The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, August 29, 1901, Image 4
The People's Jounal
PICKENS S.
THE PATH. .
TO PERDITION
3 y .OUIS VIN0ENT
DE FOE.
CopyuiA,.1901, by Louis Vincol, P0 Foe.
*-*aRm the window of De
Con Birdsell's house the
bright rays of a1 lam111p
marked the fr-k of fle
country road w 0l'ld
to the right, past the old
0uaker meeting hiouise,
and, to the left, through
the worldly and inhuitous village call
ed into existence only ia year before by
the coming of the new railroad.
This little cluster of houses, ia mush
room growth of unpainted boards, in
cluded, besides a blacksmith shop and
general storo, both welcome enotiugh in
their way, a tavern conduted oil wide
open principles under the inme of'
Lowden's Halfway House, whlch lid
speedily brought the locality into gen
oral disrepute. No one had discovered
toward what goal it marked the lf
way point, unless it was that goal of
torment which is the ending of every
career of intemperate prolllgigny.
In the dining room, which served like
wise as a sitting room, the deaconl wits
carefully gleaning stray scraiis of wis
dom from the colmlils of the IlieIbigaII
Agriculturist, the silence of' the house
disturbed only by the loud Oicking of
the farm clock on the shelf in the "or
ner and the busy click of the knitting
needles in the deft thigers of Nirs.
Birdsell. It was charact erist le of t he
deacon that lie always post ponted is
study of The Agriculturist until Ifter
the harvest, when the informiation lie
might gain was sure to be of least
value to him.
Presently the elock tolled the hour
of 8, lingering long, it seemed, upon
the final stroke. Deacon Itirdsell
started suddenly.
"Mother," he said. "don't you know
it's gettin pretty lIto?"
Mrs. Birdsell paused In surprise aid
dropped the half tinished sock in her
lap.
"Eight and after, an it's high tilna
folks was abed," sai(d the deacon. "ill
you shut down. the back vIilow aI
bolt the kitchen door? An Joel-of
course Joel's in."
As if in answer to the deacon's iples
tion, th quavltIng. uncerta in notes of
a song sifted through the ceiling frin
the chamber above.
"Sh!" Mrs. Birdsell said, holding Ill
her finger in warning.
The song from tin chamber abovi
gradually becnle more distinct untIl 1
Word could be nideistood here at
there in its unc-ertain r-hythmi. It hon
a distant resembilancie to one of the le
ular songs of the dlay heard with great
freq uency in the nighiboring town. buat
justly abhorred for Its woirldly insiniun
tions~ ini the peacefuil Quaker church
neighborho:,d.
"WVilliamn," exclaimed NMrs. Blrdsell ini
a tremrblling voice, "sonmethin must be1
done right away. It's gettin just awful!
It's beeni weighiin onl my mind until
sometihies I get that nervous."
The deacon gat~hiered his shaggy gray
brows and stroked his angular unshav
en chin inl silence fori at mioment. "'I
hate to think it of JToel," he obiserved
thought fully, "'but I gue-ss it muist be1
true. Ilonve you hieen nioticinl an~ything~
els-e latelyv, larthau?' Th'e deaicon sel
domn addressedh his wife by her giveni
namin except on occasions of great so
lemunity.
"Anything! Good land alive!" Mire.
Birulsell swept her hands around her
head as if she was wanrding Tf a swarmni
of impending evil. "'It's gettin worser
an worser every dayv." she exclaimed'(,
with great earlnestne(ss, "ain the worst
Part of it all is lie's gettin that br'aze'i
ab~out it-to think, too, William, that
he's your own brother!'' The song he
gaun again in the chambltier' above, this
time accomp~anied by the uiinistakable
sound of shiuiling feet.
".Just listen to that now,'' she went
on, with mnoun uI lii mphausis. "I1 guiess
you enan hiear' It for yoursel f!"
"r''', mort hier, y'ou're right,'' pro
nonnried the diuneon r'eflectlively, slowly
nodding his heath in the aflirmnative.
"That's .1uat one of yjowr notitons," Joel
(LnsworedZ.
"Poor Joel is certainly goin straight toi
the-I was almost goin to say dovil, an
here we ai'e, you an me, sittin with our
hands folded, no~t (loin a blessed thing
to p~ut him right."
"It didnl't get real bad till the middle
of Juno-leastwise Tool didn't take to
goin out ights till then." Mrs. Birdl
sell sqluintedl thoughtfully through her
glasses as If to look into the past. "I
first suspieloned him circus (lay over
in the town, when he spent all that
money for a box of collars an them r'ed
an grceen neckties. - He seemed right
aishamed of 'em, too-that Is to say, at
first he did."
