Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XIII LAURENS. S C, TUESDAY, MARCH 6,1898. ^ DY J^TEPHF.N CfcANE ? ? CDP>'RlCUTLDy ltN9a&Y THE AUTHOR CHAPTER L Tb? girl was in tlu> front room on the Ffcoud floor peering through the blinds. From between the sluts she had a view of tho road as it wended across tho meadow to th* woods and again when it reappeared crossing the bill, a half inilo away. It lay yellow and warm in the summer sunshine. From the long grasses of the meadow came the rhyth mic click of tho insects. Occasionally frogs in the hidden brook made pecul iar chug chug sound as if somebody throttled thorn. The leaves of the wood swung in gentle, winds. Through tho dark green brnucbes of tho pines that grow in tho front yard could be seen tho mountains far to tho southeast and in expressibly bluo. Mary's oyos were fastened upon tho littlo streak of road that appeared on the distant hill. Her faoo was flushed with exeitoment, and tho hand which stretched in n strained pose on the sill trembled bocauso of tho nervous shaking of tho wrist. The pines whisked their green noodles with a toft, hissing sound against tho houso. At last tho girl turned from tho win dow and weut to the head of tho stairs. "Well, I just know they're coming anyhow!" tho cried nrguineutntivoly to tho depths. A voico retorted with tho shrillness and mechanical violence of occasional housewives. Tho girl swished her skirts defiantly and returned to tho window. Upon the yellow stream of road that lay across tho hillside tbcro now was a handful of black dnts?horsemen. A cloud of dust floated away. Tho girl flew to tho head of tho stairs and whirl ed down to tho kitchen. "Thoy'ro coming I They're coming!" It was as if sho had cried "Fire!" Her mother had been peeling potatoes while seated comfortably at tho table She sprang to her feet. "No; it can't bo. How yon know it''j them? Where?" The stubby knife fell from her bund, and two or tbreo curls of potato skin dropped from her apron to the floor. Tho girl turned and dashed up stairs. Her mother followed, gasping for breath and yot continuing to (ill tho air with questions, reproach and remonstrance. Tho girl was already at the window eagerly pointing. "There I There I See 'em I Soo 'em !" Rnsbing to tho window, tho mother Bcauucd for an instant tho road on tho hill. Sho crouched back with a groan. "It's thorn, suro as tho world. It's them!" She waved her hands in do spa iriug gestures. Tho black dots vanished into tho woods. Tho girl at tho window was quivering, and her eyes wore shining like water when the sun flashes. ''HushI They aro in tho woods. They'll bo hero directly." Shu bent down and intent ly watched tho green archway from whence tho road emerged. "Hush! I hear them coming, " she swiftly whis pered to her mother, for tho elder wom an had dropped dolefully upon tho mat tress and was sobbing. And indeed tho p,jrl rwjj? )j(;o- JllQ^quick, dull trample of horses. Sho steppeu itsio^Avith s?vi. don apprehension, but sho bent her head forward in order to still scan the road. "Hero thoy aro!" There was something very thentrical in tho 6uddcn nppeurauco of tbeso men to tho oyes of tho girl. It was as if a ?cone had been shifted. The forest sud denly disclosed thorn, a dozen brown faced troopers in blue, galloping. "Ob, look!" breathed tho girl. Her mouth was puckered into an oxprossion of strango fascination. Tho littlo troop rode in silenco. At its head was a youthful follow with Homo dim yellow stripes upon his arm. In his right hand bo held his carbino slanting upward, with tho stock resting u I mi his kneo. Ho was absorbod in a scrutiny of tho country before him. At tho head of tho sergeant tho rest of tho squad rodo in thin column with oroak of leatbor aud tinklo of stool and tin. The troopers glanced for a moment liko cas nal tourists and tbon returned to thoir study of the rogion in front. Tho heavy thudding of tho hoofs boenmo a small noiso. The dost banging in Bbeotsslow* ly sank. Tho sobs of tho woman on tho bod took form in words which, wbilo strong in thoir note of calamity, yot expressed a querulons montal reaching for some near thing to blamo. "And it'll bo Incky for us if wo ain't both butchered in onr sleep?plundering and running off horses?old Santo's gone?you soo If he ain't?plundering"? "Bat, ma," said tho girl, perplexed and terrified in tho snmo moinont, "they've gono." "Oh, bnt thoy'll como back!" cried the mother without pausing hor wail. "They'll oomo bnok?trust thorn for that?running off horsos. " She sudden ly lifted horsolf and sat rigid, staring at bor daughter. "Mary," sho said in tragic whisper, "tho kitohon door isn't looked." Already sho was bont for ward to liston, hor mouth agape, her eyes fixed upon hor daughter. "Mother"? faltorod th? girl. Hor mother again whispered, "The kiteben door isn't locked." Motionless and mate, thoy stared into oaoh other's eyes. At last the girl qnavered, "We bottor ?wo better go and look it" Tho moth er nodded. Hanging arm in arm, thoy stole across the floor toward tho hoad of the stairs. A board of the floor oroaked. They baited and exchanged a jook of dumb agony. At last thoy reached the. head of the stairs. From tho kitchen name tho bass humming of the kettle and froqnent spntterings and ornoklings from tho fire. These sounds wero sinister. The mother and the girl stood incapable of movement. "There's somebody down thero," whispered the older woman. Finally the girl made a gesture >t on, Sho twisted ht.r arm .tmn downward. Flic aerotesb'Gtl tfio kitchen, " Who's tboro?" Her tuno was intended to be dauntless. It rang so dramatically in tho silence that >i sudden new panic seized them, as if the Buspeoted presence in tho kitoboa Bad oried oat to them. Bat tlio t?irl ventured again, "Is there anybody there?" No reply was made savo by tho kettle and tho lire. With a stealthy tread Mio girl contin ued her journey. As