on?> hand the smoke that partly veiled her face. "I confess I'm not crazy about Miss Mercedes, hut I do think It's hard lines to he denied n love affair simply because one's fat. fn spite of that when I once fancied for a few mo ments tlint they were actually en paired. I cnn't say that I was pleased, even while I mi w plainly what n nice solution If would he of all my worries." "And whnt nro your worries?" Cousin Mnh Inquired, lifting quizzical eyebrows. "They're principally couponed with Stone at present. I ought to have told him long ago that I had planned nil my life to buy I.ovelylen. Now, it |h going to look as If J had hurried to do It behind his buck. Arid Ktor>?? nruj I !?nve been friends. I'd hnte to >ose thnt friendship nlmost ns much is ['d hnte to lose I.ovelylen. Not fjultc, | suppose; because If the acnles tipped thnt wny, I could sny : 'Here it is, I've bought It; but If you love It too much to lose It. I ll K|V? it Up fn y^".' . . . I'm not thnt unselfish. Cousin Mnh. I'd love him to hnve the usb of It. I'd be glnd to let him use the trnck nnd the new Rtahles nnd the other Improvements be hns built.? lint the old plnce Is ours. Our dend lie 'here. Without disloyalty to them, how can I give It up?" The older woman made no answer when Smlf paused nnd looked nf her nppenllnglv. She knew right well the solution she would like to recommend, but It wns too soon for s6 risky n ven hire. Smlf might tnke alarm and run nwny North, which wns the Insl thing she wnnted. So she preserved a sym pathetic silence and Smlf went on: "You can see It would be a won derful solution for mo If he married Mercedes. He would live within easy reach and we could at least share the track and training quarters. I don't think I'll brenk the news to him until Mercy is back from her cure and I'm sure he knows his own mind. Then, If he Just won't have her, I'll help him look about for another place. I might even pretend It was for me. What would you think of that?" "My dear, don't ask my advice. I'm an utterly unprincipled woman myself. Your Cousin Kit will tell you that I only tell the truth when I've made up my mind nothing else will work as well. That's as It may be. but It's what he always says. When do you propose to let Stone know that you are here?" "I'd like It awfully If he could be taken to the heart of the Hoxton Hunt and the countryside In general with out fancying I had anything to do with It," Smlf said wistfully. "It would mean a lot for ? well ? for his morale, I'll call It for lack of a better word. I must visit Great-Aunt Anabel Trevor and the Culpeper aunts and uncles some time. Suppose I start the rdund at once? Can you get the pre liminaries over In two weeks, say? Then I'll come back as If It was my first appearance and stay with you. If you'll have me. until Susan Phelps comes down to Lovelylea to a house party there. The Pheipses are really my dearest friends up North. You'll like them. Cousin Mab. Tell me, will that suit you?" "Perfectly, and I don't know why It shouldn't work. Since nobody knows you know Stone except Kit and me, you'll pmhnbly not be mentioned if I warn Kit." Which she proceeded to do with such emphasis that for once lie held Ills usually unruly tongue. Smlf left on her series of visits and peace descended upon Culthorpe. CHAPTER XII For Stone, the next few week? were among the happiest of his life so far. At last he was among friends, and not the least of his pleasures was the anticipation of Smif's surprise when she arrived at Lovelylea to find the situation so completely altered. Ills early contacts were, naturally enough, with the men of the countryside, and so it hap pened, ns Smlf had hoped, thai he did not hear of her first visit to Culthorpe. Not quite so soon as she had expect ed she returned there and was wel comed with acclaim by Its Inmates. I Cousin Mab was especially delighted to have her back. As an enthusiastic matchmaker she was eager to see the first meeting between Stone and Smlf in order to draw her own conclusions. It is sure that if Smif had fathomed Cousin Mali's schemes she would have taken herself off at once. As It was, without a word to any one, she had a horse saddled the morning after her return and rode off alotie to Lovelylea. When she entered the grounds and walked her mount up the winding drive, her heart almost stood still. Nothing here was changed, really And, strange to say. it bad not grown smaller, as places seen last In childhood are so apt to do. The house, tail -pillared and spacious, stood on a rise of ground scarcely high enough to deserve the name of bill, ??et giving it command of all the sur rounding country. At sight ot It. the suspense was over, her heart resumed its heat, her blood seemed to sing through her