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Lj & b a -'•OaPYttlGMT. SKOHD EPL/ODE * fN THE LIFE OF AMELIA BliTTEPWOwH BY ANNA KATHAPINf GPEEN-^ AUTHOR OF'THCLEWCMWORTH CAJT*. ' BEHIND OOTtO POOft^ 7W AFfAlft NtXT DOOR I897.0r AMNA K. ROHlf./" — EC. EC CHAPTER IIL 1 SUCCUMB. That ni^ht the tempter had his own way with me. Without much difficulty ho persuaded me that my neglect of Al thea Burroughs’ children was without any excuse; that what had been my duty toward them when I knew them to be left motherless and alone had be come an imperative demand upon me now that the town in which they lived had become overshadowed by a mystery which could not but affect the comfort and happiness of all its inhabitants. I could not wait a day. 1 recalled all that I had heard of poor Althea's short and none too happy marriage and immedi ately felt such a burning desire to see if her delicate and espiegle beauty—how well I remembered it—had been repeated in her daughters that 1 found myself packing my trunk before 1 knew it. 1 had not been from home for a long time—all the better reason why 1 should have a change now—and when I called together Mrs. Randolph and the servants and told them of my intention of leav iug on the early morning train it creat- cd quite a sensation in the house and no little surmise. But 1 had the best of explanations to give. 1 bad been thinking of my dead friend, and conscience would not let me neglect her dear and possibly unhappy progeny any longer. 1 had purposed many times to visit them, and now 1 was going to do it. When I came to a decision, it was usually suddenly, and I never rested after having once made up my mind. My sentiment went so far that 1 got down an old album and began hunting up the pictures 1 had brought away with me from boarding school. Hers were among them, and I really did ex perience more or less compunction when I saw' again the delicate yet daring fea tures which had once had a very great influence over my mind What a teas ing sprite she was, yet what a will she had, and how strange it was that, hav ing been so intimate as girls, we never knew anything of each other as women! Had it been her fault or my fault? Was her marriage to blame for it or my spin- Hterhood? Difficult to tell then, impos sible to tell now 1 would not even think of it again, save as a warning. Nothing must stand between me and her children now that my attention has been called to them again. 1 did not mean to take them hy sur prise—that is, not entirely The invita tion which they had sent me years ago was still in force, making it simply nec essary for me to telegraph them that 1 had decided to make them a visit and that they might expect me hy the noon train. If in times gone by they had been properly instructed hy their moth er as to the character of her old friend, this need not put them out 1 am not a woman of unbounded expectations. Ido not look for the comforts abroad 1 am accustomed to at home, and if, as I have reason to believe, their means are not of the greatest 1 should only he provoked at any extra effort to make me feel at home in the humble cottage suited to ’ their fortunes. Ho the telegram was sent and my preparations completed for an early de parture. But, resolved as 1 was to make this visit, my determination came near re- ; reiving a check. Just as 1 was leaving the bouse, at the very moment, in fact, i when the hackmau was carrying out my trunk. I saw a man approaching me ! with every evidence of haste. He had a letter in his hand, which he held out to me as soon as he came within reach. “For Miss Butterworth, ” he said | "Private and immediate. “ “Ah," thought 1, “a communication from Mr (irvee, ” and hesitated for a moment whether to open it theu and (here or thrust it in my pocket and read it at my leisure on the ears. The latter course would be far the easiest, for my hands were cumbered with the various small articles 1 consider iudisp usable to the comfortable enjoyment <>f the shortest journey, and the glasses with out which 1 cannot read a word were * 1 in the very bottom of my pocket under some other equally necessary articles of smaller size. Bat something in the man’s expect ant look warned me that he would nev er leave me till I had read the note, so with a sigh I called Lela to my aid, and after several vain attempts to reach my glasses succeeded in pulling them out at last and by their help reading the fol lowing hurried lines: Dcaii Madam—I send you this bv n swifter iDtflMfDKer than uiywlf. Do not b-t anythin); flint 1 may have said laat nisht influents* you to leave your comfortable home. The adven ture offers too many dangera tor a woman Read the incloaed. O. The inclosed was a telegram from Obadiah Trohm, stmt during the night, and evidently just received