Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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& Q /KDND EPUDDE IN THE LIFE OF AMELIA BUTTEI BY ANN A KATHAPINC GPEEN^ —CDPtUlGMT. . IB77. W MHK AUTHOR OF THE LEAVCMV/ORTH CATE* * DEHIND CUVlt* POOfitr TW AHAltt NEXT DOOfc k. ROHiiv — ec.ec CHAPTER IV. ▲ SPECTRA I. HOME. The hall iuto which I had stepped was so dark that for a few minutes I could see nothing but the indistinct out line of a young woman with a very white face. She had uttered a sort of murmur at my words, but for some rea son was strangely silent, and if I could trust my eyes seemed rather to be look ing back and oyer her shoulder than in to the face of her advancing guest Thil was odd, but before I could quite satis fy myself as to the cause of her abstrac tion she suddenly bethought herself, and throwing open the door of an ad joining I'oom she let in a stream of light by which we were enabled to see each other and exchange the greetings suit able to the occasion. “Miss Butterworth, my mother’s old friend,” she murmured with an almost pitifnl effort to be cordial, “we are so glad to have you visit us. Won’t yon- yon sit down?’’ What did it mean? She had pointed to a chair in the sitting room, bat hex face was turned away again as if drawn irresistibly toward some secret object of fear. Was there any one or anything at the top of the dim staircase I con Id faintly see in the distance? It would not do for me to ask nor was it wise for me to show that I thought this reception a strange one. Stepping into the room she pointed out to me, I waited for her to follow me, which she did with mani fest reluctance. But when she was once out of the atmosphere of the hall, or out ^of reach Qf ihf pisM sopud of what ever it was that frightened her, her face took on a smile that ingratiated her with me at once and gave to her very delicate aspect, which up to that mo ment bad not suggested the remotest ^likeness to her mother, a piquant ehanr and subtle fascination that were uotun- worthy of the daughter of Althea Bur roughs ‘'Votl^you must not mind the pover ty of your welcome,” she said, with a half proud, half apologetic look around her, which I must say the bareness and shabby character of the room we were in fully justified. “We have not been ▼ery well off since father died, and mother”—again that look, this time one of unmistakable fear, but she soon checked it and smiled agaiu, though without any show of piquancy—“and mother left us. Had you given us a chance we would have written yon that our home would not offer many induce ments to you after your own, but you have come unexpectedly and’’— “There, there,” I put in, for I saw that her embarrassment would soon get the better of her, “do not speak of it. I did not come to enjoy your home, but to see you. Are you the eldest, my dear, and where is your sister and brother?” “I am not the eldest,” she said. “1 am Lucetta. My sister”—here her bead stole irresistibly back to its old position of listening—“will—will come soon. My brother is not in the house. ” “Well,” said I, astouished that she did not ask me to take off my things, “you are a pretty girl, but you do not look very strong. Are you quite well, my dear?” She started, looked at me eagerly, al most anxiously, for a moment, then straightened herself and began to lose some of her abstraction. “I am not a strong person,” she smiled, “but neither am I w very weak either. I was always small So was my mother, you know.” She seemed to think she must talk of her mother, though I noticed that the word gave her pain. As for me. no topic could be more agreeable save one. I therefore answered her in a way to pro long the conversation. “Yes, your mother was small,” said I, "but never thin or pallid. She w’a? like a fairy among us schoolgirls. Does It seem odd to bear so old a woman as I speak of herself as a schoolgirl?” “Ob, no I’’ she said, but there was no heart in her voice. “I had almost forgotten those days, ” I proceeded, seeing I must keep up the conversation if we were not to sit in to tal silence, “till I happened to hear the name of Althea mentioned the other day. Then my whole early friendship with your mother recurred to me, and I started up—as I always do when 1 come to any decision, my dear—and sent that telegram, which I hope 1 have not followed by an unwelcome pres ence. ” “Oh, no, ” she repeated, but this time with some feeling, “we need friends,, and if you will overlook our shortcom ings— But you have not taken off your hat. What will Ijoreen say to me?” And with a sudden uervous action as marked as her late listnessness she jumped up and began busying herself over me, untying my bonnet and laying aside my bundles, which up to this mo ment I bad held in my bauds. “I—I