"When was it he spoke to'you about
er n Imhi nant lema?" ~frgtt
fhtaeyou? It was the very samet
da ocolie out'from town .bringinible
ta1 oat. lItl' never forget. that! Iho
maneo. ua nianau- tnoen +.lum. tbnt r.
be natural.
"That's Just- one of lyou: n1tions
William," Joel.answered. with ::b
laugh. "Conle no, ilght's jus:t a
good as day, ain't it? lI)on't 'ret ab1o
Inc. Just leave the key to the di::
room door under the stone b'y (I$,
StOps, an I'll get in all right."
There was no reply.
"An that remninds fine," the(l. i
Went on, "the next tUne I gto to towi
I'n1 goi to take that key aIon' w.
mne an have one nade like it. No use
talkin, a mani ought to iutav t latih.
key."
This last worldly whim, more ,,-znil.
cant than) anythinig else. -worse eVenI
thian tle reckless get upi) (-f tme (o,
tume, fell with astounding weight oi
the farmer and Is wiIfe. It wa noth
Ing less than the limit of Inorad <te.
pravity. In the suddeness ofi the
shock there was no chance for reply.
Joel hesitated a lonlent, tilell plek'hd
uip hits liat and wint Out.
The (lo(noll anId hIs vife rem1i:l:'i
seated, rigid with colsteri'ioll. until
they heard 111111 step oft the por'h.
Then with one inecord tlly' arts' an
tIptoed to thle parlor wvindow. Peverinlg
out Into the darkiless, they watcied
hi) valk through the yard to tie gat
and then turn his steps InI the dlilee.
tion of tile taverl, the lghts of wleb.i
tinklted tIinly half a uile away tdowl
the left fork of the rond.
"Tie time's come, Martli," (th den.
Conl burst ouit. ",1001 wvIll hear, frloni
tue the ifirst tiling torllorro.w Ilorn:ial I
ll0's got to be slit off Ills scalld'lolus.
trn111Wen way8 iistanter r, I by Hit
Lord, he'll lever stay n11iothielr day lil.
der uy Il !roo'!"
Mrs.ell wat'ed fairly7:1 struck 1nh
before er utisband's awfu8 l .lu-in
tioll. It was (tle firos' te l i llh u21t. 'ar
ried life thant hto had so ruithhit ,*v
brokle n the' t 1thir co l11and1 i 'll't, lil1'
fihe la0 i erself down to broken'l sleepl
anld troulbled dreamIS.
Thle first glenml of' thle rising.- sunl was
Inl the eastern sky wlell tile the;:k,
slowly rollsed to tilt troubli's of* 1 nw
da'. Quickly tllrowing Oil Ills worJingI
clothe 11 , I hasteledt ti tle foot f tilt
sta ir.
",loel," he. enih-e to thle ipper. ebaml
her. "Joel, hestirrin! The mim's mioe'n
all hilr' high. We've ovel'slept scian.
dI'louls!"
No as18'.wer nallt froi a111bive.
" 11Joe! 11Th tille there wis lii an.1
gry ring Inl thle word.
And still no antswer.
Tphie deact n dl1 not tall agalil. but
started4 briskly for the stables, Is
he:Ity lo t nll'els 1ankIng dark 11:111
virvctl it inlte lighit Orost tiat covered.1
tthe ."rotmil. Ilk. was murprised neint!l
to 11i11d til, L~eavy doors thrlown wideI
ioeln to t.e Inlor'III g br'eezes. S, ;l
wer, i sstit n i il nwith1 I, n id s he
Imaused hie h eazrd I It b rthIer .lucl's
voice~~~~O litd nsog terytIn pnt
tlel by thl ta y " Kiih" of Ilik
i -hlt tie bottomiand tides of tilt,
til l k 1' - n1.
Theli ablsk&olt unlexpecteditess of' thle
Situationl cnusedI thlt deaconl to hlesitate
I 'it IIInI sI I lih it l fw u' t - I .isten In g
alttentitely, lie inana::ged to catch the
lnlt myV il' ney en the (o11 lbay maere,
2 nchaiy~' bue (2n 1the gay.
'lThe dlogyrerel hadtt only one meaning
to thle die-t (21. it wais a shinieless08 de
tt2nse o)f ll'os r'acinig. an1 unholy pan
it' iio wii~hih 1he had1 galiinedt sotneL ill
"ASlirtin. ill i i n!"Q(i'-1 The greotin
to I llow~ a1 nightil of diebauleery. '( ;lllss
you)I k iinii If 0overisltey . MAlust be you anI
iilither kept late hioui'r!
"'1l-o's oneii way yo' 3'l n1ight of know
ed h~ow 2ate hiours' tiliotheri 11n 111 kept.''
