University of South Carolina Libraries
The Barnwell People. Largest Circulation in the Count? 11 V GANTT AS A FARMER. What It Oosta an Ex-Editor to Ralao Cotton—Religion in th« Cotton Field. Mr. T. Larry Gantt ha* retired from Journalism, bat he wield* a racy pen In the Free Lance every week, and here it one of his latest experiences as a farmer: All of this week I have been hard at wore on my farm, and had only time to pay two little pop-calls to town. I am Killing 'grass and cleaning-* my crop* while the sue shines, and hive now my cotton brought to a stand and the dirt thrown back, and my corn replanted and worked over. The dry May hM been a blessing Ao the farmers, for it enabled us to catch up with our work^and get our crops in good condition. We are now ready for rain, and don't care how soon it comes. Nothing exoept spring oats has suffered ‘ from the dry weather, but there is time enough for them to stretch up if we get a good, soaking rain In the next few days. Those moopites predict a down pour of water at Luna’s next change. I don’t take much stock in this moon business, but since | have shucked a suspender, and sport a ten cents hal, 1 find myself fast absorbing the supersti tions of m\ brother farmers, and the other day looked into the almanac to prognosticate rain. This week, Id having my crops hoed over, 1 had to make a draft on those town darkles to do the work. Occasion ally 1 would pick up a band who did me good and faithful service, but, like angel’s visits, they are few and far be tween,; and 1 will also add that when you find an old-time hand, born and raised In slavery days, you have an agricultural treasure indeed. But my friend, 'Squire Sloan, is right about this younger generation of negroes, for not one in ten is worth killing. Only yesterday two colored dudlnes from town came out to Hungry Hill to chop for me. As soon as 1 set eyes bn the pair, and saw the way they ducked their heads and noticed the airs they 6 ut on. I knew that they were no good. lut I had a grassy piece of cotton to clean, and made a contract by which I was to pay them 50 cents per acre, the usual price. In about an hour 1 went over to see how my ebony hued treas ures were progressing with their work, and found that they would have no trouble in getting over.about five acres apiece by dinner. Kach was carrying her rows, giving a lick here and there, and leaving bushes, grass and an aver age of ten stalks to a hill.. Of course I made them start back over again, but with little better success. When the sun began to get warm they adjourned to the spring and spent the greater part of the day there. At night 1 set tled up with the pair of town dudlnes, and dismissed them with the admoni tion that they had evidently missed their calling. I told them that such fragile, black violets were not corn to waste their odor in the cotton field, but they should be gracing some cake-walk, or leading aa African german. When 1 went to measure their day's work, 1 found they bad haggled over just one- quarter of an acre, which I will have to get some old-fashioned country dar key to clean out again. These dark-hued damsels said they did not like working by the acre, but preferred day wages. 1 told them that I knew of only one man in the whole South who could pay them by the day, without going into the hands of a re ceiver—Mr. Vanderbilt, just this side of Asheville ; that- he had an income of about ten million dollars per year, and might possibly be able to make two or three crops with colored town belles before the sheriff closed him out. Monday I (put a dozen hands at work chopping cotton, paying them by the day, and found it the biggest swindle ever perpetrated on a confiding and gullible farmer. They each averaged about one-eighth of an acre of cottoa. I very fooftVhly put them ail to working in one squad, and these darkles evi dently thought that i had Invited them to Hungry Hill for the purpose of or ganizing a debating society. They discussed every topic under the sun, and exhausted the subject too. About eleven o’clock they struck religion, and until tips sun went down the battle raged warm and bitter. My squad of hands were equally divided between Baptists and Methodists, and each faction upheld the doctrine of its Shurch and quoted Scripture to sus tain their position^ Sometimes the whole force would rest on their hoes half an hour, while one of the leaders would deliver a religious exhortation. I dll my best to break up this religious controversy by such Biblical quotations as " man must earn his bread by the sweat of his brow," and not by wag ging his tongue : that “ ail flesh is grass,” and therefore It becomes the duty of human flesh to exterminate grass, etc, etc. But it was no good. 4ust as soon as my back was turned the warry contest continued hotter than ever; and 1 gave up in despair. It took two water tutors to supply these hands and I would as soon try to fill a locomotive as one of ' them. Chit of the squad of twelve, at least three hands were absent from the field all the time. That night I dismissed my Cotton Patch Debating Society, and made up my mind that it is a losing business for a farmer to try and mix Baptists, Methodists and cotton-hoers in the same field. 