Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

i & a fN THE LIFE /EOOKD EPL/DDE )F AMELIA BUTTEI — 03PYtt>GMT. BY ANNA KATHAPINf GPEEN^* Ainxx? of'tmeleavcmworth cajt* ■behind cuvxd dooq^ that AfrAia next dooc. 1897, (Jf A^fciA. H. ROHLfV — rc. EC CHAPTER VI. A SOMBER EVENING. The evening, like the afternoon, was spent in the sitting room with one of the sisters One event alone is worth recording. 1 had become excessively tired of a conversation that always lan guished, no matter on what topic it was started, and, observing an old piano in one corner—I once played very well —1 sat down before it and impulsively struck a few’ chords from the yellow keys. Instantly Lucetta—it was Lucet- ta who was with me then—bounded to my side with a look of horror on her face. “Don’t do that,” she cried, laying her hand on mine to stop me. Then, see ing my look of dignified astonishment, she added with an appealing smile, “I beg pardon, but every sound goes through me tonight ” “Are you not well?” I asked. “I am never very well,” she return ed, and we went bao* to the sofa and renewed our forced and pitiful attempts at conversation Promptly at 9 o’clock Miss Knollys came in She was very pale and cast, as usual, a sad and uueasy look at her sis ter before she spoke to me. Immediate ly Lucetta rose, and, becoming very pale herself, was hurrying toward the door when her sister stopped her. “You have forgotten,” she said, “to say good night to our guest. ” Distantly Lucetta turned, and, with a sudden, uncontrollable impulse seized my hand and pressed it convulsively “Good night,” she cried. “1 hope you will sleep well,” and was gone be fore 1 could say a word in response. “Why does Lucetta go out of the room when you come ini'’” I asked, de- termined to know the reason for this peculiar conduct. "Have you any other guests in the house?” The reply came with unexpected ve hemence. “No,” she cried, “why should you think so? There is no one here but the family ” And she turned away with a dignity she must have iu- heritt d fiom her father, for Althea liur- roughs had every other interesting quality but that. “You must be very tired,” she said. “If you please, we will go now to your room. ” I rose at once, glad of the prospect of seeing the upper portion of the house Hie took my wraps on her arm, and we passed immediately into the hall. As we did so 1 heard voices, one of them shrill and full of distress, but the souud was so quickly smothered by a closing door that 1 failed to discover whether that tone of suffering proceeded from a man or a woman. Miss Knollys, who was preceding me, glanced back iu some alarm, but as 1 gave no token of having noticed any thing out of the ordinary she speedily resumed her way up stairs. As the sounds 1 had heard had proceeded from above 1 followed her with alacrity, but felt my enthusiasm diminish somewhat when 1 found myself passing door after door down a long hall to a room as re mote as possible from what seemed to be the living portion of the house. “Is it necessary to put me off quiie so far?’ ’ 1 asked as my young hostess paused and waited for me to join her on the threshold of the most forbidding nxim it had ever been my fortune to enter The blush which mounted to her brow showed that she felt the situation keen ly- “1 am sure,” she said, “that it is a matter of great regret to me to be obliged to offer you so mean a lodging, but all our other rooms are—are out of order, ” she explained firmly, “and I cannot do otherwise tonight.” “But isn’t there some spot nearer you?” 1 urged. “A couch in the same room with you would be more accept able to me than this distant room.” “I—I hope you are not timid,” she began, but 1 hastened to disabuse her mind of thin at once ”1 am not afraid, ” said 1, “of any earthly thing but dogs, bnt I do not like solitude. I came here for companion ship, my dear. I really would like to sleep with one of you. ” This, to see how she would meet such urgency She met it as I might have known she would by a rebuff. ‘ ‘ I am very sorry, ’ ’ she again repeated, “but it is quite impossible If I could give you the comforts you are accus tomed to, 1 should be glad, but we are unfortunate, we girls, and”— She said no more, but began to busy herself about the room, which h« Id but one object that had the least look of comfort in it That fore it even entered into the wall. “I am afraid you will not hear me,” I answered, pointing to the break. She flushed a deep scarlet, and for a moment looked as embarrassed as ever her sister bad doue. “I did uot know,” she murmured. “The house is so old, everything is more or less out of repair.” And she made haste to quit the room. I stepped alter her iu grim determi nation. “But there is no key to the door,” I objected. She came back with a look that was as nearly desiderate as her placid fea tures were capable of. “1 know, ” she said, “I know. We have nothing. But if you are not afraid— and of what could you be afraid in this house, under our protection and with a good dog outside?