'on(i the I rime oneWhliting isof)2tlyl
1inilt' 011 ' tatdfo the housle, whtile
thle linei'on. d ' iny t'i and broterd
'J.'ie ilrd t thle~ iierpelit litle a unidr
li the'i'ilI h y iot'i. ilo r w l d oetv' ta3
i'e'troull luaniityu o i'll. t inelling
inorses lt' w and~el 1 s th t pennedtl
thove feront thei fok hsanl t r
'angieba in that1: in ii th adronithery ial
whil hteiwig in(lrei certain thant Jever
.liy ntevned b'ewein his brother
hidirrealloinli duanltion .o
Tiihilel moritg ivna ivl thownitol farm
pourt wos ntil (ecomfosrealios usualos
hrytoleuliar'y all efatlyneingd his
vfe. Itd Infht n tben noteod that
he~l dno lteeon, and ferventy
wrle te tek thteh he narpitely
>fered uevfnti bett d.than might
Tie meal fotiched, as. thtdarsene
md fhoe fervent ofhank lwlt an toarnest
''pol''ntio thatiin oiderynce tonp
ar atllrilent isdtoinmigh altotugei
arhpit ewekese of himsls theateng
bmgiln ali ofi vic, waslot on Joel
'lasmuchi as iet wsowell knw tod l e
t art oe th doe'tls rlios hios
>ph to4 regard't alp arhlyens ia iidlats
venk'~t and'i sitfi the .yest t'f lthe
ord.'t As for the dreacn, has ur
roish io o that Joel'! a)'etite
eletemed e seternoo oh n hual. 11
1.nd fao ce ofihit benrit thatn
irgwayet di'she steot'
"Jhelt" 'h enot saidtryn to kefn
enr natul, andt tates altofthe ouhe,
'npieofingmslf hi ther to) aolloweatin.
2g ing'in his votltilte a, li"suht the
,vnhk don o the baorroowit h or a
lointen~t co'eio sofhi I'deik nti
)hstaled1 totd coherdor.i "Bttter pu
'th af tslldiner acmuWlliom, of dust
"lcl rights thle mustnc ohe onphin
terbl rssn.ha' n ormid?
6ke 'about the plnts lie hiuhlaed
like a.boy.. lie says to ue: 'Martha,
some time when you've got i flatiron
n I. vlsi you'd press out liy gray
ants an leave 'em creased before an
ehind. Folks ay nowadays it keeps
'em from wearin out so quick.' I al.
most gave himii a plece of my mind
right then an there. I says: 'Joel Bird.
sell! An at your time in life too.' H
didn't say another word, but went off
up stairs that ashmlited-an that very
night was the first time In tile 20 years
he stald out till after midnight!"
Deacon Birdsell clais)ed his long fin.
gers around his bony knee and bowed
his head.
"If I do say it, I watched him froml
the window when he went out," Mrs.
Birdsell earnestly continued, "an I
seen him traiil) straight off' toward the
tavern. 'Twasn't the last time I've
seen him either."
The deacon suddenly started up and
thumped his list hard upon tIhe table.
I"Then Lowdens wilI get to )isoni
yet!" lie burst out with inlignation.
'Twould be a true religious act to set
their cussed drain shop on fire! I'd do
it, too, if"
Mrs. Ilirdsell reached tcross the tu
ble to ilace :I restrainiig hand 1 upon
her litisind 1's am, but the tIps of her
fingers ltrt'ly toucheil his shirt sleeve.
"ilI1,'' sihe ahl in a Itmore coim
posed Ione, "we imstn't get excited.
What we muist do is to 'tteii to Joel's
case. The Lord Ilat judges hetwveen
the righteous ani the imrighteous will
'tend to th lodtlens hiiself."
Before such an iundenilable xl)ositionl
of truth the farimier's alger slowly sill
sided.
"You know the time Joel washed the
buggy an went to town?" Mrs. lirdsell
went on. "lit! didn't get back that
night till i luarter past 12, tin lie took
his boots off bl'or' he comue into (Ile
house. I know all about it becaullse lie
clean forgot 'em an left 'em on the
porch."
"You wouldin't call thei thin mgs boots,
would you?" The deacon threw his
whole av-ailable fund of sarcasi into
the words.
"Gaiters, I itan," corrected Mrs.
Birdsell quickly. "'An that's another
thing. .Jist to think of a man takin to
gaiters tier boots has been good
enough for him for 50 years! It's a
sure sign, Willitin."
"Yes, mItot her, that's the long an tho
short of it. Ga(llers may Lie a small
thing in tleniselves, but in Joel's case
they hilp -)owerfl to show what fast
livii an stronig drlink will do once a
mani gets goin lit the wrong way.''
The deacon started suddenly at the
meaning of his own words. A spade
had linally been called a spade. Mrs.