1 have only planted about five acres of cotton to the plow, but to get back my expenditures, the staple will have Vo bring something like 20 cents per pound next fall. 1 have my crops clean at last, and hope that suffering times are about over. I am- devoting my greatest attention to corn and provis ion crops. T. L. G. —A Federal judge in Indiana has rendered a decision in a civil case whlc,h is in line with the recent rul ings in this State regarding damages for lynchlngs. The heirs of a man who was lynched sued the sheriff and his bondsmen for $25,000 damages and as a a result oLthis civil suit the State hopes to- procure evidence to convict the lynchers. The court stated its position as follows: “ If the law im pose* a duty of care in.rpssect to ani mals and goods which he has taken into' bis possession by virtue of his office why should not the law impose the duty of care upon him in respect to human beings who are tn'his cus tody by virtue of his office V Is a help less prisoner, in the custody of a sheriff, less entitled to his care than a bale of goods or a dumb beastl* The law is not subject U> ana such re proach.” • _ —A cynical writer says what this country needs is a better mail service abroad and better female service at . ' CHAPTER V. ; * * ' 8H1PWRKCK. Mary Conway forgot in an instant all the weariness and heartsickness which bad possessed her when abe entered tbe honse. She cast bat one glance at the helpless figure lying on the hearth rug, then ran to the bell and pulled at it hard, an eager peal such aa brought the two maidservants running in to sea wbat was amisa “Mouncey—my mother I How long has she been leftt” Mrs. Conway gasp ed. Mouncey with a scared face knelt down on the other side of tbe nncon- ecioua woman. "Lor*, ma’am,” aha aaid in trembling tones, “it's not tan minutes since I carried tea in. I came twice, and Mrs. Hamilton said she’d rather waft for you, and at last Foster made the buna hot, and I brought tea in without spying anything. And Mru Hamilton, she says, ‘Why, Monnqey,’ she says, 'you do spoil me. ’ And I say to her, ‘Lor’, ma’am, miaaas will he vexed if you go any longer past your tea time.’ And then she eaye: ‘There's the newsboy. I’d like a paper, Mouncey.' So I went oat epd got one, and I give It to her and-j-why, poor lady, ahe% never had any^tea at all I” ”W# most get her np to bed at once, ” said Mary anzionaly. "Can we carry her among nat” “Lor’, yaa, ma’am,” anewwadr Mouncey promptly. “A little bit of a thing like her I Here, Faster, take her feet I’ll take her bead. No, ma’gm; we can do better just the two of ua.” She was right and Mrs. Hamilton, who was very small and alight, was soon safely.laid upon her own bed. “I’d better fetch the doctor, ma’am T” asked Foster. ‘‘Oh. yes, yes, at once I We mual get her into bed. Mouncey.” “Yes, ma’am, but there’s no need to hurry. Poor lady I I’m afraid it will make very little difference to her I** “HuBh-ahl’’ cried Mary fearfully. “Nay, ma’am; she hears nothing. If 1 was you, I would just cover her over with the eider quilt tilHbe doctor baa seen her. Anyway I wonldn’t undress her till the fire has burned np. I was jnst coming np to light it ” She covered the old lady with tbe warm, gay colored quilt aa she spoke, and taking, after tbe manner of house maids, a box of matches from her pocket set light to the fire, which soon burned up cheerfully, casting a bright glow over the pretty room. “I’ll fetch yon a cup of tea now, ma’am,” she remarked, "for I’m sure you need it” The protest which instinctively rose to her lips died away under a newborn realization of her intense wearineax "I am very, very tired, Mouncey,” she •aid helplenaly. The good natured girl drew her into a chair by the fire. "Sit here, ma’am, until 1 bring your tee. You can’t do anything for tbe poor lady, and yon may want all your strength for later _ _ »» on. She sped away, returning in a very abort time with the tea tray, on which were a pot of fresh tea and a covered plate of hot buna, which had been on the stove awaiting the mistress’ return. These she arrknged on a little Wfole by the fireside and then poured out the tea and held the inviting little cakes that Mary might take one. In truth Mary was too tired to refuse such ministrations, which were doubly welcome just then, and Mouncey fairly stood over her until aha had eaten enough to satisfy her sense of what was necessary and right Then she went doWn stairs, leaving her mistress sitting in tbs big armchair wondering what the end of it all would be. “Poor mother I" her thoughts ran. "Poor, poor mother 1 Are yon going this time, and have I made the sacrifice for nothing T No, not for nothing, for I shall always be able to say, ‘The end of her life waa peace. ’ She rose restlessly from her chair and went to tbe side of the bed, where abe stood looking down upon Aha drawn, gray face already bq jjpetblika in $be immobility of nnconacionsnee^ "f wonder what caused her to hate an at tackt" Mary aaid to herself. "She was so bright and well there have been Wher^is itJK with WVJX She looked about Oonld ling in that paper! it did Mouncey do for it but withont success, and then she remembered that possibly it waa still in her mother’s hand. So It proved to be, and Mary was obliged to tear tbe sheet a little in or der to release it from that viaelike grip A glance waa sufficient to tell the cause of Mra. Hamilton’s seizure. As she smoothed tbe crumpled page her eye caught the heading of the latest tel egraphic news—"Reported lose of the ocean liner Arikhama, with over 800 lives!