Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I A HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY bY JOHN P. KENNEDY CHAPTER XIII. A Woodman’s Family. Tim apartment into which the travellers were introduced was one of larsce dimensions, conspicuous for rts huae kitchen like fire-place and Ample chimney. The Moor, consisting of broad planks, was so much warped in several places, to show the Kround through the chinks. The fur niture was of the rudest form and most homely materials. Three or tour rifles were suspended against f.he wells, together with some trap ping im;diluents and various skins of siiek animals of prey and game as aboundf■<! in the woods of this re gion: these were associated with the antlers of the buck, powder horns, bunting pouches.*’ and a f ( w articles clot ”ing.—the whole array giving ro the room that air of woodland life which denotf s the habitation of a hunter, and which -o distinctly char acteri/.es the dwellings of our frontier population. Amongst other articles of hous«i- hold use was a large spinning wheel ffl at was placed near the door, and •aside it stood the dame who had first challenged the visitors. She was a wmoan who could scarcely be said to have reached the middle pe riod of life, although her wan and lomewhat haggard features, and a •nrlv. discontented expression of face, might well induce an observer *« attribute more years to her world H account than she had actually seen. The presence of a rough and vmtidy cradle and some five or six children, the maiority of whom might be below throe feet in stature, serv ed in some degree to explain the care. and iovless countenance of the hostess When Butler and his com panion were ushered by Lynch into '■or pr’sonco. she gave them no other welcome than a slight nod of head, and continued to plv her task at the wheel with nnremitted auslduitv In at other corn r of the room sat a smart looking young girl who. at ’his moment, was employed in card iac woo * 1 * * * She was a svlvan Hebe, just trenring unon womanhood, with a ronnd. active and graceful figure, w'hlch- was adorned with that zealous attention to neatness and becoming •rnamonf which, in even' station of life, to a certain extent, distinguish es those of the sex who are gifted with beauty. Her cheek had the rich bloom of high health: a full round nine eve seemed habitually to laugh with Pleasure: and the same trick of a happy temperament had stamped its mark upon the lines of her mouth. Her accost was altogether different, from that of the mistress •f the hous . She arose from her work inrmediately upon the entrance of the strangers, courtesfed with a modest and silent reserve, and then w-*>eoded to gat hem up the rolls of warded wool at her feet and to dis pose of th* m in a chest near at hand. Having done this, she left the apart ment. not without easting sundry Plying glances towards lh<> gpe^ts Another member of the family was an aged female: she had oerhans •Pen her eightieth winter Her at tenuated frame seemed to be hove*- tng on the verge of dissolution: a hoi low chm'k. a sunken, moist eve and • tremulous palsied motion of the bead denoted the meiancholv neriod *f dotage: and it was anna rout at a gfanco fhat this unfortunate being bnd far overlived both her rnnncUv Jr- *>niovment a,,, l the svineath/ of ber kindled She now sat n a low «rthe»w chair with ’ er head almost in •pa* f t,Vn n non t^ip ■’ie hcanh. beading over a small fire of brushwood which had been kindled as well for the purpose of preparing the evening meal as for the comfort of thu ancient dame hers. If —the children oi nightfall rendering this additional warmth by no means unpleasant. The beldam silently smoked a short pipe, unmoved by anything that occurred in the apart ment. and apparently engrossed witn the trivial otire of directing the smoke, as she puffed it from her lips, into a cum:.!, that should take it up the chimney. Michel Lynch, w'ho acted as land lord in the casual absence of Wat Adair, had no other connexion with th > family than that of being joint owner, with the lord or this wild do main, of a small saw mill in the vici nity. the particular superintendence of which was his especial province. He was. th refore. at particular sea sons of the vear. an in dweller at the homestead, and sufficiently in authori ty to assume a partial direction in the house. This man now replaced iiis ride upon the pegs appropriated to receive it, and then offered Butler and Robnson chairs, as he said to t>ie mistress of the family: — “Here’s Horse Shoe Robinson. Mrs. Adair: and this other man 1 think they call Mr. Butler. They’ve come for a night’s lodging. 