Ilirdsell straightway began to sob au
dibly, while her Iusband searched ab
stractedly for his handkerchief, which
lie finally prtoduced from the armhole
of his vest.
Joel Birdsell tilled the place of a son
not only inl the hearts but in the home
of the deacoli and his wife. Back in
the fifties, wheln heavy timber still cov
ered what is now the rich, rolling farm
land of lower Michigan, William Bird
sell had gon' forth from the circum
scr'ibed acres of the hornestead in Ver
mont to wvin a plaice for himself in the
world, with only a young wife and his
own grit to ahl( him. Then Michigan
was not the farmner's El Dorado it aft
erward camne to bet. Blut the house in
which lie still lived was built, and then
Joel, the next younger' by three years,
was sent for1 to share the increasing
fortutnes, iueidenitally3 to lend a hl1ping
hand in the runninlg of' the farm.
Andi Joel, ihe was at shiinig examnpie
of New Englamiui staigmatiomi. Nevet' ini
eliuied to namtry, aliways con tent with a
k ind Ot' hlpless dependen (w Ice upon01 hi s
brother' andt si ster, wh ose h ome bl noti
been I brigitenhed by3 thei ad(1venIt of chii
:1i'en, lhe grew more Itnil miore to lbe thle
object oft piar'ntal solicitude to the
f'arct' and( is wife as thle year1s
paissed by. Iie' was sat isliedI withi his
unique position,. :inil gratdualvlyithe horii
oni of' his life.. cnine to lbe biouInided by
the views andI w ishes of his toster' par.
Mr's. lIlirdsel'l was the fir st to brieak
he oppressive sileiice. '"\Villiam,"' she
id (, ''thiei'e's 1n0 use puti liIt off anyi
tunger'. Suppose wt' call .Joe( ldownI 1ow
-this very iighit-:in plil tiut to him11
Ike -tell him I --Ithat is to say,. ask
d( greater' whien frarnied in wiords.
"Shi!" 'ht exchiaion ' escaped'( the
>ir ai t the oarut' istant.
ini til'eli charnhor abovt' ihe, song be'gan
ill dcubt, Ltil. Silentiy th Ii c!(ople tol
(owed'l ihe lines:
.Not a word w:: tittred until the
/er'se enchid. .\r-i. Itirdst'i IwaIs busy53
iia ing a imntal anal~iysis oft the ineani.
rig of' the wvords,.'1 Thir lnpior't seetued(
"101'lia ried. gau Ibli htouse~ tune," she1 o
'oiuv itIOn, Lilthotughi Ihere was1 a tr1om1
iii Jg in hl('r voice. "'i've lieard alh
ilbouit thle iniferlnal pllaces; all ilmrble ani
dass an :ieileictr'ie i ghtIs a i po1ilicd
w'ood wok."'
'T'he otilainlg. hea~vy fot'tsteps grew t
Lug do-win thie stair1s. Next the (loot'
)hn'1idi and1 he~ waliker into Ite dininug
i'd T he Agricultutj5 fr'oni tilt taleh(.
Joel atpp'a red surpr~iisedto find1( tile
rest of tile family keepinig late hiouris.
SHtili settin upi" lhe asked innocntltity
enough, but in the earis of the others
the words lad a guilty ring.
From the corners of her eyes Mrs.
Birdseli was taking a qluiet inventory
tf incrlmmiating evidence. Thlerewa
the red necktIe encircling the standiui
collar that saiggedi out ini tired fashion
at the trout. Thue long tlled coat wat
also conispicuious. She wished she hat'
had tile forethouighit to put on hei
Spectacles, tor' she( knew that propo-,
scrutiny would dleteet faint cr'eases in
front of the hugging gray pa~nts. Aa
for thei shoes, the noise on the stairs
bad alreadly told Its own story.
"Weli, I guess I'll waik out for a lit
tie bit," lie went on, tatking no notice
of the uinusulI restraint. ''The sky3's
11s cleat' 1n It hell, a~n it seems jutsi
shamneful to stay in. Won't lilt masilsth
more Ighits like this."
'"It's time honiest folks waa abed am:
lialeop." 'Tho dea~con's voice gratted
bamiv. naonh en s hibet..
Was impressive, an III its selection Ih
V
He Couldl ony (yi "Mis' Cook: 1y)u
'aIrry M1l' CookC!"
9ood inan prided 1iiself oil the exer.
else of a nent bit of strategy. F'urther
I more, It rI'oved the llost reillote (1n111.
ger of inte'rrupton.
For sogi( itlne the den con sa t I si
lence, hIs cold eyes sharply fix-d 111m11
his brother's face. 'itlii, whe n - tI'
susIense had begiti to girow painlfull.
hto Cleared Is throat wvithl evident (.I
fort and spoke11, carefully weighing vv
ery wvord.
