Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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>**«»+»****«*4H»»***************************f****§ * » ^The REFORMER By CHARLES M. SHELDON, tf-htts Steps,** “tobert Hardy’s Seven Days,” Etc. OttpyrSoM, 1901, bu CharV* if. Sheldon ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦**********♦♦**** Th® evening that was martea oy Hope House as a turning in its affairs large enough to be called a crisis Mrs. Constance Penrose was having a sharp Interview with her nephew, Archie Penrose. *■ “You are your own master of course,” Mrs. Penrose was saying to her nephew, who lounged carelessly in one of the bow’ windows of the drawing room, “but at the rate you are going you will soon exhaust your resources. •You are a spendthrift not only of your money, but of your health, which is worth more than money.” “Oh, that's all right, Aunt Con stance,” Archie answered, yawning. "I know when to stop.” “Every gambler has said the same thing.” “I’m no gambler, aunt.” “You are. You stake your reputation and the good name of the family every time you put your health and money up against the world, the flesh and the devil. If you have no respect for your own name, you ought to have some for mine.” “What have 1 done to catch all this?” Archie looked annoyed and also a lit tle afraid. There was one person in the world who had the power to stir £ear in him, and that person was his Aunt Constance. “You have never done anything. ■What have you ever done, Archie Pen rose, to dignify or ennoble the name you bear. To your father’s credit, if he was a money grubber he at least had a business. He actually did some thing besides hunt for pleasure all the time. You—you have no business. You waste every energy God gave you in senseless expenditure of time and means. And, in addition to all the rest, you are fool enough to think Luel- la Marsh will be the wife of the most useless man in the city.” “If I am a fool to think it, am I a fool to wish for it?” Mrs. Penrose stared. “You don't mean to say you actually love Luella?” “I do. I love her with all my soul.” “That’s not saying much. Your soul has been reduced to the smallest com mon denominator.” “Aunt Constance!” The young man came out from the bow window and stood in front of her, his hands clinched and his eyes angrily blazing. "What right have you to talk so to me? How big is your own soul? What do you ever do for anybody but your self? When it comes to wasting ener gy. who wastes more than you in what you call senseless ways? I may be useless and all that, but I don’t toady to a lot of good for nothings like the Fourneys and the Carlisles and the Cranstons just to get into Washington circles next season.” He was treading on dangerous ground now, for he had touched his aunt’s real weakness as a society woman, and she was in the mood to be deeply angered at what he said. But he went on recklessly, and before he finished Mrs. Penrose had settled back again into the easy, care less attitude habitual with her. “I know what you invited the Four neys here for the other night when that ass Emory and Gordon got off their stuff about the slums. But all that is of no account to me. You have no business to interfere with my af fairs with Luella. That’s my own business. If I can get her consent, I am going to marry her.” "It is kind of you to get her consent, Archie,” his aunt said, with quiet Irony. “You have no right to interfere,” he said sullenly. “1 don’t mind saying I love her, and I am going to have her for my wife if it is possible.” “She will never have you. She loves a far better man than you ever can be, Archie Penrose.” • “Who? John Gordon? He’s a crank. Luella has broken with him.” “Yes, her eyes looked it the other night. Did you see how her eyes fol lowed Gordon all the evening?” Penrose was in a torture of jealousy. He almost cried: “No, she didn’t! I tell you she’s broken with him.” “If she has, she will never marry you. Luella Marsh has too much sense to put her life into the bands of a man who never lifted his Anger to help make a better world." “You have set me the example by your own conduct,” the young man sneered feebly. He walked back into the bow window and sullenly turned his back on his aunt. “You’re right, Archie,” she replied calmly. “It's practically a case of pot and kettle. One is as black as the other. The guilt of nearly all unjust and wretched conditions in this city can without doubt be laid at the door of us rich people, who have the power that wealth can use, and use it for our am bitions. It is probably true that the judgment day will rightly condemn us as the cause of most of the misery Grace Andrews and John Gordon are living to relieve. We have it absolute ly in our power to change political and social conditions that create nearly all the human wrong.) that exist in soci ety, and Instead of exercising