University of South Carolina Libraries
LAURENS, S. G., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1887. NO. 31. GHOSTS IN OLD V1KG1NNV. Tllli Sl'i:\OTU Ul I T I'l.ANTIK WHO CO ULI) NOT iir.sr IN ins ot; wi:. _ A Till? l?y Marilin lllll*lllli<l i Will'li Sin Says li l<*OUII(IO(l "ll l'art*. Ho hau spout most ol tho December day within ?lours. In hisjnisl; promu nade ou tho long pondi ho glanced, ; when he passed thom, into tho drawing room windows. In tho warm urea spread about it by thu great Uro in tho chimney, he could BOO two nrmcli tin PI I suggestively together on the rug. Ile had nat in one all tho uftomoon. iii - laney, now placed ill the other a slij;ht Hllpplc figuro in n wino-colored gown with Bott laces nt neck and wrists. She was young and blue-eyed,- and had rust-colored hair with bronzed ripples running through it : in the cheek next to him WUH a dimple that deepened when she lau g I led, Ile would marry hor in May, God willing, by the time the roses would bo in bloom Ot! the liare, brown sticks over thoro ill thc garden. His home was in Lynch burg, fifty milos away from Powhatan plantation, purchased ; ix months ago by Uorvas Miller, his prospective father-in law, n long journoy by Bingo or private carriage in this werthor, alni over tho worst roads in Virginia. John Speed, the "catch" of his native town, and engaged to the sweetest girl iu the world, yet lound the ail' raw, the situation o? Hound Hill, noted for its wide outlook, bleak, the landsoniic dreary, Eliza ("Shy" t.. her family and friends since her baby tongue bad in vented tho pretty substitute for her prosaic, name i had gone nj stairs lo dress for supper: .Mrs. Miller ivas busy in ker own domain ; Mr. Miller and his two sons were at tho county court house, it being the hist Monday in tho month the Circuit Courl was in session. Aa ko turned nt tho ond of tho porch in his twentieth round he counted them to pass tho timo-ho saw a man coining up the brick walk. "An odd ligure!" meditated the city lu au, but OHO who bad the bearing of a gent li um i, \ long sui lout of drab cloth, open and Hying back as bo strode forward, ; bowed nh lilue, eu .se bodied coat, tri ni med with I ! brass buttons, a milled shirt oiled und \ rumpled, a bull'vest and brecc osol the , same color ns tho hat. i h'aw II over them ; J to the knee, a pair ol top "bo ts (stained , with rod mud completed his attire. Ile , carried a liding whip ?tl his ri ht hand, I j and tho wide brim ol his hat was caught . ? up rakishly cn one side. "A queer fosril, oven for tho middle counties!" Commented John Sp? ed. inly, halting to await nearer approach ami ! salutation, "Ho might bavo corni over , with Captain John Smith." Thc-tiauger ascended Hie steps do- i liborntely, paused at tho top and wheeled i for a look at tho landscape, t doug oil his bat with a gesture of iutenso weari nosfl-a despondent slouch ol' thu well knit flguru iii.it wu iucxpn ssibly mourn ful, His complexion was an : t art hy as a C mole's -John Speed took note of de tails wbilo ho still hesitated to iidvaueo und accost him. Tho doop eyes shone with rod lire, the l over lip was fast iu the savage bite of white, sharp tooth. I le was unshaven, haggard, disheveled. His hair and ono eyebrow were non gray; thc other eyebrow was mick ns coal, giving a sinistei cast to tile corni- j | gated forehead. When he tuned swiftly on his heel, and with ono stride vanished al tho hall door, John Speed followed instantly. Tho eccentric visitor might be a privi leged neighbor, or he reflected un easily-an escaped lunatic. li. any ca e it was his place to shield the ladas Iropi disagreeable surprise ill the libsOUCO of tho host and his sons. Casting a glance into the drawing room windows as ho hurried by them, ko saw tho unceremonious guest throw himself into ono of tho armchairs before tho lire. Tho door ol the room was shut, und as the Lyuchburger opened it, Trible, Shy's pot spaniel, ran out be tween his legs, yelping shrilly in pain or | \ terror and scampered up tho staircase. John bad a distinct glimpse of thc figure crouched together m tho chair, elbows on knees and head in halals, be fore tho dog escaped past him. "Why, Trille! Here, Trille!" hocallod, reassuringly. "Wind is the maller, old fellow?" AH tllO insulted favorite dashed out of sight the young' mau puslio I the door back and entered. "Excuse mo, sir!" be began laughing ly. both chairs were empty. Not a crea turo w as present except himself 1 II. Hhy < voice in the hall coaxing and chiding her dog recalled him from mis fitted reminisconcfl of scient nie ? xplana tiona of wraiths and doubles, ile smiled foolishly in perceiving Heit ho was actually feeling his own pulse. As well bo superstitious as hvpochondrical. "What have you done to Trille?" said Shy, in her clear, girlish tones, as be opened tho door for her. "Ile was loth to como down with mo at all. A little while ago he scratched at my door, ami when I let him in ran craving and shak ing nil over into the darkest corner ol tho closet. I brought him down in my nruis, Iud the moment he le ard your ?tcp hu jumped to the floor mid raced back ap stairs." They had been separated for half an hour, it was therefore necessary that John should wind his arm'abuiit tin slim waist ?nd bend his bill head to th? level of hers; tin n OOlldUi I her lo fifi without withdrawing the support. Still standing thus, bc told her how the dog hud riishod past him and disregarded in cal?. "I pappose a coal popped out on him, oboe rv od Shy, cai