The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, January 04, 1900, Image 4
II
cone w,
MEW year."
■V PRANK * STOCKTON. ‘
la a flu* ptd country mansion, com
awfljp"*, somewbat Imposing and posi-
tlr*iy hear/ in Its style ot architecture,
Maided the Hon. Horae* Brandcr, now
aa elderly man, and Mrs. Brunder, bis
wife. For several years these two bad
made ap the family—a very small fami
ly tor so large a bouse. They bad no
drildren, and, altbougb they were very
good company for each other, they felt
as they dally grew older that they could
not of themselves make their home as
Cheerful and as pleasant as they would
have It. They felt this the more forci
bly because there bad been many years
when that bouse was very cheerful and
very pleasant Therefore ft was about
•is months before this story opens this
ail too qnlet couple bad taken Into their
heme a young girl, hfargey Grifflth, the
niece of Mrs. Brunder -and one of *
large family of fatherless boys and girls.
The Hon. Horace had never been fond
of children, and at one time In his life
It might have been said that he abso-
lufbly disliked boya and girla, but now,
since he had ceased to go out in all
weathers and was feeling a growing de
pendence on the Indoor pleasures of bis
home, he had agreed with his wife thst
it would be a good thing to have some
young life In the house and that of all
the persons they knew the niece Mar
gey was best adapted to supply the miss
ing and needed element In their house
hold Uf*.
It had been considered by Margey’s
family that It was a most fortunate thing
that her rich uncle, who did not car* for
young people, should take her into his
house, and for a time the girl herself was
very well satisfied with the change from
the somewhat contracted suburban house
and the active bustle of a large family to
the quiet rural beauty of the old mansion,
its garden, its lawn and its woodland.
Bot aa summer passed and as autumn,
with its bright hoed foliage, came and
went and as the rigors of winter settled
Hveflest time of the year.
▲t last Christmas came, but It was a
dull time for Margey. There were neigh
bor* Invited, but they were all elderly
people and of a reposeful turn of mind.
Margey received several presents, among
them a beautiful little watch from her
end*, and. although she had never re
ceived anything which could compare
with these Christmas gifts, they did not
compensate her for the loan of the holiday
atmosphere of her home. During the
whole day she felt as though sh» were at
tending the funeral of Santa Clan*.
But on the last day of the year her
spirits sank still lower. With her broth
era and sisters and the elderly members
of the family she bad been accustomed
ever since she could remember to make a
great deal of New Year*! eve. and among
the observance* which were never omit
ted was the traditional custom of opening
the front door of the house eiactly as the
dock struck the hour of midnight In or
der to let the New Year come in. Then
all together, young and old. they would
about as the dogr swung back: “Com* In.
New Year! Welcome. New Year!" And
when it was considered that the newcom
*r had really crossed the threshold they
would turn to each other, each wishing
all a happy New Year and many moto to
oome. This time honored ceremony was
( to Margey one of the most pleasant fea
tnre* *of the holiday season, for it con
corned not only the Joys of the moment,
but those of happy days to come.
Oa this New Year’s eve Margey felt
herself In a truly doleful mood. Her
and* and aunt ba«f gone to their room
at 10 o'dock. and not one word bad they
aaid which indicated thaf they coosid
ered this evening to be in any way dif
ferent from the ordinary evenings of the
year. To Margey this seemed like a sort
of domestic sacrilege. If she could have
don* so, she would have sped away to her
home, even if it bad been necessary to
speed back again before the cock should
stepped back and opened wlde ib/door.
"Gome ini" she said, but, before she
could utter the words “New Year" she
•topped suddenly, for on the portico in
front of~her she saw a man. The girl
was on the point of screaming, but even
at this dreadful moment she remembered
that if her aunt should be startled no
body could know what might happen, and
ao she clapped her hand to her mouth.
8he sprang back, however. She could
not help that, and at the same moment
the man stepped into the hall.
“You are right," he said in a whisper
and looking at the hand which was still
over Margey’s mouth. “I understand. 1
won’t make the least noise in the world.
Let me shut the door. 1 can do it very
quietly.”
If the cold air wbieh rushed in through
the open doorway had froten Margey aa
•tiff ^s a statue, she could not have been
more Incapable of speaking or moving
than she was at that moment. If she
bad dared to cry for help or tried to run
•way, she would not have been able to
do either. She stood and stared, whiter
than the moonlight. The man was re
fastening the door, and as he- did so a
ray of blessed relief came into the mind
of Margey. He had put down on the
floor a valise and an umbrella. Surely
no burglar, no wicked man of any sort
would go about with a valise and an um
brella, and he seemed to know all about
fastening doors without making a noise.