that great privilege we go our ways with colossal egotism and monstrous selfish ness, shirking all duties and burdens of citizenship and flinging our money Into a riotous and deinornlljdnc luxury of life that inflames the passions of the poor and keeps constantly in sight the vast inequality of human existence. “It is a fact. Archie, that we rich people, with a few noble exceptions so rare as to excite constant newspaper comment, are ns a class the cause of practically all the misery of the city. We have no place for service In our programme of life. We neither know nor care for the brotherhood. We exist for our own pleasure. And I suppose it wiil be no more than fair that in the other world we shall long for a drop of water to cool our tongues while the Lazarus we despised here shall recline InAbraham’e bosom. Do you ever think, Archie, of the time coming when things are going to be evened up, when the first shall be last and the last first? Of course God will never permit all this human injustice to continue for ever, and he will see to it that our earthly selfishness shall some time or other face some kind of a judgment.” Archie turned around and laughed. It was a laugh that made his aunt shud der. It was the laugh of society at its worst, the pagan indifference that for all the centuries has faced humanity’s woes with dance and jest, and flung to the beggar the crumbs of the feast. “Well, aunt, you're a good one! Miss Andrews couldn’t do better. Why don't you offer her your services as lecturer? If you got off all that stuff in the draw ing rooms, it would create a sensation, and of course it would fill the contribu tion boxes when they were passed for the cause.” Mrs. Penrose did not answer. She lay back in her chair, her eyes closed, and to Archie's great surprise when she opened her eyes tears were on the lashes. To his added surprise his aunt arose and went out of the room. She was gone several minutes. When she came back, she spoke as if nothing had been said of an unusual nature. “Miss Marsh and I are going down to Hope House tomorrow afternoon to see Miss Andrews add the place. Will you go with us?” “To Hope House!” “I said so. Miss Andrews has in vited me to come several times. I con tributed a little at the time of the fire. So did Luella. Miss Andrews wants us to see what has been done. 1 have never been down there, neither has Luella. Of course you never have. If you care to go, I’ll speak for Luella that she will not object to your escort.” “Why, I'll go all right. Tomorrow afternoon ?” “Yes. We'll start from here prompt ly at 2.” “All right.” lie started to go and then hesitated. “Promise me, aunt, you will not prej udice Luella against me.” “No need. You do all that is neces sary without any help.” She had evi dently not forgotten his indictment of her social weakness. “You'll see. Luella Marsh will be my wife one of these days.” “She has my sympathy when the day arrives.” “Look here. Aunt Constance!” He spoke almost brutally, coming back into the room. “If you feel that way, why do you ask me to go with her and you tomorrow?” “I want you to see some human mis ery before you die. I want you to know that God has some good reason for the judgment he will some time deliver to your selfish soul.” “How about yours?” And again he laughed the laugh that centuries of idle society has not been able to soften or civilize. “And mine, too,” she answered, with a deep gravity that made her nephew stare in astonishment. “Well, I’ll be here at 2,” he said as he turned from her. “I don’t care what your reason is, but I’ll go any where Luella goes.” When he had gone, Mrs. Constance Penrose did a remarkable thing, or at lie eimply bowed. least those who thought they knew bee best would have been astonished if they had seen it. She went into her room and kneeled at a little desk upon which lay an open prayer book. It was opened at the Lit any, and with whispering lips she re peated the familiar prayers beginning with the words: From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and everlasting damna tion, Good Lord, deliver us. From all blindness of heart; from pride, valn-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitable ness. Good Lord, deliver us. From all inordinate and sinful affec tions; and from all the deceits of ths world, the flesh, and the devil. Good Lord, deliver us. From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence and famine; from bat tle and murder, and from sudden death. Good Lord, deliver us. From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from ail false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word and Command ment, Good Lord, deliver us. Ry the mystery of thy holy Incarna tion: by thy holy Nativity and Circum cision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation. Good Lord, deliver