ile-.Iv, ie-tiing her head aguinst the broad shoulder beside her. "Ho is a la/.y little scamp who can't bo taught to keep away from the fire. How deliciously warm it is in tatt" Mr. Miller brought home bi a lat supper tho judge of the court and Hire? lawyers-one young, two middle-aged His wife would have been surprised had he appeared with fewer gilesta. Dot thc most elastic hospitality, oven in anti bellum Virginia, encountered barriers in tho millier of Blooping places sometimes. "I Bay, my doar fellow, you won't mind camping down oil tho parlor sofa for one night, will you?" said (r ivas, .lr., drawing Iiis prospectivo brothor-iu law aside as bed time approached. "You BOO, Judge Bolton luis riokoty nerves-? must have u room io himself, with no clock in it, three pillows of assorted sizes nuder his head, and brandy and water within easy reaoli in ease of nightmare. Motlier looked blank as a statu when she heard he was here, hut. I told her wc would abdicate in his favor,, that we Could Me. p ?ike a roach in the bottom ol' a pond, or whore vor she might put us." Midnight and the dying tire saw tho pair si retched out on a luxurious supcr Struuturo of pillows a,ni blankets, up borne by 'woad haircloth sofas, one on each side of the hearth. Tiley had been l ist friends B?UC? He ir freshman year nt Hampden Sidney. Veteran campaigners ut 20 in the straits and make: hilts of orowded country houses, they accepted tho situation hilariously, smoked a lin gering cigar apiece after the candles wore extinguished, tho red tips winking across the room at one another until sleep and silence settled upon the rest of tholiouso. Gervas lirst gave token of drowsiness, his talk ol' tine girls and blooded horses running down drolly, the pendulum tongue dropping words like lazy second ticks. "Not a mere glorious pair ut' eyes - this -sido- the Hine Uidgo!" h" drawled. "I'innoy's going train'or- t' tho course next lal 1. Ches'nt-bay-one white fi 'i .! !" Tho auditor laughed silently, treasur ing up tho encomium for elaboration and repetition at tho breakfast table. Raising himself on his elbow to sen if Iiis com rade's cigar were out, and that he had not net Uro to the sheets, he aimed tho Stump of his own toward the faint shim mer in tho chimnoy, drew the blankets Lip to his chin, and, with a deep breath ?>f satisfaction, set tied into his downy nest. The ruin was falling with rhythmic regularity on the porch root', a heavy lour that beat down the wind. Suddenly i noise under tho window awoke him. lie recollected instantly where he was md why. "( lervasl" ho w hispered. '.Yesl 1 heard it! Hist!" carno back ii thu same key. Iii. Tho rustle of tho bcd Coverings at hey sat upright was audible i:t the darli .o no. Some one was walking on tin torch with steps that lagged and quick' .m d oddly. Sometimes they stopp?e sntirely while one might count ton oi iventy. Tho rhythmic patt r of tin. ailing floods accentuated by contrast .he unevenness of tho tramp! tramp rom end to end of tho wet lloor, Sud lenly the dragging feet halted at tin rout door, locks rattled, hinges creaked he footsteps cann' stumblingly to tin hrcshold of tho drawing room; a ham 'um!>lcd with the knob. Tho friends heard each Hie other'; i rea Hi sharply held, as Hie door swum tack and Homebody entered. There wa i brief pause; the throbbing hearts o ,he listeners, themselves unseen in tin h iee darkness as was the intruder, ont .eat the rtuiipotir without to thoi it rained senses, each gathering bimsel ip for a spring HO soon as tho trcspassc ihouhl sink." a light. Instete! of this, be walked hi avily bu it i .utily as ll rei ved by delila rate pul jose across t lie lloor to the corner wlier ?too?I tho piano, lhere they were ll aire of it as if they han soon the ootioi he dropped upon his knoos. A lone, irokeil sigh shuddered through th ri ?om, an articulated sob burdened wit i word thoy did not catch, but wilie hoy believed was a name, followed by torrid, sickening gurgle a dull thud loliow human groan! The ,M?uiig men bounded from the 'ouches and groped in frenzied cliinis less for matches, The bim) light Biiappc k/./.lcd, grow red, then oil HIV "The candle!" gasped (Jervns, shakin IS with palsy. As tho wick caught, they turned f< ho lirst tune in the direction from whit li" horror had leaped upon thom? Tl .over of Ihe closed piano was smootl ?hairs, a foot stool aud a lamp stan vere an they had lett them on going I ted. There was no prostrate ligure i tthor sign of tho nocturnal visitutio Avoiding one another's eyes ns in ti ibashmont of guilt they explored tl oom mid hall with lights. Tue polish? lour of tho latter was dry and clean, tl niter door locked and b u red. "Vet I could have sworn that 1 JOOts were soaked with wet," whisper? Jervas, fearfully. "They had tho soddi lound of muddy soles." With the samo queer, COW! d dread hey knew Hot what lipon them, tin dole back on tiptoe to thc drawii roora, mudo op tho Aro, and .silting I it smoked and talked until the dim da ight of a wild, rainy morning slid in tho windows. In all these hours of agitated con fi .nee they arrived ut but one ConclllS? l'he awful Beeret should bo kopt un mell time as they could furnish a so .ion of tho mystery. To delicate woin md superstitious servants Round ll .vould be intolerable were they to s ?KJOt who stalked, visible and iuvisib .brough tho house at his own evil will tv, Shy had been Mrs. Speed for a yi whon her husband received a letter (ti uer brother, addressed to his oflico n narked "Con?dential," "I