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HERO COI'YUIOIIT. 1001, HY THOMAS P. VOUTKOUT BY THOMAS W?k P. MONTFORT %v r ciiAi* . i. tttk AriT.Ai: A Mi K |U \ HTtj 1N TT!. TbOillitle villi;. ? ? r I ? I: 'tr'.s -'fill hnd never boon ? i?uit?? of ex citement In -ill l s . ;?i Women, bun In ? d i nd with rolled up sleeves, im (I > Id und fro neross the lown 'n ?irVpl nr lean ed fi'oni i!.' ? i?n ?vi i| v h und coiled pxeltedlv \. :> U i Mb. M 'kllUI n hun dred (jueilli ;i ? f?St " ' pretended to uns?ei T! ?? ? Iii ?'? e i huddled about tbeb m ? ? ? ' anging t<> tbolr skirts. yUyU f;\ ? ?? Ueuind |holr oyes wide U'Mi > ? ? ! ?' ',! ren.r. The men. nwoMr ? ;.? i: '?? <? ' ?! mi the street cor ner in lW.ii po tO?lce and tulk ed logos bei In low. Iiusbed tone?. The otiuso >?!' all tlnx excitement was the b< nv.v i? omiti.v of ennnon away ?>rr to the south and ;lie barely distinguish able rnttleof musketry which told only lOO plainly licit it buttle was belUg fOtlgllI and llilll men were being killed ami mangled by ilicit' fellow men. it wn * in the spring <>r 1801, at the be ginning of the long and bloody war be tween the south and the north. Tho people at Beckett's Mill and all over that port 6f Missouri known as Possum IMdgC bad beard rumors of a coining war. but they bad gouc Oil In their quiet, uneventful way. giving little thought to What they heard and feeling confident Hint evou it* war came ii would not affect them. And now. right at the beginning, a battle was being fought almost at their very doors. Just a few miles away General Sterling l*rico nnd bis army of men In gray were laying siege to Lex ington ami its garrison of men In blue. Unused as they were to war. the peo ple or Possum Itldge saw a dreadful meaning in the rattle of the musketry and the booming of the heavy cannon. As bad as war is in reality, to the Im agination of those people It was a thou sandfold worse. It tilled them with a feeling of awe and terror that Is Inde scribable, Olid they could scarcely have been more affected bad they known that the end of time wns at band. One old man known as Tap Hump son, who had long been looked ftp t<? as the village oracle, shook his bend gravely and predicted sad and awful things to come. "As I have said time an ng'ln." be re marked, "ihe people have grown wick ed nn unruly In their stiff necked pride, an the Lord, bo's n-gwihe to bumble 'em, an he's u-gwlnc lo humide 'cm down Into the very dust. I've see It a-COtnln for years, an I've kllOWOd the mind of the Lord. I kuowed he was patient an long suffcrln, but l Unowcd he wa'u't a-gwlno to bear with these people forever an that sooner or later be was a-gwlno to humble 'em." "Oh. my Lord, my Lord!" an old wom an wailed as she paced Blowly back and forth, frantically wringing her bauds. "Oh, my Lord, jest a-llsten to them cannons a-boomiu an them guns a-poppln. Ob, Lordy, It'?; Jest awful! They're n-klllin an n-slaughterin an n slayiu 'em by the thousands, nn a for 6 It's over with they'll nil bo killed nn there won't bo nary a one left. Oh, my Lord, my Lord, it's jest aw full" "Well tuny you say that. Gran'ma Fell," auother woman, a religious en thusiast, remarked, "an well may you trlmble for all them thousands that are a-beln killed, for they are a-dyln In their sins nn never stoppln to ax their selves the question, 'Where are wo a-gwlno?' It's the duty of good Chris tinns to pray for 'em, an I'm a-gwine to do it" Suitiug her actions to her words, the woman knelt In the street nnd prayed long and fervently, but she prayed all alone. Everybody else was too excited to Usteu to her petitions even, much less take part In them. "It's sholy awful," Jacob Hicks re marked, with an ominous shake or his head. "Tears Jest like tho whole world Is goln all to smash an that pretty soon there oiu't goln to bo no end to nothln. Seems like 1 can most hear tho groans nn the cries of tho thousands that are mangled nn dyln. My Lord, my Lord! I wouder what the world Is ever golu to como to any how." "An the wust ain't begin to como ylt," Ebenezer