am so abseutniiuded, ” she murmured. “I—I did not think—I hope you will excuse me. Loreen would have given you a much better welcome. ’’ “Then Loreen should have been here,” I said, with a smile. I could not restrain that slight rebuke, yet I liked tin; girl, notwithstanding everything i bad beard, and her own odd and unac countable behavior there was a sweet ness in her face when she chose to smile that proved an irresistible attrac tion. And then, for all her absentmind- edness and abstracted ways, she was such a lady 1 _Not even the plainest of dresses and the total absence of any thing like adornment to her person conld hide that fact It was is every line of her thin but graceful form and in every inflection of her musical but constrained voice. Had I seen her in my own parlor instead of between these bare and moldering walls I should have said the same thing. She is such a lady! But this only passed through my mind at the time. I was not studying her personality, but trying to understand why my presence in the house had so visibly disturbed her. Was it the em barrassment of poverty not knowing how to meet the call made so suddenly upon it? I hardly thought so. Fear would not enter into a sensation of this kind, and fear was what I had seen in her face before the front door had closed upon me. But that fear—was it dread of me or of something disconnected with me and threatening her from another portion of the house? I could not but think the latter. The way her ear was turned, the slight starts she gave as some sound—I could not gather wbat—came from the farther recesses of the house, convinced me that her cause of dread lay elsewhere than with myself and therefore was of a character worthy of my deepest atten tion. Though I chatted and tried in a way to arouse her confidence and set her at ease in regard to myself at least, I could uot help asking myself between my sentences: Is it her sister? Would it prove to be her brother? Was it anything connected with the dreadful matter that had been the first canse to draw me here, or was it the sign of some habitu al distemper which, misunderstood by Mr. Grvce, had given rise to the suspi cions which it was my possible mission here to dispel? Anxioug to force things a little. 1 said, with a glance at the dismal branch es that almost forced their way into the open casements of this side of the house: “What a scene for young eyes like yours! Do you never get tired of these pine boughs and clustering shadows? Would not a little cottage in the sum mer part of the town be preferable to all this dreary grandeur?’' She looked up with sudden wistful ness that made her smile piteous. “Some of my happiest days have been passed here and some of my saddest. I do not think 1 should like to leave it for any sunny cottage. We were not made for bonny homes,’’ said she. “The aomberness of this old honse suits us. ” “And of this road, ” I ventured. “It is the darkest and most picturesque I ever entered. I thought I was entering a wilderness. ” She for a moment forgot her canse of anxiety beyond. She looked at me quite intently, and a subtle shade of doubt passed slowly over her features. “It is a solitary one,” said she; “quite solitary. I do not wonder it struck you as dismal Have you heard —has any one ever told you that—that it was uot cou«Mm4 a» Mug qua safe?” “Safe?” I repeated, with—God for give me—an expression of mild wonder in my eyes. “Yes, it has not the best of names. Strange things have happened in it, or have been thought to, which is just as bad. I thought that some one might have been kind enough to tell you at the station. ” There was a gentle sort of sarcasm in the tone; only that, or so I thought at the time. I began to feel myself in a maze. “Somebody—I suppose it was the sta tion master—did say something to me about a boy lost somew'here iu this por tion of the woods. Do you mean that, my dear?” She nodded, glancing agaiu over her shoulder aud partly rising as if moved by some instinct of flight. “They are dark enough,” I observed with another look toward the heavily curtained windows, “for more than one person to be lost in their recesses. ” “Yes,” she murmured, reseating her self and eying me nervously while she spoke. “We are used to the terrors they inspire iu strangers, but if yon”—she leaped to her feet in manifest eager ness and her whole face changed in a way she little realized herself—“if you have any fear of sleeping amid such gloomy surroundings, we can procure yon a room iu the village where yon will be more comfortable and where we —we can visit yon almost as well as here. £hall I do it? Shall I call”— My face must have assumed a very grim Inoic, for her words tripped at that point aud a flush, the first I had seen on her