—you will bear with things tonight, and— Good God,” she murmured, but uot so low but that my excited sense caught every syllable, “can she have beard? Has the reputa tion of this place gone abroad? Miss Butterworth, ” she repeated earnestly, “the house contains no cause of terror for you Nothing threatens our guest, nor need you have the least conceru f&i yourself or us. whether the night pass es iu quiet or whether it is broken by unaccountable sounds. They will have no reference to anything iu which you are interested. ” “Ah, ha,” thought I, “won’t they! You give me credit for much indiffer ence, my dear. ” But I said nothing be yond a few soothing phrases, which I made purposely short, seeing that every moment 1 kept her there was just so much torture. Then I weut back to my room and carefully closed the door. My first night in this dismal and strangely ordered house had opened anything but propitiously was my trunk, which had been neatly placed in one corner. “I suppose you are not used to can dies,” she remarked, lighting what si uck me as a very short end from the one she held in her hand. “My dear,” said I, “1 can accommo date myself to much that I am not used to. I have very few’ old maid's ways or notions. You shall see that I am fur from being a difficult guest.” She heaved a sigh, and then, seeing my eye traveling slowly over the gray discolored walls, which were not reliev ed by so mueh as a solitary print, she iHiiuted to a bell rope near the head of the bed and considerately remarked: “If you wish anything in the night or are disturbed iu any way, pull that. If communicates with my room, and I Will be only too glad to come to you. ” 1 glanced up at tbe ro]>e. ran my eye along the wire co.uimmicating with it and saw that it was broken sheer off bo CHAPTER VIL THE FIRST NIGHT. I spoke with a due regard to truth when I told Miss Knollys that I enter- , tained no fears at the prospect of sleep ing apart from the rest of the family I am a woman of courage—or so I have always believed—and at home occupy my second floor alone without the least apprehension. But there is a difference iu these two abiding places, as I think yon are ready by this time to ackuowl- , edge, and, though 1 felt little of what i is called fear, I certainly did not experi ence my usual satisfaction in the mi- ; uute preparations with which I am ac customed to make myself comfortable 1 for the night. There was a gloom both within and without the four bare walls between which 1 now’ found myself shut which I would have been something less than human not to feel, and though I had no dread of being overcome by it , I was glad to add something to the j cheer of the spot by opening my trunk and taking out a few of those little mat ters of personal equipment without which the brightest room looks barren and a deu like this too desolate for habitation. Then 1 took a good look about me to see how I could obtain for myself some sense of security for the night, without which it would be impossible to get even a modicum of rest. Tbe bed was light and could lie pulled in front of the door This was something. The win dows—but there was but one, and that was heavily draped with some thick, dark stuff, very tunere<sl in its appear- unce. Going to it, 1 pulled aside the heavy folds aud looked out. A mass of heavy foliage at once met my eye, ob structing the view of the sky aud add ing much to the loiiesomeness of the situation. I let the curtain fall again aud sat down in a chair to think. The shortness of the candle end with which I had been provided had struck me as siguilicaut, so significant that I bad uot allowed it to burn long after Miss Knollys had left me. If these girls, charming, no doubt, but sly, had thought to shorten my watch by short ening my caudle I would give them no cause to thiuk but that their ruse had been successful. The foresight which causes me to add a winter wrap to my stock of clothing even when the weath er is at the hottest leads me to place a half dozen or so of candles in my trunk, and so I had only to open a little oblong box in my upper fray to have the means at my disposal of keeping a light all night. So far, so good. 1 had a light, bnt had I anything else in case that William Knollys—but here Miss Knollys’ look and reassuring words recurred to me. “ Whatever you may hear—if you bear anything—will have no reference to yourself and need not disturb you. ” I was in no danger myself, but others. Why did I'thiuk there might be others to whom that reassurance would not quite apply? Not knowing how to answer these thoughts aud fully conscious that sleep would not visit me at once under exist ing circumstances, 1 finally made up my mind that 1 would not attempt to lie down till my mind had become bet ter satisfied that sleep on my part would be desirable. 