sho neared tho last Btop the Uro crackled explosively and tho girl soreamed, but tho mystio pres ence had not swept around tho corner to grab her, so sho dropped to a seat on n step and laughed. "It was?was only the tiro," she Baid, stammering hyster ically. Then sho arose with Buddcn fort Undo and cried: "Why, there isn't anybody there. I know there isn't. " Sho marched down into tho kitchen. On her face was dread, as if Bhe half expected to con front something, but tho room was empty. Sho cried joyously: "There's nobody bore. Como on down, mal" Sho ran to tho kitchen door and locked it. Tho mother oarne down to the kitchen. "Oh, dear, what a fright. I've had 1 It's given mo tho Biek headache. I know it has." "Ma," said tho girl, coming from the window, "the barn door is open. 1 wonder if they took old Santo." "Of?of course they havo?of conrso ?Mary. I don't boo what wo aro going to do I I don't boo what wo aro going to dol" Tho girl Baid, "Ma, I'm going to see if they took old Santo." "Mary," oried tho mother, "don't you daro 1" Tho girl had unlocked tho door and steppod upon tho porch. Tho mother cried in despair, "Mary!" "Why, tboro isn't anybody out there," tho girl called in responso. She stood for a moment with n curious smile upon her faeo as of gleeful satisfaction it her daring. The breeze was waving tho houghs of tho applo trees. A rooster with an air importantly courteous was conducting three hens upon ft foraging tcur. Tho girl swung impulsively from tho little stoop and ran toward tho barn. Tho great door was open, and the larved pig, which nsaally performed the iffieoof a catch, lay on tho ground. The ,'irl could not seo into tho barn bocauso if tho heavy shadows. Sho paused in n listening attitude nnd heard u horse munching placidly. Sho gave a cry of lolight and sprang across tho threshold then ?ho suddenly shrank back aud gasped. Sho had confronted threo men in gray seated upon tholloor, with their legs stretched out nnd their hacks gainst Santo'smanger. Tboirdnstoov >red couutonnneos wero oxpandod in ?irins. CIIAPTKR II. As Mary sprang backward and scream m1 ono of tho calm men in gray, still grinning, announced, "I knowed you'd boiler." Sitting thero comfortably tin; threo surveyed her with amusement Mary cau^?Vt nor broath, throwing nand up to her throat. "Oh," sho naid, "you?you frightened me." "Wo'ro sorry, lady, but couldn't holp it no way," cheerfully responded an other. "I knowed you'd holler when 1 seen you coming yoro, but I raikmed we couldn't help it no way. Wo hain't ((?troubling this yoro barn, I don't guess. Wo been doing somo mighty tall Bleep ing yoro. Wo dono woke when thoiu Yanks loped past." " Whero did you come from? Did? did you escnpo from tho?tho Yankees?" The girl still stammered aud tromblod. Tho throo soldiers laughed. "No'm'm No'm'm. Thoy never catch us. W?wm in n muss down tho road yoro about two mile. And Hill yero thoy gin it to him in tho arm, kohpluok. And they pnst od me thah too. Ow ions. And Sim yoro, ho didn't got nothing, but they ohasod us all quito ft little picco, uud wo dono loso track of our boys." "Was it?was it those who passed horo just now? Did thoy chaso you?" The mon in gray laughed agnin. "What?thorn? No, indeodoo. There was a mighty big swarm of Yanks nnd a mighty big swarm of our boys too. What?that littlo passol? No'm'in." Sho became calm enough to scan them more nttontivoly. Thoy wero much bo grimod and vory dusty. Thoir gray olothos were tattorod. Splashed mud bad dried upon thorn iu roddish spots. It apponred, too, that tho mon had not shaved in many days. Of their hats tboro was a singular diversity?ono sol dier wore tho little bluo cap of tho northern infantry, with corps emblom and regimental number still upon it; one wore a great brown slouch hat with a wido hole in the crown, and the oth er wore ho hat at all. The left sloove of one man and tho right sleeve of anoth er bad boon slit, and the arms wer? neatly bandaged with a olenn cloth "These hain't no more than two little oats," explainod ono. "We stoppod tip yere to Mis' Henvitt's?she said her name w.d?and sho bind thom for ns. Bill y ro, ho had the thirst come on him, and tho fever too. We"? Mary interrupted him without Inten tion. "Are yon hungry?" sho askod. Tho soldiora looked at eaoh other, struck by some sudden and singular ?h?mo. They hung their beads. "No'm'm," replied ono at lost. Snnto in bis stall was tronquilly cbowing and chewing. Sometimos ho looked benevolently over at them. Ho was an old horse, and thore was some thing abont his eyes aud his forelock wbioh oreated tho impression that bo wore speotaoloa. Mary went and patted his nose. " Well, if yon are hnngry I can get yon something, " she told the men, "or yon might come to the house." "We wouldn't dnst go to the house," said one. "That passel of Yanks was only a scontiug crowd most like?just an advanco. Moro coming likely." mo biTng-yoti H*ftlneTrHugfM " "Well," said a soldier with embar rassment, "wo hain't had much. If yon could bring up a littlo snack like?just a snack, we'd" ? Without waiting for him to ccaso tho girl turned toward tho door, but before she had reached it sho stopped abruptly "Listen," sho whispered. Her form was bent forward, her head turned nnd lowered, hor hand extended toward tho men in a command for silenco. Thoy could faintly hear the thudding of mail) hoofs, tho clank of arms and frequent calling voices. "By cracky, it's the Yanks!" Tho soldiers scrambled to their foot nnd enmo toward tho door. "I knowed that first crowd was only an advance " Tho girl and tho threo men peered from tho shadows of tho barn. Tho view Sfttlng there comfortably the tfiree aur vcyed her with (ummcmcnt. of tho road was intercepted by treo trunks and u littlo henhouse. However, they could boo many horsemen Btream ing along tho road. Tho horscmon wore in blue. "Oh, hide?hide?bido!" cried tho girl, with a