1 believe Wat wiR be right glad to see them.” “You are not often visited with travellers in riiis part of the coun try.” said Butler, addressing the ma tron as he drew his chair near the fin- to drv his clothes. "We have enough of them, such as they are,” replied the woman: “and it’^ a dangerous thing, when there’s so man. helpless women at home, to be opening the door to all sorts of persons.” “You. at least, rim no risb in offei^ ing shelter to us this evening!” re turned Butler; “we are strangers to the guarrel that prevails in your dis trict'’ “People puts on so many preten ces.” said the «vornan. “that there’s no knowing them.” “You have a line troop of boys and girls.” continued Butler, patting the head of one of the boys who had summed courage to approach jim. after various shy reconnoitrings of his person. “Your settlement will require enlargement before long.” "There is more children than is n< ■ dful.” replied the hostess; “they are troublesome brats: but poor peo- pleo generally have the luck that way.” “Does your husband ever serve with the army, madam?’’ asked But ler. The woman stopped spinning for a moment, and turning her face towards Butler wth a scowl, muttereh. “How does that matter concern you?” “Pardon me," replied Butler: “I was recommended to Mr. Adair as a friend, and supposed t might ap preach liis house without suspicion.” “Wat Adair is a fool,” said the wife; “who is never content hut when he has ether people thrusting their spoons into his mess.” “Wat’s a wiser man than his wife.” interrupted Leuin.-en LdunLy, “and lakes good care that no man thrusts '•is spoon into hs mess without pay ing for it. You know Wat and me knows each other of old. Mrs. Adair: and devil a ha’penny did Wat ever lose by good manners yet.” “And who are you to talk, forsooth Horse Shoe Robinson!” exclaimed , the ill favored dame, tart y. “Who are you to talk of Wat Adair? If he ' "ows you he knows no good of von I’m sure? I warrant you have came 1 here on honest business now—you ! and your tramping friend. What do j you do up here in the woods, when there is work enough for hearty m n I below? No good. I will undertake, it is such as you. Horse Shoe Robin i son. and your drinking, rioting, broad sword cronies that has given us a 1 our troubles here. You know Wat | Adair!” “A little consideration. . good wo man! Not so last; you run yourself out of breath,” said Robinson mild ly. interrupting this Hood of objurga tion. “Why. you are as spit ful as a hen with a fresh brood! Remember, Wat and me are o d friends. Wat lias been at my house botli before the war and since, and I have been here—all in friendship you know. And many's the buck I have helped Wat to fetch down. What s the use of tantrums? If we had been thieves, Mrs. Adair, you couldn’t have served us worse. Why. it’s onreasonablo in you te fly in a man’s face so.” “I’ll vouch for Horse Shoe Robin son, Mrs. Peggy Adair,” said Lynch. “You oughtn’t to think harin of him; j and you know it isn’t long since we j heard Wat talk of him, and say lie I would like to see him once more!” “Well, It’s my way,” Yep lied the : host- ss. soothed down into a placid I mood by this joint expostu ation. "We have had cause to be suspicious, j and 1 own l am suspicious. But. i Horse Shoe Robinson, 1 can’t say I j have anything against you; you and i your friend may be welcome for me.” ’ II yday!” exclaimed the old crone : from the chimney corner. “Who is ; talking about Horse Sbo" Robinson? j Is this Horse Shoe? Come hen?. ! good man." she said, beckoning with her finger to the sergeant. “Come j close and let me look at you. Gal- ! braith Robinson, as I am a sinner! J All th • way from the Waxhaws. i Who’d ’a thought to find vou here amongst the Tories! Such a racket ing whig as you. Heyday!” “Whisht, granny!” said Robinson j almost in a whisper. “Don’t call ! nam< s.” t “We are all Tories here.” said the I old woman, heedless of the sergeant’s ! caution, “ever since last Thursday, | when the handsome English officer i was here to see Watty, and to count lout his gold like pebble-ston s.” “Grandmother, you talk nonsense,’ said the wife. “Old Mistress Crosby,” interposed ; Robinson, “is as knowing as she ever was. It’s a mark of s^nse to be able to tell the day of the week whena man changes his coat. But. granny, you oughtn’t to talk of Wat’s seeing an English officer in his house.” “Golden guineas, honey!" continu- ' d the drive ling old woman. “All good gold! And a proud clinking they make in Watty’s homespun pocket. A countryman’s old leather I bag. Galbraith Robinson, doesn’t of ten scrape acquaintance with the im age of the king’s head—ha, ha. ha! | It makes me laugh to think of it! I Ha. ha. ha! Watty's nose cocked up so high too! Who but he. the proud gander! Strutting like quality. Well, well, pride will have a fall, some day. that's the Lord’s truth. Both pockets full!” she continued, mutter ing broken sentences and .aughing so violently that the tears run down tier cheeks. “If you call Wat Adair ur friend.” interrupted