Sparks said solemnly. "Lord, the war ain't ralrly got started, nn this flghtin niu't nothln to what It will be before It's over. Jest wait till you've seed tlghtln as I've seed it, with thousands an thousands of men a-fight in an everybody a-glttln killed! That tlinr's war share enough." "1 wonder If that wnr'U git here?" some one asked in trembling and rear. At this question the men and women all looked Inquiringly and with wide "yon |n one another's fuce as ir In viting un answer. After u siion oaueo Ebenezer Sparks said coufldently: "Laud! Or course that warMl git here. IIow can It help It when It's so nigh? Yes, Blr-eel You bet It'll git here. Why, them two armies will wal lop each other all rouud over tho country Jest like a passed or dogs wal lop one another all over ever'whar when they git to flghtln. Course that war'll git here, jest uj s??oro as any thing." "An we'll nil be killed," ono of tho women exclaimed In terror. "Most shore to be," Ebenezer re plied consolingly. "Don't see bow It can be helped with all them guns an them cannons poppln away nil the time ever' which awny. Yes, slr-ee! Ever* body is most shore to git killed, women an children as well ns men." At this encouraging prospect tho wo men sot up a Walling and the children began to scream, wlille the races or the men grew white and their limbs be gan to quake. "Lord, Lord I Thar ain't no spnrtn no body when them wars an* a-gwlno on," Ebenezer continued relentlessly, "an ever*body nn ever'lhuig is jest snot all to pieces sain ; ns so many hog-'. Yes, slr-ee! What one army don't git the other does, ami ntwlxt 'em they make a clean sweep, you bet. Oh, my, but them wars hi dreadful tilings! I've tltTn 'em enough to know, nn to people that ain't never hnd no experience they're Jest awful, But thnr ain't no ubo of beln skeered, nn If you nil had ever been In the tight places I have been In you wouldn't bo neither. Land, I jest love war, nn I ain't no morenrrnld or them guns than I would bo or that many gnats. I'd rather fight than to cat, an ir that botflo keeps u*? much longer I don't bellevo I'm a-gwlna to bo able to hold myself out of It. 1 ijot to keep a powerful grip on myselr to keep out or It now." At that moment Jacob llicks gave a iitnrt and stood listening Intently." From the bard road lending south from tho village there came the sound of a horse In full gallop* The rest all heard It and BtOOd waiting In breathless silence. An Inquiring glance passed from one to another through the group, but not a word was Spoken. Toif.minutes passed, aud tbeu a lone horseman, wrapped In a cloud of dust, appeared on a little rise a quarter of a mile away. The women screamed, tho children set up a cry and the men grew whiter than ever. F.benezor Sparks?well, it was not until tho ex citement was over that any one knew what he did with himself. The horseman was bareheaded, and ns ho came madly charging Into the vil lage his hair was Hying wildly iu the wind, and bis face looked almost ghost ly In Its pallor. "Fly for your lives!" he shouted when bo was near enough to make himself heard. "Fly quick, for they're a-eom In, an you'll all bo killed I Fly! Flyl" No one moved or spoke. They were all so terror stricken that they bad lost the power to move either limb or tongue. "They're n-comln; they're n-comln; a million of 'em!" the horseman shouted hoarsely. "An they're n-ktllln an a-slnyiu an a-slaughterln an a-burnln us they go! Fly, lly, for your lives!" Then as the full meaning of the horse man's words began to dawn on them a new and uncontrollable fear seized on the people. Some of them turned to run away as fast as their trembling limbs would carry them, some sat down und. hiding their faces, burst into lam entations, while two or three women fainted. The whole population of the village was on the verge of a wild pan ic, and In another moment there would have been a general stampede to the country. "Hold!" suddenly cried a voice among them. It was a firm, confident voice and a voice to be heeded and obeyed. "Hold! There is