sob in her voice. *'Wait a minuto, " whispered a gray soldier excitedly. "Maybe thcy'ro going along by. No, by thunder, they hnin't! Thoy nro halting! Scoot, boys I" They mado a noiseless dash into tho dark end of tho barn. Tho girl, standing by tho door, heard them break forth nn instant later in clamorous whispers. "Where'll wo hido? Whcro'll wo hide? There hain't a placo to hido. " Tho girl turned nnd glanced wildly about tho barn. It seemed truo. Tho BtOok of hay had grown low under Santo's endless mnnobing and from occasional lovyings by passing troopers in gray. Tho poles of tho mow wcro barely covered, save in one corner, where there was a little bunch. Tho girl espied tho great feed box. Sho run to it and lifted tho lid. "HeroI Hero!" sho called. "Got in horo I" They had been tearing noiselessly around tho rear part of tho barn. At her low call they came and plunged at tho box. They did not all get in at tho same moment without a good deal of tangle. Tho wounded men gasped and muttered, but thoy at last wero Hopped down on the layer of feed which cover ed the bottom. Swiftly and softly tho girl lowered the lid and thou turned like a Hash tow ..i d the door. No ouo appeared there, so sho went closer to survey tho situation. Tho troopers bail dismounted and stood in silence by their horses. A gray bearded man, whoso red cheeks and nono showed vividly above tho whiskers, was Btroll ing about with two or threo others. They woro double breasted coats, and faded yollow sashus wero wound under their black leather sword bolts. The g?.v bearded soldier was apparently giving orders, pointing hero and there. Mary tiptoed to tho food box. "Thoy'vo all got off their horses," she said to it. A linger projected from a knotholu near tho top and Kaid to her very plainly, "Come closer." Sho obeyed, and then a inn filed voico could bo hoard, "Scoot for tho houso, lady, and if wo don't Be ? you again, why, much obligod for what you have dono." "Goodby," bIio said to tho feed box. Sho mado two attempts to walk dauntlcH.sly from tho barn, but oaob timo sho faltered and failed just boforo sho reached tho point where sho coidd havo boon Been by the blue coated troop sta. At last, howover, she mado a sort of a rush forward and went out into tho bright sunshine. The group of men, doublo broasted, whooled in her direction at the instant. Tho gray beai ded soldier came toward her. She atonped. Sho seomod about to run away, but tho soldior doffed his lit tlo bluo cup and looked amiable. "Yon live hero, I presume?" ho said. "Yes," sho answorod. "Well, wo aro obliged to camp hero for tho night, and as wo'vo got two wounded mou with us I don't supposo you'd mind if wo put them in tho barn. " "In?in tho barn?" Ho bee.one a warn that she was agitat ed. Ho smiled assuringly. "Yon nood not bo frightened. We won't hnrt any thing around horo. You'll all bo safo enough." Tho girl balanced on ono font and swnng tho other to and fro In tho grass. Sho was looking down nt it. "But?but I don't think ma would like it if?if you took tho barn." Tho old officer laughed. "Wouldn't sbo?" said he. "That's so. Maybe sho wouldn't." Ho roflcctod for a timo and then decidod cheerfully: "Well, wo will havo to ask hor anyhow. Whoro is sho?in tho house?" "Yes," roplicd the girl, "she's in tho honBe. Sho?aho'll bo soared to death whon sho bcos you. " "Will yon go and nsk hor thon?" said the soldior, always woariug a benign smile. "You go and ask hor and thon oomo and tell me.'' Whon tho girl pushed open tho door and (intend tho kitchen, sho found it empty. "Mol" sho oalled softly. Thoro was no nnswor. Tho kottle was hum ming its low song. Tho knife nnd tho curl of potato skin lay on tho floor. Sho went to her mothor's room and entered timidly. The lonely aspoot of the honse shook her norvos. Upon the bed thoro was a confusion of cover ings. "Mai" oallod the girl, quaking in fear that her mothor was not tbero to reply. Bnt tbore was a sudden tur moil of the quilts, and bor mother's bead was thrust forth. "Mary," sho cried in what seemed to bo a supreme astonishment,"I thought?I thought"? "Oh, ma," blurted the girl, "thoro's over 1,000 Yankees in the yard, nnd I've hidden three of our men in the food I box!" TJje elder woman, however, noon the- nppearaiico or her daughter had be gan to thrash hysterically about on the bed and wailed. "Ma," tho girl exclaimed, "and now thoy want to uso tho barn, and our men in tho feed box. What shall I do? Ma. what, shall I do?" Her mother did not scorn to hear, so nb; orbed was sho iu her grievous lloun deriugs and tears. "Ma," appealed tho girl. "Ma." For u moment Mary stood silently do bating, her lips apart, her oyes fixed, Then sho went to tho kitchen window and pooped. The old officer and the oth ers were staring up tho road. Sho went to another window in order to get the proper view of tho road and saw that thoy wero gazing at a small body of horsemen approaching at a trot and raising much dust. Presently sho recog nized thom as tho squad which had passed tho houso earlier, for tho young man with tho dim yellow chevrons still rodo at their head. An unarmed horse man in gray was receiving their closo attention. As they camo very near to tho houso she darted to tho first window again. Tho gray bearded officer was smiling a broad smilo of satisfaction. "So you got him?" ho called out. Tho young sergeant sprang from his horso, und his brown hand moved in a salute. Tho girl could not hear his reply. Sho saw tho unarmed horseman in gray stroking a very black mustache and looking about him coolly with an inter ested air. Ho appoared so indifferent that sho did not uuderstaud ho was a prisoner until sho hoard tho gray beard call out: "Well, put him iu tho barn. He'll bo safe there, I guess." A party of troopers moved with tho prisoner to ward tho barn. Tho girl mado a sudden gesturo of horror, remembering tho throo men iu tho