at head quarters. Its contents were certainly not reassuring: Anoth >r person mlssim;. Seen to have en lered J»st Man’s lane. Never seen to have «-.oine out of it. A harmless lad known as Killy Uufu* What’a to be done t Wire orders. K. “Mr. Grye© bade me say that be would be up here nome time before noon, "said the man, seeing me look with some blankness at these words. Nothing more was needed to pull me together Folding up the letter, 1 put it in my hag. "Hay to Mr. Gryee from mo that my intended visit oauuot be postponed,"! remarked. "1 have telegraphed to my friends to expect me, and only a great emergency would >ad me to disappoint them. I will be glad to receive Mr. Gryoe on my return." And without further parley I took my bandies back from Lela and proceeded at once to the carriage. Why should 1 show any fail ure of courage at an event that was but a repetition of the very ones which made my visit necessary? Was I a like ly one to fall victim to a mystery to which my eyes have been opened? Had 1 not been sufficiently warned of the dangers of Lost Man’s-laue to keep my self at a respectable distance from the place of peril? I was going to visit the children of my once devoted friend. If there were perils of no ordinary nature to be encountered there, was I not all the more called upon to go if only as a moral support to these young people, who per haps themselves were paralyzed by fear? Yes, Mr. Gryee, and nothing now should hold mo back. 1 even felt an in creased desire to reach the scene of these mysteries and chafed some at the length of the journey, which was of a more te dious character than 1 expected. A poor beginning for events requiring patience as well as great moral courage, but 1 little knew what was before me and only considered that every moment spent on this hot and dusty train kept me thus much longer from the embraces of Althea’s children l recovered my equanimity, however, as we approached. The scenery was really beautiful, and the consciousness that i should soon alight at the moun tain station which had played a more or less serious part in Mr Gryce’s nar rative awakened in me a pleasurable excitement which should have been a sufficient warning to me that the spirit which had led me through that affair next door had seized me again in a way that meant equal absorption if not equal success. The number of small packages I car ried gave me enough to think of at the moment of alighting, hut as soon as 1 was safely again on terra firma I threw a hasty glance around to see if any of Althea’s children were there to meet mo. I felt that I would know them at once She had been so characteristically pretty they could not fail to show some likeness which would lead to an instant recognition while they could not fail to know mo. But while there were two or three country maidens to be seen standing in and around the little pavil ion known here as the mountain station I saw no one who by any stretch of im agination could be regarded as of Al thea Burrough’s blood or breeding. Somewhat disappointed, for 1 had ex pected different results from my tele gram, 1 stepped up to the station mas ter and asked him whether I would have any difficulty in procuring a car nage to take me to Miss Knollys’ house. He stared, it seemed to me unnecessari ly long, before replying. “Waal,"’ said he, “Simmons is usu ally here, but—I don’t see him round today Perhaps one of these farmer lads will take it. ’’ But they all drew back with a sort of scared look, and I was beginning to tuck up my skirts preparatory to walking when a little old man of very meek ap pearance drove up in a very old fash ioned coach, and with a hesitating air, springing entirely from bashfulness, managed to ask if 1 was Miss Butter- worth I hastened to assure him that 1 was, whereupon he stammered out some words about Miss Knollys and how sor ry she was that she could not come for me herself. Theu he pointed to his coach and made me understand that I was to step into it and go with him. It was not an altogether encouraging outlook, especially as 1 saw the beads of the various onlookers draw together and many curious looks directed at us both and the conveyance that was to carry us. But I was in no mood to be daunted now, and accepting the old cod ger’s apologies with what grace 1 could 1 stepped into the wagon and prepared myself for a ride into town. But it seems I was not to be allowed to enter upon this adventure without another warning. While the old man was engaged in bringing my trunk, the station master approached me with great civility, and with a touch of his hat asked if it was my intention to spend a few days with the Misses Knol lys. 1 told him that it was, and, thinking it best to estabtf sh my position at once in the eyes of the whole