The ray of relief was a very little ray,
bot It revived Margey sufficiently to en
able her to drop her hand from her
mouth.
The man now stepped toward the li
brary door, and with one finger on his
lip he beckoned to Margey. She was so
astonished at this action that almost
without volltiotf she followed him. She
was so thoroughly frightened that she
could do nothing herself. She had not
even the strength to disobey, but as she
stepped into the library she bugged to
her heart the thought of the umbrella.
V
altlon. He la mor* sober and Qnlet than
I am, and 1 am a great deal more lively
and restless than he is, and there you
have our characters in as few words as
possible. About six years ago we had a
misunderstanding. I will not say any
thing about it because he is not here to
present his side of the question, and un
der the circumsunces It would not be
fair for me to present mine. However,
1 am very hotheaded at times—not al
ways. mind you, for generally.! am very
mild Indeed, but at this particular time I
Ignited and went off like * firecracker, i
and you knew that when a firecracker
goes off It doesn’t come back again.”
Margey was listening with great inter
I mulled by Melt, caution and amass-
away by mistake and left mine. If hf, ■■■£ TW turning hi* head, h* added,
refuses to be reconciled with m* w*, ^, Mas Margey P
_ _ _ ^ Jo-
can change umbrellas anyway
■ be bn
so that
my time will not be Entirely lost."
* Margey Mailed. J u l think that la a
queer way to prove your Identity," the
said, "but aa I truly believe It doesn't
need any proving it d<*S not matter."
"It la a very good proof,” persisted the
other. "If I were an improper person
and had taken that umbrella, do you
suppose I would have brought it backl
And now let’s go ifito the pantry. I'm
nearly famished."-
So saying, he picked up the candle
stick, and, shading Jhe flame an that no
eat. She and her companion had seated *°, D , P wo^
themselves, and she was rapidly losing all
fear of him.
"Aa I told jou t " he continoed, "I went
off and did not intend to come hfick, but
gradually my ideas began to ebakge. My
brother waa getting old—So was I, for
that matter—and I determined to try to
be reconciled with him. I started out this
day thinking it would be a good thing to
begin the New Year in harmony and
brotherly love. ’I expected to be here
early in the evening, but fliy train waa
detained for a long time, and I really did
not know bow late it waa when I walked
up here. I was dumfouuded at finding
the house all shut up and dark, and 1
could not think what to do, for I knew
very well that if I rang the bell I might
startle your Aunt Ellen, In which case
nobody could know what might happen.
So I stood there deliberating, and I really
believe I was on the point of walking
back to the village when I beard some
one opening the door ao gently and quiet
ly that I was positively certain that it
waa highly desirable not to make a noise.
So, you see, I waa not surprised when tbe
door opened. I supposed that some one,
probably Joseph.Buckle, bad seen me ar
rive. By tbe way, la Joseph atill here?"
"Oh, yea!” said Margey.
'T am so glad of that,” aald John Brun
der. “Joseph was always a good friend
of mine. Now yon see,” he continued,
"just how things stand. You come down
to let the New Year in, and In I pop. I
hope the New Year came In with me and
the bull into the dining room. Margey
followed, and aa she saw.how deftly he
made his way around the furniture and
toward the pantry’ she felt positively as
sured that be must at one time have been
very much at home in that house. In
the pantry John Brunder put the candle
down and looked about him.
"Do you still eat Albert biscuit?" he
asked. ‘
“Oh. year’ replied Margey.
"Then I know where Joseph Bnckle
keeps them. Joseph never changes. If a
thing belongs in one place, it belongs
there always. There,’’ said he, opening
a dresser drawer. "Here is tbe tin box,
just where I have found it hundreds of
times before.”
Margey now thought she ought to help
a little. To. be sure, thla genial gentle
man seemed to know so well where to
find the eatables that ahe might have
gone to bed and left him to take care of
himself, but this did not suit her idea of
propriety or proper-hospitality, ao she
opened another closet ^
“Do you eat cheese at thla time of
night, air?" ahe asked.
.“Oh, yes," he replied, "when I am aa
hungry as I am now! And isn’t that a
box of sardines? Open top! Now, let os
take these things over to the table. Ne,
I don’t want any plate. All I want Is a
knife to cut the cheese.” And as be spoke
he opened a drawer and took out a knife.
