Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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a* The Barmwll P<»ple-S—ti—1, BmmwelL S. C, Thursday, September 19, 1935 T* L. HOSTILE VALLEY CoprHvlit by Ben Arne* William*. WNU Servlon. BEN AMES WILLIAMS SYNOPSIS At a jatherlng of crpnlea In the vil lage of Liberty, Maine, Jim Saladlne listens to the history of the neighbor ing Hostile Valley—Its past tragedies? Its superb fishing streams, and, above ; all, the mysterious, enticing “Huldy," wife of Will Ferrln. Interested, he drives to the Valley for a day's fishing, though admitting to himself his chief desire Is to see the glamorous Huldy Ferrln. “Old Marm" Pierce and her nineteen-year-old granddaughter Jenny live In the Valley Since childhood Jenny has deeply loved jft>ung Will Ferrln. older than she. and who re gards her as still a child Will leaves to take employment in nearby Augusta. His father's death brings Will back to the Valley, but he returns to Au gusta, still unconscious of Jenny’s womanhood, and love. Neighbors of the Pierces are Bart and Amy Carey, brother and sister. Bart, unmarried and something of a ne'er-do-well. Is at tracted by Jenny. The girl repulses him definitely. Learning that Will Is coming home, Jenny, exulting, sets his long-empty house “to rights,” and has dinner ready for him. He comes— bringing his wife, Huldy. The girl’s world collapses. Huldy becomes the subject of unfavorable gossip In the Valley. CHAPTER III—Continued Leaving the house, she had set out at random toward the deep shade of the woods. She came to the brook be low Will’s farm, and stayed there by the stream a while, leaning against a tree, her hands behind her. her eyes shadowed, deep In long thoughts of Mm; and presently she crossed the gtrAm where bowlders gave a footing. Above her, a rooky preolpfre rose fifty or sixty feet abruptly from the head of the grout pile that slnp^t down to the brook; but to one side there was a path she knew,where by a steep scram ble she might come to the gentler glopes above. And*It occurred to her that, going cautiously, she might have gome far glimpse of Will, hnsy In his fielda The thought drew her Irreslst Ibly; she began to climb. She meant not to speak to Will or show herself to him; yet to see him, even from far off. would be happiness. The trail was steep and she was warm and panting. At the top of the rise, the path swung to the right, where broken ledges served like a flight of stairs, to debouch at last upon a smooth ledge like an epaulet on this shoulder of the hill. Below the ledge there was a straight fall for sixty feet or more; and the ledge looked out across the lower trees, across the sweep of valley. Jenny knew the spot of old, and loved It, too. But when she came there today. Huldy was beforr her. Jenrty saw her In a conbised Impression of naked flesh golden from the sun. Huldy lay at length on a mossy bank at the head of the ledge.where low junipers served as a screen on the side toward the honse; and she must have heard Jen ny's panting approach, for as the girl appeared she half-covered herself with a garment caught up quickly. Yet did not rise, but still lay there, looking at Jenny with that smile the girl found so disquieting. Jenny for a moment could not speak ; she stared at Huldy. and stared all around, and Huldy said in amused derision: “There's nobody here only me!” “Somebody might come along,’’ Jen ny protested, her cheek crimson with shame for the other woman. ‘‘Y’ou hadn’t ought to lay there like that. They’ll see you!” Huldy's dark eyes widened. “What If they did?" she countered, smiling. And Jenny found no answer that could be uttered calmly. Then Huldy spoke again. “I guess yo re looking for Will,” she said mockingly. “He’s in the upper field.” Deep color stained Jenny’s cheek and brow, and drained away and left her white and still. She shook her head. “No,” she said, huskily. “No:” “You've trailed around after him a-plenty,” Huldy Insisted, In compla cent scorn. “If you wanted him. why didn't you get him, Jenny?” Jenny had no weapons adequate for this encounter; she could not hope— or wish—to meet the other woman on even terms. Yet there lay In her that long devotion to Will which was like a rock of strength upon which she could lean; and she found suddenly that she knew many things she had not guessed before. “I’d not want what you want from, a man,” she said steadily. “Nor bait him the way you do.” Huldy’s eyes narrowed In dry anger.' “Nor you wouldn’t get him, either,” ahe retorted. “But if I did, I’d know how to keep him.” Jenny countered. ’’And that’s one thing you'll never know!’’ And she turned on her heel, go sw ift ly that she left Bnldy In a sort of frenzy of rage. Jenny, dropping down th« trail to the brook again, heard the other's harsh, strangling objurgations hideous In the sunned beauty of the afternoon; till the sweet brook song filled her ears, drowning ugly sounds. And from that day Jenny under- atood Huldy, completely; and without word from Marm IMefce, or from Amy, or from any other at all Yet, she went no more to the brook, or up the scram bling trail. Between her and Will there was a barrier raised which she could •ever seek to pass or set aside; and she accepted this fact, and found a way to doak her grief and sorrow. Only her heart brooded over Will In an agony of longing to protect him from the hurt she knew must some day come.. After that day in June when he and Huldy returned to the little house In the Valley, Jenny did not see Will till October. Fall that year came early, with a swift frost stroke that brushed color all across the hills till they were clad In gold and crimson glory. Then followed days of sun and breathless airs. Ordinarily, by the third week In October, the alders and the birch sap lings are stripped; the oaks and beeches are losing their topmost leaves. But this year the first deep frost was followed by no rain nor wind to tear the bright leaves from their tenuous hold, til) in the last week of October frost gripited the land again. It set tled heavy In the Valley; and when the sun rose, the leaves were locked In an Icy clasp, held In place by the very frost that was their destruction. Then as the sun climbed higher and the day warmed, the frost melted, and at first by ones and twos and then by dozens and by scores, the leaves came down, falling silently, like a bright rain of color through the woods. Jenny, iat mid-morning, left the house and went past the barn toward the young second growth of birch and beech at the meadow-side, to watch this silent falling rain of bright leaves; and she was there, sitting on the stone wall, warm In the sun, when she saw a movement In the deeper shadows of the black growth, some two hundred yards away. Saw a man. running! Her heart fftvelled ►with the quick perception that this was Will. He came at speed, his hands clenched and pounding at his sides, his head for ward as though reaching out to fill his lungs with air; and she thought he came to seek her, and thus thinking she rose to her feet and stood waiting in a tender readiness to receive and comfort Mm. But he emerged from the spruce wood, and without pause swung to the left and disappeared again. She understood, after a moment, that he had gone toward the steam mill down the Valley; and he waa In such a haste of passion that even from this distance she seemed to fee! the fury In the man. It could not be fear that drove' him! Will would not thus run In fear. It must be anger, then; and swift con jecture lashed her with biting strokes, while she went slowly, like one dazed across the open to the house, and into the kitchen there. Marm Pierce, at her coming, looked up, and saw her countenance. "What’s the matter, Jen?” she asked sharply, “What's wrong with you?” “Will," the girl whispered. “What about Will?” “He came running along the path, and went down toward the steam mill," Jenny said.'“Running, like he was aw ful mad.” Silence for a long moment, and Marm Pierce nodded In slow compre hension. “Well, It was bound to come,” she said, half to herself. “He’s found out, somehow, about Seth Humphreys." "But Granny,” Jenny cried. “I . , Marm Pierce shook her head. ‘Nought to do, child,” she said gently. “Nought but set and wait. Will’s found out he’s made a bad trade; but he’s tlie only one can get him out of It" And she came to the girl, and put her arm around Jenny’s shoulder. “Rest you, Jen," she said. “It's the hard part a woman has, to stay quiet while her man's In danger; but there’s no other way!” CHAPTER IV It would he a long time before Jen ny knew the full tale of that day’s events. The latter part of the drama she witnessed, and had in It a part; but the beginning was hidden from her for the time. If during these months since he brought Huldy home, his wife had be come a by-word In the Valley