no danger, and no body Is going to be hurt." The people looked around, and there In their midst they saw a tall, mild looking young man with a pair of keen black eyes and a firm east of counte nance that were calculated to'com mand respect and even obedience. He was a stranger there, and from whence "Flu for your lives!" ho had come and how ho had so sud denly nppoared In tho village were mysteries, but they were mysteries the people did not stop to consider just then. Had an angel from heaven ap peared among the denizens of Beckett's Mill at that moment they would scarce ly have considered It strange, for to them It was a day of strange and mys terious happenings. "What do you mean'/" the stranger demanded of the horseman. "And who Is it that Is coming?" "Them armies," the horseman re plied. "Oh, my Lord, they're a-comln, a million of 'cm, with guns an cannons, an they're a-klllln nn a-slnughtorln an a-slayln an a burnln everything in their track. Oh. fly. fly before it's too late!" Tho horseman spurred his horse and attempted to ride on, but tho stranger took hold of the bridle with one band and with the other drew a pistol from his pocket, which he pointed at tho horseman's head. "Damn you!" bo said. "You make another squeak or try to move another Inch and I'll blow your head off. What flo you mean by searing all these wom en and children out of their lives? Haven't you got a particle of sense?" "But they're n-eomln. I tell you," tho other protested In trembling tones, his eyes starting from their sockets, "a million of"? "Shl?t up, I toll you, or I'll shoot you down like a ?log. Haven't vou sense enough to know a drove of clfttlo from an army of nun7 Look behind you once, and you'll ^oo what your million of men amounts to." Tho people had nirendy looked and, realizing the ridiculousness of the situ ation. Indulged In a little nervous laugh. Just coming over tho rise wns a herd of cattle which the fanners from neat Lexington wore hurrying back into the Idlls in order to save them from tho depredations of the soldiers. The horseman had caught a glimpse of tho cattle back down tho road and, being In a nervous state on account of "Shut up, or I'll shoot you like a doy." the firing of the guns and cannon, had taken it for granted that tho soldiers of both armies were coming. Tho coolness and the firmness of the stranger reassured the pooplo directly, and, casting nsldo a portion of their f?.aii the*, gathered about him and look ed up to him us n itfperT?F be\ost. "flie moo admired him for ids coolness, nod tbe women admired him for that and also for ids handsome features and his magnificent aud manly form. One woman, young und beautiful aud strangely uullke tho people ubout her, looked flrsj on the stranger, then on the horseman. Tho llrst she regarded with uumlstuUablo admiration, but uu consciously thut look changed to oue of Bbame as she turned ber eyea ou tho other. "He's no soeh a man us that man there," she said to herself. "Oh, my Lord, If he only was, If bo only was!" Tho people, crowding about him, would have made a hero of the stran ger, and he allowed them to fawn on him and make over hbn. though he felt that he had doue nothing to merit It It was all very pleasant, ami he en Joyed It, especially when ho surprised a look of admiration lu the eyes of tho young woman who had contrasted him with the horseman, and they had both blushed and cast their eyes down. In that meeting of eyes there was recog nition?aye, more than recognition. Yes, It was all very pleasant to the stranger until suddenly his past life Hashed before hlin; then his face paled, and his heart grew sick, and a wistful, furtive expression came to his eyes. There was something there that nothing could blot out ?nothing but death. CnAFTER II. BOMB PEOPLE AND EVENTS. "You uus may all say Jest what you uns pleases, but I've d WC said what 1 think, an what I've said 1 stick to, an I'll contluer to stick to it till l know I'm wrong even if It kills ever' bug in the boardiu house an ever' calf In the old man's barn. 1 have