*’ Mary Conway was still staring wild ly at the paper when Mouncey came in with the doctor in her wake. "What ia it!" she asked, seeing the bomr on her young mistress’ face. "Oh, Mouncey—the paper—the news —my poor mother!" was all that Mary could say era exhausted nature gave way under the strain and she dropped to the ground aa dead to all sound and feeling aa the poor lady stretched upon the bed. "Dear, dear, daasr" aaid tha doctor, "but this ia a pretty kettle of fish I Dear, dear, a bad aeixure this time I I waa afraid it might happen befors long. My good girl, is than bad news in that paper!" "Lor*, sir— master's ship—loaa of ths Arikhama with 800 sonls. That's mas ter’s ship—he’s the captain I Oil, my poor missis, my poor, poor mlsaisl" "Oqpd heavens I Ars yon amf* "See liars, air—oh. It’s tens enough! Ob, iffy poor, poor missis i" < **W*U. help me to get bar aft tbs Inheres** |fe*sj*aM9tti!U 7° lit nmpie raint Yefe. in that chair; undo her gown—a few drope of brandy. There, there, my dear lady, you’ll be all right now." "What has happened!" asked Mary, struggling up, but sinking back again as her head began to swim. "Oh, I re member! It doesn’t matter about me, doctor, but my mother—she is vary ill Tbs shock was too much for bar. Do at tend to her. nleaae.” "If you will lie still the maid and 1 will attend to Mrs. Hamilton, ’’ aaid the doctor soothingly. "Little or nothing to be done," he mannered to Mouncey, as they turned to ths bed. "She is not likely to live the night oat. She must be got to bed, of course. What strength have you!" "Oh, I’m very strong, sir!" replied Mouncey, In s matter of fact tone. "No, no; I mean how many of yon are there!” "Me and cook, sir.” "Wbat is she like!” "Aa strong and sensible a young wo man aa you could wish to see in a day’s march, air, ” replied Mouncey prompt ly, "and’ll do anything in the world for tbe missis.’’ ^ "That’s good. If Mrs. Hamilton Hn- gen there mast be a nurse got in, of course, bat for tonight there will be lit tle or nothing to do, only she must not be left I’ll help yon to get her into bed.” "We can manage, air." "It ia not ao easy aa yon'think. Be sides. I’d like to see her safely into bad before I leave. ’’ Tbe desired end was soon accomplish ed under the skilled' hands of the doc tor and tbe willing ones of . Mouncey. Then tbe doctor wrote down a few sim ple instructions and went, promising to look in again the last thing. “Mr*. Conway, “ be said gently to Mary. "I moat beg of yon to try to eat your dinner. You have had a great double shock, and yon will need ell your reserve of strength. I have given onr maid all instructions. There is ttle, almost nothing, to be done while your mother continnee in this state." He went away then, and Mary sat down again in ths big chair. Ths cook was busy with ths dinner, and Moun cey, after clearing np some imaginary litter, disappeared with tbe tray, prom ising to come back in a few minutes. 8o abe was left alone with her dying mother and the knowledge of her own widowhood, left alone to face the fact that she was practically free; that all the horror and wretchedness which had but a few hours before lain directly facing her bad suddenly been removed. The tsars gushed out from her sad eyas as she realised how this had come about; but, although ahe wept, the sense of relief was there, involuntary, yet. very, very strong. It was a wretched night which fol lowed. Mary honestly tried to eat the dainty little dinner which Foster served to her, while Mouncey mounted guard In the sick obamtjer. But all tbe time the sound of rushing waters waa in her eara and the vision of drowned faces before her eye#, and sbe turned loath- ingly from the lonely me&L which wonld have been thoroughly enjoyed by the poor soul up Stairs fast drifting into eternity. Tbe pretense of dinner over, ahe crept back again to the sickroom, sending the two maids down to supper and stay ing alone to keep the watch by tbe dy ing beloved for whom she had worked ao hakd and saffered so much, to watch the outward paaaage of that frail and feeble little bark which wonld leave her toesing to and fro upon tbe ocean of life with none Wcounsel or guid*. It waa a terrible night, and it was followed by a still more terrible day. Mary received from the owners of the great ship full confirmation of the news which the newspaper bad taken to them in the first instance. There was not the smaUeet doubt that the large vessel waa gone, that ahe waa many Fathoms under water. There was Bttle or no donbt