“Now, my dear,’’ said he, “if you will
~7~
themselves upon the land. Margey oftenl
of tbe stlrrin| life VJy' 1 -jpafl tuuk from hie
I' tt 'home, wfiere winter was the . ocxW end. striking
8b* went to her room, not because
were all put out down stairs, but she did
not go to bed- She sat thinking of ail*
the lively scenes that were golrno at
home. Moat likely they were ,..aying
charades, but they.would be sure to stop
a little before 12. Her mother and
one of tbe girts would be getting things
together for a little supper, for they al
ways began tbe New Year with some
thing to eat, drink and bv merry over,
la this big, old bouse it would be high
treason to cat between 12 and 1 o’clock
at night
The hands of Margey’s new watch
moved on and on until they pointed tg a
quarter of 12, and then the eyes of our
young lady opened wider and wider as
ahe eat and taxed at the wall and aaw
the family at home. She could see them
Just as well •■ though they were there.
"They are all looking at the-dock.'
•he aaid, "watching and waiting and
talking. They always begin too soon for
faar of being too late. Tom is standing
at the front door now so that nobody
ahali get aheed of him when the time
a match, he stepped without the slight
est hesitation to the corner of the man
telpiece, on which stood a great oaitdle-
stick, and lighted the candle. Then he
quietly closed the door.
*T do that," be said, “because If your
auut should hear our voices and be star
tled there Is no knowing what might
happen.”
"How could he know that?” Margey
asked herself, and a third ray of com
fort was added to that furnished by the
umbrella and valise. In the light of the
candle Margey could see that the man
was rather short, vary well wrapped up
and wore a fur cap, which now, however,
he removed, showing a head of reddish
brown hair a little curled and with
some streaks of gray on the temples.
His face looked as if he had lived out
of doors a good deal in all sorts of weatb-
ev. but his eyes were bright, and there
was a pleasant expression shout the
mouth, as If he would be glad to laugh If
there were anything to laugh at.
"It was'very, very good of you." b*
said, still speaking in an undertone, "to
rotne down and let me In. Yon must
have seen roe from your window. I was
afraid there was no one awake In the
house I heard you at work at the bolt
and tbe chain, and 1 knew why you were
so slow and so quiet. Of course I can
not be mistaken In supposing yon to bo
Miss Griffith."
Now Margey found her voice—that is,
a little of it, "Yes.” she said, “and who,
I beg of you. sir—who are you?”
"I am John Brunder, yonr uncle's
brother. Sinely yqu have heard of me?”
“A very little,’’ said Margey.
“And how much, may I ask?” he said,
•bowing some surprise.
"1 never beard you mentioned but
once,” she replied, “am] that was one
day when I found Aunt Ellen In one of
the bedrooms which 1 had not seen be
fore, tbe door-baring always been lock
ed."
“Had It a bedstead in It." said be.
“wnh^a curved
"Give me your iaafl. mr good
eaph," aaid John Brunder. *T don’t <
dar yet doa’t believe year senses. Bot
what are yet detag with that dab? Did
yea-think we were burglar*?" /
said Jose
For a few momenta ahe sat aa though
bar eyes were fixed on tbe energetic
Tern, when suddenly ahe rose to her feet
"I’U do it” ahe said, "even If I have
to do It all by myself in the dark, m
go down and let the New Year in.”
Slowly and on tiptoe she descended the
softly carpeted staircase. At the landing
which overlooked the hall there waa a
found window, through which came the
xayt of the full moon, lighting the hall
and stairway, so that Margey could sea
her way without the alighteat trouble.
The big dock waa in the shadow, but aha
knew it waa net -yet 12. and. stepping
lightly to the great hall door, ahe went
qaietly to work to unfasten It Thera
were a bolt and a chain and a lock. The
•rat slipped back easily and without any
•ataA and the chain was removed in a
taament hot the lock turned hard, and aa
•he forced the Mg key around she waa
afraid that thare might be a sudden dick
wMch would be heard on the floor above.
It wanid be« dreadful thing If her aunt
mmiruMM mmr U. tor it Old been thoroughly
ggrayd on her mind that If that good
My ahaald be suddcply .tarried nobody
moVed m !h ht H b ‘ P r- Bat ’
ZmiwUk w * slowly
ateedn! \ “«*«d It
■QQQdSy. and finally 4 went around aa far
dkk.
She turned
I it firmly,
Very soon aha
*■ the Mg dock
w!“ difficulty, ah* a
■tajdUy. and fiaaliy it want aroun
MB voald go and without a dkk
V*a 4a« waa unfastened. 8h<
RQtaab and stood holding ft
more relief coming into her mind
moment. 4r
' "And did you notice anything 4a the
way of sporting articles—guns, boxing
gloves?”
"Yet,” said Margey. “There wer# box
ing gloves and foils on tbe wall at the
head of the bed and Two guns on a
rack, and there were dome cases In the
corner which looked as if they held fish
ing rods. I was surprised fo see these
things and asked Aunt Ellen to whom
they belonged. She said that tbe room
used to be occupied by Uncle Horace’s
brother John, but that be did not live
here now.”