have found a key that fda i lock," wrote tho brave young folk "but tho darkness on tho other aide the open door is thicker than that ivh:'. h WO have groped so long." "Iauit week hiisincte called ino Ohesterfleld on tho frontier of what Powhatanites st lo 'the Yellow Jae .ountry.' I took dinner with my eli md nu t his lather, who is HO years ige. On learning where 1 lived tho fellow brightened up nmuzi?gly, i lu gan to chat of thc neighborhood as knew it when a young man. ?Ho born, it appaarea, on tho Uouud 1 estate, his father having been lb \li ? ley'n overseer. The rest I will to set down exactly as ho told it. M 'Ho come into a mighty tine pro; when s father died, Byars Moseley i au' he run through it fasto'n his i racehorse would 'u went, suhl Drin u oyard pinyin' 'u horses, 'n the L knows what else was a-goiu* on whole time, night 's well 's day. Ho gaged to be married, too, arter a w to u mighty lino gurl ovor'n Gooshion! ?A Miss Fanny Oyurtor. Li von that didn't I stiddy him long. Beeb cyurryin's oh 'a was in timt 'ar house, 'sp;icially the ; nights artor fow'ton boat day, would 'a made decent folks' hyar stan' on end, ?suh. For all this 'n that, you couldn't help Ukin' the loller, to eave your life. Ho hud o' au inimy in tho world 'tho ut 'twas hisself. 'S for Alisa lanny Cour ter, slur fyarly worshipped him, Pvc heord tell- F-unyhow, she wouldn' mur ry him, hut nutlicr would fho give him up for nigh 'poll ten years. Sui?I she wouldn'take a drunkurd nor a mon ler, hid she'll in ver take lmr word back, nor marry nobody else. " 'Yu-as, sur! I said teu year-'ll1 he didn't git 110 younger nor richer 'n' all time you may he r ue. Ile tuna d gray powerful fas', hut he los' molloy faster, ll,- wore'very dark complected; had Frouch blood in him quality blood o' tho boc* sort, 1 boon hear tell an' had jit block byar. Oue CUr'ottS thing was that om-of Ins eyebrows got groy 'n' 'tothor didn*. Ho uno'to say 's how all his brains had settled 'n ono Bido o' 's haid. 11 give him a kind o' outlandish look, 'though, 'Woll,*tilings got w u .s'u' wuss;, till il came to Sellin' oil' 's rae,' hossOH, tin ll a niggor or two. That cul him up mightily. His nig eis was powerful fond o' him. lie never laid a lick on ono on 'em w hen ho wua sober, 'll' cf he teched a*\\h:p to 'cm when no had a good haid o' liquor iu, he'd pitoll 'ein money hy the hun'ful ncx'day, "fur to 'n'int thc sores," he'd say. " 'One ovonin1 he coin" home hy his self. 'Twas of a ?Monday December coat-day, 1 rokleot, 'n' he'd been 'way moro'n a fortuit. Part o' the time 't Mr. Cyarti r's in Gooshion', They did sivy's how Miss Fanny 'scalded him t: en V good 'n' all, hem' nyar won ?.ut, po-ir girl! an' no wonder,* with \s dis'pilted ways, Funyhow, bo'd stopped Sat May night't Pow'lau cout-house, 'n' sot up all night 'n'all Sunday 'n' most all o' Sunday night ployiu'oyards up fitil'rs in the tavern with some Hichtnon' gum biers, 'n' when lu: lof the coniJiousi they got his molloy, every cent of it, 'n his plantation, 'n' luggers, 'n' his watcll 'n' 's horses, lie had to foot il all tin nico indes homo, " 'Well, sub! Lloynl, bia body RI rvant, he sec him a-settiu' 'll the big cbo< r a: had b lunged to his mellier, by the pal lor ure, mighty down like los'ill' Ith haid on his han's, 'n' lloyal he took 'n fotehed him a hot drink, knowin' hi ways, you see, still, ' i' had a nice Blippoi cook' nu Jiiiii, iud he wouldn't tech uro] nor mundill, an'when it caine dark-i bad rainy night 'twas, too-lie wandern off on the plantation. Thar warn t i nigger quarter lie didn' go inter that 'Or night, on' he'd tito same story every w har. " * "I'm o-stoi't?n' on a long journey,.' sc/, ho, "au' I want fur to take von good will with mo," BOSS ho. "I oin hecii a good marstor lo you, nu' I can' go 'thoilt you forgive mc," HOZ II-1. d'.veiy one on 'cm was lit to breitl thai- hearts aeryin', when he talked .si mounful, au' tl>ey al! tole him ho,vniue store they sot by him an' all that, bu ho coilldli'seem to take no comfort i what tiny said. Nigh 'pou luidlligll 'twas, when thar come .i kuockbl' at on outside do', au' my father, he gut u thinkiu' somethiu' was the murttet' wit the stock or soinclhin u' othei. Ai thar stood Mr. Mos Icy, wet \s ilrownded ral at ' white's a sheet. I got up, too, an' was a luteum' h, hm the do', au' i boord bim a going over th same sort o' fyarwcll to my father. "'An' then my father, se? he, "Mi Moseley," se/, lu (father bein' a Mut) odis' class leader 'xoi'tor), "Mr. Mo i ley," se/, he, right straight mit o Hi li} mu hook: " . " 'While the lamp hol'.s out to bur; Tho vilest sinner mongin return, se/, he. "Hub out, n' b'gill ag in, sub, soz In-, " s never too late to mell'.1 Ah! molly's thu limo I ve thought i them 'ar' wfird.s Boneo, and how s di Ul my father said 'om, he bein' a 'xorton's saul. "NcVf.T too lute to nun', M Moseley," sez ho. ." 