and In the wide region roundabout, Will—as is apt to he the case—was the last to know this. Yet he was not wholly In Ignorance. He might not admit even to himself doubt oi misgiving, for there was In this man a fine loyalty; nevertheless he was not witless, nor wholly blind, nor could any man loving Huldy as Intensely as he did be uncon scious of those withdrawals and eva sions and scornful mockeries which she offered him behind the screen of her arrogantly yielding smile. He never even shaped doubt of her in his thoughts; yet Just as one walk Ing alepe through a deep wood may he conscious of a movement behind him, so Will was conscious of many things that happened just beyond his sight or ken. He was thus In some degree pre pared for what occurred this day. It was not that he had known anything before; but rather that with a sixth sense he felt cenain things, and was brought Into a frame of mind where full comprehension and belief were made easy, where It needed no more than one tangible peg In order for him to pick up and bang upon It the whole web of his wife's deceptions. He had been all the long summer very busy about the farm. The Holds and meadows, untended for one suin' mer season, had already begun to sur render to the seduction of the forest all about, permitting the encroach ments of small ahoota and seedlings which must now be grubbed back and cut away. Will had worked steadily, and dusk each day found him bone- tired, so that be might nod at the supper table, and presently thereafter go quick and heavily to bed, and sleep till dawn. He loved Huldy; hut after th^ first rapture of possession passed, he loved also this farm of his father’s, and with an almost equal ardor, serving It with the full measure of his strength and energy. At night he was hungry only for sleep, and he rose to work again at dawn. But Huldy needed no more sleep than a chL Sometimes Will, drowsing in bis chair after supper, waked to find her watching film with a disquiet ing eye; and more than once on sum mer nights she had roused' him, shak ing him by the shoulder, a hot fury In her tones, demanding that he prove himself something more than a dor mouse of a man. So when the time did come, he was prepared for comprehension. There had been many visitors at the farm that summer. Will at first discovered in these visits no more than the natural curiosity of his pelghbors to see this bride of whom he was so proud. Bart Carey came, and old Win Haven not Infrequently; and then Seth Hurapheys, whom Will—and Huldy—had known In Augusta, brought his steam mill to the Valley. Also others who had known Huldy In Augusta came to lodge at Bart’s and fish the brook below, al though they had never come before. Will, when he wooed Huldy, knew her popularity; yet he was continually being reminded of It now. He might return from the fields at dusk to find' “Somebody Might Come Along.” some stranger sitting with her In the kitchen. In an easy familiarity; and on his arrival, the stranger and Huldy were apt to fall silent, and the man presently to take himself away. On this day when Jenny saw Will run toward Seth Humphrey’s mill, he had planned to go to Liberty to get some lumber for a piece of repair work on the bam; some studding, and a bundle of shingles. He set out in the farm wagon, behind his slow team. Huldy asked whether he would be home in Hime for dinner. Will thought not. “Don’t have me on your mind. Ill pick up a bite when I get back,” he said. He took the steep road up the hill; and a little above the house he met Seth Humphreys’ big truck, Seth at the wheel, descending. Will lifted a hand to the other man as they passed by. Seth was hauling his sawed lumber to North Fraternity; but the easier road hack to the mill would have brought him to the Valley at Its foot, three or four miles lower down. Will was mildly surprised that Seth should have come this way. Yet the matter stayed not long In his mind. He thought casually that Seth might mean to stop at Bart Carey’s. His horses plodded slowly up the steep grade; he breathed them twice, and so came to the ridge road and turned south toward Liberty. He was fifteen or ^enty minutes from the house when the right rear wheel of his wagon dropped off; and Will, alighting to Investigate, found that he had lost the nut which held the wheel in plAe. The incident might have provoked a* less composed man :<» irritation; but Will accepted It calmly