that Captain Conway had gone down with her, and, ao far aa waa k no wit only five persons of all her goodly company had Hved to tell the tale of her disastrous sad. Two of these were pa seep gem, two were or dinary tailors, tbe fifth was tbe ship's purser; all ths rest of ths 800 souls who had sailed aboard of her had found a watery grave and would be seen no more. All through the long hours of watch ing and suspense did Mary Conway try to battle down the overwhelming aense of relief which had taken possession of her. She cared not, did not feel the very smallest grief for the husband who bad forgotten hia manhood and her womanhood alike, bat she hated herself for not feeling it Her heart was torn in twain. One half waa singing a paean of thankfulness for deliverance; the other waa bunting with a sense of her oWn impotence and belpleaaneaa to avert the sword then hanging above the head of her sick mother aa the sword of Damocles hong suspended by a single hair. Sbe was glad in bar heart that her care and anxiety for her mother wonld naturally account for the absence of any exhibition of great or noisy grief for her bus band. The doctor spoke of the loss of the Arikhama once orAwice, and Mouncey brought her the latest de tails that were published in tbe papers, but Mrs. Hamilton was during those first few days the object of paramount interest Captain Conway was gone! All the love or loathing in tbs world could not affect him any more. For him all was over; he had already paamd among the things that have bean and ■hall be no more. But Mra Hamilton was still alive and still needed ths most minute care and tbs closest attention. She waa in spite of that terrible tragedy of the sea, the meet important parson of that small household. inhaalih ahs did not improva * At times faint flashes of understanding cam* baok, but they war* only fssbls and flickering efforts of tbs clouded brain to re-establish its mastery of what was going on around her. If sba knew any one definitely, it Waa Mary, but of that, e^an, they were none of them very certain. The nurse who was in charge mid positively that Mrs. Hamilton knew no one. Monncey, on the other hand, insisted that she had seen the poor lady’s eyes follow the mis trees as she mewed away from the bed. This, how ever. was a question which no one could decide positively, bnt in diecuaslng it Hie onlookers, %1 though It is prover; Mai that onlookers sea most of thfrgame, never realised that in anxiety for her mother Mrs. Conway saffered no grief for her hnsbsnd. On tbe fourth day after the coming of the news Mary received ■ visit from two gentlemen. One was the managing “7 did not know it," told Mary. director of the company to which ths Arikhama had belonged; the other was by him introduced as the lawyer to the company. "You are perhape,” aaid Mr. Law- son, tbe managing director, "not aware, Mra. Conway, that your husband made a will three days before the Arikhama ■ailed from London.” „ < "I did not know it," mid Mary. "Sncb, however, waa the case," he aaid suavely, “and, moreover, hia last Instructions were that should anything happen dming either of theee voyages Mr. Mannington”—indicating hia com panion by a gesture—“ahonld at onoe aaek you out and make yon acquainted with aa fittle delay aa possible with hia last wishes with regard to the property he bad to leava" •a- am * CHATTER VL TBS RAJfD OV TKS DKAO. Mr. Lawson ceased speaking and fixed hia^ttenfion upon hia companion. Mary also turned her clear eymopon tbe law yer and awaited what he might my next To my the least of it, his remark was unexpected "I may say at oaoe that.I did not make this will of Captain Conway, ” be said in polite and strict ly professional accents “It waa made by some person unknown to me and handed to me by Captain Conway, seal ed aa yon see it. with instructions that should necessity arise I should at once seek you out. break tbe seals in your presence and make you acquainted with tbe contents'' * "1 am quite at your aervice.'' mid Mary tremulously The lawyer at once broke the seals and drew‘from tbe long, tough envel ope a folded paper Mary aat. with hands quietly clasped in her lap, wait ing Mr Mannington cast hia eye over tbe writing, frowned, bit hia lip glanced at tbe girl widow appreben- ■ively and then conghed nervonsly. * "Yon have no idea—I ahonld say—1 mein”— be stammered Mary looked np. "Will you read it!’ ahe suggested. “I have uo idea wbat is ih it but I shall be surprised at noth ing Captain Conway had strange ideas on some subjects ” “Very strange. " murmured Mr. Law aon. who gathered from tbe lawyer’s manner that tb* will contained nothing of pleasant import to the lady. "I will read it’“ said the lawyer, then conghed again and began - ‘t Edward Conway, captain ot the 8. 