cheek, rose up to her forehead, giving her an appearance of great dis tress. “Oh, I wish Loreen would come! 1 am uot at all happy iu my suggestions. ” she said, with a deprecatory twitch of her lip that was one of her subtle charms. “Oh, there she is! Now I may go,” said she, aud without the least ap pearance of realizing that she had said anything out of place she rushed from the room almost before her sister had entered it. But uot before their eye* had met in a look of nnusual significance. The dignified reserve of her bearing, the quiet way in which she approached aud. above all the even tones in which sha u*tered her welcome were such as to win my coufidence and put me at my ease in the house of which she was the nominal mistress. But that look! With that in my memory I was enabled to see below the surface of this placid nature and in the very constraint she put on herself detect the presence of that same secret uneasiness which had been so openly if unconsciously manifested by her sister. She was more beautiful than Lucetta iu form aud feature, and even more markedly elegant in her plain black gown and fine lawn ruffles, but she lacked the evanescent charm of the other’s smile, aud though admirable to all appearance was less lovable on a short acquaintance. She had not had as much suffering as Lucetta. But this delays my tale, whidh is one of action rather than reflection. I had naturally expected that with the ap pearance of the elder Miss Knollys I would be taken to my room, but on th« contrary she sat down and with an apologetic air informed me that she was sorry she conld not show me the precise attentions she wished. Circumstances, she said, over which she had no control had made it impossible for them to offer me the guest chamber, but if I would be so good as to accept another for this one night she would endeavor to pro vide me with better accommodations on the morrow. Satisfied of the almost paiuful nature of their poverty aud determined to sub mit to privations if necessary rather than depart before I had penetrated the mystery of this remarkable household, I hastened to say, with what 1 hope was sincere good feeling, that any room would be acceptable to me, and still ex- | pecting to be taken np stairs I begun to ! gather up my wraps, but Miss Knollys again surprised me by saying that my room was not yet ready; that they had not been able to complete all their ar rangements, and would I make myself ive diningroom it was to find the seats laid for four and Lucetta only sea ed at the head of the board. “Where is Loreen?” I asked wouder- ingly, as I took the seat she pointed out to me with one of her faint and quick ly vanishing smiles. “She—she cannot come at present,’' my young hostess stammered with the least glance of distress at the large, hearty looking woman who had sum moned me to the dining room. “Ah,” 1 murmured, thinking that possibly Loreen had found it necessary to assist in the preparation of the meal, “and your brother?” It was the first time he had been mentioned by any of us. I had shrunk from the venture out of a motive of pure compassion. I think, and they had not seen fit to introdnee his name into any of our couversations. Consequently 1 waited her response with some anx iety, having a secret premonition that in some way he was at the bottom of my strange reception. Her hasty answer, given, however, without any increase of embarrassment, somewhat dispelled this supposition. “Oh, he will be in presently,” said she. ‘ ‘ William is never very punctual. ” But when he did come in I could not but see that her manner instantly changed and became almost painfully anxious Though it was my first meet ing with the real head of the honse she waited for an interchange of looks with him before giving me the necessary in troduction, and when, this duty passed, he took his seat at the table her thoughts aud attention remained so fix ed upon him that she well nigh forgot the ordinary civilities of a hostess. Had it uot been for the woman I have spo ken of, who in her good uatnred atten tion to my wants amply made up for the abstraction of her mistress, I should have fared ill at this meal, good and ample as it was, considering the re sources of those who provided it She seemed to dread to have him speak, almost to have him move. She watched him with her lips half open, JT WAS THE STILLNESS OF INTENT RATHER THAN THAT OF NAT URAL REPOSE. CHAPTER V. liORKEIf, LUCETTA AND WILLI AM. Had I not caught that look I might have receiv(!d an impression of Miss Knollys that would in a measure have counteracted that made by the more qervous ajid less restrained Lucetta. at home where 1 was till evening. As this was asking a good deal of a woman of my years, fresh from a rail road journey and