1 "An', se/, ho, langhin' kiiuh Clir'oitsdiko, "tiler's mithin' fail loft I mon', Mr. Pass, an' wiiss'n uotldu' fi to men' it with. I don't know's ll devil 'll think me worth pickin' np, lb goyd-by! gooddiyl" an' In- was off the-rain un' win'. "'Twas jes' mit sun-up ncx' moruin', but still a-roini cuts n' dogs, you motlght say, when Ito eonie Koyal a-raoin' an' a-bollerin' dow to our house fur to tell us he'd ioiiu' li master stoilO dead an' cole on the pori floor under his mother's pict UT, a-lyi face down, with his throat cut from ye to year. Ain't tho stain o' the bim thar still, sun'/ 'l'use' to bo? do wh they would to git it out. They say blood stain won't never scrub clean.' " .lohn Speed glanced furtively over 1 shoulder, wol Iiis dry lips with a tong that waa stiff and cold und steadied i tho leaf of his desk the bund that club ed the letter. A horrible sense" of ii reality possessed him. Now that ? planation had come, there was no I erinn on w hich to rest credulity. Th tho tloating haze of letters subsided ii lines, thc lines from curves into love Ho w ent on : "When 1 got back home I made clean breast of the matter to my fath Mother was luckily away from homo, really think the good man doubted i sanity and your veracity for at least I minutes. Wo went together to I drawing room, locked ourselves moved the piano and pulled up tho e nor of the carpet. The stain is thor? a big, brow nish splash, running oil' largV and sandier streams with the gr of the boards an ugly, ugly sight! "Wc-you, my excellent fatlior un -don't believe in ghosts, Jack, mo nt haunted houses, nor in iuexph-a sights and sonnds, even when we and hear them ourselves. Hut what we to think of all this? And what eau we make of thc kuy, now that it i in ie,t into our bands? ' Non:, -However inartistic may bc addendum, ".Strange but True,'' to w would otheTw lae pass as a bit of nm native tlotlon, the author feels const n ed to state that tho story givou uh rests upon flu- testimony of witnesse unimpeachable veracity. The uppaiil on tho porch; tho midnight ahum; inclhiccblu blood stain; the histor} the suicide -all those were real hap) wigs, if tho solemn asseveration of g and sober men is worthy of credence An old bruiser-A mixer of mint jul .lill. -I \ s <n TH i SKNATK." Ca|>(nlii ll? ii- Tllliimii'H i ; ? -1 > i s lo UK I.a ltl'l' <ll Sl'll.llor I.. Wi YllUIIIIIIIMa Captain 13. B. Tillman has written to the Nowa ami Courier a ri ply to the re cent h-tb-r ol'Senator Youinuim, of Barn Wi ll. Alter expie sing his dislike for any further newspaper controversy over tin- queutions growing out of thc "tann ers' uioV< lUOlit," and some allusion to Iiis own letter reviewing the ai linn nf tile Legislature al the late session, < luptuiu 1111 ii mn saya: Tito animus of my letter was not oguinst thu "agricultural Sol ,us-," for whom I only felt pity and e mlompl, hut against tito eleven lawyers who knew nothing about tho m tits of the matter, ;uid who should have deferred to tho opinions und wishes of the fanners out sido of tho Senate, who i ud met twice I in convention and asked certain things, rather limn to tho partisans and tonis within I aiu willing to concedo hon esty ni purpose to some of these farmers in tile s. nute, hut it must bu at the ex pense of their intelligence and inde pendence, to say nothing of their fealty to th? ir brother farmers, "Check" js a favorable word with Colonel Voiinians, and ho f ives mo oredil for having my share thereof, hut I doll my hut to him ns having even finie than I. Colonel YoumnilH hus read all my articles, for his letter fairly bristli -. with quotations from them, und for him to claim that my "charge!- ol' extravagance and incompetency" against tin' hood of agriculture and commis sioner were "reckless and fallacious," after the published and admitted facts, requires "brass enough to gild aohurclt stcoplo." Tho commissioner's "goodl' liquor" must have addled his brant, or ' else his toadying regard for the prised < , "olliciont, patriotic, und trustworthy I j board of agricultura" has blinded him evento admitted facts. I cannot rc-1 ! capitulate the charges 1 have ma le and proved, hut. your renders rcmombor them, and I can only explain Colonel'I You tn ii ns making this assertion hy the fact that warm personal relations with tin- hoard of commissioners ami love for political allies have kept him from j . Weighing the evidence and giving uni, hone .i verdict. But there js nothiug hut "cheek," 1 brazen and unblushing, in his further,' assertion that I am "self-confesscdly a|* miserable failure in tho management of my own farm," ot" that I am a "disciple of Henry George and compeer of W . l\ Ku -.- h." I bave never m.ide any such confession, and huvu only said I did not feel competent t" tench others, and that "after seventeen years' hard study I did not know how lo farm.'' If wa* a roali-l1! zution of my own errors and th?) errors] of those around mo in managing our ' nilly lands that li ist led me to' udvocalu|j a special training for fanners in au ag fi en lt ll ru I Col lego, and I am nu v than i t over cou \ i need of the m eossity and de torniiued to urge und advoc?te thooatab lishmciit el such a school in South Caro-, .ina. Tho Aiken Itccorder is the au thority, perhaps, lor this falsehood, but ' whether I lutvo beou successful at farm i ng m not has no connect i?ui leg ii i mutely , with tin measures I have advocated, and j it come, with poor grace from a stoic- ' keeper w ?lo dllhs himself "plai.ti r," and , ! in u-I- neil to bo call? ii funner, to warp)! holiest lld mission of ignorance into a "confession of failure. " Ldc making of money out of laud is J imf my definition of a good farmer, hut ! the preservation of fertility iv li i le ?ob-1J taiiiing au income from il. .fudged hy j thin st i u du ld I am a failure as u farmer, | 0 an t weu nigh Hie entire ag i .'Cn11ural I population of tm- State an- failures, iiarn wei l's Senator, who has waxed fat ? oil* his store by selling gonds to ids poor \ farmer ueigbboiH and their lum.ls, ami1' fuels that he is a grand sucoess, may justly -a\ lie bus no sympathy with "a Ijoor farm ir." lt i'eiiluillS to he seen how niue 11 sympathy tiny will have for him win n In- M oks their StlOVugos again. Tho furmei ot Uarnwoll may he hel ter nil'than the rest of us they may be "dogs" enough to lick the I un id that .