“Is that all she told you?” ha asked.
“Every w6rd,” said Margey.
He gave bis head a little nod. "Per
haps it was as well,” he said. “There’s
no use In raking up disagreeable things
before young people. But I am glad to
hear that my old room la kept just as It
used to be. That’s a good aisterln-law
of mine, and I hope I may not do a thing
to startle her, knowing as 1 do that ue
one could teirV^-
“What might happen,” added Margey
involuntarily.
“But you ought to know all abgut me,”
aaid he. “It will not do for you to be Ig
norant any longer, especially aa you were
ao good is to come down to let me in.”
“But I didn’t,” said Margey. “I didn’t
come down to let you In.”
"Then who. In the name of common
nenae. did you aak to come Ip? There was
nobody but me on the porch.”-
T opened the door for the New Year
to come In,” aaid Margey.
John Brunder stood and looked at her
in amassment, and then Margey, who had
almost recovered her self posse salon, told
him alt about It
Well, wefi/ wen I” he exclaimed.
"You’re the kind of girl I like. I knew
that a niece of my brotheria wife was liv
ing here, but I had ao idea ahe was such
a—such a girl aa you ace! What is your
Mmer
“Ms reef," ......
"Miss Margey,” amid, John Brunder, ex
tending hit hand, "I wish you a very hap
py New Year."
“The asm* to you. sir," said aim. giv
ing him her hand. / • / .
"And now you want to know why I
doa’t five here," said John Brunder.
"You certainly have a right to know, and
wuywui AND ON TIPTOE SHE DESCENDED THE STAIRCASE.
^ - ' ” ^
tha’t ft wflf provelo be the happiesfthat look lD corner of that second «belf
any of ua has yet known.” aD ^ *ce if there is not a box of preserv'nl
"So do I,” said Margey, but she had al- fftofer ‘ h cre I shall be much obliged to
wjys wished that ever since she had 7° u - Jose P h always kept preserved gin-
knowp- what a New Year meant. f ***■ corner.”
John Brunder aroae. “My dear vounc Margeyjlaughed as she produced the tin
box. “YoU do seem to know where things
Brunder arose. “My dear young
friend. Miss Margey,” be said, “whnt are
we going to do next? And If yen will al
low me to answer my own question I will
say that the very best thing you can do
for me is to give me something to eat, or,
If It will please you better, allow me to
are kept in this house,” she said, “and I
don’t believe anybody has eaten cheese
apd sardines at this time of night, since
you went away.” < '
"No,” said he, seating himself at his
get It myaelf, for If the pantry of this impromptu meal, "my.brother Horace
house is still under the charge of Joseph
Buckle I know where to find the eata
bles.”
For a minute Margey stood and look-
ad earnestly at the good natured gentle
man. She believed just as firmly aa she
believed anything that he waa Mr. John
Brunder, the younger brother of her Uri-
cle Horace, but still she had no positive
proof of the fact; ahe had only his word
for It Waa It right for her to allow him
to go about the house and eat things
without giving the family notice oi his
pretence? But If she were to go up
•tain and knock at her uncle’s door her
Aunt Ellen—oh, no; she*, could not do
that at this time of night
He laughed. He was almost on the
point of ladghiag aloud, but he checked
himself. “I know what you Tare thinking
about,” said he. “and It is perfectly right
for you to think ao."
“Oh, I don’t really think." said Mar-
gey apologetically, “but. you ace. I”-
“Of course I see!” he answered. “I
•e* perfectly. Just wait a minute.” Bo
i .... , — -Yin*, be picked up hie umbrella. “Now,
will tell you in as few words aa possible. | please look at tbe name on this silver
* nd “r* I *•. holding It dose to the
•ere a good deal, off and on. and the last candle.
I took up my abode la the room with Margey obeyed. "But that Isn’t yout
"fiy footboard 1 aame!” ahe exclaimed la surprise. “That
wfi? " ,ttUd I *3 n<LnM < Horace Broader!"
hfgther jp j I gae very 41fvrt°t bLdlgpo- I *T* ha cage if tor* fajd he. “I tqok ft
never indulges in such improprieties, but
I was always much more imprudent. But,
so far as I can see, my imprudences have
agreed with me.”
Margey was looking at him with great
interest, thinking it must have been a
long time since he had had anything to
eat, when suddenly she beard a little
noise. It was like a person coming cau
tiously down stair*. She started and lis
tened earnestly. There could be no mis
take. She heard footsteps on the back
atalra, the door of which opened not far
from the p'aoe where she stood. John
Brunder stopped eating and half rose
from hia chair.
"Somebody coming!” he whispered.