with natural habits of great neatness and order, 1 felt some what disconcerted, but biding it for the reasons before given I laid down my handles again and endeavored to make the best of the somewhat trying situa tion. Launching at once into conversation, I began, as with her sister, to talk about her mother. I had never known, save in the vaguest way, why Mrs. Knollys had taken that journey abroad which had ended in her death and burial in a for eign land. 1 had heard she bad gone abroad for her health, which had begun to fail after the birth of Lucetta, but as she had gone unaccompanied by her husband or children there was much that it would be interesting for me to know concerning these events which 1 felt that these girls might be willing to tell me, but Miss Knollys, intentionally or unintentionally, assumed an air so cold at these well meant questions on my part that I desisted from pressing her and began to talk about myself in a way which I hoped would establish really friendly relations between ns and make it possible for her to tell me later, if not at the present moment, wbat it was that weighed so heavily upon the household that no one could enter into it without feeling the shadow of the secret terror that enveloped it But Miss Knollys, while more atten tive to my remarks than her sister had been, showed still by certain unmistak able signs that her beau and interest were anywhere but in that room, aud while I could not regard this as throw- ing any discredit upon my powers of pissing — which have rarely failed when I have exerted them to their ut most—1 still could not but exjjerience the dampening effort of her manner. I went on chatting, but in a desultory way, noting ah that was <xld in her uu- a< countable reception of me, but giving, as I firmly believe, no evidence of my concern and rapidly increasing curiosity. The peculiarities olxtervable in this my first interview with these interest ing but by no moans easily to lie under stood si store continued all day. When one sister came in, the other stepped out, and when dinner time came and I was ushered down the bare and dismal hall i;ito an eruully bare ami mjattract- reauy, as it appeared, to stop any inad vertent expression he might ntter in his efforts to be agreeable. She even kept her left hand disengaged with the evident intention of stretching it out in his direction if in his lumbering stu pidity he should ntter a sentence calcu lated to open my eyes to what she so passionately desired to have kept secret I saw it all as plainly as I saw his heavy indifference to her anxiety, and knowing from experience that it is 'in just such stolid louts as these that the worst passions are often hidden I took the advantage of my years and forced a conversation in which l hoped some flash of his real self would appear de spite her wary watch upon him. Not liking to renew the topic of the lane itself, 1 asked with a very natural show of interest how near was their nearest neighbor It was he who looked np aud he who answered. Old Mother Jane is the closest, ” said be, “bat she’s no good. We never think of her Mr Trohm’s the only neighbor 1 care for He’s some good. .Such peach es as the old fellow raises! Such grapes! Suet melons I He gave me two of the nicest you ever saw this morning. By Jupiter, 1 taste them yet!” Lncetta s face, which should have crimsoned with mortification, turned most unaccountably pala Yet not so pale as wficu he began a few minutes before to say. “Loreen wants some of this soup saved for”—and stopped awk wardly, conscious perhaps that Loreen’s wants shonld not be mentioned before me. “1 thought you promised me that you would never again ask Mr. Trohm for any of bis fruit. ” “Oh, 1 didn’t ask! I just stood at the fence and looked over. Mr. Trohm aud 1 are good friends. Why shouldn’t 1 eat his fruit?” The look she gave him might have moved a stone, but he seemed perfectly impervious to it. Seeing him so stolid, her bead drooi>ed and she did not an swer a word Yet somehow I felt that even while she was so manifestly a prey to very natural mortification her atten tion was not wholly given over to this one emotion There was something over aud beyond all this that she feared Hoping to relieve her and lighten the situation, 1 forced myself to smile on the young man as I said: “Why don’t yon raise melons your self? I think I should be anxious to raise everything possible if I had so much ground as you possess. ” “Oh, you’re a woman!” he answered almost roughly “It's a good busiuess for women aud for men, too, perhaps, who love to see fruit hang, but I only care to eat it. ’’ “Don’t,” Lucetta put in, but not with the vigor I had expected. “I like to hunt, train dogs and enjoy other people’s fruit,” he laughed, with