enough. He walked back along the road, searching in the ditch and by the roadside for the lost nut; but the weeds were tall in the ditch, and the nut escaped his search. It was always possible that he might have dropped it a considerable time before the wheel, slowly revolving, worked off the axle and let go. In the end, as the quicker way, Will decided to cut down through the woods to bis farm, where he could find a spare nut among the miscellaneous litter of hard ware which accumulates it* every farm er’s abed; so be returned to the wagon and lad tbs horses off ths road to let casual trattic pass by, and tied them there. Then he set out to walk home. It was not far. In a straight line through the woods. Five minutes fast walking brought him into his, upper field, with the house in plain sight be low. He paid it no particular heed at first, coming on rapidly to do this er rand ; but as he drew nearer, he saw, stopped in the ro^d in front of the house, Seth Humphreys' truck. Seth passing by. must have alighted for a word with Huldy. .There was In this nothing unusual, yet Will vaguely re sented it. The Inconvenience of the lost nut had faintly frayed his tem per; the iitgfit of Seth's truck stopped here—Seth must have been with Huldy for a long half hour—made Will’s cheek hot, bis pulse fretful He went on toward the bouse more swiftly; and across the barnyard to the kitchen door. The door was closed; and this was In some degree surprising, for the day was warm. Will opened the door and stepped In. Neither Huldy nor Seth was In the kitchen; and when Will saw the kitch en empty, he stood rooted in his tracks for an instant that may have been longer. Then he called, harshly, his wife’s name. There was no reply. Beyond the kitchen lay the dining room. Will crossed to the dining room door. The bedroom opened off the din ing room, in the front of the house, toward the road. The bedroom door was closed; but Will heard movement there, and strode that way. His cheek was whit^ as stone. Before he could come to the door, however, It opened, and Huldy con fronted him. She stood, smiling inso lently, as though she were Just awak ened from deep sleep. He said hoarsely: “What you do ing?” i "I laid down a spell," she told him. “Where’s Seth gone to?" he de manded. , "Seth?” Her tone was amused, de risive. “His truck's In the road outside." There was a window in the bedropm on the side toward the road; she turned to look out of this window, but without moving. “I don't see It," she retorted, maddeningly. Will brushed past her, himself looked out The truck In fact tras gone; but the screen which belonged in the wlqdow lay on the ground out side, and it was broken as though s heavy foot had stepped upon the light mesh. ' Will turned back Into the room. He passed Huldy silently; but she caught his arm. “Where you going?" “After him," said Will. In thick tones strange to his own ears. “Why?” she challenged. He shook loose, freed himself from her, moved toward the kitchen. She said, behind him. In a rising, defensive fury: “You work all day and sleep all night. What do you look for me tr do?” He swung to face her, and there was death in his eyes. “I’ll be back to ’tend to you." he said; and with no further word burst through the kitchen and away. She came, with one of her rare quick movements, after him aa far as the kitchen door; ahe called mockingly: “Go on, then! But time yo’re done with Seth, there’s a-plenty morel" Will, If he heard, made no sign; he went plunging through the barn and down through the. orchard. Huldy stayed In the kitchen door, and the sun struck her pleasantly, and she smiled, standing there alone. If she had any regret. It waa only that she would not be at hand to see Will and Seth whep they came together. But Seth Humphreys, when be slipped away from the house, wlI more disturbed by the situation. He had a lively respect for Will’s physical powers; and he leaped Into the truck and let It coast silently down the hill Also, he stopped at Bart Careyli farm, beyond the bridge, and there tried to make his tone and his demeanor usual, and stayed a while, talking of the fish ing, or of the weather. But while he talked, be looked back along the road, expecting to see Will approaching; he stayed here in order to have Bart at his back if Will should come. (TO BE CONTINUED) "IT 7 " IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL S UNDAY I chool Lesson .By REV.'p. B. FITZWATER. D. D.. Member of Faculty, Moody Bible Institute of Chlc&to. ©. Western Newspaper Union. Lesson for September 22 ,v " ^ \ . "V —_ JAMES (A GREAT CHRISTIAN '''LEADER) ■ e v •, LESSON TEXT—Acte 16:1-21: Jamee 1:1-17 GOLDEN TEXT—Blessed Is the man that endureth temptation; for when h* hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord prom ised to them that love him.