Now the door of the stairway slowly
opened, and from behind it protruded the
head of Joseph Buckle, the butler. Hia
face was pale, hia eyea and mouth were
wide open, and a big dub, which be
thrust out In front of him, trembled In
hia hand. John Brunder roee to hia feet
and pushed back hia chair.
“Jo-aeph!” he exclaimed. “And, upon
my- word, it is the aame old Joseph! I
•ay, Joseph, bow do you do?"
The bid butler stepped down And stood
motion leas on the floor, his big stick la
one hand and a liatrna in the other. He
looked at Margey, and than he looked at
John Brunder.
axciajBod 4 vole*
"I did, dr." said Joseph. 1 heard
voices, and I was sure there waa some
body to,the honae, and ao I came down.”
."Why didn’t yon bring a pistol? What
would you have done with that dak if we
hid really been, burglara?” / . .
“Oh, I couldn't bring a pistol, air" aaid
Joseph. "If I should fire a pistol sad
Mrs. Brunder should hear It, thore’a no
knowing what might happen. So I had
to come down with nothing bot a dub.”
"You’re a brave fellow," aaid John
Brunder. “and a loyal one. and I am glad
for your sake as well aa for our own that
we are not robbers. You aee. Joseph, jp
have not forgotten where you keep the
good things to eat,”
Margey now took pity on the bewilder
ed butler and told him everything that
had happened.
“Well, well!” bidaimed Joseph. “I’m
wonderfully glad to see you. Mr. John
It’s been a different house here since
you went away, air. Don’t you remem
ber, air, we used to open the front door
for the New Year when you lived here?"
“Of course I do," aaid John Brunder.
“J alwaya used to have apme youngsters
here, and we had fine timea.”
“And if I had had any idea, mlaa, that
you were used to that soct of thing i’d.
have some down to help you."
“Oh. ahe didn’t need anybody’s help!”
•aid Mr. John. “She did it aa well aa an
angel could have done it. If I had gone
back-ito the village. I believe I should
have been ao cross that I would have
started for the city early in the morning.
Yon know that’s my way, Joseph."
“Yes, sir,” said .the old man. “and
sometimes it has been a pity that it waa
yonr way. But would you like me to go
and waken Mr. Brunder. air? I think I
can do it without making any stir.'
"Oh, no, no, no!” exclaimed Mr. John.
“Don’t think of it. If either of you ever
wants to be reconciled with anybody,
don’t make him get out of a warm bed
of a cold night to do It No, I’ll wait un
til merning. You can get me into my
old room, can’t you, Joseph, without dis
turbing anybody Y'
"Of course I can.” said Joseph. “Well
go up the back ataiys.”
“Then I'll bid yod good night," said
Margey. “aa I can do nothing more for
you.
“More!” exclaimed Mr. John. "If H is
all right between my brother and me to
morrow morning, there isp't .a being on
earth who could have done aa much. And
I am very sorry indeed that I have kept
candle, and he and Joseph escorted
Margey to the foot of the great stairway,
where she bade them good night and
went quietly up in the moonlight.
When Margey reached her room, she
did not go to bed. It waa very late, not
far from 1 o’clock, but ahe did not mind
that Some of tbe family at home wer*
up yet It was tbe most natural thing in
the world to sit up late on New Year's
eve. Then ahe began to think of nli that
had just happened
Aa she thought and thought the affair
of the evening teemed like a romance to
her. If all turned out well, it would real
ly be a holiday story. And yet there waa
an imperfection in the romance. It wan
not altogether the sort of story ah* would
have made if she had been writing It, and
neither was it exactly lb* sort of rent
happening that it would have been tf the
had arranged it. Mr. John was aa bright
and aa cheery aa anybody eould he. bot
atill if she bad bad the management of
everything and waa going to make n ro
mance in real life, which it might juat aa
well have been, her own personality
would not bare been the only element of
youth in this pleasant inreotioa. Margey
waa capable of being very fond of elderly
people, but atill aba was young—nh* waa
not yet *A>—and if the person who came
with the New Year had been just like
Mr. John, only younger— But ahe would
not think tuck thought* aa than*. 8b*
ought to be ashamed of herself. Still, for
all that. 3rt waa pretty old. Everybody In
that house seemed to be ao old! Her fa
vorite maid. Mary, had a married daugh
ter. and. ao far as the romance of the
evening waa concerned, things might
har« been different just aa well aa not
When at last she pressed her face to
the pillow, ah* was atill thinking.
"Fifty-aix.” ahe said to herself, “and It
might just aa well have been—have
been”— And.ah* had not decided upon
the exact date It might have been when
the drnp[>ed n sleep
The next morning Margey was down
atalra eery early, nearly a quarter of an
hour be tors be—hi a at. for ah* aana a as-
ia«* jto Aaow everything which should
" 'lT*''nen TiTthe hall ahe met Joseph.