the wife sullenly, and ad dressing Robinson, “you wi 1 show your sense by keeping away from this foolish old woman. She is con tinually raving with some nonsense that she dreams of nights. You ought to see that she is only half wil ted. It’s sinful to encourage her talking. Grandmother, you had bet ter go to your bed.” “Come this way. deary, said the beldam, addressing an infant that toddled across the floor near to her seat, at the same time extending her shrivelled arm to receive it “Come | to the old body, pretty darling!” “No,” lisped the cni d with an an gry scream, and instantly made its way towards the door. "Then do you come to me. Peggy,” FLUE CURING IMPROVES TOBACCO LIKE ROASTING IMPROVES GREEN COFFEE Flue Curing Develops the Stimulating Aroma and Taste Found in Schnapps that Satisfies Tobacco Hunger There arc three ways used by far mers for curing and preparing their tobacco for the market; namely, sun cured, air cured and flue cured. The old and cheap way is called air cured; the later discovery and improved way is called flue cured. In flue-curing the tobacco is taken from the field and suspended over intensely hot flues in houses especially built to re tain the heat, and there kept in the proper temperature until this curing - process developes in the tobacco the stimulating taste and fragrant aroma found in Schnapps tobacco, just as green coffee is made fragrant and stimulating by the roasting process. Only choice selections of this ripe, juicy flue cured leaf, grown in the famous Piedmont country, where the best tobacco grows, are used in Schnapps and’other Reynolds’ brands of high grade, flue cured tobaccos. Hundreds of imitation brands are on sale that look like Schnapps; the outside of the imitation plugs of to bacco is flue cured, but the inside is filled with cheap, flimsy, heavily sweetened air cured tobacco; one chew of Schnapps will satisfy tobacco hunger longer than two chews of such tobacco. Expert tests prove that this flue cured tobacco, grown in the famous Piedmont region, requires and takes less sweetening than any other kind, and has a wholesome, stimulating, satisfying effect on chewers. If the kind of tobacco you are chewing don’t satisfy, more than the mere habit of expectorating, stop fooling yourself and chew Schnapps tobacco. Schnapps is like the tobacco chew ers formerly bought costing from 75c. to $1.00per pound; Schnapps is sold at 50c. per pound in 5c. cuts, strictly 10 and 15 cent plugs. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, N. CL r *r 9 TRADE MARK REGISTERED ” Imitation is the Sincerest Flattery The unprecedented popularity of Royster’s FARMERS’ BONE fertilizer has induced some of our competitors to advertise Fish Guano, claiming theirs to be “just as good.” FARMERS’ BONE is the original Fish Guano, and, to prevent being imposed upon, buyers should be sure that cur trade-mark is on every bag. This is the only guarantee that you are getting the genuine Farmers’ Bone Made with Fish Norfolk, Va. Columbia, 8. C. F. S. ROYSTER GUANO GO. 1 / Tarboro, N.G. Macon, Ga. For £>ale by carroll &jj Byers. she said, looking uu at li°r Krand daughter, the mistress <d' the family, who was still has with her wheel. “Wipe your o.d eyes with, your hand kerchief. Don’t you se * I have laughed my eyes dim at Watty and his srold And till my pipe atrain. Peu^y.” Instead of obeying this command, tiie mother left, her spinning and ran with some precipitation towards the door to catch up the child, who had stazrsterd to the very verge of the sill, wh re it paused in imminent peril of falling headlong down the steps; and having secured it from its danger, she returned with the infant in her arnif to a chair, where, without scru- ple at the presence of her visitor, she uncovered her bosom and adminis tered to her offsnring that rich and simple bounty which nature has so lavish v provided for the sustenance of our first and tend--rest dpvs of helnlessness. “Well a day. I see how it is!” mut tered the grandmother in an accent of reproof, “that's the way of the world Love is like a running river, it goes downwards, but doesn't come hack to the spring. The poor old grannv in the chimnvy corner is a wither d tree nn to the stream, and the youngest born is a pretty flow er on the hank below. Love leaves th' 5 old tree and goes to the flower. It went from me to Peggy’s mother and so downwards and downwards, but it never will come hack again. The old granny’s room is more want ed than her company: she ought to be nailed up in h-er coffin and nut to s een down down in the cold ground. Well, well! But Watty’s a proud wretch, that’s for certain!” In this strain the aged dame con tinued to oour fourth a stream of gar rulity exhibiting a mixture of the si’- ly dreaming of dotage, with a curious remainder of the scraps and saws of former experience—a