"Joel," he said. "I've conme down liit
to talk to you 1nutt to Ian1. an l'l i iIn
Ca I'nest. It's 11111d. but1 it's got to be
done. It's been oil my niind for a Icn::
tIhe."
"I lopet there nlin't ally trouble. \'it
in."TheV shnidow of anl uninl -Ig
calinity had gradually forined Ibefore
Joel's eyes. andl his fnleo wore a pale
find ainxious look.
"r'l'ouibe? Yes. there is trouble flln
pletiy of It. Tlie truth Is, I've been -
luother fn I've been - walcliln you
tiow this last six t1oonthls, fin what
yol''e been doln Is as elat to us as an
open book."
111sta1itly n1 shl'ishI, self consielius
expression sprend itsell'over Joel's face.
and hils eyes sought ite floor In (ilrnar
rassnlielit. The dt-'o41n inoted the 1w uick
blainge. and 111 his h linsigeilig doubt Inl
stantly vaunislied. Ills course \wis 1now1
Clearly definevd.
"Yvs, .10'(," he coithinled, with gret
er earnslti-ms. "there's no use denyin
It now. Mlother fil me"
"I alin't den-1yin nlothin,. William."
The dencon sillted suddenily an d bit
Ills lips with anger. The last thing he
had anitielpated was a 11an1k aknowl
edgiieit of guilt. It en81ine su nilie
pectetdly that he hardly kiew how to go
Oil, yet he r'aIized that the best way to
al))oniel tie crisis was by sitecessive
steps. The culprit exhibited n1 lurIter
willinn11'ess to spenk inl self defense, so
tle doncon pliunged In again.
"Yes," lie repeated; "we've knowed
ill about you right along. We 811p.
Cloned yOu wheni you look to hIgh faui
gled notions about stand 111up collars an
gay neckties. We was surer of It whon
yOul got to s85uendinll your oney on tall
coats ail stich, 1n then," dropping his
voice to ini Insinuntig whisper aid
PlulctuItn lg ach word with a pause.
"we finally saw through the whole
thing when 1you took to goli out hite
nigh ts."
Beforte such an necuniiulation of evi
dence Joel hunitg his heaid. Ills expr'es
ston cbanged gradually from ein1bar
1rassed(01 cofuimin to guIlty alssurnneec,
whilet with the beel of hIs hoot he un
conseiously drewv parallel lines on the
dusty barno tloor'.
"WVell, what of It, WVilliamn?" he ask
ed, wIth a faint sinile. "Wh'lat If you
"What of It?!" T1hie deacon1 rep~eated
the words, with an1gry' sur'prlse.
"Ye's; what of it? I d1on't see the
good of miakin a fuss about it, any1
way3."
Th'le (deacon1 swa'llhowted sonmething
that seed~ to r-ise In hIs thr'oat to
choke' hits word1s. "Wha't of it?" lhe reC
111etI ngni n angrily. "'Whby, ninni, you
have gone clean11 nid. Can't y'ou see
that If y'ou keep on it's goiu to mnke
y'our life a regular hel1l on ear'th?'"
Eveni the unp[)lensanlt pr'ospect of Im
mediate earthly pterd~ttion seenied to
have 110 effect upon thet culprit. Ills
confusion did not dIinish, but his
smIle broadened to a faint iaugh. Then
he looked thoughtful and said:
"I shouldn't hardly think you'd like
to say that, William."
"Sny It, man alIv'eI Why, doii't I
know It? Do you thInk I've been liv in
all these years for nothin? Ain't It al
ways that wvay ?"
The deacon sp~oke the words in an
angry treble, accompanIed by an im
patIent anid deprecatinig gesture. "Aln
besIdes, Joei," lhe went on, hIs voice
rIsing to a still hligher key, "look att It
tis way, if It aIn't too late: You've
got a little money put up in the say
In's bank. How long (10 you suppose
It's goin to Iast if y'ou keep oni?"
To a financial conslderatlin of the
Question Joel mafde no0 immiiediato an
iwer. TIe seemelld to ho aicttually reek
oniig upi tile costs. A fter mieditating
quietly for a lIttle whIle lio 'ompllosed
"Well, suppose it (do0s (cost a little
more? I guess it's worth the dIffer
ence."
'T.hie(11 e lm reduictioni 01f morn1i deprav
Ity to a matter of dollars and1( (centi.
brouilght the donconi to hIs feet with at
iipitilent start.
"Anl your1 frIends, y'ourI new11 friends!'
they'll (10 when'l yourli mon~iey's goneo
Are t hey' golin to sltan by ) y'ou t hen?"'