veins. Kor her, the old place was as it had always been. "And It's mine," she said under her breath; "at last all this loveliness is all my own. What more could I want in the world than this?" A colored boy came around the cor ner and ran down the steps to take her horse, a wide grin of welcome on his face. "Mawnln', Miss Smlf." he said, "Mist* Nesbit, he's not gone far. I'll sen' one of those lazy nlggahs f'oin the stabiles afteh him." "How did you know my name?" she asked amazed. This boy could not have been born when she left lone ly lea. "I he'ped to hank yo'h plcshnre," be replied unhesitatingly. "Mist' Nesbit, he tol' us who it was." "I see," Smlf said, "but It Is not really a picture of me. It Is a portrait of Mr. Nesbit 's great-grandmother." "Yes'n, Miss Smif," he rejoined with a polite attempt to conceal utter unbelief. "Looks a heap like you all. Don' look like nobody's gramma, 'at lady." "She wasn't a grandmother until years later." Smif explained. "Kven your own grandmother must hn /e been young once." "Haw haw," the hoy burst Info loud guffaw. "Didn't nobody paint any plcshures of my gramma?" (TO UK <X)NTINUKr> ) Younpf Cro?? Atlnntic The fresh water eels of Ilrltlsh rlv ers are horn In the depths of the Af lanflc off ftermurirt. After the eggs are hatched It takes the young eels three years to cross the Atlantic to Krltnln. MACHINE BUTTERS BREAD It Is said that the original bread slicing machine was a crude devlc* which was Improvised by a kitchen helper In a large Institution where the matter o* furnishing brend for the Inmates was a serious task. The cutting had to be started long be fore the meal or It would have been Impossible to deliver the bread fast enough to keep up w'th tho appe tites to be satisfied. Some Inventor took the cue from this and made a sllcer with a swinging knife blade . with a connection that pushed the bread along after each passage of the knife. The next step was the re volving knife and the latest refine ment Is an Improvement on this which butters the sllcos as they are severed from the loaf. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are the orig inal little liver pills put up 60 ^ara ago. They regulate liver and bowels. ? Adv. Few Qualify A good detective is always one who doesn't look like a detective. How Acid Stomach Makes Itself Known to You HERE ARE THE SIGNS: Nerrou*n*M Frequent Headache* Neuralgia Feellnft of YVeakneea Indlfteatlon SleepleaaneM Lom of Appetite Mouth Acidity Nausea Sour Stomach Auto-lntoxlcatlon WHAT TO DO FOR ITi TAKC ? 2 teaspoonfuls of Phillips' Milk of Mag nesia in a glass of water every morning when you get up. Take another teaspoonful 30 minutes after eating. And another before you go to bed. OR? Take the new Phillips' Milk of Magnesia Tablets ? one tablet for each teaspoonful as di rected above. If you have Acid Stomach, don't worry about it. Follow the simple directions Riven above. This small dosage of Phillips' Milk of Magnesia acts at once to neutralize the acids that cause headache, stomach pains and other distress. Try it. You'll feel like a new person. But ? be careful you get REAL milk of magnesia when you buv ? genuine PHILLIPS' Milk of Mag nesia. See that the name "PHIL LIPS' ? is on the label. ALSO IN TA&LtT FORM Each tiny tablet is the equivalent of a teaspoonful of Genuine Phillips' Milk of Magnesia. MEMBER N.R.A* Phillips' M.ilk of Alagncsia Bronchial Irritations Need Creosote For many years our best doctors have prescribed creosote In soma form for coughs, colds and bron chitis, knowing how dangerous It is to let them hang on. Creomulslon with creosote and six other highly Important medic inal elements, quickly and effective ly stops coughs and ids that otherwise might lead to serious trouble. Creomulslon Is powerful In the treatment of colds and coughs, yet it Is absolutely harmless and is pleasant and easy to take. Your own druggist guarantees Creomulslon by refunding your money If you are not relieved after taking Creomulslon as directed. Be ware the cough or cold^thnt hangs on. Always keep Creomulslon on hand for Instant use. (adv.) Complexion Curse She thought she was lust unlucky when he called on heroncc ? avoi<le<l her thereafter. Hut no on t admires pimply, blemished skin. More and more women are realizing that pimples ami blotches are often danger signals of domed howels ? poisono*i? wastes ravaging the system. Let NR (Nature's Remedy) afford complete, thorough elimination and promptly case away beauty ruining poisonous matter. Fine (or sick head nche, ()ihfMiscon<lition?,dizzine88. Try this safe. dependnble, nil? vegetable correc tive. At nil drug gist*' ? only 25c. T? I tIC" Quick relief foe fteMMlg* | U IVl J lion, heartburn. 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