“I with yon a very happy New Year,
miaa.” he aaid “I forgot it last night
being so rattled, and if anybody de
serves a happy New Year you do, miss.”
Ail the romance had gone out of Mar-
gey’a mind, and things seemed very com
monplace to her in tbe cold light of day.
“I don’t believe I bad anything to do
with anything,” she aaid. “Mr. John
Brunder would hare waited a little while
longer, and then he wonld have rang the
bell, even if it should startle my aunt
“Oh, no, noy no!” Mid Joseph. “He
wouldn’t have done that Nobody knows
what might have happened if be had
done that But you’ll be glad to hear,
miss, that everything la all right They’ve
been up eince a quarter past 7„for I told
Mr. Brunder tbe newa when I first went
into his room. I have not known such
early goings on since Mr. John went
•way.” , r ■
"And they are truly reconciled Y’ asked
Margey. 4
“Indeed they are!” answered Joseph.
"They’re all up ataira in the study now
as merry aa crickets. Even Mrs. Brun
der wasn’t a bit startled, or if she was it
didn’t hurt her. There, mlaa, that’s the
•tufiy door now. They’re coming down
and in a family party, just aa they ought
to be." And with this hf retired. ~ y i
Margey waited in the ball. The ro
mance of the affair had vaniijied.
Down stairs came the happy party,
merrily talking. Her Unde Horace was
first of all, hia face brighter than ahe
had ever seen it, and as soon as ha per
ceived her he called out, “Happy New
Yean Margey!" in a voice a* strong and
hea^y that she could scarcely believe it
to him. Then her aunt, who
•eemed really in a hurry to come down
ataira, gave her the aame greeting, which
was echoed loudly by Mr. John, who
waa a little in the rear.
Happy New Year to—you all P she
was about to add, bot ahe did not She
•Imply stood and gaaed, her face turning
now a little pale and now a little red and
bfr eyes wide open with wonderment
The last person of tbe party coming
down the stair*, a little behind Mr. John,
wna a man evidently young. He had ao
beard, and his face erne very freeh cot-
id. He was tall, too, taller thaa her
e» Horace. She thought he looked aa
though he wanted to bid her a happy
New Year, too, but he did sot do It
Now Mr. John laughed stood, and they
•0 laughed, exeepdag the young man.
who apparently ksew what they ware
toughing about and who tamed a little
red. and excepting Margey, who did not
at aad
"Ah. 'Margey," ahefled Mr. John, "I
know what yon are thinking about!
You’re wondering where be came ftom-
you’r* wondering where he came from a
good deal more than yon nr* wondering
who he is. Yon don’t know whether I
brought him to my valise or folded up In
side the umbrella."
“Now. John." said Annt Ellen, "yon
ar* positively croel. Mersey* this it Ar-
thur, your Unde John’* aou. And, Ar
thur, I most make yon acquainted with
my niece. Merger Griffith." **•
The young people silently shook nanda,
harmonising in color as they did so, for
the recollection of her romantic fandae
suddenly came across Margey’a mind and
flashed her face. •
"Oh, I am not going to be cruel! cried
Mr. John. “Thia young man made the
trip with me yesterday, but I thought it
better for me to leave him at the village
and to come to the house by myaelf, for
when Arthur went away he waa nothing
but a boy, scarcely 15, and I did not
know how he might be f*C*ived.” r .
"Which was all stuff and nonsense,
aaid Mr. Horace Brunder. “You ought
to have known that be would be wel
come.”
"Weil," said Mr. John, “1 thought I
could manage thinga better by myaelf,
and aa you sent for him early this morn
ing he has nothing to complain of. More
over, if I had brought Arthur along with
me I don’t believe I should have had
enough to eat lait night, for he’s a great
deal worse in regard to cheeae and sar
dines in the middle of the night than I
am, but everything’s all right how. and
ns this young ladjr is really to consider
me as one of her unclea ahe might aa well
begin inatantly, and so I am going to bid
her a happy New Year again and give
her a kits.” which he did without delay,
and then Aunt Ellen kissed her, and then
Uncle Horace did ao. '
No, not Arthur. It waa not until the
7th of April of that year that he found
himaelf entitled to that Inestimable privi
lege.
There were a great many things which
had to happen before the 7tb of April
In the first place, Margey had to learn
all about the trouble which bad resulted
to Mr. John’s leaving the old family
home, and when ahe discovered that the
quarrel between the brother* had been
caused by some mad pranks of the boy
Arthur ahe set herself earnestly to work
to analyte the mind of tbe young man
Arthnr and to find out for herself tbe in
teresting series of development* which
must have taken place in his character
to change him from the reckleeo young
ster to the exceedingly kind hearted and
considerate young man that he now was.