8o alter making the vari ous lihtle arrangements already alluded to I drew over my shoulders a comfort able shawl and set myself to listen for what I feared would be more than one dreary hour of this not to be envied night. Aud here just let me stop to mention that, carefully considered as all my pr*» cautions were, I had forgotten one thing upon leaving home that at this minute marie me very nearly miserable. I had uot included among my effects the alco holic lamp and all the other private and particular conveniences which I have for making tea in my own apartment. Had 1 had them with me aud had I but been able to make and sip a cup of my own delicious tea through the ordeal of listening for whatever souuds might come to disturb the midnight stillness of this house, what relief it would have been to my spirits aud in what a differ ent light 1 might have regarded Mr. Gryce and the errand into which his suspicions had driven me. But I not only lacked this element of comfort, but the satisfaction of thinking tnat it was any one’s fault but my own. Lela had laid her baud on that teapot, but I had shaken my head, fearing that the sight of it might offend the eyes of my young hostesses. But I had not calculated in being put in a remote corner like this of a house large enough to accommodate a dozen families, and if ever I travel again— But this is a matter personal to Ame lia Butterworth, you say, aud of no in terest to ua And you are right. I will uot inflict my little foibles upon you ugaiu. Eleven o’clock came and went. I had heard no souud. Twelve, and I began to think that all was not quite so still as before; that I certainly could hear uow and then faint noises as of a door creaking on its hinges, or the smothered sound of stealthily moving feet. Yet all was so far from being distinct that for some time 1 hesitated to acknowledge to myself that something was goiug on iu the house which was uot to be looked for in a home professing to be simply the abode of a decent young man aud two very quiet appearing young ladies, and even after the noises and whisper ing had increased to such an extent that I could even distinguish the sullen tones of the brother from the softer aud more j earefullv modulated accents of Lucetta and her sister, I found myself ready to explain the matter by any conjecture short of that which involved these deli cate young ladies in any scheme of se- | cret wickedness. But when 1 found there was likely to be no diminution iu the various noises aud movement that was taking place in | the front of the house anil tnat only something much out of the ordinary could account for all this stir so long after midnight iu a country house I de cided that only a person insensible to all sight and sound could be expected to remain asleep under such circumstances and that I would seem perfectly justi fied iu the eyes of these young people themselves for opening iny door and taking a peep down the corridor. So without further ado I drew my bed aside aurl glanced out. All was perfectly dark and silent in the great house. The only light visible came from the caudle burning in the room behind me, and as for sound it was almost too still—it was the still ness of intent rather than that of natural repose. This was so unexpected that for an instant I stood baffled and wondering. Then my nose went np, and I laughed quietly to myself. I could see nothing and I could hear nothing, but Amelia Butterworth, like most of her kind, boasts of more than t wo senses, aud hap pily there was something to smell. A quickly blown out caudle leaves a wit ness behind it to sensitive nostrils like mine, and this witness assured me that the darkness was deceptive. Some one had just passed the heal of my corridor with a light, aud because the light was extinguished it did uot follow that the person who had held it was far away. Indeed, I thought that now I heard a palpitating breath. “Humph,” I cried out loud, but as if in unconscious communion with myself, “it is uot often I have so vivid a dream. I was