-mites thom, tin y havn UOVor given any sign that tin y knew there was a "Farm era' movomont" m South Carolina but if Ootouol Youmnua will accept thc chub i h ugo I mailt- lum last December to dis cuss the question of agricultural educa tion amt administration ami the reforms needed in our Stute Government with nit? before an audience of Barnwell farm ers, if 1 don't start a "Farmers' movo mont" there I will "shut up."' This may sound egotistical, but I have that knowledge ol my ow n hom sty ami that faith in the justice of our causo to feel that, prejudiced against mo though they may be, and upithetie as I know them to bc, many ot them w ill "lull in" when they hear the lilith. I want it dis tinctly understood that I make this pro posal in good faidi, but that I cannot redeem the plodgc till next suinmor or fall. Bul to return to Colonel You mans and his "cheek." W hat reason has ho for calling nie a "disciple ol' Henry Ot orgo ami compeer of \V. V, Bussell"? I have never read any ot George's books, nor have I preached any ol' lus doctrines, least of nil community of ownership in laud. I have too much laud, notwith standing my "miserable failure as a farmer," and want to Boll Miine, but I have no purpose of putting it into a common pile forovorybody to ?enjoy its usufruct, nor do I desire to diside it with any one but my children. I laue called things by their names and not minced matters, ami shall con tunic to tio BO. Tho dissatisfaction of he people with the way our public affairs aro managed w as no creat ion of minc, but only showed itself openly after I begun to write, ami if my "gab bling" about our poverty ami its remedy makes mo a disciple of Henry George then I glory in the title. Nobody now disputes the fuel that farmers as a class are poor and growing poorer, ami realization of their true condition must precedo any effort to botter it. This may "enervate" them, but l caunot sci ni what way. Wo do not want tin "State h> feed thu fanners," but wo want Homo of our money spent, to cdticab farmers UH well as other classes. W want politicians and drouin relieved ot running tho agricultural department. We want reduction ol' taxes and n re establishment of flic equilibrium between tax-payer mid lax-eater. Wo want tho legaci?n lett us by the Undid! in thc way of useless ollicos, abolished, and the suliuifs of th?- others reduced in propor ti?tii to tho work dono. Tho purchasing powor of mouoy is double what il was when tiloso salaries were. Ilxod. Tho taxpaying powor of tho people is ul>out ono-third loss. lt lalo's throe boles of cotton to pay what taxes two then paid, und it' the storekeeper and "planter" who representa Boruw? il in tin St nate doesn't feel it, wo furn.irs do, and we are not "lilting ourselves over the lenee liv our hoot-sltups" ill (loinoildiug a ollUtlgO. We an- poor ami ItUVU ti> stint, and we want no bosses in liri ittdolotli and lino linen lo lure HUDIplu onsly ovorj day und patronize the "('.. hiuioia Club" lo kill tiuic, while elerie.-, whose plaees eau IKJ Ulled at one-half the salary paid, do I heir work. Georgia, with an assessment ot'over $121,00 ',000, wliioh has risen year hy year, ht i S12, Ot M), OOO more in 1880 than it was in 1882 -Uuorgiu only pays her Governor 83,000 a year. South Carolina, the "prostrate Statu" ,onee, and tho Hoick State" now, .'.-i-our tuxuhle wealth h's made very ?.?iii- gain in ton years South Carolina, usscsscd ;'t 31. 1,000,000, pays her (Mm I' Magistrate .- ;...'io. they nay their Judges 82,000 wo pa} $.'1,000. Their Chief Justice gets ^t.oVio, ours SI,OHO, ainl so on in mai.y othoi ? I te. -, Our taxes me eaten up, and when we ask to have lie.* burden lille.', we aro called '.'disciples of li' ney < li urge," lim. above ?di things, wo want no iucomo tux in South Carolina, nt nil ovoids not ono which taxes the poor larmer while 1 itV iug the rieii men ot' other eliiHsi s alone, for wind is tltti recent assessment foi taxation ol' Un; farmers' produce, corn, Vc, on hand nut an income tax? This property is all tin- farmer has to live on :ill anot her crop is made, and is as much m iucomo us the salary of tin; comptrol ler gonond. If thal gentleman is "only utrrying out tho low, as he elaine , ii inly shows that the huniers i:i the Log sloture aro being careless or i id i l?? rent :o our rights, and that un organization if Carmel s is needed to watch over our nlerests. The "farmers' movomont'' is md a M il it it-iil agitation, pure an.1, simple, hut I, at least, have never disclaimed that it .vas political to the extent of securing locdod reforms, Wo have a right to 'disport in the political mill-pond," kowovcr distasteful ii may he to Colon? ! L'oitmans ami other mombors of thc 'tiling oliqtic, mid we shall continue to igitato' those water; till they become Miro aud wholesome. Hut wo are nol going outside tho Dcmoerotic party to ibtain our rights ? ? redress grievances, md Colonel Youmiuis knows it. tho sneering allusion to Mr, NV. I'. Llussoll shows thiil he and his h l!o\\.