"'Coine, W~Illhunii you talk a$ if I wn,.
goinl to 'olilI a crIme Iisteadl of Justx
followyInl out ai manli's naiitura1l y
T.Iher'e alin't muich'l danlger of st arvl r
anyh'lowv." ,1 (il'' imipattienice, toio, wmi
bieginninlg to shiowt Itself. "If you 'r
go01n to go hnfEk on mie now, wvell, I
h'iupose0 ther's other places 1 (enn1 gL
to. I wasni't expeic't in to stay ini I li
011ldihusie much(21 loiiier anlyhlow. I14:i
I dlidnl't thlink thli ofi youi1 WIlliam. It
alin't dleserve'd for youii 1o get nool."
'"T.ry'In 1o 1)iny repiroachfIul, elh? JTui
1(ook back over the last1 3) 0 years (0
[1 ti('sh ani blood sIsteor (cou11( Ih'? .\i
how about 3your hoine? Ain't it been~
Th'ie di(oli's volce t remibed a lI lh:
la lie raply3 summilied up thIe lIst u1
11na1ppreelatedoi k11innesse.
hat, not ai bit of It. Hiut whai( t if
11nn alfter' awhIle gets tIred of lii
1113 in ani daiy out in at rut? Whlio Ie
ab wants to g. -ut into .. .-.. 1)O ,
ter life? I suppose I wouldn't'thougI
of it If the railroad hadn't been pit
through. I got to goin there ilrn
when they was layin the tracks. Wel
that was all right enough, an then"
"That'll (10! Enough of that! I won
hear It from your lips."
"An then"
"Stop, imian! I say stop, in the nan
of what little regard for decency you'
got left! I won't hear froni you!
didn't come out here to listen to yol
boastin an pluinin yourself about yoi
reckless, senseless goin on."
The deacon's bloodless lips tremblt
as he fairly'thundered the coniiari
and shook his clinched fist in unbridh
wrath. "I won't have it made at
worse by your goin Into all the detal
of what you did," he went on hotly.
wanted you to listen to reason, ill
wanted to talk to you like a brothe
But there ain't any reason left in yo
It's gone too far, an Martha an I'm t<
late. You're p)roud 'of that broader II1
you talk about, are you? All rigli
then. Now listen to what I've got 1
say. The way's still opei for you 1
turn over a new leaf an come back i
be one of us as you was before ti
Lowdens an their tavern caine
Quaker Church. It's got to be one
the other, an you've got to dede rigi
now. Either you (ut this new, broa
er life that you've been harpiln on
you imust get along without Martha I
me from this day for'ard!"
The deacon pronounced the senten
in excited, Impassioned tones. "TI11
way's open. Which (10 you take?" I
repeated, wiping away the beads ,
cold sweat that stood out upon hi
brow.
Joel's flushed face turned pale at C
dleacont's w hoes. They cut himt like
siarp knitife, and hiIs Irother knew
But quickly the scornful look returni
and lie iet flite Issue squarely i
way. Witiout a treinor lie ste)li
close to his brother and, placing 1i
hand gently on the other's should(
exclaimed:
"Willhun111, Williamn, if it 'was the( laI
thing on earth I didn't expect this
you! If it was anybody else, I'd
said he'd gone clean crazy. You I
mother iever did circulate nimu
arouid anong the neighbors, but
never once had aln idea either of y(
hald anytliig against Mis' Cook.
can't understand It. IHer husbandI
been dead for three years now, an tdu
it that whole tine sie's hardly be
outside her dooryard. It's goin to I
hard to tell her tliat this is our wedd!
present from you an :\Martha, but I c.1
do it, ti I will. One thing has got I
be settled between you an 11ne1, howson
ever." Here ,Joel's words became delil
erate aid foreboding. "I in't goin I
stand up an listen to aniybody thr1o,
nilserahlo sluriA ont the womau that
goin to be itty wile not even you, im
own brother i a deacon in the churel
wlo ought to bo above such a thing.
wAant you to understand that if th
Lowdenl hoys (id buill their taver
icross 'roitn her house she abi't respoi
sible nor the worse t'or it. Ai its far a
thiat place is concerned, I hate it wors
than you do. it's hurt her propert
sicand'Flous."
Weddinag bells of'ten ring out in unes
pected ilaces. 'Their notes are th
swe'eter whlen they sounid aibove t1-. di
of dilscordi. In valit the ddecon, pei
plexedl anid conifused, his excited min
in a whirl, tried to interrupt Joel'
words. lThein he gave up the attempi
and grals'Jtd weakly at the objects niea
himn for suppor't. Ie could onily gasi
"Mis' Cook; you marry Mis' Cook-th
Widlow Cook ait the cr'ossin-I -you"
"We've been thinkin it over eve
since the day the circus was in town
an last inight we fixed it all up an de
cided to hItch."