sure that I heard stops in the hall I’m afraid I’m growing nervous.” Nothing moved. No one answered me. “Miss Knollys!” I called firmly. ^No reply. “Lucetta, dear!” I thought this appeal would go unan swered also, but when I raised my voice for the third time a sudden rush ing sound took place down the corridor, and Lucetta’s excited figure, fully dress ed, appeared iu the faint circle of light caused by my now rapidly waning cau dle. “Miss Butterworth, what is the mat ter?” she asked, making as if she would draw mo into my room, a proceeding which I took good care she should uot succeed in, however. (Jiving a glance at her dress, which was the same she had worn at the supper table, 1 laugh ingly said: “Isn’t that a question I should rather ask you? It is 2 o’clock by my watch, and you, for all your very evident deli cacy aud fatigue, are still up. What does it mean, my dear? Have I put you out so completely by my comiug that none of you can sleep?” Her eyes, which had fallen before mine, quickly looked up. “I am sorry,” she began, flashing and trying to take a peep into my room, possibly to see if I had been to bed my self. “We did not mean to disturb you, but—but— Oh, Miss Butterworth, pray excuse our makeshifts aud oar poverty. We wished to fix np another room for you aud were ashamed to have you see how little we had to do it with, so we were moving oome things out of our own room tonight, and”— Here her voice broke, and she burst into au almost uncontrollable flood of tears. “Don’t,” she murmured, "don’t,’' as, quite thoroughly ashamed, I began to utter some excuses. “I shall be all right iu a moment. I am used to hu miliations. Only,” and her whole body seemed to join in the plea, it trem bled so, “do not, I pray, speak quite so loud. M y brother is more sensitive than even Loreen and myself about these things, and if he should hear”— Here a suppressed oath from way down the hall assured mo that he dijl hear, but I gave uo sign of my recogni- tiou of this fact, and Lucetta added quickly: “He would not forgive us for our carelessness iu waking you. He is rough sometimes, but so good at heart, so good. ” This, with the other small matter I had just mentioned, caused iu me a slight reaction. 11% good? I did uot be lieve it. Yet her eyes showed no waver ing when I looked at her fixedly, and feeling that 1 had perhaps been doing injustice to them all and that all I had seen which was odd and difficult to ex plain iu their conduct was, as she evi dently meant to intimate, due to their efforts to make a sudden guest com fortable amid their poverty, I put the best face I could ou the matter and gave the poor, pitiful, pleading face a kiss I was startled to feel how cold her fore head was and, more aud more concerned, loaded her down with such assurances of appreciation as came to my lips and sent her back to her own room with the ad vice that she would trouble herself no more about fixing up any other room for me; that I had emptied my trunk out here and did not propose to move again for the few days I intended to re main with them. “Only,” said I, as her whole face showed relief, “we will go to the locksmith tomorrow and get a key, and you shall see that after tonight I have a cup of tea brought to my room jutt before 1 retire. I am no good with out my cup of tea, my dear. What keeps other people awake makes me sleep. ” “Oh, yon shall have that!” she cried, with an eagerness that was almost un natural, aud theu slipping from my grasp she uttered another hasty apology for having roused me from my sleep and ran hastily back. 1 stretched out my arm for the candle guttering iu my room and held it up to light her. She seemed to shrink at sight of its rays ami the last vision I had of her speeding figure showed me that same look of dread ou her pallid tea tures which had aroused my interest in our first interview “She may have explained why tkt, three of them are up this time of uight, ” I muttered, “but she has uot explained why her every conversation is seasoned by an expression of fear. ’ ’ And, brooding over this, I w’eut back to my room and, pushing tbe bed again against the door, lay down upon it aud out of sheer chagrin, I think, fell funt Asl^op. CHAPTER VIII. ON THE STAIRS. I did not wake up til! morning. The room was sc dark that I do not know as I should have wakened then if my hab its of exact punctuality had not been aided by a gentle knock at my door. “Who’s there?” I called, for I could not say “Come in” till I had moved my bed and made way for the door to open. “Hannah with warm water,” said a voice, at which I made haste to rise. Hannah was the woman