8 Arikhama. being of eoond mind on thU the 11th day of July, IS—, declare this to be my teat will and testament. All and any property of which 1 die pceeaeeed 1 give and bequeath to my nephew, Howard Conway, to bo aboo lately and entirely at hia own disposal. “Enw arc Cow WAV. -In the presence of Henry Challerton, John Walker. ’ For a few moments tha widow and tbe shipowner were too much surprised to speak. Of the three Mary was the most composed Mr. Lawson was. how aver, the first to break tbe silence. “Yon were perhaps otherwise provid ed for. Mfs Conway!” he said gently. Mary shook her head. “No; 1 am entirely unprovided for, ” she replied. “Bnt—but such a will is preposter ous Mannington. is there no possibil ity of upsetting it!” "V “Wills have been upset, of course, and will be again. ” said the lawyer, guard edly "In this case, -however, such s course would be costly—and uncertain Mrs Conway waa living with her hus band np to the time of hia leaving boms she ia living nnder his roo( now, and it wonld be difficult to prows that the nephew bad possessed or exerdsad any nndne influence or that the testator waa not of sound, mind at the time of miking tbe will Yon. for instance, could not oome forward to throw any doubts upon hia sanity from your own obaervation. for tha jury and tbe public would alike aak what were you about to send out a vessel like tbe Arikhama in charge of a person whom you believed to be more or leas of a lunatic. ” "Youconld not say it.” put in Mary, rising to her feet. "Nor should I wish it Gentlemen, you need not trouble about me—I dare say Mr. Howard Con way will not turn me out of this house while my mother is ao ill—or until ahe is gone where there is no need of any refugs ” "I will communicate with him at once.’’aaid Mr. Mannington "It is not at ail likely^eapecially aa he in- bertta everything, which must be a great and unexpected thing for him.' ha added. "Then 1 need not detain yon any longer,” aaid Mary, holding out her hand. Mr. Lawson possessed himaelf of it "Forgive me, my dear yonng lady.” he aaid, kindly, "bat have yon means for the moment! If yon have illness in the houes, and yotj spoke of your mother”— "My mother ia very ill, very, very ill, ” aaid Mary. "She was an invalid whan I married, bat the news of Cap tain Conway's death earn* upon her atroks a very serious one We have not much hope of bar. . Her voice <^k>pped away to wbat waa little more 'than a whisper. Mr- Law- son kept hold of her hand and murmur ed consoling little phrases Mary, how- ever. waa quite dry eyed. Her grief and despair were too deep for ordinary ways of sorrow. “You must 1st ms see you through this" ha said at last "Your husband was In tha aervice of my company for many years and you most not hesitate to take from me what ia necessary to tide yon over this on- looked for time. Have yon formed any idea or plana yet! But no—of course you have not Who waa to sxpeot that each a will wonld be left behind!” Mary looked upon him with her won derful clear eyes "I earned my living for years before 1 was married,” ahe aaid. simply, ‘‘and I shall be able to earn it again. Joat now, of course, I am all out of reckoning and can set about nothing Yon are very kind, Mr. Lew- aon, but 1 have some money left ” "I will supplement it,*” he aaid, hur riedly. and tore himaelf away, unable longer to bear the dumb pain of her ayes and mouth At laat ahe waa left alons alone to think over the end to which her fine marriage had brought hereto think that here ahe waa in a house which ahe bad thought her own. but which had been left away from her to one whom her hnsband bad always profoaaad to hate fiercely, penniless except for the few pounds which shs happened to have drawn out of the bank before the news of ths foundering of the Arikhama had reached them. Well, ah* had wished, longed, prayed, to be foes and her wishes longings and prayers had bean heard and answered. She waa foes aha waa a white slave no longer, ahe wonld «ever again realise with a thrill of shuddering horror that ahe bad sold her self into bondags into the wont and moat hateful kind of bondags that she had sold not only herself, her body, bnt, to all intents and purposes her very ■ouL Well it waa all over now She waa herself again, accountable to no one for her actions she was free of that unbearable chain, of that hated union. The worldly dross for which ahe had aacrifioed herself had fallen away like tbe links of the chain of fate, and she wonld have to begin at the lowest rqng of the ladder again. .Still sbe would be content Every crust of bread that she earned would be her own. and sweet wonld be the taste thereof—it wonld be better, far better to sweep a crossing and to live content edly on tbe pence earned by sweeping it well tbkn to live in luxury earned by the loss of ail her Womanly self respect There came to her mind more times than once a verse out of tbe Greet Book —“Better a dinner of herbs where love ia than a stalled ox and hatred there with.” How true, bow truel And yet the poor aoul above struggling with tbe rapida of life and death had never seen tbe beanty of the dinner of herbs She had longed to be aa the stalled oy, be lieving that tbe smoothest pathways most always be the most pleasant and tbe beet for na Well she bad enjoyed her brief spqjl of the stalled ox to tbe foil and it was probable that she wonld slip away over the great barrier with ont ever knowing that there had been