us. By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion, by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resur rection and Ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, Good Lord, deliver us. In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us. Then turning the page she went on with the words: We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to succor, help, and comfort all who are in danger, neces sity and tribulation; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to preserve all who travel by land or by water, all wom en in the perils of childbirth, all sick per sons and young children; and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless children, and widows, and all who are desolate and op pressed ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Ix)rd. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts: We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in duo time we may enjoy them; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give us true repentance, to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances, and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word; We beseech thee to hear us, g'COd Lord. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. O Lamb of God, wTio takest away the sins of the world; Grant us thy peace. O Lamb of God, who takest away the alns of the world; Have mercy upon us. She whispered the words over in a sort of sobbing chant that found her at the close saying, “Have mercy upon me,” instead of “us.” And with the word she flung her arms over the desk and laid her head down on the book, crying convulsively. The magnificent surroundings of that gorgeously furnished room gleamed all around her as she kneeled there, for the time being as wretched a soul as that sorrow smitten city housed, sunk in the horrible depth of a self accusation that was already a present day judg ment, warning her of a future and smiting her to the earth with terror at the thought of a whole lifetime of power misdirected, of a wealth and social influence abused for selfish ends. When Luella called next day, she found Mrs. Penrose in fine spirits. Archie had already arrived and was nervously walking up and down the drawing room. “There is no question about your love for Luella ?” Mrs. Penrose asked as the bell rang and Luclla’s step was heax-d in the hail. Archie gave his aunt a look that made her laugh in his face. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,” she said carelessly as she turned to greet Luella. Luella was in a state of unusual ex citement. The prospect of seeing John Gordon and Hope House entered into the situation. The prospect of seeing Miss Andrews was perhaps a larger factor, for Penrose had in his fashion hinted of a possible interest on John Gordon’s part toward this gifted wo man who had given her life to the peo ple. So, for these two reasons, Luella was unusually excited, but in addition was the whole situation, which she realized was not yet by any means de cided in her relation to John Gordon. She was apparently no nearer the sac rifice of her social position than when he had made that the test of her love. But none the less certain was it that she resented, as she had a right to do, the suggestion that John Gordon might give his love to some other woman, possibly to this one whom she had never seen, whom she was going to see now, why she did not know, aside from a certain curiosity that longed to be satisfied. As the carriage entered Bowen street all three of them looked with different degrees of interest at the sight of the double decker. Heaps of rubbish still covered the entire burned area, and the same melancholy groups of children were scattered about playing over the ruins. At the farther end of the area some men were taking measurements and talked earnestly. Among the men Luella thought she saw John Gor don. Going in through the archway which had bent over so much human trouble and sacrifice, they were greeted in the broad hall by Miss Andrews herself, who was Just passing through to the library and stopped to greet the vis itors as she saw them coming in. “I am very glad to see you,” she said simply as she shook hands with them all. "Will you come into the library? Our little front parlor has been turned into a hospital ward since the fire.” ■Thcyail^mt hMmdsutitowmwhlle Miss Andrews thanked Luelln for her gift, saying, “I ought perhaps to have called instead of acknowledging your kindness by letter, but my excuse for not doing so has been the work here.” “Oh, I did not expect anything more,” Luella murmured. What was the se cret of Grace Andrews’ power? She felt something more than common In this woman at once. While she was silently trying to analyze the matter Mrs. Penrose was asking questions. “But you have not been here much longer than twelve years?” “Fifteen years next spr.ng.” “Pardon me, Miss Andrews, are you related to