town, added with a politeness equal to his own that I was an old friend of the family and bad been coming to visit them for years, but had never found it convenient till now ar 1 that 1 hoped they w’ere all well and would la* glad to see me. He made some sort of reply, showing considerable embarrassment, then pluck ing up his courage said with marked constraint: “Perhaps you have not heard that this village just now is under a cloud." “I have heard," I said innocently, "that one or two men have disappeared from here somewhat mysteriously. Is that what you mean?” "Yes,” he answered. “Oneperson, a boy, disappeared only two days ago." “That’s bad," 1 said, “hut what has that to do with me?” I asked smilingly, for 1 saw he was not at the end of his talk. "Oh, nothing," he cried eagerly, "only 1 didn’t know hut you might he timid"— "Oh, I’m not at all timid!" I has tened to say “If I w* re, 1 should not have come hero at all. Such matters don’t affect me.” And I spread out my skirts and arranged myself for my ride as if the horrors he had mentioned had made no more impression upon me than if his chat had been of the weather. Perhaps 1 overdid it, for he looked at me for another moment in a curious, lingering way; then he walked off, and I saw him enter the circle of gossips on the platform, where he stood shaking his head as long as we were within sight. Before taking his seat my driver es cort gave me a furtive glauce as he stooped to tear from one of the spokes a bit of rag that seemed to have been caught there. He was evidently prepar ing to make a good impression and to do me suitable honor. My companion, who was the shiest man 1 ever saw, did not speak a word while descending the hill. I talked and endeavored to make him, too, but his re plies were mere grunts or half syllables which conveyed no information what ever. As we cleared the thicket, how ever, he allowed himself an ejaculation or two as he pointed out the beauties of the landscape. And indeed it was well worth his admiration and mine bad my mind been free to enjoy it. But the houses which now began to appear on either side of the way drew my atten tion from the mountains. We were still somewhat remote from the town, were rapidly approaching the head of that lane of evil fame with whose terrible history my thoughts were at this time full. I was so anxious not to pass it without one look into its grewsome re cesses that I kept my head persistently turned that way till I felt Iwas attract ing the attention of my companion. As this was not desirable I put on a non chalant look and began chatting about what I saw. But he had lapsed into his early silence, and only answered by a snap of bis whip at the horse whose jog trot needed a little urging. did I fail to find it fixed again upon me as wi* rode by the little hut occupied by the old woman considered so harmless hy Mr. Gryee. Perhaps he had a reason for this, as I was very much interested in this hut aud its occupant, about which I felt free to cherish my own secret doubts—so in terested that I cast it a very sharp glance and was glad when I caught a glimpse through the doorway of the old crone’s bent form and toothless jaws mumbling over a piece of bread she w r as engaged in eating as we passed ber. “Mother Jane,’’explained my com panion, breaking the silence of many minutes. “And yonder is Miss Knollys," he added, lifting his whip and pointing toward the half concealed facade of a large aud pretentious dwelling a few rods farther on down the road "She will be powerful glad to see you, miss and my heart expand, as if even now before I bad so much as set eyes on the faces of these young people I recognized the fact that they were the victims of a web of circumstances so tragic and in comprehensible that only a woman like myself would be able to clear them away and restore these girls to the con fidence of the people around them. I forgot that these girls had a brother and that— But not a word to forestall the truth. I wish this story to grow up on you just as it did upon me, aud with just as little preparation. The farmer who drove me, and whom 1 afterward learned was called Sims bury, showed a certain dogged interest in my behavior that would have amused me or at least have awakened my dis dain under circumstances of a less thrilling nature. I saw his eye roll in a sort of wonder over my person which may have been held a little more stiffly than was necessary aud settle finally on my face with a look I might have thought complimentary had 1 had any thought to bestow on such matters. Not till we had passed the path branching up through the woods toward the moun tain did he see fit to withdraw it. nor Suddenly I myself grew still. The houses were growing fewer on the left hand side of the way, and I saw beyond