hatred at all. And if that ahonld be so, Mary Conway felt that sbe wonld be able to face all tbe rest of her lifs fear leeely and with a thankful spirit Late in the evening a messenger ar rived bringing a letter by hand from Mr. Lawson. D*AR Mrs. Corwat—It aaid—I do not aak, 1 do not seek to know, the reason that yrmr hus band left so atranre and Almost Inhuman a will behind him. It ia enough for me that jon ara a woman, alone, young and In trouble. Will yon accept the Inclosed as a gift from ona who knew your husband for many years and who liked and reapected him? 1 beg you to accept it aa kindly aa It la offered to you. Sin aaruly yours. Hkkht Lawsor. '* Inclosed with this letter waa a cheA for £100. It would be hard to describe Mary’s feelings that night The kindness, the distant dignity of the few words, im pressed her deeply. She never thought of refusing the kindly gift, to welcome to save her from unheard of horror* She only longed fiercely and paaaion^jely that she might, nay ^ould. would, go and tell this man everything, tell him the whole story of her marriage and ths cause pure and simple why Captain Conway had left a cruel and wholly un jnst will behind him, a sinister blow to ■trike her in a vulnerable part and from which abe had no chance of de fending herself. She went to her bed that night with a fixed intention of going in the morning to seek ont Mr. Lawson and to tell him everything, with a determination that ahe would justify herself in his eyes. But morning brought different feel ings. In the early dawn a change for the worse came over Mrs. Hamilton, and the nurse called Mary from her bed. believing that the end was nigh at hand. And aa she stood by the side of that poor, flickering, feeble light, ao soon to barn ont into nothingness ao far as concerned this world, a voice came to bar telling her to do nothing, to aay nothing—the voice of a strange, curi ous. wise instinct, which said: "Yon are free. Don’t fetter your freedom by troubling about the past With good in tentions you did what you thought and believed was for the beet The sacrifice was made, served its purpose, and yon are released. Do nothing. Accept the kindness of this stranger, take it as it is offered and endure all in silence. At the very worst hia suspicion, if he haa one, ia only a suspicion. No good can come to you by blackening the memory of a dead maa If yon apeak, you will but save your fair fame at tbe expense of hia If he has been nngeneroos to yen, so spiteful as to aim a blow at you from hia tailor’s grave, do not you retaliate by atriking back at him now. Beat far beet to suffer in silence; wisest fax wisest, to cut yourself off aa completely aa may be from the mistaken past to begin life afresh on yonr own lines and as free as ia possible from the influences which have dominated you, hurt you •nd poisoned your better aalf hereto fore ’ Mary Conway knew that bar instinct waa ■'wise one, that the strange myste rious voice waa that of a friend in the beat sense of the word. She made up bar mfnd during those few terrible bouta of watching that abe would follow the advice which had come to her from her inner self, that ahe would bury tha peat and begin a new life with tha day that ahe turned And tbe following day Hemy^Awaon raceived thia note: > a I thank you with all my heart-foe your kind and ceneroua gift. II will be my Miration and will enable me to atart myself afireeh. I am quite alona in th# world now. My mother 4ted et 6 o’clock this afternoon. Your* Wtth deep gratitude, Hast Oowvat. of her brief married life, tha honse which had been in no aenae a home to t (*o THE HEIRS ARE DEFEATED. Important Decision on a Life Insur ance Policy tn a Fraternal Organi sation. - —* Points in life Insurance law of inter est to fraternal societies figured in a decision of Judge Allen, of Springfield, rendered In the United States circuit. And more importance in view of the court for the Northern district of Illi nois rcently, says the Chicago Record. The cause involved the attempt of the estate of Welter C. Lloyd, a Chicago man!who died March 17,1897, to recover the face amount of a $3,000 policy in the Koigbts of Pythias taken out in 1889. Lloyd lived a\ ?32 Larrabee street and was race-track telegraph operator. / Tbe order set up the claim that aa L oyd had died of scirrbosisof the liver, due to alcoholism, there Wsfe a proper defense to the policy in a by-law en acted by tbe supreme lodge in 1896, which provided for invalidation of In surance If a member’s death resulted from suicide or Was caused or superin duced by ihe use of intoxicating liquors. Meantime there was tendered to Lloyd’s heirs, a wife and two children, tbe sum of 8610, being part payment based on liability for such proportionate amount of tbe policy as the number of years tbs insured lived after contracting for the insurance—seven—bore to the num ber of years accounted to bim -thirty- eight—under the American mortality table of expectancy, in which the policy was computed. Counsel for the Lloyd estate con* tended that tbe by-law alleged to in validate the insurance, having been