a nod at the blushing Lucetta “Idon’t see any use in a man’s putting himself out for things he can get for the asking. Life’s too short for such folly I mean to have a good time while I’m on this blessed sphere. ” “William!” Theory was irresistible, yet it was uot the cry 1 had been look ing for. Painful as this exhibition was of his stupidity and utter want of feel ing, it was not the thing she dreaded, or why was her protest so mnch weaker than her appearance had given token of? “Oh,” he sbonted, while she shrunk with a horrified look. "Lucetta don’t like that. She thinks a man ought to work, plow, harrow, dig, make a slave of himself to keep up a place that’s no good anyway. But I tell her that work is something she’ll never get out of me. I was born a gentleman, and a gentle man I will live if the place tumbles down over our heads. Perhaps it would be the best way to get rid of it. Then I could go live with Mr. Trohm and have melons from early mom till late at night” And again his coarse laugh rang out •This, or was it his words, seemed to rouse her as nothing had done before. Thrusting oat her band she laid it on his mouth with a look of almost frenzied appeal at the woman who was standing at his back. “Mr. William, how can you!” that woman cried, and when he would have turned upon her angrily she lean ed over and whispered in his ear a few words that seemed to cow him, for he gave a short grunt through his sister's trembling fingers and with a shrug of his heavy shoulders subsided into si lence. To all this I was a simple spectator, but I did not soon forget a single feature of this scene The remainder of the diu.ier passed quietly, William and myself eating with more or less heartiness, Lucetta tasting nothing at all In mercy to her I de clined coffee, and as soon as William gave token of being satisfied we hur riedly rose. It was the most uncomfort able meal I ever ate iu my life This story will be continued in next Friday's issue of The Ledger. Thousands of Londoners have taken on special insurance policies against smallpox, ranging from $500 to $50, 000. Every Healthy Boy likes to get himself into places of danger. Hence bruises, strains and sprains. Mother scolds and brings out the bottle of Perry Davis’ Painkiller and rubs it on the in jured spots with an energy aud frequency depending on the seriousness of the case. There is nothing like Painkiller to take out the soreness. There is but one Pain killer, Perry Davis’. Price 25c. and 50c. Winthrop College Scholarship and Entrance Examinations. The examinations for the award of vacant scholarships In Winthrop College and for the admission of new students will be held at the C< unty Court House on Friday, J uly 11th, at M a. m. Applicants must not be less than fifteen years of age. When scholarships are vacated after July 11th. they will ba awarded to those making the highest average at this examination. The next session will open September 17th, 1908. For further Information and a catalogue, address President D. H. Johnson, Rock Hill. S. C. June 80th, 87th. July 4th. 11th. Foley’s Honey ma Tar -urea colds, prevents pneumonia. <► o <► <► <► <► <► n o <► <► <► <► o o <► <► <► The most brilliant gem that was ever taken from the earth would not amount to much if there were no peo ple to appreciate its beauty and to vie with each other for iu 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 t* the best advantage? <> t o <> <> o i > o :: : CROP BULLETIN. Condltl«n of CmfoIIdm Crop* Am Reported- 1 l>y Dr pa rt merit of Agriculture. Columbia, b. C., July 15.—The temperature for the wet k ending Monday, July 14, averaged nearly normal, with a weekly mean of about 81 degrees. The highest maximum was 108 da- - greet* at btalvey on the 6th, the low est maximum 66 degrees at Liberty on the 12’h. The sunshire tveraged nearly normal, with generally cloudy' weather prevailing during the closing days of tne werk Destructive, high winds accompanied thunder atornaa- in Pickens, Newberry, Chester and Chesterfield counties, that damaged * corn and cotton over small areas Scattered light showers occurred*, oo the 7 8th, and during the remain der of the week at some point or * points, each day, with heavy rains over the southeastern portions on the 12th, that broke the severe drought which prevailed in that portion of the State. Other points in the northern, central and western countiea also bad heavy rains over limited areas. The greatest amount fur the week was 4,99-r inches at Cheraw. Although drought conditions have been greatly relieved, nevertheless there remain large areas where the rainfall waa insufficient,. and where crops continue to need rain. These areas are not confined to any particular section of the State,. but occur in almost every