"Lord save us all! Joel, I"- It wa:
too rnutchi for the deacon, and hi:
strength (desertedi him. hils knees b)en
beneath his weight, and1( his voice drolp
130( to an Inaudible whisper, ie leani
ed upon the sleigh and rubbed his eye
as if to bring bacek his scattered senses
Then he sudldenly found htis vole,
again. "Is that the mnenatin of' it all
Is that where you've beeni goin t2voLnli
after eventin wvhen mnother an ii<
thought you was at the Lowdetns''i Sa:
sorethin, matn! Are you strtuck e'leni
dumub?"
Th'le scorinful look had1( leftt J oel'
face, and thle suggestion of a tri
uilhanit smil~e plaiiyed around t Ihe car
tners or is muoui, as !te w:: .1te I
sucecessivye stam-s ot- his brhi':ter's ut
lapse. Ihut umlice was lnot a i't<
Joel B3irdsell's make up. lI e aniswer',
the deacon's qluestlont with a <ltt'sust
"You -ain't forgot, Willin mn," lie aska
FirCI FiPrIU
Wheti that cry sounds howpople
rush to hellp and sympilatii.e ! A iid
when somne fireman rescues a wvoniian
front the flames, fle
strecets echo with ap
'9 plaudinig shouts.
And yet if that
wVomuan had perished'(
.in thie flarne it is pos
S~'' sile that shet~ wiol
have suffered less
S than shte suffers al
most daily) fromt the
disease has lighted it
thenlnicteo whach
Tafreof iniflami
iiatioit cani he put
-' out. The gnwmg
- ulcer estu he cuired.
ri. Pierce's lFavorite
P'rescriptioni not onily
(e1tstabtlishes womantdily
S / V regitlarity tanddre
S enfeebling (dins, bult
(it heals iniflatimntion
-I cuires feimale weak
lifness. It mtakes weak
woml strong andt~
sick wYomen~l well.
"I sutffere'd for ftttr years with -what four' phy
lecinais prniott'd stIceratin a tnd prolapijsun of
lit uterus," wmrites Mrs. Ada nirooks, of iKirby.
f ladderand ureith tai. My case was chroinic
tita comlicatedi. H adh several good phiysichtins,
tt kept getting worse. Htad beeni coniied to
ny~ bed five mioathst when I wrote to youi. I
etved your repily very soon, and thien dis.
iitssedimy1physilim nd be a~,u takitng Dr,
'ec'mdcne.Iooei t bottles of his
iFavorite P'rescriptitn' and (iotle Mediet
)hscovery,' itndt began to get better' at on1ce. tIn
wotmnthttis I coi d sit up hn a chair, and kept
e'ttinig bet ter. In four floothIs could do all my
ouse work, I uchidintg waishting andl( sewinrg."
Dr. Pierce's Commion Sense Medical
dviser, paper covetrs, is seitt frece on
eceipit of 2T onie-cent stamlps to pay
xpense of inatiling onl. Address Dr.
L. V. Pierce Runnt 0r V.
tV
iAl
10
Wha is C
T11e Kind You Have Always gm
in utse for over 30 yem-s, I
All ico. trlies, 11tations
Experi'llerlts thiat trifle wit1
r, Infnt ahlrn. Childre---xp
.13
Whatais Ch
It,
o0 Castoria is a lamessa~
0 goric, Drops arid SotFiing
t contailis neitlier OpiuAni, M
stabsllrtatice. Its t1ge is its gia;
andiusly allay:4 Feverisaiss. It
Colic. It r.elvs Tec ing . W4.
aut( hi tileicy. It assiill
Tei Oli lltrei's Panacca-TI
CENUINE CASI
Bears the
10
se
Tho Kil You Ha
In Use For 0
st THC CENTAUR COMPANV. TT M
aI'
i
h.1 -
I serk.'itlsly, "theii lay you1 un1 ruo sigm.<
uthe pledge back'1 in \~eril(ant'? WVell
I I've' kep1t my13 sh1are ofi it to this (day3
'8 but I never signaed n il''due not to ge
r'- fhiLI'1ielI."
m0 "I tinlt ha:ve mliiihin for '.urei to tel
n1 till he-I night. You k now h-'w cour'tii
0 rlight 'out'
) Soiwhi ngiL li..I th t coun:1 iio ,-.k i
.0 words. "( 1 hhi':4 ymt b h :"!'? u''' :-ahl
I, You w.:."'
4e Ceveri si4),ki ''::i .h e-l lt -- -
t ve to ' 'o. p - - -.....
I I te Matha. 'P ub
e' The un0 '
- of~ the liiir. It - fl.~i aeI1.
it auht te a -odjkeo
'.intwi1. r 2]t '' h ichn ~'~.