Like many other persona in thla world.
Margey wta very fond of the study ot
kumnn nature.-meeuiug
Ideal concerning n certain subject and
that ahe hoped to be able to convince her
self that the subject wna equal to her
ideal.
She did not have uninterrupted oppor
tunities for continuing her study, for aft
*r a week or two Arthur was obliged to
go away, hot he cam* back aa soon as be
could, sod be assisted her ao much la
coming to a satisfactory conclusion in re
gard to himself sod his relation to her
ideal that by the time the 7th of April
cam* around her education la thia branch
waa entirely finished.
On the next New Year’s eva. n little be
fore 12 o'clock, every member of that
family, including Joseph Buckle and
some other household servant a, assembled
la the great hall to lovite tbe New Year
to enter. To Margey was assigned the
duty of opening the door, nod she did It
all herself, refusing any assistance, even
from the very urgent young man who
stood close beside her.
When tbe great door was opened wide
and everybody all at once cried out
cheerily, “Come in. New Year!” there *a
tered nothing bwt n great blast of cold
and froety air, but everybody knew thnt
the New Year.had come In. and the door
waa cloeed.
“Now,” Mid Mr. John, “thia is all very
well but 1 can tell you. my good relativen
and friends, thnt ao happier New Year
srill ever pass that threshold thaa when
last year and I came in together."
Margey and Arthnr had some doubts
•bout this, for they wer* to be married la
the spring.
• Cattle. Diet dead*.
▲ Colorado cattle company reports
dividends of 125 per cent on its last
year’s business, says Tbe National
Stockman. Yd thia aame company waa
only saved from bankruptcy 40 or 12
years ago by tBk fortunate purchase
and sale of a big herd of cattle which
made a profit and staved off the sher
iff. There are many other cattlemen
1rn niDRw ho cru i
look bark and see where a little lift at
the right time 'would have saved them
to make good profits later on.
The bindweed, or small flowered
morning glory, an Imported peat baa
been troublesome In 4be east and In
California and la now reported aa gain
ing a pretty strong foothold at Inter
mediate points.
Culture”
it the namejm
of a valu-^
able illustrat-
e d pamphlet
which should
be in the hands
of every planter who
raises Cotton. The
book is sent Free.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
gl Naasaa St., New Ysta.
PITT’S
Antiseptic Iniorator!
—*-—\sr—“ “T .. 7 "1,'
Cures dyspepsia, indigestion, and all
stomach or bowel troubles, colic nr cholera
morbus, teething troubles with children,
kidney troubles, bad blood and all aorta of
sores, risings or falons, cut* and bums.. It
to aa good antiaeptie. when locally applied,
aa any thing oa the market.
Try H and vou will praiae it to others .
If your druggist doesn't keep it, write to
Pitts’ Antiseptic Invigoratpr Co.
THOMSON, <3A.-
or CARPENTER BROS.,
Green villa. 8. C.
to" Kor sate "by druggist* everywhere
ITEMS OF OENRItAL INTEREST.
Quaint sad Curious Paragraphs
Gathered from Various Sour
—Tbe goodness of our Intentions
never excuse* tbe badness of our nc-
tlooe.
—Small tonka of pure oxygen, to be
used for rrsuscllatlog persons over
come by smoke nr gaa, have been tug-
ad a* paaetoiebt deetaihta •qwtaa'.x
\
It is something be
sides bad air that
makes a woman faint
in a olose theatre. A
well woman wouldn’t faint The woman
who easily grow* faint aad dissy—who
has palpitation of the heart—a ‘'stuffy”
feeling — hot flushes — nervous troubles,
better look for the cause in her digestive
system or in the distinctly
feminine organism — maybe
Women who are not quite
well and don't know Just
what is the matter, and
women who are really sick
and don’t know exactly
what is the
matter shenld
write at once to
Dr. E V. Pierce,
at Buffalo, N.Y.,
stating their
symptoms in de
tail. They will
be advised by
Dr. Pierce with
out charge.
He has treated and cured more anile ring
women thaa any other physician in the
world, and more of hia ” Favorite Prescrip
tion,” for the correction aad cure of all dis
orders and diseases-of tbe feminine organa:
except cancer, has been sold thaa of all
other similar medicines. ~
Write to Dr Pierce. If hi* medicines are
what yon need he will tell you so, if they are
ne * < * **• honestly my eo
•“d.T 111 J* 11 youwhht t0 do d, ►i erce . #
» a sufficient guarantee that hia
•dvtee win not he biased by the hope of
selling you s few bottles of medicine. -
7®° ^toh to study up vonr own cane
Dr. Pierce will send you, /nr* of mil tort,
riser," of which over 790,000 were sold at
fo.a copy. All that Dr. Pieree asks is
font you send m oae-ceat stamps, to nay
tbe cost of mailing only. Ifyou^ * ^
ta fine French ctoth aead 1 _
Dx *. V. Ptoree. Bufkto Jt
meat of book-and-ladder trucks going
to Area.