said, an I still say. that that feller Is a preacher an that he's on his way up to Deacon Stny lar's to make an npp'luliuont to preach at the COOU Hun meet In house." "Pap Sampson, you have said that, an you can jest keep on a-sayin It till the cows come home, but 1 tell you right now you nin't n-gwlne to change my mind none. The words I spoke at first I speak ag'lu. an them words Is that that feller ain't no more a preach er than a rabbit Is?nary a speck more." "Jasou Uoberts. if that feller ain't no preacher, an you air so dead shore of It. maybe you'll jest be good enough to tell us what under the sun he may be." Tap Sampson thumped his cane down ou the ground and straightened himself up with tbe air of one who has thrown down the gauntlet and Is wait ing to see If anybody Is going to be foolhardy enough to take it up. The young stranger, having quieted the fears of the people at Beckett's Mill, had departed on his way giving no ac count of himself further than to state that his name was James Melvin. He said nothing of whence he came nor Whither he was going uor how he hap pened to be among them. Very naturally the people were cu rious about him and equally as natural ly they fell to discussing him as soon as lie was gone. l'ap Sampson being recognized as tho village oracle very properly resented the audacity of Ja sou Roberts In dnr Ing to dissent from Ids conjectures, and in uttering his last speech he felt that he had certainly ptit Jason down for gooil and all. But Jasou was more tenacious than Pap supposed, ami after pondering the matter a bit he said: "I may bo mistaken, of course, an so may you l'ap. but mistaken or not my notion Is that that feller Is rich an that ho has eome here from somewhar to buy Bomethln." Pap gave a contemptuous sniff and Indulged in a little incredulous laugh. "Yen have said Hint, Jason Uoberts," he remarked, "an mebby you have said true words an mebby you ain't. But If you thinks they are true words meb by you can go fodder an say what that feller Is llgurln on buyin." "Oh, I don't know," Jason replied. "Most anything, I reckon." "That won't do, Jason. It won't nigh do. You can't edgo out of a box In that sort of way. The fact is you ain't no notion under tho sun what that feller Is hero for, an you mought Jost as well say so." "An you ain't no notion neither, l'ap, no more than I have." "I've said what bo's here for, Jason, an I've said it boldly, an, as I remark ed, the words what I have spoke I stick to, an I'll contlner to stick to 'cm as long as Gab'el'fl got a button left on his eoat. That feller Is a preacher, an ho's" "You have said that. Tap, an thar ain't no use in you chawin your hash over more than three times. But I know that feller ain't no preacher, 'cause when be come up hen? he cuss ed. Ho cussed Sim Banks, an ho cuss ed him out plain. He said these words, 'Damn you. you make another squeak or try to move another Inch, an 1'il blow your head off.' Them was tho Identical words ho said to Sim, for I hoard him with my own ears, tin I guess you heard him, too, Pap." "I did, Jason. I heard him speak them very words. But what of it? Strictly Bpenkln, 'damn' ain't no cuss word, an I 'low a preacher mought uso it lu a case of emergency, though it ain't Jest proper." Jim Thorn, who had remained silent all tli!s time, suddenly broke Into tho conversation by remarking with the air of oue who has convictions nud who is positive of their correctness: "You nil have had your say about that man, nn now It's time I was bav in mine. Somo of you have reckoned one thing nn some of you have reck oned another, but none of you ain't reckoned right. I know what that fel ler Is, an I stand ready to bet a boss on It." "What nro the word you 'lows to speak, Jim Thorn," l'ap Sampson ask od contemptuously, "If you knows so much about It?" "Tho word I 'low to upeak is Jest this, l'ap Sampson, an you all will see It nro a true word if you llvo long enough: That man ain't nothln more nor less than a rascal htdln out from tho law. That's the word I speak, an It's a