passed after the contract was entered into, was not retroactive in its effect, and the reasonableness of"* defense under tbe suicide-liquor enactment was railed into question at tbe same time. In overruling the contention that the by-law bad no retroactive force Judge Allen rested on a clause in tbe pclicy by which the Insured bound himself tb'abide by all the laws “ now in force or that may hereafter be made.”’'' Oa the other issues raised he held that the enactment of sulclde-alcobollsm clauses by insurance corporations, particularly fraternal organizations, was unques tionably an invaluable protective fea ture, and be declined to declare tbe by-law io question invalid on tbe i ;rouud of unreasouanleuess. “ I should eel great hesitancy, as 1 do, for tbs first time to declare void,’* Judge Al- l?n said, “an important provision of this character, manifestly enacted for a wilt purpose, and white tbe forfeit ure is onerous and the beLtbciariee in this action are defeated 1 do not feel at liberty under ail tbe circum- stanccs to bold tbe by-law inopera tive." It wae further alleged by the insur ance claimants that tbe by-law was un constitutional, having been adopted at ihe Nashville convention of the sn oreme lodge in 1896 without having been read on three separate occasions Attorney Moritz Koeenlbalj on behalf cf the Knights of Pythias organiza tion, submitted that tbe constitution bf a corporation was of no more effect than a by-law itself and that tbe only limitation of authority was exercised by the charter, differing in this respect from the constitution of a State, which limits tbe power of legislatures. It was contended that the supreme lodge thus bad power of revocation in con ventlox assembled, and Judge Allen rphUd tbat position. UBEftOF THE NEW CENSUS. The Stailatloe to Be Obtained—Whqdt ^ They’WiH Set Forth. . \ There has been a great deal said and ^ there Is a great deal saying about the ooming twelfth decennial census of tha United btatet—that which will be call-' • eft.the censds of 1900. The census first »—. gives the total population, upon which' representation In the Houso is based. This is called jtaprlmary use. It gives next the increase of population in States and Territories, and this In crease is the basis for comparison of Increase of wealth, taxation, railroad mileage, exports, imports, manufac tures—in fact, a basis upon whicirvaP" *'0 ( most all changes in social and economici. ‘' conditions m«y be reckoned. The density of population is shown by the census, sad the increase of -size in cities and the Increase of urban pop ulation. These figures become of more J WEEKLY CROP BULLET1M. increasing importance of the problem of the city population; the figures en ter also into all considerations of agri cultural decrease and increase. The census also gives the population in re spect to the number of foreign born and native bom. Added to the atatis- sics of the emigration bureau, these figures are at the bottom of all discus* slou of tbo emigration laws and emi gration reform or restriction. The total school population is shown; and the figures are most Important In de- termihing tbe relative advance tnd prosperity of Slates, considered from tbe educational standpoint. The census gives the statistics upon which the military strength of the country is reckoned, according to the number of men of militia age. It gives the number of men of voting age; it gives tbe number of people, of fami lies, of houses, consequently the n_um%_ ber of persons to a family and to a bouse. It gives the number and some other information of tbe insane, feeble minded, deaf and dumb, blind, the paupers, and the criminals: Some of the same statistics can be found in State reports; but tbe aggregation of them, except in tbe United States cen sus, has not been attempted. Besides all this, the census supplies a mass of figures concerning minerals, manufac tures, wealth, debt, taxation, upon which a great part of 'tbe financl system of tbe national government b based. Wbat the census has taken cogni zance of has been changed from year to year. From year to year it becomes more complex. Tbe eleventh census, tbat of 1890, added as its most promi nent new subject of Investigation, the figures relating to the ownership of tomes acd .farms aud the amount of mortgages secured by real estate. It is not known whether any addition will be made to tbe last schedule for tbe schedule of 1900. Facilities for tabulation by electric machines have increased so much that additional sta tistics can be quickly and easily tabu late- and maue available at a cost not prohibitive. —If some recently published statis tics can be relied upon, tbe English language is developing more rapidly than any language which has ever been spoken on the globe. The Ger man language contains 80,000 words, tne Italian 45.000, tbe French 30,000 and tbe Spanish 20,000 ; but the Eng lish language contains not leas than 250,000. Tbe English language is also rapid.y becoming the language of civilization. — (Jueen Victoria will be at Windsor Castle on May 24 to celebrate her eightieth birthday. There will be a special morning servlC3 in the prince consort’s mausoleum at Frog more, and in tbe evening a stato banquet in St. George's ball, followed by a perfor mance of “ Lohengrin ” in tbe Water loo ga’lery. —F'e sis de Richelieu, who is admiral in co r maud of tbe Siamese navy, was a common seaman on a French warship, and deserted while under a sentence of death for striking an officer. The sentence has long ago been annulled. Richelieu claims to belong to the fam ily of tbe great cardinal. 