feed box. CHAPTER III. Over in front of tho barn threo troop ers sat talking comfortably. Their ear bines were leaned against tho wall. At their side nnd outlined in tho black of tho open door stood a sentry, his weap on resting in tho hollow of his arm. Four horses saddled and aecoutered wero conferring with their heads together. Tho four bridlo reins wero flung over a post. Mary had intended to go and tell tho commander in blue that her mother did not wish his men to uso tho barn at all, but sho paused when sho heard him speak to tho sergeant. Sho thought sho perceived then that it mattered littlo to him what her mother wished and that an objection by her or by anybody would bo futile. Sho saw tho soldiers conduct tho prisoner iu gray into tho barn, and for a long time sho watched threo chatting guards aud the pondering sentry. Upon her mind in desolato weight was tho recollection of tho threo men in tho feed box. It Boomed to her that in a caso of this description it was her duty to bo a hero ine. Plainly a horoine would take meas ures to rescue tho four men. If she did not at least make an attempt, sho would bo false to thoso carefully constructed ideals which were the accumulation of years and dreaming. Put tho situation puzzled her. Tboro was tho barn with only ono door and with four armed troopers in front of this door, ono of them with his back to tho lest of tho world engaged no doubt iu a steadfast contemplation of tho calm man and incidentally of tho feed box. 1 Sho know, too, that even if sho should | open U40 Kiu. uOui' ifl.." ...... axiU perhaps four, would turn casually in her direction. Thoir ears wero roal ears. ?uo by ono sho saw the gorgeous con trivances nnd expedients of fiction fall beforo tho plain homely difficulties of this situutiou. Sadly, ruefully, she thought of tho calm man and of tho con touts of tho feed box. Tho sum of her invention was that sho could sally forth to tho commander of tho bluo cavalry, and, confessing to him that thero wero throo of her friends and his enemies secreted in tho feed box, pray him to let thom depart unmolest ed. Put sho was beginning to believe tho old gray board to bo a bear. It was hardly probable that ho would give this plan his support, lt was more probable that ho and somo of his men would at once descend upon tho food box and con fiscate her three frionds. Tho difficulty with hor idea was that sho could not loam its valuo without trying it, and then in caso of failuro it would bo too lato for remedies and other plans. Sho roflectod that war mado mon very un reasonable. All sho could do was to stand ut tho window aud mournfully regard tho barn. Sho admitted this to horsolf with a sense of deep humiliation. Sho was not then mado of that fino stuff, that montnl satin, which enabled somo othor beings to bo of such mighty sorvico to tho distressed. Sho was defeated by a barn with ono door, by four mon with eight eyos and eight ours?trivialities that would not impedo the real hero ine, Tho vivid whito light of tho broad day began slowly to fado. Tonos of gray camo upon tho fields and tbo shadows wero of load. In this morn sombor atinosphcro tho firos built 1 y tho troops down in tho far end of tho orchard grow more brilliaut, becoming spots of crimson color in tho dark growv. Tho girl sat in tho now gloom of tk o kitchen and watched. Tho soldiers lit a lantern and hung it in t jo barn. Its rays made tho form of tho sentry soom gignutio. Horses whinniod from tho or chard. Thero wns a low hum of hmnau voicoB. Sometimes small detachments of troopers rodo past tho front of tho houso. Tho girl heard tho nbrupt calls of tho sontrios. Sho fotched somo food and ato it from her hand, standing by tho window. Sho was so afraid that somothing would occur that sho baroly left hor post for an instant. Once sho folt that sho had mado hor mind to rcconnoitor at any rato. It was night. Tho lantorn at tho barn and tho campflros mado everything without tboir circlos into masses of heavy mys tic blacknoBB. Sho took two stops to ward tho door, but thoro sho paused. Innumerable possibilities of danger bad assailed hor mind. Sho roturncA to tho window and stood wavering. At last sho went swiftly to the door, oponod it and slid noisolossly into tho darkness. For a moment she regarded tho shad ows!. Down in the orchard the camp fir en of the troops appeared preoisely like a great painting, all in reds upon a blatjk oloth. Tbo voices of tho troopers still hummed. The girl started slowly off B tho opposite direction. Her eyos ?mIAtmI Iu jxalara_BbA^atndied tho anrr<noSs'ni front f?r ~r? moment Doloro elio ventured upon u forward stop. Un consciously bor throat was arranged for a sudden scream. High in tbo tree brancbes she could hoar tbo voico of tbo wind, a melody of the night, low and sad, the plaint of an endless incominuni oable sorrow. Her own distress, tbo flight of tlio men in gray?theso near matters as well as all she had known or imagined of grief?everything was ex pressed in tins soft mourning of the wind in tlio trees. At first she felt liko weeping. This song told her of human impotency and doom. Then later tbo trees and the wind breathed strength to her, sang of sacrifice, of dauntless effort, of bard carven faces that did not blanch when duty came at midnight or at noon. Sho turned often to scan the shadowy figures that moved from tinio to time in the light at tbo barn door. Ouco sho trod upon a stick, and it Hopped, crac kling in tbo intolerable manner of all sticks. At this noise, however, tbo guards at the barn made no sign. Final ly she was where sho could seo tbo knot holes in tbo rear of the structure gleam ing like pieces of metal from the effect of the light within. Scarcely breathing in her excitement, sho glided close ami applied an eyo to a knothole. Sho had barely achieved ouo glauco at the inte rior beforo sho sprang back shuddering. The unconscious