who had wait ed on us at dinner. The sight of in-r pleasant countenance, which uevertln less looked a trifle hag gard I thought, was a welcome relief ttf r »r th“ somber features of the night Addressing her with my usual brusque ness, but wirii quite my usual kindness, I asked how the young ladies were feel ing this morning. Her answer made a groat show of frankness. “Oh, they are much as usual,” said she. “Miss Loreen is in the kitchen aud Miss Lucetta will soon be here to in quire how you are. I hope you passed a good uight yourself, ma’am. ” I had slept more than 1 ought to per haps and made haste to reassure her as to my own condition. Then seeing that a little talk would uot lie unwelcome to this hearty woman, tired to death possi bly with life in this dreary house, 1 made some excuse tor keeping her a few minutes, saying as 1 did so: “ What au immense dwelling this is for four persons to live iu, or have you another inmate which I have not seen?" I thought her buxom color showed a momentary sign of failing, but it all came back with her answer, which was given in a round, hearty voice. “Oh, I’m the only maid, madam. 1 cook and sweep and all 1 couldn’t abide another near me. Even Mr. Sims bury, who tends the cow aud horse and who only comes iu for his dinner, wor rits me by spells. 1 like to have my own way iu the kitchen, except when the young ladies choose to come in. Is there anything more you want, ma'am, aud will you have tea or coffee for breakfast?” I told her that 1 always drank coffee in the morning and would have liked to have added another question or two, but she gave me no chance. As she weut out I saw her glance at my candle stick. There was only a half burned end iu it. She is calculating, too, how long I sat up, thought I Lucetta stood at the head of the stairs as I w’ent down. “Will you excuse me for a few mo ments?” said she. “I am not quite ready to follow you, but will be soon. ” “I will take a look at the grounds. ” , I thought she hesitated for a mo ment; theu her face lighted up. “Bo sure you don’t encounter the dog,” she cried aud slipped hastily down a side hall 1 had not noticed the night before. “Ah, a good way to keep mein,” thought L “But I shall see the grounds yet if I have to poison that dog. ” Not withstanding, I made no haste to leave the house. Some might think that Ln- oetta had got the better of me, but that is uot a good reason for placing myself in uncalled for danger, i don't believe in tempting Providence, espe cially where a dog is concerned. Instead of that I stood still and look ed up aud down the halls, endeavoring to get some idea of their plan aud of the location of my own room in refer ence to the rest. I found that the main hall ran at right angles to the long corridor down which I had just come, and noting that the doors opening into it were of a size and finish vastly superior to those 1 had passed in the corridor just mentioned I judged that tliu best bedrooms all luv front and that I had been quartered at the end of what had once been consid ered as the servants' hall. At my right, as 1 looked down the stairs, ran a wall with a break beyond which was what looked like au opening iuto another cor ridor, and indeed I afterward learned that the long series of rooms of which mine was the last had ; ts counterpart on the other side of this enormous dwelliug, giving to the house the shape of a long, square U I was looking in some wonderment at this openiug and marveling over the extravagant hospitality of those days which necessitated such a number of rooms in a private gentleman's home when I heard a door open beyond it and two voices speaking. One was rough and careless, unmistakably that of Wil liam Knollys. The other was slow and timid aud was just as unmistakably that of the mau who had driven me to this house the day before. They were talking of some elderly person aud I had good sense enough not to allow my in dignation to blind me to the fact that by that elderly person they meant me This is important, for their words were uot without significance. “How shall we keep the old girl out of the house till it is all over?” was what I heard drop from William’s surly lips. “Lucettahas a plan,” was the hardly distinguishable auswer. “I am to take”— That was all I could hear; a closing door shut off the rest, but that was enough. Something, then, w’as going ou in this house of a dark if not mysterious character, aud the attempts made by these two interesting and devoted girls to cover up this fact by explanations founded ou their poverty bad been but subterfuges after all. Grieved ou their account, but iuwardly