99 Columbia, S. C., May 23, 1899. The week ending May 221 averaged nearly 8 degrees per day warmer than usual, with an absolute range of tarn perature between a maximum of and a minimum of 47 degrees. The rainfall for tbe week came in the form of scattered showers on the 18th, with no rain over a large portion of tbe State, and generally very light except in portions of York County, where a heavy sbowc r occurred. Show ery conditions prevailed at the close of the week over the entire State, with heary rains in some of the western counties, that will partially relieve tbe existing drought. The dry weather was favorable for cultivation, and crops are generally free from grass and weeds. In places tbe ground is too hard to work. Late planted coin is coming up slowly, stands are irregular and dam aged in localities by worms; bottom lands sre being planted where the soli is fit to plow. Cotton that is up bas noVbecn hurt by tbe drought, but late planted cotton it not looming up well; considerable remains to be planted as soon as the lands can be prepared. Stands are generally full and healthy but small. Sea island cotton Is in very good con dition. Wheat is heading low and ripening prematurely in places, on account of ^he drought, and In places the yield will be but half an average crop Oats have been severely damaged by the lack of moisture when heading, and spring sown oats are reported a partial or complete failure ; fail sown oats will also make a poor crop. Har vesting has begun. < / Tobacco needs rain both to maintain stands and to finish transplanting; bugs and grasshoppers have Injured the plants In a number of counties. Rice is generally doing well, and pre parations are well advanced for late or June plantings. Few sweet potato slips have been set out. Irish potatoes need rain, and Colorado beetles are very destiuctive. Cape and melons are doing well. Pas tures and gardens *!e falling. Fruit continues to drop, with indications of a light crop except for apples. Truck needs rain, although shipments of sea sonable vegetables are heavy. it looks aa if the government might have to pay a good round sum because of tbe error of tbe captain ot tbo crui ser New Orleans In seizing tbe French ateamer OUnde Rodriguez off Cuba during the war with 1 'Spain. The de cision of tbe court which released the ship as not being a lawful prize, held that the owners could not recover dam ages for detention aud loss through process of law. It is held, however, tbat this Is no bar t« diplomatic nego tiations for indemnity, and it Is be lleved a claim will be presented to the state department by the French em bassy. $< Whan a man la •truck down Bf a of tbo deacileat of •erponta, ha knew* that bis time has coma Death ia oalv a qutition of moments; but not ont maa a a thousand realitea that when a little oxtra bile gets into hia blood his whole system ia being poisond just as truly aa if a in hia vitals. attloanake poison is a good deal qtdak- lolson but the lafter anil do on lly two- j motion inol goo- tipped arrow was sticking Kattloauki er than bile-pot juat aa daadly work if it hoot mutating in the system. Prob thirds of the cases that end in oonsua begin with “liver complaint ” apd indigna tion. These troubles Would never ret as r as consumption if Dr. Pkree’a Golden edical Discovery was used befbrt the le-poisoalng got fairly undar way. Thtb remarkable “Discovery” invigoratoa qj* torpid liver and gives it power to Alter the poisons oat of the. system rapidly and thoroughly It strengtheas tha. digestive Auid* *a$ • onables them to make nph rid BoumUag Mood; it bbilds up healthy masala, ataaoy narve force and enduring strength. Words and to [perieaee of Mr. Val Burksrd. If ohr Ave., Buffalo, N. V.^ given In hia Buffalo, N Y. Five weeks ago I took two bottles of pr. at Pieree’e bottles ivself at tfems tiq wed your a 4T ‘ Golden fti of the • Pteaa- eutirtly cu-aa eiuoe I Anisked test remedy • disorder*, and I have 1ml Discovery end also two aat Pellet*.’ I consider tn as there have been no eruptl the last bottle. I think it la on the globe for blood and My appetite increased wondi also gained flesh, I would know the true valut of Dr. Moroe 1 as ' am confident of pen 1st eat use they curs all a<’ ,ents for which they are racommoAdM. No household ahonld be without a relia ble doctor’s book. Send ai one-cant stamps for Dr. Pierce’s 1000-page “Common (Uase Medical Adviser” to the World’* DiaMa- eary Medical Aisociation, Buffalo, IT T. A heavier croth-botind volume 51 stamp*. Sent by prepaid expression receipt of Sbe. ALLIOATOH.UNIMBNT CO.. , v - Charleston, 8. C.