and oheerful sentry at tbo door was swearing away in flaming sentenoes, heaping ouo gorgeous oath upon another, making a conflagration of his description of his troop horse. "Why, "ho v as declaring to the calm prisoner in gr-^y 'you ala't g'it a horse iu your hull-army that can run -10 ruds with that thc;o little mare." As in the outer darkness Mary cau tiously returned to the knothole tbo three guards in front suddenly called in low tones: "S-s-8-h. Quit, Peto, hero comes tho lieutenant." Tbo sentry bad apparently been about to resume bis declamation, but at theso warnings ho suddenly posed in a soldierly manner. A tall and loan officer with a smooth face entered tho barn. Tho sentry sa luted primly. The officer flashed a com prehensive glauco about him. "Every thing all right?" "All right, sir." This officer had eyes liko tho points of stilettos. Tho lines from bis noso to tho corners of his mouth were deep and gave him a slightly disagreeable aspect, but somewhere in bis face there was a quality of singular thoughtfulnoss ns of tho absorbed student dealing in gen "Foil ain't not a horse." eralities which was utterly in opposi tion to tho rapacious keenness of the oyes which saw everything. Suddenly ho lifted a long finger and , '.. "What's that?" "That? That's u feed ooX, I soppoSC." "What's in it?" "I don't know. I"? "You ought to know," said tho officer sharply. Ho walked over to the feed box and flung up tho lid. With a swooping gesture ho reached down and scooped a handful ? . food. "You ought to know what's in everything when yen have prisoners in your caro, " ho added, scowling. During tho timo of this incident the girl bad nearly swooned. Her hand searched weakly over tho boards foi something to which to cling. With tin pallor of the dying sho had watched tie downward sweep of tho officer's are which aftor all had only brought forth a handful of feed. Tho result was n stupefaction of bor mind. Sho was as tonished ont of her senses at this spoc taclo of three largo men motamorphosed into a handful of food. (Concluded next week.) Cuban Tobacco.?The greater part, in fact, practically al' of the tobacco leaf raised in Cuba and not used by the Cuban olgarmakt rs is shipped to the United States. At certain seasons of tho year the Havana hotels are tilled with tobacco buyers from the States. -?omo of them deal through brokers in Havana, but some who know the coun try and tho languago go out into the tobacco districts, and deal directly with tho planters, often buying a prom ising crop beforo it is picked. Tbo to bacco buyer has necessarily to bo a good judge of tobacco. He goes down Into tho very centre of tho bale of to bacco ho Is examining, extracts somo samples and tests them in different ways. Tho first test Is that of smell The Cuban tobacco has u strong and peculiar odor. A little variation one way or tho other makes the tobacco .?nod or bad. After smelling It the 'he buyer is likely to roll a rudely COU structud cigar out of the leaf and smoke it. He will inhale tho smoke and en deavor to determine exactly the flavor. He will also examine the ash carefully and test also the combustion of the tobacco?that la, try to find out bow long it will bold fire. It is a great an noyance to a smoker who is talking or writing, or otherwise engaged, to put his cigar into bis mouth and find it has gone out. No cigar over tastes so good after it has oneo gone out, and a fine Havana cigar is positively rank when It has met such a catastrophe. So ono quality sought for 's that of holding lire. If a samplo smokeu by I the buyer will keep lighted four min utes It Is considered very good. Somo will burn five minutes, and even longer without being puffed, ?It is stated on German authority that tho astounding numberof 2,0t)0.0()o ?Ines cyoa are made every year In Ger many ond Switzerland, while one Preooh house manufactures 1100,000 of them annually. ?A well-knnwi engineer has laid hofore tho governments of Spain and Morocco a pr< ject for the construction of a tunnel undor tho Straits of Gib raltar. ?PerBons residing in the Dlstrlot of Columbia have no voto there, but they may voto in the State in which thoy, THIS LA KU C1IY IIOHUOII. lie Views and Opinions of a Pohi Office Inspector beul lo luvestigate i in < ?Iii rage, tpoolal to The R< gisler, KlNOSTKEB, S. C, Mund) 1.?The uro ono learns about the Lake City ssassin itiou tbo tui ro horrible it bo >raes. That there was do real excuse or the killing of the postmaster row is (i assured laet, and there is no doubt hat tbo real muraerers will suffer for u-ir crime. The postoffice was burned -.1 the same time that tho postmaster ^ as kill d. nnd this will bring the mat or to the United States government. ? d ihere ?re now iloteotlves represent* tig the United Stai.es in anil around Luke City. It is or.ly a (| estlon of imo when one or more of the members ? the mob will be found out and ar ested, and then the mat ter of catching he others will bo comparatively an asy matter. Tho following interview will show hat thero was do real reason why hiker should not have been postmaster i Lake City, except that he was black a misfortune not suffered by any nit of his. l'osti llice inspectors Moye ud 3ulla have been in Lukt> City for lime time investigating tho matter, ?r. Moye was interviewed by your irrespondent last night iu regard to he matter. Ho talked freely and, in ? distance, told me the following : " Th" claim that Bakei was incom petent is unfou tided. A man who holds a lirst-chiss ccrtlieato as a teacher from the State of South Carolina can ot bo incompetent. Such a eertificate hiker held. He had taught school in -everal graded schools in the Stat ??, ind so tho claim that he was ineom ?ett nt is exploded. Ho may have aeked business qualifications, but he vas not incompetent. I havo letters from him and they are written as well is those from any business man ; the ?upitalizuth v*1, the punctuation and the grammatical construction of them is as ?ood us any business man could do. riie question of color did uot come up it Washington whon H iker was ap pointed. Ho was endorsed by good ctt./.ens of tlic community. He was cn ?"i?i'tl by D as and Webster. I)e.as worked through Webster aud did not i ii W? hater that the negro was not a resilient of Hake City. There was no protest tiled at the department in Wash ington ugainst bis appoiotue.it. It was ? ot known there that Huker was a ne ro nor thut he, was not a resident of Lake. City. He bad been postmaster at Filing! am for a term under Har bison, and so the department was not it fault in appointing him. Those who I'ecumni tided him alone are respon.