—Mr. Louis 8. Cohn, a Jew, baa just
bees elected L >rd Mayor of Liverpool.
He baa acaouaced that bo will accept
■o public or other engagement* which
would demand hia time on Friday
•vnoioga or Saturdays.
—So vast la tbe eua that If it were a
hollow ball tbe moon could revolve la
the orbit which It now folowe aad still
be entlrelv enclosed within tbe •aa’e
Interior. For every acre on tbe sur
face of our globe there are more thaa
10 000 acre* on lbs surface of tbe great
luminary.
—Tbe manufacture of Christmas toya
•a oca of ihe youthful industries of the
United States at lesat ao far aa dolls
ere concerned. Sdvrral yearn ago
there'were no doll factortee on this
aide of the 0 ean. No* there are three
large oaea, each dolog a thriving
hualaraa. ■
—The record* of Kick bridge County,
Vv, show that tbe Natural Bridge wna
once owned by Tboma* Jefferson who
secured n“pu»eni" for the property
oa July 5, 1774, over tbe signature of
" Duomore, Lieutenant Governor of
tbeColoay of Dominion of Virginia.”
Jefferson devised ike land to hia /
daughter, Martha Randolph, subject
to the payment of hi* debt*, aad she .
*0 d.it la 1835.
—Some yearn ago tbe non of A. Hei
berg, of Osage City, K»o. left heme
and enlisted in tbe navy’; Nothing wha
beard from him until the wraek of tbe
Maine, when hia name wm found
among those of the dead. From that
time until laet week hia parents aad
friend* mourned. Then cam# a latter
from the lad saying that ha had nevar
been on tba Maine, and that ha waa
alive aad well.
!
d
—A dispatch from Niagara Fails
•aya that heavy rain la agalng paring
off tbe Canadian cliff.-A large mam
of rock from a point close to the Horae
UUa drappaAAato.ltofc***** that renew
tog. Table Rock to slowly toit surely
becoming ■mailer. The upper end of
Goal island ebowa tba wear made by
water aad marks of reoeaaloa are plaia-
ly visible at the foot of the Americaa
Horae Shoe falls. " /
—A New Jeraey court has handed
down the opinion that a church sub
scription made on Sunday la oolleotl-
b e, and an;Ohio Judge has decided
tffat a man who engage* in a game of
chance with others cannot recover hia
losses from the proprietor of the place
where the gaming occurred. Such de
cisions serve as reminders that law and
common sente jog along together very
comfortably moat of the time.
—A four-year-old daughter of Isaiah
Bollinger, of Bowmanavilla, W. Va.,
died from over-indulgence in popcorn.
She wna taken 111 recently and finally
went into convulalona, in which con
dition she remained almost constantly.
The caae waa a peculiar on# and pax-
xled the physicians, until U wna learned
that ihe patient, who waa Inordinately
fond of popoors, had eaten such large
u an titles that the atomaoh refused to
Igett It.
—Daring the two weeks Congress
bus been In session ttfnre war* intro
duced in the two honsea an aggregate
of 7,012 aad joint (‘esolntlona. Of thaan
1,974 will#and 48 joint reaolutions warn
presented In the Senate aad 4,924 bills
and^fifi joint reaolutions la the House.
The greater number were private
bills, of which a large proportion oame
from previous Coegreseee. When the
5fith Congress expiree by limitation^
nearly all of these old veteran bllla will
be found on the calendars and In the
pigeon boles of the committees, aad it
la very probable they will gala intro
duction to the 57th Congress two yean
beooe- , . /
—Seventeen years ago *he govern
ment began tbe pnblleatlen of the re
cords of the '' War of KebeHiee.” The
work has gone ateedily on, including
the report# of bettlea aad campaigns,
until It has beoome the most expeaalvo
publication the government hue ever
undertaken. The oeet of it Isj
dication of thia. It has now
tha sum ef 12 800,000 The work la
practically dona, for tha reporta, dis
patches aad order* which ehroelele
the actual history of the war hava all
beaa printad, aad aaarafaraaoa library
It 1s tha moat complete that was ever
published la regaid to aay war the
world aver knew. la all thare are 111
volumes, aad several more la tha form
of addsada aad ladax art yal