-. could I ?; glad lo have us make that abd mistake, lint wo cannot alford t" ibandoii our fat!.' r's house because we lon't like tin- inauitgomont. We will nioner kick out unfaithful and incom lotetit stewards and install othors who viii do their duty, and to accoiuplish his wo must "organize." Colonel Youinuns, while sneering nt ho viii uti of .fnruu r ' organizations, and .specially the Orango, would yet keep he hood ol' timi order ?ind tin president ?f the State Agricultural Society tts nembors ex-olHcio of Ih? ? >ord of ngri itdturo, und that to-., notwithstanding he fact that these gentlemen huvoshowii io special fitness for tho )>osition and no it'oper eoiiception of tho rori! dilti? > <u n lourd of agriculture. lld po its to hese two agricultural organizations, uni the inference is that ho thinks nu ?thor is net tled. Has he forgotten that omo years ago they both unanimously mssed resolutions urging tho Legis ure to abolish tho lion luw his pi t .version-and .hus lu- not remember nth what ift'cct? Hud either or Loth of ho.-c organizations represented mi} con idorablc contingent of our agricultural lopulution; hud there been fewer publi ions nmoug them anti mon' real, honest armors, there would dace been mon iced paid to their wishes. Hut some ol he "farmers" win- voted for il;,- r?solu ions ut tin- joint summer nicoling, voted gainst repealing tin- law in tlio Legisla ure. the example ie troi" .erv to OUI'ngri iiltural inti rests, ai. ? of ?nd Ot r< nc? iftor having ohtuiucd political pri for neut, are so numerous in South Carob ia, that it is sundi wunder that I an iodised of trying to "feather my owl lest," by acting ns thc agricultura ihompion. Especially has tins ohnrgi icon mode and rid tera ted by thoso win ire already "ht" good pl. c. s or liuvi fiends or rolntives tn thoui. ?'he ttcou lotion is u confession of their own sellisl nek ?>f patriotism, und it ill too oid iou ?talo to servo Mr. Youmnns in place irgliment. I can only say timi if 1 "gt lito the poiitieal millpond'' it will bi vitll pure motives, anti I will como on villi clean hands. The Senator from Barnwell draws ; dvid picture of the probable result o 'plaeyig the Hoard of Agriculture at th toad of thc fariuors' movement," an. loniures up a most frightful cotastroph L?4 the probable result. "Imagine,' say ic, "such an Organization por?ooteil l'lie depart incut of agriculture couverte. uto a bureau of organization, Tlioi lot in vain might these solf-snorifloiu ipostlcs elder the political liiill-pout ind go into deop water at that, whs loworfttl ally ol Mr. Tillman, who hu loon coquetting lu a jack-in-the-box wa sith this 'political del litante' might li? i.- ni coted to tho United Statis Sonato? the idea is so propostorotta and so uttoi y improbable thai it produces a sinil ?f pity for the sickly imagination wide hus "preys upon itself." Tin's "Mai pio's ghost" ootdd nover have appoore 0 any omi ? Ist; but the Senator froi Hornwoll, aud the natural inference hat tho family ?if Yottmons have cuten 1 pre-emption claim to a scat in tl United States Semite, and all trospOHSO ire warned to "keep O?ftllC grass." ll lurdly probable thal either of the gu ant onodegged veterana who now u pi lont UH in the upper house ut Wasliin on will bo disturbed in '.heir place ong UH they choose to hohl them, shou boy OXeroise Common prudence and I he formors' movomont alone, But Colonel Yoiinnuis lfl not betti iii ho ohanccM of his distinguished biotin h?a district attorney, by his antagonis :o th?' effottfl Of tho farmers of Sou, Jnrolina to better their condition ai ??euro their righto. And the pitiful pu d ijmp business is lhat the scen t is o iud wo now kuow what induced t "agricultural Solon" from ilarnw [wno is u "planter," and keeps a stun to lead tho assault in tho Hoi into on t bills proposed by tho Farmers' Couvt Itio? utter their passage by tho House. Thu "ti in inwardness" of tho pretended dislike of " nih.mn dictation" i* laid ? l?ire, ami ibis 'immaculate Senator," j wiio votos for ?; rsoniil uggruuOizoineut nud thu family rathol' than the public I I good, is "In'it by his own petard. Ho can discover no harm that ena come to I South Carolina by tito most thorough organisation of farmers, oxeept that Captain Dawson might he eleeUd to the Uuited States S? nate. Suppose wo did elect the editor ol tho Ne u., ami Courier, wiatt harm would follow? What lias tile United Stabs Soiiuh gol to do with til? renieanizatioii of the departan nt of agriculture? Sup pose Mr, I'iudul, Mr. Donaldson, Mr. . N"< ivis, Colonel Stuoklioiiso ned al! of us wi . have buen leading tin farmers' JU iveini ni gol ii good fut olilce apicoo and been iii? "tnx-eatora" for a time, what hann would follow? Colonel Yoii imun did not pause te picture tho ruin thal would, inevitably ri suit; he did not mention tho wailing among the disin herited members of lim royal fami I j whoso : lae - \> add ho thus usurped hy t i.plebeian "larmors." His td! righted i imagination oidy >v"s ''"it some one not ? mum d Vottmaub is to go to the Uuited ] Stilles Sonnte, and ld? mind is made up | -Brutus was not moro determined w in n he slow Ciesnr aud ho votes to postpone j tl i bill "with snell emphasis and evideut . delight that if cleated a ripple ol laugh- \ 1er all over Hie Senate." Actuated hy ( these highly patriotic and virtuous mo- ' lives with whal a maguauimous air he . posea at tho champion of injured ?uno- ] cenee and refuses to "slap our . undent | and patriotic hoard of agriculture in the j la.iv." How blind ho is to their short- j comings and those of tho commissioner, i He fails to point oui in wind way we \ humors ?ire bciioilttcd. Ile does not ( show where tho $170,1)00 thoy lmvo spent i has gone, and he cannot show any | udcqtfitto result of its expenditure, lie i rehearses the old story of an agricultural i college and constitutional convention I costing iyii?0,000, just because he saw it in the News and Courier. 