the dark boughs of a pine thicket. We were nearing Lost Man’s lane, we wore abreast of it, we were—turning into it. I could not repress the exclamation that escaped me. "Where are we going?" I asked. "To Miss Knollys’ house,’’he found words to say, smiting his horse again, but with a sidelong glance at me this time full of uneasy inquiry. "Do they live on this road?” said I, remembering with a certain shock Mr. Gryce’s suspicious description of tho two young ladies who with their broth er inhabited the dilapidated mansion marked in the map he had shown me. "Certain," was the laconic answer, aud. obliged to he satisfied with this, I drew myself up with just one longing look behind me at the cheerful highway we were so rapidly leaving. A cottage, with an open window, in which a child’s head could he seen nodding eagerly toward me, met my eyes aud filled me with quite an odd sense of dis comfort as I realized that I had caught the attention of one of the little crip ples who, according to Mr. Gryee, al ways kept watch over this entrance in to Lost Man’s lane. Another moment and the pine branches had shut the vi sion out, but I did not soon forget that eager, childish face aud isiiutiug hand marking me out as an intruder if not a possible victim to the horrors of this ill reputed lane. But I was aware of no secret flinching from the adventure in to which I was plunging. On the con trary, I felt a strange and fierce delight in thus being thrust into the very lu-art of this mystery which 1 hod only ex pected to approach by degree*. The warning message sent me by Mr. Gryee had acquired under it a deeper and more HignitlcHiit meaning, as did the looks which hud been cast mo by the station master and his gossips on tho hillside, hut in my present mood theso very tokens of the serious nature of my undertaking only gave an added spur to my courage. 1 felt nij’ brain clear Company is scarce in these parts.” Astonished at this sudden launch into conversation hy one whose reserve even I had found it impossible to penetrate, I gave him the affable answer he evident ly expected aud then looked eagerly to ward the house. It was as Mr. Gryee had intimated, eminently forbidding even at that distance, and as we ap proached nearer aud I was given a full j view of its worn and discolored front I I felt myself forced to acknowledge that never in my life had my eyes fallen upon a habitation more given over to neglect or less promising in its hospital ity. Had it not been for the thin circle of smoke eddying up from one of its bro ken chimneys I should have looked up on the place as one which had not known the care or presence of man for years. There was a riot of shrubbery in the yard, a lack of the commonest at tention to order in the way the vines drooped in tangled masses over the very face of the desolate porch, that gave to the broken pilasters and decayed win dow frames of this dreariest of facades that look of abandonment which only becomes picturesque when nature has usurjx'd the prerogative of man and taken entirely to herself the empty walls aud fulling casements of what was once a human dwelling. That any one should be living in it now aud that I, who have never been able to see a chair standing crooked or a curtain awry without a sensation of the keenest discomfort, should he on the point of deliberately entering its doors as an in mate tilled mu at the moment with such a sense of unreality that 1 descend ed from the carriage in u sort of a dream and was making my way through one of the gups in the high antique fence that separated the yard from the gateway when Mr. Simsbury stopped me aud i>omt«d out the gate. 1 di<l not think it worth while to aj>ol<jgize, for the broken palings cer tainly offered as good an entrance us the gate, which hail slipped from its hinges and hung hut a few inches opm. But 1 took the course he indicated, hold ing up my skirts as well as my pack ages would allow and treading gingerly for fear of the snails and toads that in cumbered such portions of the path as the weeds had left visible. As I went on something in the silence of the spot struck me. Was 1 becoming oversensi tive to impressions or was there some thing really uncanny in the absolute lack of 8oun& or movement in a dwell ing of such dimensions? But I should not have said movement, for at that in stant I saw a flash in one of the upper windows as of a curtain being stealth ily drawn and as stealthily let fall again, and though it gave me the prom ise of some sort of greeting there was a furtiveness in the action that was so in keeping with the suspicions of Mr. Gryee that 1 felt my nerves braced at once to mount the half dozen uninvit ing looking steps that led to the front door. * But no sooner had I done this with what I am fain to