strange com- | pound of fertile drivelling and sherwd and quick sagacity. During the period of the foregoing 1 dialogue, preparations were making for supper. These were conducted j o-incipa’lv under the superintendence | of our Hebe. who. my reader will re collect. some time since escap' d from , the room, and who. as Butler learn ed in the course of the evening, was a niece of Adair’s wife and bore the kind’v name of Mary Musgrove. The part which she took In the concerns of the family was in accordance with the simple manners of the time, and such as might be expected from her ! relationship. She was now seen ar ranging a broad table, and directing the domestics in the disposition of sundry dishes of vension. bacon, and co-n bread, with such other items of fa’-e belonged to me sequestered and forest bound region in which Adair resided. Mary was frequently caught direct- iug her regards towards Butler, whose face was handsome enough to have rendered such a thing quite natural from a voung girl; but she seemed to he moved by more ttian ordinary In- to-mpt as the c’oseness of her scru tiny almost implied a suspicion In her mind of his disguise In truth tlrre was some incongruity between his manners and the peasant dress ho wore, which an eye like Mary’s might have detected, notwithstand in or toe damn ss of demeanor which B"t'er studied to -ssume “' v e have nothing but corn bread in the house ” said Mary in a ’ow tone to her kinswoman, “perhans the ""'•ito men fh*me che directed her eye. for the fiftieth time, to Butler) evneeded to get wheat Had I not bettor null som'* roasting ears from garden and nrenare them? they wfl not he amiss with our milk and butter.” “B’ess you. my dear ” said But er. throw n comnletolv off his guard and j n g more gallantry than belong ed to toe station he affected “Give yourso f no trouble on mv account: we ean eat anvtolng. I delight in eorn rakes, and will do amnle justice to thi j savorv venison. Pray do not concern vnurself for us.” “It is easv as running to the gar dm ” «aid Marv in a sweet and al most a-mhing to-e “That's further, my dear," replied Butler, “than 1 choose you should run at this time of night. It is dark, my pretty girl.” “Gracious!” returned Mary with j natural emotion, “do you think I am afraid to go as far as the garden in ♦ h dark? We have no witches or fairies in our hills to hurt us: and if we had. I know how to keep them away." “And how might that be?” “By saying my prayers, sir. My father taught me. before my head was as high as the back of this chair, a good many prayers: and he to’d me they would protect me from all sorts of harm, if I only said them in right earnest. And I hear many old people, who ought to know, say the same thing.” “Your father taught you well and wisely.” replied Butler: “prayer will guard us against many i’ls. and chief lv against ourselves. But against the harm that others may do us. we should not forget that prudence is also a safeguard. It is always well to avoid a dangerous nath." “But. for all that.” said the maid en smiling. “I am not afraid to go as fa- as the garden.” “If you mean to get the corn.” in terrupted Mistress Adair, in no very kindly tone, “you had as well go without all this talk. I warrant if you ’isten to everv man who thinks it worth while to jabber in your ear. vou will find harm enough, without going far to s°ek it.” “I thought it was only civil to speak when I was spoken to.” repli ed Mary, with an air of mortile«r tion. “But I will be gone this Mo ment: ” and with these words the *flrl went forth upon her errand. (CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.) • c* ■ • v, . . ti. A couple <i \ .it; follows were converging to.ether recently, and their arguments luallv occasioned a bet between them. Kach agreed to tell a peculiar in. blent, and tfce reciter of in • cron ,t episode was to receive the stake-, a sovereign. No. 1 commenced and said he knew a lady who was ‘’turned into wood.” “Impossible!” said No. 2. “Tte- pluin yourself.” “You see.” was the reply, “(lie lady was placed on a vessel, and then she wa- a-board 1” “Very good,” said Xo. 2, “but lis ten to this: Once I new a man who had been deaf and dumb for twenfcr years, tmt last week he regained speech in one minute.” “Nonsense*!” rejoined I *o. 1. ‘‘But proceed.” “Well,” replied No. 2, “the man I mean went into a bicycle shop with a friend, and, stooping down, he picked up a wheel and spoke.**— London Telegraph. i-VA* -.‘■V'TT-g SlOdJXS Limnveivt For Cough, Cold, Croup, Sore Throat, Stiff Neck ii Rheumatism and Neuralgia At all Dealers Price 25c 50o 6 ♦1.00 4ST SenF Free 'Sloan's Book on Horses ^ Cattle, Hogs 6 Poultry I Address Dr. Earl S. Sloan 1615 Albany St. Boston.Mass., DR. J. M. HUNTER The All-Round Specialist ROCK HILL S. O. 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