'I'lf old ?ifcory about the "little fellows , at the (?lobe Hotel" und the Sheppard- ? Dnwsyii-Tilhnan combination hus served e.. HM .; and ouh act . ?is padding for - Colonel Youmans's lengthy screed, ll ] put Hie "pea under the w rong thimble" ( at the August Convention, and those | win? beuelltcd hy ii ure welcome to their victory. Iliid I heim the politician 1 am f charged with heilig I would have re- o maim I ?cay [rom tho State Convention, ? and e-p, nisei! ;?,> milli's CltudidllCy. hilt | I will .-.?y for tho bi iieiit <d those farm- i ers who were bamboozled by it last [, .Vugiu.t, und wlio would not "combino" t on anybody, that I h tl vo since been told \ hy ?i leader and manager of the "liing" ^ party in Columbia that "they knew it was a lie, but that they worked it for all it was worth," ?md that when that failed to stampede a funner delegation they j w..uld adv tauntingly, "How (tas i illman ordered you to vote?" and tho poor greenhorns, resenting til is imputation , up.iti their independence, would come s over c.r be more tuan ever resolved not , to he led l>y "Tillman dictation." 1 am < glad h> Know we farmers are getting > helter acquainted and becoming butter i politicians, and no such "thitnblo-rig- s gin?.-;" will answer next time. < lu ; Ibo fit rim rs of the Slate who sym- [ patliize with progress, economy and re- . livuchnu nt, amt are "disciplesof Henry :| i)....? i," perfect their organizations, 11 Cul keep up the touch ot elbows. Lot '* Us have a lull repivst ntatioii from every ' i'oitnly ut the mei ling of tho Lariiiers' . A-soeintioii next Noven bor, and arrange ( mr p.ans for tho next year's campaign. | lin n if tho oligarchy .still refuses our I.tn,m.ls wc eau he pre] at red to pit or- | ^.iiii/.iitioii against organization, and , lioiie.-t\ ? gainst chicanery and "thimble- ? rigging," und see what t licet will follow. ] I think We not only can "reorganize thc I South," but tho Stale OoVCl'UIUOut, tOO. * iii ?iii i <>I.OM :I, it ION. Iiis Oyotg S1 it 11 ii i oil I Coneni-iiliij; Uli s PitrenlHKO. \, This News ?md Courier of Saturday 1 contains nu account of a.i interview with '' ii "prominent lawyer," who, Speaking of " the late Janies ll, Ilion, of W hillsboro, 1 saUT: :? "lhere lins always been, as perhaps x you are aware, a mystery surrounding Coioiicl liions hirth. Ho was very tatnihar with John C. Calhoun during s his early life, who took a great interest in Iiis vvellaro ililli was very kind lo him und his mother. They cann fromCuuada lo Washington about the time when Mr. " Calhoiiu was Secretary of State under " I'ri tident I'yh r. 1 lu re havo beon many '. speculations in regard to Colonel liion s j origin mid family and many rumors, and there WOS always a recognized mystery < hanging over the subject, lt was ditlicult to account for tho great intorcsl Mr. Calhoun st emed to take in him. Colonel liion himsell always manifested great j nd miration for .Mr. Calhoun and ever , entertained tho deepest reverence tor tito i illustrious statesman both us ii public t man and as a private citizen. Sonic have i veli gone so fat ?is to infer from I Iheso circumstances that some peculiar relationship existed between them, lt is said now that Colonel liion exploded this mystery during thc low brid hours lind intervened between the first paroxysm ol tho attack which carried lum off and his death-ho lived several hours, as you will remember, after bc was llrsl attacked. "Tho story ia thal Colonel Kiou, then, in the presence ol Dr. Hanahan, "his phvsioiiHV ao l ot Ilia entire family, stated thialie was tho son of tho Dauphin . .I I'tance, who would have been King Louis XVII had it not been for the french Uovolution, which by the execu tion of Louis WI culminated in the overthrow of tho Bourbon Dynasty. His statoment was that tins hoy, the Dauphin who was reported to havo died nt an carly age, and to have been miheede, bad not really lin d, hut had been sent over to Canada and bail there been reared in obscurity under the name et De liion; that he entered thc Unglish army and was married to Miss Hunter, ami that Colonel Ilion was tho offspring of that mun inge. De Kiou du d in Colonel ltion's infancy, and be, with bis mother, was placed under the charge of Mr. Calhoun by the Austrian .onI ne, H utor at SA lushington, with a statement ol' the facts iu Hie eise and upon certain Conditions that were to be faithfully ob served. One of the conditions was that the facta should not bo divulged except in cia Un ii contiugeiioicH, another of the conditions was that Colonel Kiou was never to go to Europe unless iu churgo of tli?