grateful to the imprudence of this more than reckless brother for this not to be mistakeu glimpse into the truth, I slowly de sceuded the stairs in that state oi com plete self possession which is given by a secret knowledge of the intentions formed against us by those whoso ac tions we have reason to suspect ’ Henceforth I had but oue duty—to penetrate the mystery of this household Whether it was the one suspected by Mr Gryce or another of a less evil and dangerous character hardly mattered in my eyes. While the blight of it rested upon this family eyes would be lowered and heads shaken at their name. This, if I could help it, must uo longer be II guilt lay at the bottom of all this fear and subterfuge, theu this guilt must be known; if innocence— I thought of the brother’s lowering brow uml felt it in compatible with innocence, but remem bering Mr. Gryce’s remarks on this sub ject read an instant lecture to myself and, putting all conclusions aside, de voted the few minutes iu which I found myself alone in the dining room to a careful preparation of my mind for its duty, which was not likely to be of the simplest character if Lucetta’s keen wits wore to be pitted against mine. <g&A This signature is on every box ot the ^enuia* Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablets Qm remedy that cures a cold Iu one day BANNER 8 ALVE the most healing salve in the world. Clerk's Sale. State or Socth Cakomna, t County or Chkhokee. ( S T. MCCRAVEY. vs. A. H. FOSTER, et al. In obedience to orders made herein, for partition, dated October 10th, 1SWI and July 1SK>2, 1 will seil at public outcry before the Court House door. atCafluey. S. ('., during the lepal hours of sale, saleaday August 4th. Rtul. the following described land, to-wit: All that certuiu piece or tract of land con taining sixty acres, more or less, situated in (in-county of Cherokee near the Pacolet river, adjoining lands now or late of F. W. Eison. John D. Jefferies. Jas. Littlejohn, and Thos. J. Haines, being the same tract formerly known us the Knuckles and Nor ris g dd mines and now known as the Paco- let Gold Mines. Terms of sale:—One-half cash and the balance on a credit of one year fiom day of sale, with interest from day of sale, secured by a bond of the purchaser and a mortgage of the premises sold, with leave to the pur chaser to pay all cash. Purchaser to pay for alt papers and re cording. J. Eb. Jkyecries. Cl’k. C. C. Pis. and O.S. Gaffney, S. C.. July 14th, 1902, Published July IHth. 25th and Aug. 1st. Thi<» story will he continued next Fridav’s issue of The Ledger. in <1400. WORTH SCHOLARSHIP Congresessional <<400. F OR each South Carolina, and two large In KING’S MOi'NTAIN MILITARY CADK.MY. Yorkvil e. S C. These scholar- district in for the state it AC _ .ships will lie awarded by our Representa tives and Senators, strictly upon merit, in the same manner as the award of scholar ships hi West Point. For full information address your Repre sentative, or one of our Senators, or \\. G. STEPHENSON, Supt.. Yorkville. S. C. J uly S-lawU-4t. Summons for Relief. State or South Cakomna, > Court of Com- Ccr.vTY or Chehokke. ( mon i’leas. John R. Webster. Talitha E. Wilkins and J. E. Webster, plaintiffs, against Arthur Tate, Claud Tate, Vance Tate, Car rie Hutler. Maggie Barrett, Claiborne Howser. Emma Howser and Pauline G. Webster, the last named supposed to be dead, and without heirs-at-law and dis tributees, except the plaintiffs, defend ants. To tin; above named Defendants in this action: You are hereby summoned and required to answer the complaint in tins action, which is Hied in the office of the Clerk cf Court for the said county, and to serve a copy of your answer to the said complaint i on tin subscriber at hisoflice, Gaffney, S. C., within twenty days after the service hereof, i exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the complaint within the time aforesaid the plaintiffs in this action will apply to the Court, for relief demanded in the Complaint. Dated Gaffney, S. C.. July nth, A. D. 1SI02. To the defendants, Vance Tate, Carrie Butler. Maggie Barrett. Clallairne Dowser, Emma Howser and Pauline G. Webster, if she he living: you are each hereby notified ! that the Summons and Complaint in the above entitled action lias been, on the 9th day of July. 1902, duly filed iu the office of the Clerk of Court for Cherokee County. S. and an order obtained for the servlceof the Summons on you by publication of the same for six weeks,once a week, in the Gaff ney Ledger, a newspaper published at Gaff ney, S. C. J. E Webstkk. Plaintiff's Attorney. July 9th, 1902. Julyll-ilt. Wirthrop