-i U?. The department hud the pt'Otostt from the neople of Luke City anil from k.iti aoii.ti Carolina delegation in Con gress under advisement when the out ?age occurred. A summary dismissal ipon receipt of protests could not hi made. Baker must have an opportun* y to defend himself against his an tagonists. Tho department could noi oaek down under lire. Had the mob lulayed its action, there might not nave been any need of such proeei d ings to rid themselves of an obnoxiou msimaster, for hail the charges Sled against Baker been sustained he would have been removed. " People of the South mak ? mistakes i n endorsing negroes for i filolal posi tions and then trying to have them re moved aftor they have been appointed. Tuko the case 01 Judson Lyons, in the Augmt.i (Ou.) pOStt'fllce squabble. The prominent white Democrats endorsed Lyons for a certain Federal position 1 nat they thought he wat. trying to se er re, and wheu ho turned and used those same recommendations in his at ? mpt to seouro the Augusta postmat Li rship, he hud the drop on tin m. Thep had unqualifiedly endorsed him, and wht n he tried to get the posu Blot' u??S those recommendations, they raised a howl a'.'.d. BJftld that he was in competent and unfit for the Otil30. 'ill14' name, thing bus occurred in other places in the South with the .-ome result. No, sir ; I do not blame, the department for tho,appointments that are not satisfac tory to the people, but I blame, the peo rth thomselvt s for recommending the applicants. ?? o.iki r had been recommended by responsible, prominent citizens, and be svas competent to discharge, the duties pertaining to the office of the villag? of Lake City. Don't understand me to mean that 1 am a ' negro's man '? not by any means, but they aro citi zens of this Union and aro entitled to tho same privileges that the whites aro. "Other towns have put up with a ne gro postmaster, and Lake City could nave, done tho same thing. I regret exceedingly that the white men of this community should havo committed so heinous a ci in e, especially as thero was no need of it whatever." Inspector Moyo bus been detailed to investigate as many, or more, cases in which negroes wero implicated than any man in the service, and ho says that'tho negroes, as a race, have a lady terror of interfering with the. mails, They fear tho United States govern ment. Whito men, said he, commit several times the number of crimes in Interfering with the mails that the ne groes do. The outrage at Lako City has benu tho chief topic of conversation in Wii liamsburg County ever slnco its occur rence It is condemned by all, con doned by nono. For somo time Kingstrco has bceu threatened with the appointment of a negro postmaster, and It is not known what effect the Lake City matter will havo upon tho appointment. Thoro is an applicant for tho position in tho person of ono of tho most prominent white citiz -ns in the county, and one who is a Republican but the appoint ment has beim " hanging tiro " for some months. Too citizens of the town would ho pleased to havo tho white gentleman appointed If there is any change at all to ho made, but should tho negro receive the appointment wo feel sure that thero would bo no un lawful outbreak among our citizens. -Tho Winston Journal says : Tho story is told of two Mormon elders as happening in a town not far distant, in which ono of thoir doctrines was given a practical test. Tho story rolates that especial emphasis had boon mado in their sermons upon tho doctrine that if thoy drank any doadly thing it should not hurt them ; tho Lord boing their especial protector. At tho ond of tho sermon the pastor who had courteously loaned thom his church, arose and said : " Now brothron, wo havo listened attentively to this doc trino, and if by practical test you can demonstrate this, wo will accept tho doetrine. I havo hero a quantity of Btryohnino which I will mix in water, and if you drink it and survl o, wo will believe." It Is reported that thoy did not drink. - Hudson's bay, wh oh Is now called tho Mediterranean of North Amerloa, drains a territory 3.000.000 square luilfo.fl In Area, with vast risers flowing k" to i> ;Smi thfl^fiiith, "rHiHM weat? GOING TO THE 8AMK PLACE. A Young Man Who Was Entirely Too Confidential Wllll a Stranger. Harper's Bazar. A quii t-looking young man who had been for some time reading a magazine on a Western railroad train laid it Beide, and was about to make himself comfortable for a nap, when a young man in the next seat turned around and said, in a friendly tone : " Nico day, isn't It ?" " Yes, very." "Still, It's kind o' tlresomo riding .HOD or 000 miles at a Stretch, even in line weather Got far to go yet V "Only about 50 miles." "Then 1 ? uoss we're bound for the same place. Going to Keiiewance ?" " Yes, I urn." "That's so? I'm bound for tho same burg. Mighty nice little place. Nice people there, too. Ever been there be fore ?" " No, 1 have not." " Well, you'll find it a bang-up nice little towr, and folks 'II treat you well, too, there?that's what they will. Much acquainted there'.''" " Very little. In faet, I know but ouo family in the town." ?'That so? And what might their name, be ?" " Porsythe." " Porsythe ! Why, I know the family like a book. I s'pose you know Nellie Porsythe V" " Yesj I met her when she was visit ing some friends in tho east, several months ago." "Oh, yes; I remember Nell did go east on a visit. Well, you met a bang up pretty girl and mighty nice one when you met Nell Porsythe. 