—James 1:12. PRIMARY TOPIC—What James Telle Ue to Do. JUNIOR TOPIC—Jamee' Motto for Juniors. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP IC—How to Meet Life’e'^feets. YOUNG- PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP IC—Tho Message of Jamee for Today. Housewife's Idee Box 4 ] Three Individuals by the name of Janies are mentioned In the New Tes tament. In all probability this James i was the brother of the Ix»rd and the writer of the Epistle which bears his name. I. Jamee Presiding at a Church Council (Acts 15:1-21). •n the Franco-Italian frontier, re-' cently noticed a railway car loaded with barrels, which were billed as containing talc. They were cod- 1. The controversy in the church at'fkfgned from Italy to a man In A Paint Hint Do jtqu find It difficult properly te mix paint which has just been opened? The next time you are going to use a can of paint, 1 turn the closed can upside down a couple of day* before you intend to use4t- You will find that you have no difficulty In mixing the paint THE HOUSEWIFE. © Public Ledger. Inc.—WNU Service. Hams Hidden In Talcum French customs officers at Modana,. Habits of Chipmunks « The bureau of ’biological survey says that iu chipmunks, as in most other small rodents, the male becomes trou blesome and belligerent In the breed ing season and while the young are being nursed. The femalfe, therefor^ is obliged to aeclude herself and the young, drive away the male, and take full charge of the offspring until they are weaned. At this time they are able to care for themselves, and both male and female may then be seen in company with half-grown young. Gordon Toad Valuable ad ordinary toad, fully maturad and sound In wind and limb, Is worth $’© to a gardener, according to Prof. A. r. Coventry of the University of Toron to. He does not guarantee that sucb a price can be obtained, but givea the assurance that every toad has a value not always recognised an an Inseat if atroyer. Antioch (vv. 1-5). A most difficult problem confronted the church, threat ening its disruption into a-Jewlsh and Gentile division. It was not a ques tion of the admission of the Gentiles into the church. That had been set tled some years before when Peter re ceived Cornelius and his household. The question now was. on what ground could they be received? Should Gen tile believers be required to keep the Mosaic law as a condition of salva tion? In order to settle the matter. Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jeru salem for the decision of the mother church. II. The Delitor^tion of the Council (vv. 6-21). 1. Peter speaks (vv. 6-11). He ar gued that God had borne witness to the acceptance of the Gentiles by giv ing the Holy Spirit to them as unto the Jews. Since God had not put a dif-‘ ference, it would be folly for them to do so 2. Paul and Barnabas rehearsed their experience (v. 12). They told how that v God had set his seal of approval on the preaching of salvation by grace through faith. 8 The argument of James (vv. 14- 21). He took the fact declared by Peter and showed how It harmonized with prophecy (Amos 9:11-15). He showed that the reception of the Gen tiles was not In conflict, but In har mony with God’s plan. He made clear God’s plan as follows: a. To take out from among the Gen tiles a people for his name (v. 14). This Is what is now being done by the calling out of the church. b. After the church Is completed. Israel win be converted and restored to their land by the Lord himself at his return (vv. 16. 17). c. This will be followed by the con version of the world through the agen cy of converted Israel (v. 17; cf. Rom. 11:15). Having shown that there was no conflict with the Scriptures rightly divided, he gave his Judgment that the Gentiles should not be troubled with the things that are Jewish, but should be warned against the perils of heath enism. such as meat offered to Idols, fornication, and blood. 