the Clay-Andrews family of Baltimore?” “Mrs. Hamilton Andrews of Balti more was my father’s own cousin.” “Then you belong to the Claytons of West Virginia?” “One branch of the Claytons married into the family.” Mrs. Penrose pushed her inquiries one question further. “Wasn’t your mother known all througli the south as the beautiful Miss Rodney of Baltimore?” “Yes.” Miss Andrews answered quiet ly. “If you know my family history, Mrs. Penrose, why do you ask me all this?” The woman of the slums and the woman of the boulevard faced each other, and it was the society woman who felt abashed in the presence of her sister, who had given up so much to gain apparently so little. "Pardon me, Miss Andrews, now that l have placed you, I cannot help won dering how you came to leave such a splendid social position for—for”— “For such a splendid social opportu nity?” Miss Andrews smiled her rare smile. And then in answer to Mrs. Penrose she recited softly George Mac Donald's verses with a power that went deep home to Luella and made even Archie Penrose stop his nervous fidgeting, although he did not compre hend the meaning of the verses to the three w T omen. I said, I will walk in the fields. God said. Nay, walk in th« town. I said. There are no flowers there. He said, No flowers but a crown. I said, But the fogs are thick and clouds are veiling the sun. He answered, But hearts are sick and souls in the dark undone. I said, But the skies are black; there Is nothing but noise and din. And he wept as he led me back. There is more. He said. There is sin. I said, I shall miss the light, and friends will miss me, they say. He answered. Choose ye tonight if I must miss you or they. I pleaded for time to be given. He said. Is it hard to decide? . It will not seem hard in heaven to follow the steps of your guide. There was a moment of intense still ness when she had finished. There was a hint of tears in Mrs. Penrose’s eyes. Luella sat with her hands in her lap gazing at Miss Andrews intently. If John Gordon should love this other woman, would it not be the simple at traction of one soul that has obeyed the voice that says “follow me,” at the cost of phy ical things, drawing an other soul that is also living in obedi ence to the same voice? Miss Andrews suddenly rose and went to one of the windows that looked out over the burned district. “Excuse me. I am, of course, spe cially interested in our plans at pres ent. Mr. Gordon, with some of the residents, has been looking over the ground with reference to our new park. You have heard of our recent good fortune? We are living in a high state of excitement down here. A friend has given us $200,000, and we are trying to see how much fun we can have in spending it. If you will come here, I can point out our proposed plan, or would you like to go out there? We can look over the house when we come back.” "We shall be interested to go outside and look over the plan there,” Mrs. Penrose assented, and they all passed out and walked slowly down toward the group of men who were at the end of the street, opposite the block that had been the last to burn. As they drew nearer one of the men left the group and came down toward them. It was John Gordon, and even at that distance it was very evident that he was unusually roused about something. He was so absorbed in the matter that was exciting him that when he met Miss Andrew’s with her visitors for the first moment he spoke to her as if be did not recognize the others. “That scoundrel. Tommy Randall, Miss Andrews! Do you know what he has succeeded in doing?” He had said that much when he real ized who the visitors were. But even then the passion of the information he had come to give Miss Andrews was so strong that he simply bowed to Mrs. Penrose and Luella as if he w’ere in the habit of meeting them every day In Bowen street, and nodded to Penrose, ns if Penrose was a familiar sight in the neighborhood of Hope House. “What has Tommy Randall done now?” Miss Andrews questioned, with a faint smile. “Tommy Randall does the heavy tragedy in Ward 18,” she said to Mrs. Penrose. “Randall has bought up lots all over this burnt district. He has closed con tracts for half a dozen double deckers like the one Mr. Marsh had put up,” John Gordon continued, entirely un mindful of Luella, or, at least, careless of the effect of what he said upon her. “He has worked all this time we have been discussing the park plan. But how could we do anything?” Gordon spoke in despair, addressing Miss An drews as if no one else were present “We only had the money to purchase anything last night. We never dreamed that anything would get in the way of our purchase of at least half the area. Randall has secured his lots all over the district. If he puts up those dou ble deckers, he ought to be arrested for murder. That is what the buildings result in.” Luella flushed and then defiantly