The d~oi eliii-hm
~ fThen hegih-n' - or 'a h opr
tedt up of th Sth -' i wihms
ohe rbig~ tt ho therb -brtr
In i tll.a1 m
saltohmsl' "I mi -ht -hav kn
it: Yu tsagOTljkBOOmD
LUMBERow'.''V
Al of the'egislature to re~~i pel'Ohe ioror
ofi te n b ig trust hold theyp.ir ' harters
LUMBERlCOMPNYL1
Loc~at. ' Wla::f,l rNea-r til IlteH
DolarnwSth,'. Nndsiand iuile'
Hoardr.icaIi(. er
~ n 0 N G IDIN, PE!lING VAl ND(1
TNG O!G!A I E G
\"( . FUR'MAN UN
GREEVILEI FEBj
-'o Ctl'C lla utioferul earc t h e Ii
3'Locl.ato.tin ateI~r.l o deathsincea
B 'I'' E lared. icauifu . iPn
or wOllit set pity 1 . Comi
PaRosyhtranod Cole ge
Crr nhilt.m ldt In-Iogitort' $Iun c2
l I t m Erc xpCo e . te ch ri, e lce for i tl
AE.O
'B A
oug" , and whiel Ilts beenk
ums borsne tho signatnre of
is bet mado uider his per
alpervision si1nce its infiancy.
1to one to deceivo you ill thii.
'i1 " Juast-.t.goodl" are butt;
wnd endaniger tihe licallth of!
rience againkst ElxperimIlclt.
ASTOR IA
tituto for Castor Oil, Pare
SyruIsps. It is Pleasant. It
)rphino nor ot-imr Narcotic
urantee. It destroy. WormaIF1I
enlres Diarriuam n111d Wind
Irouubles, curei('s Consti pation4
ties the Food, regulates the
I healtlty and natutral sleep.
o M1other's Friend.
-ORIA ALWAYS
Sigiature of
ye Always Bought
ver 30 Years.
jnAAY BTI1LT. NJEW VOOlK CITY.
We have a number of
Elegant Lines of. .
Ladies Oxfords
Which we are determin
Cd to close out. Among
them are sever~d lots at
$3, $2.50 and $2, which
we will close atS2,25, $2
and 1.50.
Will also close some lots
of S1,50, 1 and 7s cents
oods as follows: $1.50
black Kid Oxfords at $1,
1ans 75c. $1 black Kid
Oxfords at 75c. tans#0c.
75c black Kid Oxfords
50o. tins lic.
Pride & Patton
Gireenvuie, S. C
-Macfeat's
Business ole goe
COLUM13fA, S 2.
1i0 Keein, Short H and,
T: pc WVritinag. Expert
EstablIishaed. Terms
Reason ablie.
e~tC end iF Ca'talogue.
WV. di. MACL'IAT, Preitdent,
(Olfeia! Court Stenogs'phor.)
A $50 INVESTMENT
That will pay s-.5 to .$100 Dividends
Matm by is a thorougha, practical liusi
neCss or Shorthiand traixtnn at
Stokes' Business College.
WVrite or call for C'atalogue and full par
ticutlars.
'9P9 King street, Chtarlestont, S. C.
- .~(tTIN~~rURED,.
PO(Sl'TIONS! P'O~iT IONS Il No OBJECT
More calls thtan we canx possibly till. Guar
anttee of' posi tions backed by$5U000. Courses
unecxcelledI. Enater any timo. Cataloguo freo
AddIress, (COLU-uiAJIUdi.%ESS oOLLEtoa
'I\ L E COL LEGE,
B, S8: C.
rbce. Unsurpassed i- enith fulntess. Mourt.
rihool was foundied---forty-seven years,
tiled. . Elegaant large new laibrary, Read
m, lining IRoom, Stuady H all, and~ Audi
fortable Dorm itory and~ l,octure liooms.
Ilegiate courses. Mu asic, Art, Elocutiona,
gy, Stenographly, Tyaaewritiung. Primary
achniical skill, moral worth, CThristiana
(onservatory of Mustici he~aded by ana
edl in A merica anid Germanyv.
JAMES, President
[VERSITY. 9901.
Le, s. C.
,, L.,1)., Preslident.-:
atreesa of Iaicheolor of Irts (R.A.) and
Rootm. Phlysical and Chemical l~abo? a
mses readuced to a mnimumam by thte i )
m (ar re~ittest. Address,
MONT'IA.(UE,%sOreenville, H. C.
.eenvlle, 8. C
of South Garolina.
es to baoardingm trstaulen ts. himited ntI um
will pray for btoard, room-ronmt, mailtri -
paroforaorsa and one insrtrntetor ini facul
leaadingr tom degrees of It. A. anid M. A,
or information of any kind to.
SPENCER (ilinton. 8. u.