county. The effects of last week’s excessive heat and dryness are reflected in this week’s reports, hut in places where copious rains fell there already hack- been a partial recovery, except where the crops were rained. Corn was severely injured by last week’s weather, and some fields of old and very young corn were ruined,, especially over the eastern portions of the State; but where not too near maturity, it has improved recently,, aud again locks promising, although the exceedingly bright prospecta of B- few weeks ago have been permanently* injured. Early corn has all been laid by in good condition, while late bottom land and stubble corn are*- growing nicely. Cotton received a severe set-back-t. but is slowly recovering, except on sandy soils, {where the plants are- shedding leaves and squares, and have- begun to rust, and are blooming to> the top. Hail damaged cotton in sections of Abbeville, Newberry, Pickeos, Chesterfield and Chester counties. Boll worms have appeared In Anderson. In general, cotton is blooming freely and fruiting heavily,, although the plants are undersized as a rule. Sea-island cotton was greatly benefitted by the heavy rains along- the coast. Tobacco was injured by the heat and drought, and it is too nearly ma tured to be benefitted by the weather now prevailing. Cutting and curing; made rapid progress, and the crop is being marketed. Rice shared in the general deterio ration, and has also become infested with caterpillars in Colleton and Georgetown counties. Peas look well. Many sweet potato stipe re cently transplanted, died from the effects of the heat, and slips for re planting are exceedingly scarce. BANNER SA LYE tha most hooting solvo In tho world. College of Charleston. Charleston, S. C, Founded In 17M. Stronir Faculty, well equipped Ohem cal, Physical, and BloloKleal Laboratories; Library of 14,900 volumes; the finest Museum of Natural History in the South. Elective courses leading to the de grees of B. A., B. S.. and M. A. Board with furnished room In College Dormitory can be obtained for |10 a month; tuition |40. one scholarship giving free tuition is as signed to Cherokee county, the holder to be appointed by the Probate Judge and County Superintendent. Total expense* for Scholar ship students, f!12 to 9130. All candidates for admission are permitted to compete for vacant Boyce Scholarships which pay |1M a year. Next session begins September 29tb. For catalogue, address Harrison Randolph, President. THE STORY OF STONEWALL JACKSON. I have taken the agency in Cherokee county to sell the Story of Stonewall Jack- son—a narrative of his career from written and verbal accounts of his life. It Is ap proved by his widow, Mary Anna Jackson, and dedicated to Julia Jackson and Thomas Jackson Christian, grandchildren and sole surviving descendams of General Jackson, who are tteneficlarles in the publication of this book, written by William C. Chase. The hook has 500 pages with over 150 illustrations. This is a wore of the Confederate veterans and sons and daughters of Confederate vet erans to show some tangible proof of their appreciation of the high Christian character and soldierly qualities of their illustrious chieftain, dtonewali Jackson, by helping his sole descendants, who are tone the benefi ciaries of this work. Here is what Gen’I. C. I. Walker, comman der of the 1’. C veterans army of Northern Virginia, says: Cokesbi.’ry, 8. C , June 4th, 1908, To my Comrades:— This will introduce Comrade J. L. Strain, who is eugoged in the patriotic work of pre senting to our people “The Story of Stone wall Jackson," whicn sets forth with won derful dearness the noble life, high charac ter and magnificent services of our great Christian hero. The grandchildren of uen’l. Jadfson are directly interested in the sale of the book and will lie benefitted thereby. I have consented to take charge of this work in South Carolina. Any fayor or cour tesy you may extend him will lie to my per sonal advantage and I will appreciate most highly any assistance you may give him. Vours very truly, C. Ik Vink Walker. Aside from what Generals Wade Hampton, Klt/hugh I.ee. W. L. Cabbell and others say of it the book is its own exhorter. The life character of thlsgre^t man Is a benediction ujion the world of mankind, and should be read and studied by every boy and girl, not only in Cherokee county hut throughout Christendom. 1 expect, as soon as possible, to make a canvass of Cherokee county with the book, but in the meantime would be glad to fill any orders I may receive for It and will deliver It at the earliest convenient moment, ’1 he price of the book Is: On fine grey cloth And silver emlNissing, - |8.75 On plain morocco aud gold emboss ing. - - |:k(5 Address J. L. 8TKAIN, Etta Jsnic, 8. C.