looked at Gordon as he unconsciously said th last words looking at her. The expression on her face smote John Gor don into a sudden realization of all h!s surroundings. Miss Andrews stood quietly gazing over the dreary pile of rubbish. A man left the group at the point where Gordon had been standing and came walking deliberately toward thim. “It’s Tommy Randall. If he attempts to insult you, Miss Andrews”— As he spoke Gordon laid his finger for a second on Miss Andrews’ arm. He was standing close by her, and the movement was perfectly natural. Lu ella noticed it and was also quick to note the color in Miss Andrews’ face as she moved a little away from Gordon and said: “He will not insult me.” “I almost wish he would insult some one so that I could have some excuse for knocking him down,” Gordon an swered. Neither Miss Andrews nor Luella had ever seen him so angry. • Mrs. Penrose watched all this with gleaming eyes. It had become exceed ingly interesting to her. Archie was divided between his disgust at the hor rible surroundings and his wonder at what would be the result of the en counter between Randall and Mise Andrews. Luella had no thought for anything except that movement which John Gordon had made as if to protect Miss Andrews. And all of them faced the man as he came up, entirely igno rant of his purpose in seeking an inter*- view, but two of them at least fully, aware that, whatever it was, it con cealed some evil, and one of them pray ing in her great, strong heart for some way of deliverance, that her love for the children of her desolate parish' might find expression before God’s sunlight and flowers closed to some of them on this earth forever. This story will be continued in fXt Friday’s issue of The Ledger. Don’t think you krinw a person “like a hook” unlt-ss you can read be tween the lines. Thoroughly eradicates the excess of Uric and Lactic Acids from the system, starts the kidneys into healthy action, cures constipation and indigestion. THIS DONE, YOU ARE WELL OP RHEUMATISM, AND ANY OTHER DISEASE CAUSED BY IMPURE BLOOD. Do not be discouraged if other remedies have failed. RHEUMACIDE has made its reputation by curing alleged incurable cases. Does not injure the organs of digestion. Goi.dsboro, N. C., Aug.», 19®. Gentlemen—Som* six years ago I bei an to have sciatica, ami also a chronic case of muscular rheumatism. At times I could not work at all (my busiueaa being baggage master on Southern R. R.). For days and weeks at a time 1 could not work. My suffering was intense. Physicians treated me, without permanent relief, however. Tried a number of advertised remedies without permanent benefit. Finally I tried “ Rhxumacidk.” It did the work, and I have had ex cellent health for three years. I can cheerfully say that all rheumatics should use “ RhbuuA.CIDZ,” for it is by far the best remedy. R. A. LOMAX. Price $i.oo prepaid express, or from your Druggist. Bobbitt Chemical Co. f - - Baltimore, fid., U. 5. A. For sale by the Cherokee Drug*Company. THE SUCCESSFUL PLANTER FERTILIZES HIS LANDS The Virginia^Carolina Chemical Co* "Manufactures the best Fertilizers on Earth*. Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co, CHARLESTON. S. C. ! “Money Saved is Money Made” I can save you money on anything in the various lines I handle. You*should see my “Superb” line of Clothing two and three piece suits. Pretty line of Straw and Fur Hats just received for Men, Youths and Children. I am still headquar ters for all kinds of Footwear—see me when in need of Shoes of any kind. I have just opened up a beautiful lot of Negligee Shirts from 50c to $1. Nice assortment of Lawns, Organdies, Piques, Madras Cloths, Batiste, etc. My stock of Heavy and Fancy Groceries is selected with great care and I can save you money in this line. I carry a big line of Tobacco from 26c lb. up. Tennessee S^orglmm. I have it in 5 and 10 gallon kegs and in half brls. and brls. at prices that move it out. I handle everything for the farm or farmer, such as Plows, Plow Stocks, Hames, Traces, Collars, Bridles, Wagon and Buggy Harness, Etc. While it is too wet to plow come and let me get up that bill of farming tools and al&A load your wagon with some of my brands of Fertilizer which yoif must have. I handle only the best grades and guarantee prices. See me before buying. Respectfully, J. I. SJVRIiJVTT. The Gaffney City Land and Improvement Company Offers for sale Building Lots In this flourishing town, Gaffney Olty; Also Farms near by and In reach of the Schools of Limestone Springs and of this place, la lots of from M to 100 acres on liberal time rates; also Agricultural Lands to rent for Farm pur poses. For full particulars apply to J. V. ©A.WLW.A/IT, Affent. N. B.—All persons are forbidden to enter on, walk or rtde through or over the lands of this company, cutting and removing timber, fishing or hunting, under penalty of law.