College Scholarship and Entrance Examinations. Tlie examinations for the award of vacant scholarships in Wlnthrop College and for the admission of new students will tie held at the Ci unty Court House on Friday, July lltli, at 9 a. m. Applicants must not lie less than lifteen years of age. When scholarships are vacated after July 11th. they wiil bo awarded to those making tlie highest average at. tills examination. The next session will open September 17th, 1902. For further information and a catalogue, address President D. H. Johnson, Rock Hill. S. C. June 20th, 27th. July 4th. lltli. College of Charleston, Charleston, S. C. Founded in 17*5. Strong Faculty, well equipped Chem'eul, Physical, and Biological Laboratories; Library of 14,900 volumes; the lines! Museum of Natural History in the South. Elective courses leading to the de grees of H. A., B. S„ and M. A Board with furnished room In College Dormitory can he obtained for (lo a month; tuition frtO. One Heholarshin giving free tuition Is as signed to Cherokee county. the holder to be appointed by the Probate Judge and County Suuerlntendent. Total expenses for Scholar ship students, 1112 to illki. All candidates for admission are permitted to compete for vacant Boyce Scholarships which pay fl50 a year. Next session lieglns September 29th. Ft* catalogue, address Hakkison Ban hoi,pm. President. THE STORY OF STONEWALL JACKSOI The manager of one of the most successful furniture houses in Greater New York was asked to what one thing, in his opinion, the success of the concern was most due. He replied: “The founder of the firm was > great believer in advertising, and to this fact may be ascribed the enormous business wc are handling.” There is no business, however small, that cannot be increased by judicious, systematic, per- sist<*ht advertising. The giant oak does not gain its strength in a day. Magnificent buildings are not reared all at once, nor can their strength and beauty be appreciated until the finishing touches are put on. Is your business satisfactory? Are you making headway? Are you using to the best advantage the greatest of all business lev ers—advertising? If you are satisfied that you are, well and good; if not, drop in and talk it over with us. We have advertising apace to sell, and advertising is a part of our busineae. Perhaps we can help you. I have taken the agency In Cherokee eou ii t y to sell Uie SUi'-y of Stonewall Jack- sou a narrative of his career from written and verbal accounts ot Ids life. It is ap proved by his widow, Mary Anna Jackson, and dedicated to Julia Jackson and Thomas Jackson Christian, grandchildren and sole surviving descendan s of General Jackson, who are beneficiaries in the publication of tills book- written by i\ illiarn < . (.'base. Tbe book lias SOU pages with over 15(1 Illustrations. This I- a work of the Confederate veterans and sons and duughtersof Con reiterate vet eran's to show some tangible proof of tbeir appreciation of the high Christian character ami soldleny qualities of their Illustrious chieftain. Stonewall Jackson, by helping his sole descendants, who are to lie the benefl- ! claries of tills work. Here is what Gen’l. C. I. Walker, comman der of the t’.C veterans army of Northers Virginia, says; COKESBt’HY, S. e . June 4th, 111 To my Comrades:— Tills will introduce Comrade J. L.Ptraln, who is engoged in Hie patriotic work of pre senting to our people ”Th<* Story of Stone- j wail J.u-ksou," which sets forth with won derful clearness the noble life, high charac ter arm magnificent services of our great Christian hero. The grandchildren of Gen’l. Jactlson are directly interested in the sale of the Imok and will be benefilted thereby. I have consented to take charge of this work in fttuth Carolina. Any favor or cour tesy you mav extend him will lie to my per- I sonul advantage and I will appreciate moat highly any assistance you may give him. Yours very truly. C. Ik vine Wai.kkh. Aside from what Generals Wude Hampton, Fit/.bugh Lee. W. I,. Cabbel! and others say of It the IsKik is Its own exhorter. The life character of thlsgre.,t man is a benediction u|N,n the world of mankind, and should be I read and studied by every boy and girl, not only in Cherokee county hut throughout Christendom. I expect, us soon as possible, to make canvass of Cherokee county wltli the book, , but in the meantime would iieglad tolill ani orders I msy receive for It and will deliver f 1 at the earliest convenient moment. , The price of the Imok is: On fine grey clplh and silver cmlKissing, • I2.7S On plain mnrtieco and gold emboss Ing. *1.7$, Address J. L. STRAIN. Etta Jane, H. 0.