1 know the whole lamily liko a book. Better Call otj 'cm when you get to Kenewance. They'll treat you well. Noll's about tbo nicest girl in the place Didn't you think her a blamed nice girl V" " 1 liko Miss Porsythe very much." "'Course you did ; couldn't help it. She'll remember, yoo, too. Mabbe 1 can fix it so we can call there together. I'm right at home at tho Porsytbeb' and 1?1 ? well, seeing as you know the family, I don't mind telling you that I'm mighty sweet on Nell?dead gone, in fact: yes, I am; that's straight I" "indeed! And is your regard recip rocated by Miss Posytbe V" "Well, 1 can't say for sure, but I rather think it is. But I will know before I'm 48 hours older. Pact is, I'm tuking a little run up to Kene wance on purpose to bring about things to a focus. Nell inmtsuy 'yes' or 'no' to me before I'm 48 hours older. If it's 'no,' it's good by Kenewanee for me I I'll never want to see that town again. Where are you going to put up when you get to Kcwance V" "Oh, ut any good hotel." 11 The Yerner bouse is tbo best. That's where I am going to stay, and? say, you go there and stay too, and I'll take you round to see Nell this evening ; that is, if you'll agree to clear out ahead of me and give me a chance. She'll be glad to see you. Awful nice, friendly folks the Porsythesare. Here's the train boy with the Kenewanee papers. Ivt's see how things are going In the old town." Each of the young men bought a paper, and in live minutes the talk ative and confiding candidate for the hand of Nellie Porsythe exclaimed : "Lookee here! If this don't beat time ! Listen to this: 'Invitations are out for tho wedding of Miss Nellie Porsythe lO Mr. Harry M. Hay mend at St. John's Episcopal church on-.' Thai's all I want to know, and more, too. That knockt, mo out! 'Mr. Harry M. Raymond!" hey? I'd like to murder him ! No. 1 wouldn't ! 1 ain't mean enough to wish any barm to a chap I never saw, nor never want to sec now. Say, I guess we'll not make that call tonight. You can go if you want to; I'm too badiy used up to go ; I'll clear out of the town the hour I get there if I can get a train. Ki newanee isn't big onougr. .to hold me and that Hay mono fellow, tod, uviT. if 1 don't bear him any ill will. I doiA know ; I think 1 wouid bate blm If I saw him. I'm kind o' rash and Impulsive, and 1 -uinvV know what I might do. Hero we are at Kenewanee ! I feel sick!" They left the car together. A pretty girl ciime hurrying forward. "There's Nell," said the sick man with a gasp, and his sickness In creased when Nell, with shining eyes and joyful face, exclaimed to bis companion : "Oh, Harry, I'm so glad to seo you ! I was afraid?oh, how do you do, Mr. Parnum ? What an age It has been since you visited Kenewaneo ! Let me Introduce you to Mr Raymond. Oh, you met on tbo train ? That was nice. I'm glad you know each other. Tho carriage Is waiting for us, Barry." THK 11I0KO OK rilKHOUlt. interesting Faetn Connected With tho Iiife of the Maine's Gallant Commander. The whole country has joined In the praise and commendation of Capt. Sigs beo, commander of tho battleship Maine. The conduct of this gallant sailor since tho disaster to his beloved ship has beon altogether free from any thing which would bo objectionable even to the most fastidious in buch matters. Coolness, courago and dis cretion has marked his courso. Since tho disaster somo interesting fuctshave been published in regard to Capt. Sigsbee which r< fl "et greatoreditupon his ability. It is said that be is one of the few American naval olllcers who possess a decoration given by a Euro pean monarch. The Emperor of Ger many tendered to him a decoration of the order of the Rod Eagle In recogni tion of Capt. Sigsbee's services to the German navy in superintending tho construction of a deep sea sounding machine Invented by himself and con sidered by the German government to bo tbo bent In the world. Congress passed a joint resolution autthorlzing the acceptance of tho honor. Another story relates to his talent, as an artist. On one occasion in 187"?. when The Dally Graphic, of New York, was In tho height of 'ts short lived success, a modest looking young man called at tr U art department of the paper at It* Hark Place olllco and sub mitted a package of drawings for in spection. The drawings were found to be of decided merit and a comic series from tbo lot was selected for tho front pago, and the art editor notified the artist, at his Brooklyn address, that the drawings had been accepted and that he wou'd bo given a placo on tho art stafT at onco. Talent which eouhl produce pood pon anJ Ink sketches .vas scarce at that timo and the other mem bers of the staff expected to seo "Mr." Slgsheo, tako his placo among them. He did not appear, and the art editor, after some weeks of waiting, again wroto to tho artlet offering tho placo on the paper. A reply came to this which read as follows: "Lieutenant Commander Charles D Sigsbee, U. S. N., presents bis compliments and bogs to say fcuat as he is at present in com- , umou \a government shin ho.