thing was my best air than I suddenly collapsed with what must have been a movement of sudden and to me quite comprehensible fear, for, while I do tot quail before men and have a reasonable fortitude In the presence of most dangers corporeal aud moral, I am not quite myself in face of a rampant and barking dog. It is my one weakness. I can divulge that much now, and while I usually can, aud un der most circumstances do, succeed in biding any outward manifestation of my inner trepidation I always feel that it would be a happy day for me when dogs would be banished from the affec tions and homes of men. Then I think I would begin to live in good earnest and perhaps enjoy trips into the country which now, for all my apparent bravery, I regard more in the light of a penance than a pleasiye. Imagine, then, how bard I found it to retain my self possession or even any appearance of dignity when at the mo ment 1 was stretching forth my hand toward the knocker of this inhospitable mansion I heard rising from somewhere 1 never rightly knew where the howl o # a dog so keen, piercing aud prolonged that it frightened the very birds oyer my head aud sent them flying from the vines in clouds. It was the unhappiest kind of ml come for me. I did not know whether it came from within or without, aud when after a moment of indecision I saw the door open I am not sure whether the smile I called up to grace the occasion had any of the real Amelia Butterworth in it, so much was my mind divided be tween a desire to produce a favorable impression aud a very decided and not to be bidden fear of the dog who had greeted my arrival with such an omi nous howl. “Call off the dog!” I cried almost before I saw what sort of person I wa» addressing. Mr. Gryee, when I told him of tint later, said 1 could not have made a mur< significant introduction of myself to the Knollys mansion. This story will be continued in next Friday’s issue of The Ledger.1 WIm-ii You <•«» Into a Drun Store to get a Ixittle of Painkiller, examine it carefully to see if it is made by Perry Davis, and don’t be persuaded to take something “just as good” liecause it is a few cents cheaper. There is only one Painkiller, “Perry Davis’.” Large bottles 25 and 50c. CROP BULLETIN., Condltiou of Carolina Crop* As Report*,!-. •»} Oepartineut of Axrleulture. Columbia, July 8—-The average temoerature for the week ending Monday, July 7th, was 88 degrees which is about 8 degrees above nor mal. It was the warmest week oP the seasoo. Maximum temperatures- of 100 degrees, or above, were general over the State from the 4th to the 7th, with au extreme maximum of 100 degrees at Florence on the 4th. fbe minimum of the we»k wasC'ihs* grees at Spartanburg on the ifod. There was very little cloudiness, and the sky was practically cloudless except for short periods each after noon. Fresh to brisk parching winds prevailed that were injurious to vege tation The relative humidity was much below normal, causing cropg- to wilt and shrivel. The nights were practically dewiess. Only six out of over two hundred points represented by correspondents reported any appreciable- amount op rain, with the largest- amount in Oconee and Lexington counties, mak ing this the driest as well as the hot- teet week of the season. The drought has become serious over the eastern half of the State, where coco has suf fered material injury, while over the western half all crops have so far stood the trying conditions remark ably well, but are badly in need of' rain. The earliest corn was too far ad vanced to be greatly hurt, but later plantings suffered from tbe extreme heat, dryness and parching. winds, and some fields were irretrievably damaged over the eastern counties. Bottom land corn, and over the western counties generally it has not yet been seriously injured, but soon will be with a continuation of the r>ro*°nt weather conditions. Corn is tiring in Orangeburg and Barnwell;, chinch bugs are damaging it in Ches ter, Lancaster and York.. Cotton withstood the unfavorable weather fairly well, except that in places it is turning yellow and shed ding its lower leaves aod has stopped growing. Lice are still prevalent in a few localities. It is blooming, pro fusely in places and the plants are full of squares. The dry, parching winds had a deteriorating effect, but in places the crop continues to be unusually promising. Tobacco was hurt somewhat by the hot sun, and curing, that is now gen eral, was hastened by the unfavorable weather that threatened further in jury. In places the crop is very line. Wheat threshing is practically fin ished, and late reports confirm pre vious ones as to the poorness of the crop, and the uniform fine quality of the grain. Rice is doing very well, but, like all other crops needs rain badly. Melons