4. The decision (vv. 22-29). The mother church unanimously endorsed James' recommendation. They sent a letter stating the decision of the con ference. This decision was duly de livered to the church at Antioch and was received with rejoicing. II. Jamaa Giving Counaal to Chris tiana (James 1:1-17). 1. Concerning trials (vv. 2-17). a. The Christian's attitude toward them (vv. 2-4). They were to meet them Joyfully because of their bene ficial effects. Trials reveal fidelity, and by their effects develop the grace of patience. b. The Christian’s supreme need in these trials (vv. 5-8). It is wisdom to meet them Intelligently. He makes clear that the source of this wisdom Is | in God and that the means of gaining it is asking In faith, and the very liber ality of God Is the guarantee that the needed supply will be provided. c. The rich and the poor are sharers alike In affliction (vv. 9-11). Frequent ly the poor man thinks that the rich are free from teatinga. whereas they are usually more severely tested. d. The blessed reward of enduring the testing (v. 12). The one who faithfully endures the temptation shall be awarded the crown of life. e. The source of temptation (vv. 13- 17). Temptations spring out of human desire. They do not come from God. Sin Is not necessarily the desire, but the gratifying of It Improperly. When one Is thus led away^by his natural desires, sin Is conceived which brings forth death. In such case, sin Is the gratification of a right desire In a wrong way. Lyons. Seventh-five of the 111 bar rels held choice smoked hams p^ckod In talcum powder. The customa charges on the pork seized totaled $1,300. ■ 1 - ■ Wild Tr... Give Rubber About 2 per cent of the world’* crude rubber supply-is taken from wild trees. Positive Relief for MALARIA! Sun End to Chills and Fever! Here’s real relief for Malaria — Grove’s Tasteless Chill Toaic I Quickly it stops the chills and fever and restores your body to comfort. Maay remedies will merely alleviate tho symptoms of Malaria temporarily, but Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic goes all the way and completely rids your system of the infection. . Grove’s Tssteless/Chill Tonic is a real corrective of Milana because it contains two things. First, tasteless quinine which kills the Malarial infection in the blood. Second, tonic iron which helps overcome the ravages of the chills and fever and fortifies against further attack. Play safe! Take Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic. It now comes in two sizes —50c and $1. The $1 size contains 2 l /t times as much as the 50c size and gives you 25% more for yDur money. Get bottle today at any drug store.' Beautiful Thought. Beautiful thoughts are gifts m Heaven to be treasured In the quiet hours. Laxative combination folks know is trustworthy The confidence thousand* of narents have in good, old reliable, powdered Thedford's Black-Draught has prompted them t. get the new Syrup of Black-Draught for their children. Th. grown folks stick to the powdered Black-Draught: the youngsters probably will prefer it when they outgrow their childish love of sweets. . . Mrs. C. W. Adams, of Murray, Ky., writes: “I have used Thedford’s Black-Dranght (powder) about thirteen years, taking it for hilioua- ness. Black-Draught acta well and I am always pleased with the results. I wanted . good, reliable laxative for my children. I have found Syrup of Black-Dr be juat that.” fraught to Life - Life is not so complex If we do not persist In making It so. We need faith; we need to be brave, to keep the corners of the mouth turned up and not down. And after all It Is only a step ^t a time.—Ralph Waldo Trine. Affliction Much of what a man tells you In the hour of afTUcatlon. In sudden anger, or In any outpouring of hla heart, should be sacred. In hla craving for sympathy ha hat spoken to you aa to hla own soul. BLAOK-DRAUQHT ECZEMA ITCHING Quickly soothe burning * ^ torment and promote healir irritated skin with - Resinol Rid Yourself of Kidney Poisons D O you Mifftr burning, scanty or too frequent urination; backache, headache, dizziness, swollen feet and ankles? Are you tired, nervous—feel ell unstrung and don’t know what is wrong? Then give some thought to your kidneys. Be sure they function proper* ly, for functional kidney disorder per mits excess waste to stay in the blood, fmd to poison aad upset the whole system. Use Doaa's Pills. Doan's arc for the kidneys only. They ere recommended the world over. You can get the gen uine, time-tested Doan's at any drug r\ Doans Pi lls