-?annot ^Aln position to kindlj^flML" THIO SritUGULB IN ( UBA.. A Review off IllO Kreuts For tlio liMttt Iiiree Years en the Island ot t nun. Atlanta ( (institution. On February 24th last the Cuban struggle readied its third anniversary. In numbers, of course the insurgent ranks are somewhat reduced, but in fearless determination they aro still characterized by tbo same lull xihlo spirit which they carrh ii into tho Held three years ago, and from one en I of the island to toe Other the tires of l?de? pent), nee still hum. For the past few days tho Interest of the American public ha* been centered upon the problems growing out of tho destruction of our battleship Maine; but while the special commission is faithfully endeavoring to ascertain tbo ca..to of this horrible disaster it. may not be amiss at this time to reviosv brii lly tho principal developments of tbo (Julian war since the breaking out of hostilities. In making this review it is not necessary to Inquire into tho causes of tho war, for tnoso aro sulli oiently well known already. On Fobruui ?' 24th, 181)5, the Cubans raised tho standard of revolt in the provinces of Santiago aud Mantat.zas and notiilod tbo home authorities that they would submit no longer to the galling yoko of Spanish despotism. In spito of tho vigorous i ffortS of the home author ities to put down the insurgents tho revolutionary movement grew apace. Some of tho most inlluental citizens of the island, Including Gomez, Masso, Rabi, Marti, Cisneros aud othors, arrayed themselves under tho insur gent banner. When the patriot forces wore ready for organ./ition General Maximo Gomez was placed in com mand und hostilies commenced in good earnest In vain Captain Gen era. Callcjo sought to quell tho in surrection Every Inducement wus otTered to tho insurgents, but without avail. Within two months from tho time of the Cuban outbreak it became evident to Spain that she. was in great danger of losing her colonial posses sion and that in order to saw it sho must exert her best efforts. Accord ingly, in April, 1805, Captain General Martinez Campos took charge of affairs on the island, displacing Captain Gen eralCallejo. But in spite of tue prestigo whlob ttiis renowned Spanisii utlicur brought into the Held, be failed utter ly to bubduethe insurgent forces. Ono Cuban victory followed close, upon another until finally at the end of ilio tirstyear of hostilities Spain realized ttiat in order to put down the uprising she must change bor plan of campaign. Thereupon Captain General Campos was recalled home a d Captain Gen eral Woyler appointed tu succeed him. With the brutal and ferocious tactics wbloh Captain General Woyier put into effect on his arrival la Cuba tho civilized world is familiar: but, in spite of the savage in humanity of these, tactics, tho Spanish butcher made little improvement on the record of his predecessor. He found that tho spirit of Independence pervaded every nook and corner of the island, and that even tbo utmost resources of his cruelty were po.verless tc. suppress It, Of course with the death of the bravo insurgent leader, General Macoo, who sustained to General Goun z much of tho same relation which General Stonewall Jackson sustained to Gen eral Eeo iu our own late war, tho cause of Cuban Independence wavered temporarily, but ere anotbi r month hud elapsed it blossomed out again with renewed strength and vigor. Up to August. 1800, Spain had B Hit over to Cuba not less than I2O.000 men, while the strength of tho Cuban forces barely aggregated moi'0 than 40,000 men. In a coo test so uneven it is little short of marvelous that the Cubans have managed to exist : and yet, in spite of overwhelming odds, they havo glorified the flag of free Cuba with victories innumerable'. At tills lime thero is no thought of giving up tho struggle until Spain stands ready to acknowledge the independence of tho island. bandy more that, six months havo elapsed since Captain Gein '.al Weyler was superseded in tho commaud oi *.A'0 Spanish fore.s in Cuba by Captain General Blanco, and tho latter has not yet had time enough to materially modify tho plans of the former ; but there is littlo ground to believe that ho will succeed in accomplishing what his predecessors have utterly failed tO accomplish. Cuba is de..tin. I to ho free. If S.min is not already convinc ed of this fact she must be utterly blind, not only to the undauntod spirit of the insurgent forces, but to tho limited extent of her own meager re sources. With the boglnning of this fourth year of the Cuban Struggle tho outlook for tho insurgents is brighter than over. Hu: M ist a k i;s?IV? aciiers who get sour and seoiil whon things il > not go to suit them, make a big mistake. People who leave their politeness nt homo when they travel on railway trains, make a big mistake, Young people who put off becoming Christians because they think tlu-y have f>u years to do it in, make a big mistake. Men who aro rfraid to give their wives a word of praise, for fear it will spoil them, make a big mistake. Parents who wa.lt their children to keep out of the church until they are old enough to understand all tbo doc trines and decide for themselves, mukt ,? lilf mistake. i?. rmors who fond their pigs and cattle good corn, ami pay no attention to what kind of books and pipers their children are reading, make a big mistake. Young men who think thoy know it all, and that father and inothor don't know anything, make a big mistake. Fathers who Whip their boys for doing on the sly what they themselves are doing openly, in>vk?? a big mistake, People who exoeot to get to heaven jnst because they h-ivo shaken hands with preachers and had their name* enrolled on tho church book, in iko a big mistake. ?Cucumbers are native to tho East Indies and aro grown in Cash in ore, China and Persia. They wi ro much esteemed by the ancients and aro com mon in Bgvpt, whore a drink is ore pared from them when they aro ripo. ?Garlic came from Asia and has been used sinco the earliest, times. It formed part of tho diet of tho Israelites In E/vpt. and'was used ly Greek and Ro man soldiers and African ponSantJ, ?A hotel keeper In a Hi assets hotel was obliged tho other dav to buy eighty pairs of shoes foi his euo^ts. The porter hud decamp v1 with that numbor p'aced in his chafe. ?Tho defense of Pel still largnly Intrusted only with bows and arrc ?Egypt's populatj raore^than, doul