are being marketed, but the dry weather is detrimental, i'eas have good stands. Pastures are poor. Apples are plentiful in York. Gardens are failing. BANNER 8 ALVE the most healing salve i other world. Wintluop College Scholarship and Entrance Examinations. The examinations for the award of vacant scholarships in Winthrop College and for the admission of new students will lie held at the Ci unty Court House on Friday, July 11th, at 1) a. m. Applicants must not tie less than Hfteen years of aite. When scholarships are vacatt d after July 11th. they will ho awarded to those makiiiR the highest avera/e at tills examination. The next session will open September 17th, I'.srj. For further information and a catalogue, address President 1). li. Johnson, Hock Hill. H. C. June20th, 27th. July 4th. 11th. The most brilliant gem that was ever taken trom the earth would not amount to much if there were no peo ple to appreciate its beauty and to vie with each other for its possession. The most spacious store, the most carefully selected stock of goods, the clever est corps of clerks will not avail unless people know about them. Knowledge of such things is spread in various ways. A passerby may drop in and be impressed. He may tell his neighbor, and he in turn may tell somebody else. That is one way, and there are some merchants who today think it is good enough. Modern develop ment, however, has sup plied in newspapers the best means. They go into ev ery home in the land, how ever humble, however mag nificent. Through them all. of the information can be supplied, not to one, but to thousands. Are you using this paper li the beat advantage? I Foley’s Honey and Tar ures colds, prevents pneumonia. College of Charleston, Charleston, S. C. Founded In 17*5. Stronir Faculty, well equipped Chern'cal, I'hysicsU. and Hioloulcal liHUoratorle*; Library of 14.«W volumes; the driest Museum of Natural History in tbe South. Flective courses leadlnx to the de grees of B. A., B. S.. aud M. A. Board with furnished room in College .Dormitory can Is-obtained for $10 a month; tuition #40. One scholarship giving free tuition is as sinutd to Cherokee county, the bolder to he appointed by the I'robate Judge and County Superintendent. Total expenses for Scholar ship students, #112 to #i:ih AJI candidates for admission are permitted to compete for vacant Boyce Scholarships which pay ll.V) a year. Next session Isjgiiis bcpteml,er 2«th. For catalogue, address IIAHHIHIS RaXUOI.PH, (‘resident. THE STORY OF STONEWALL JACKSON. I have taken the agency In Cherokee county to sell the Sto-y of Stonewall Jack- sou a narrative of Ids career from written and verbal accounts of hi« life. It is ap proved by his widow. Mary Anna Jackson, and dedicated to Julia Jackson and Thomas Jackson 'Christian, grandchildren and sole surviving desceudan s of lieneral Jackson, who are lM-neiiciuries In the publication of lids book, written by William c. Chase. The hook has 5011 pages witb-over ISO illustrations. Tills is a work of tiig Confederate veterans and sons and daugliteisof Confederate vet erausto show some tangible proof of their appreciation of the high Christian character and soldierly qualities of their illustrious chieftain. Stonewall Jackson, by helping Ids sole descendants, wlnx are to be the bened claries of this work. Here Is wnat Uen’l. C. |. Walker, comman der of the F.C veterans army of Northern Virginia, says: COKKMNL-KY. S. C . June 4th, liKE. To my Comrades: - This will introduce Comrade J. L. Strain, who isengoged in the patriotic work of pre senting to our people “The Story of Stone wall Jackson," whicli sets forth with won derful clearness the noble life, high charac ter and maguittci-nt services of our great Christian hero. The grandchildren of (Jen‘1. Jackson arc directly interested in the sale of the book and will lie beneiitte-d thereby. I have consented to take ( hinge of this work in South Carolina. Any fayor or eour tesy you may extend him will la? to my per sonal ad vantage and I will appreciate most highly any assistance you may give him. Yours very truly, C. Iuvink Wai.kek. Aside from what Ceuerals Wade Hampton, Fit/.hugh Lee, W. I,. Cahls-ll aud others say of it tiic book is its own exborter. The life character of this great man Isa benediction upon the world of mankind, and should be read and studied by every boy and girl not only In Cherokee county hut throughout. Christendom. I expect, as soon as pohslbie, to make a canvass of Cherokee county with the Ixiok. hut in tin- meantime would hcglau to till any orders I may receive for it and will deliver (t at the earliest convenient moment. The price of tin- hook Is; On tine grey cloth and silver cinlmsalug, - #..’.75 On plain morocco and gold emboss !«**. #:».75 Address J. L STRAIN. Etta Jane, s.kk