- Austrian authorities, ivud ou board an Austrian niau of wur. A further condition was that Colonel was never to accept Civil ellice in tiri? country. . .These conditions were faithfully ob served up to tho tinto of Colonel ltion's Inst fatal illness. Ile is not known to have couiided tho story of his birth to any one except his eldest daughter. Ho is said to have told her thc f lory two or three years ago, win n she was about to sail for ?uropo. lt is said that ono of her purposes iu going to Buropo was to examine int?, the death of the Dauphin anti t<> obtain such 1 uowlcdgo in regard to it as was possible from tradition and otherwise. "lt is also said that when Colonel Rion referred to the suhjcol just beforo his death lu- observed iu the counten ances of those who \\i re gathered about him that tho) supposed his mind tobo wandering, and that ho said to them: 'Von think that my mind is wandering, but i. am in possession of all my reason ing faculties ' Ho then asked Dr. [lanallan to pul him to some test in order to demonstrate tito fact that ho was perfectly rational, lie sai.1 (hipping Ins breast I 'I have the proofs here of tho truth of what I say.' "Colonol dion is known to 1 nive been in possession of a very valuable gold uiuil'-box, sel with diamonds, upon tho top of which there is a monogram of tho [)rlcaus Family wrought in diamonds, rbis snuil'-box, it i said, had noverbeen icon by any momborof his family until ns death, bul he is known to have ox nibited it once, in 1885, to un intimate [lersonal and professional friend, under n junctions of secrecy, which have been removed by his death. Ile gave no in timation to his friend of tho history ionnccted with tho possession of this .ox, except to say that Mr. Clemson, the Bon-iu- law of .1 olin C. Calhoun, brough! ii to him from Franco, when bo Mr. Clemson ? was secretary of tho American legation in Paris. Tho snuff box has boen valued by a jeweller, siuco Colonel dion's death, at S3,OOO, and is al most costly and exquisite workman ship. "Colonel Ilion went to Cumula sorno scars ago and told a friend when he had returned that he had seen in the old Cathedral al Montreal the record of his laptism. "It is understood that Colonel Ition's amily are now preparing for publication i full .statement of the facts in thc caso .nd that there is much evidence to sus ain the confession mndo by him just 'efore Iiis death. Certainly no one who mew him would doubt for a moment he truth of any statement that he made rhon clothed in his right mind, for ho sas the very soul of honor." A ri'KTIir.U STATEMENT, \V. C. Kioti, Ksii., of Winnsboro, son ot' he ?ate .lame; ll. Idol), llllS SCtll tUO fol owing note lo Mr. \. (i. C?nzalos of tho Vetes itml (Jotirier:* "As I mentioned yesterday, wc did not leslrc publicity given lo my father's strange tory, and upon second thought, and after consultation with the family here and some if my lather s friends, I think il host not to al ?sly the curiosity of the public on a mat er which should have hc< a, in I ho first In? tance, one of seerecy ss lar as ikey were ouccrncd. Therefore,you n id excuse mo rom furnishing Hie data 1 promised you, lowevor, tho many inaccuracies and an cbroiiisuis in thc true statement made by ny father, taken together willi his actions nd incuhcrencles, plainly show that lie ?as under the Intluenecof morphine and mt in his right mind when he made it. lenee, I think no importance or weight an bc given this wandering of an excited nairn except thal tlc- statement was made. ' True, as I told you, Ibero arc evidences hal he himself believed that he was tho ou <>i thc Dauphin, but, as fur as proofs re concerned, ilia! he was ia reality such a ?er '?i. lhere are none. Dr. lt. I>. liana ian. the attending physician, nt the lime >f ila statement and thc t blowing mora ng, ? xpressed .'. as m-, npin on th o Father ras nude' the influence Cl morpiiiue. ' I he tn lido Mood of the bourbons,1 ns e-ierday printed. is in nearly all pariicu ars erroneous, and as far as a publication iy thc family is concerned, that Ls simply i hellions. You (.m deny tho truth of the lah ment as published, upon my authority, lid also state thal father was under the in lucia cot morphine when the stralige story ras told by him. Further Iban tins, you you ld do thc family and myself a favor hy iiibllshing nothing, if, however, any hing e?mes from tho family, your paper hall haye the preforoiico." coi,, MON'S S JUFP-BOX. A cor espondeiil o: thc Ncwliorry Herald UK/ Alf*, in ile- lasl issue of thal, paper, ays tint just before Ibo breaking out of air war a highly educated Swede, named lanuncrskold, settled in Lincolntou, N. !,, to ongngo in tin' I roil business; that bandoning his business lo cuter tho Con ederato army, he hecamo Impoverished, ?id thal after tho war, in order to raiso 1101103', he sold a valuable diamond-studded fold >nuir box, said i" have been a gift of le- King ol Sweden, tn Col, li. D. Childs, f Columbia, who su bloquent ly presented i io Col, Ulon. The correspondent thinks hat this is thc alleged Orlcaus snuff-box, le is correl l. The snuff box hears tho eitel O., and a crown sci in diamonds. It ins nol the oilcans monogram. Thc bil ?al is probably thai of Oscar I., King of Iwcden and Norway, hum 1100, died lb."?0. lol. dion's family kai w Ibo history of this null box, ami his reference lo it, ?isa proof ?I lils Orleans d tent, Ha y considered an vi lenee thal he was under the ?nlluencc of norpiiina when he nude Ins dying declara* ion. Circumstantial Bvldoiitie. .I migo to prisoner-You have boon icro before, 1 think? Prisoner-Yes, sab. "What was tho charge? ".Same as dis one, stcalin' ciiiokens." "And you were convicted, too, I re nemboi uow." "Y' s, jedge, I was foun' guilty, but it vasn't my fault. I was convicted on '.ireuuisbintial ebbidence." "How so?" "A man saw me takin' lo chickons an' ie swore to de circumstances."-Texas Siftings. Wanly the I url? KOOWtt, Mr. Editor: I and neighbors havo boon led so many times Into buying diiibront things for tho liver, kidneys and blood, that have done UH moro harm I han good, I feel it duo your readers to advise them when an honest and good medicino llko Dr. Hurter's Iron Tonio can bo had. V.mi . truly, AN OM> Hiuwuauiuui. * You cannot kill time by beating it,