word I'll stand to If It kills mo." There was a moment of breathless Bih'iico while tho people looked from one to another, and nobody noticed that ono of tho company colored and after shooting a contemptuous glance at Jim Thorn turned her face away. That oue person was Ixuilse, the young and beautiful wife of Sim Banks, tho man who hnd fled before tho a Ivance of a herd of cattle. Tho peoplo of Beckett's Mill were like tho rest of humanity in that they wero moro ready to bellovo 111 of a fob low creature than they wero to believe good of him. For this reason tho ma jority of those present fell nt onco in with Jim Thorn's Idea and proceeded to nnnouneo their belief that ho was right To be sure, Pap Sampson shook nil head and thumped tho earth with his cane and s'outly maintained that he was correct. So did Jason Uoberts contend that ho was right, Thoso two men hud taken positions, and they fell that It was Incumbent on them to main tain them, and nothing short of abso lute ionYlctlpn_weuld induce jhenx to recede h? liifljrh ?s~? hair's breadths With the others, however, It was dif ferent. "Lord, 1 reckon Jim Thorn Is shoru right!" Hicks Haid, breaking the pause. Yes, slr-ee' Come to thluk of It, 1 had a sort of v sneakln notion while that feller was hero that ho wa'u't Jest ex actly plumb straight." "I noticed," observed another, "that ho had a sort of an uueasy look about tho eye, like ho was skeered that "bo inought be overtook nn ketehed up. Didu't none of you uns notice that?" "Lord, 1 reckon I did," another re plied, "nu I mind most distinctly thnt ho didn't appear to act a bit nafral. It flashed over mo In a minute that thar was Boniethln wrong about blm some way." "Shucks!" exclaimed a third. "1 seed through that feller tho very minute I clapped my eyes on blm. an I knowed as well as If he'd told mo Hint ho was hldln from the law. I wouldn't never a-meutloned it, though, If somebody ' else hadn't n-mcntioned It fust." Jim Thorn listened in silence "> nil these men, a cold. Incredulous sm.le on his face and n look of contempt shining In his eyes, lie knew that every ono of them was uttering a positive false hood and that not one of them had thought of Jim Melvln as it rascal and a fugitive from justice until ho had suggested It. "Wonder what that chap's been up to now," some one said after a pause, "that he's had to take to hldln out this a-way?" "Lord. I hope ho ain't been nn killed nobody," Hicks remarked, with a shud der, "but like enough that's jest what he's done." "Or It may he that he's stoled a boss or SOtuetbln," another added. "I reck ou bo's most menu enough to do any thing. Judgln by his looks." "Or he inought 'a' robbed a bank, for till we know. Land, like as not he's got a bushel of money hid about him somowha r." These were all merely surmises on the part of tho speakers, for none of them knew a thing on earth about James Melvln. It Is strange, however, how near to the truth a mere surmise may somctlmefl draw. That .Mme? Melvln was a fugitive from the law was a fact ami that some of the other I surmises snmeked strongly of the truth were also facts. All nt once at this point the attention i of tho villagers was drawn away from 1 James Melvln and ti>;ed on another ! BUbject. Mrs. Sparks bad come da<h lug in among them, her face pale and haggard and her eyes wet with tears. "Whar's my old man?" she cried. "Whar's Ebenezer? Hain't none of you uns seed UOthitl of him7 Ob, my Lord'" Not until this moment bad any one noticed that Ebenezer Sparks was ab sent, ami consequently nobody was in a position to enlighten his other half us to his whereabouts. Mrs. Sparks looked eagerly from face to face, then broke forth in heartrending lamenta tions. "Oh. my poor, brave, foolhardy Ebe nezer!" she- walled. ' I'll never git to see him no moio, never in all this World! He'll be billed! lie's shore te be killed! 1 jest know be will'." "Why, great gl'UUliy, Mrs. Sparks," Hicks exclaimed, "whatever has got 1 Into you to make you talk that a way' Who or what is goln to kill Kbene'/.er do you s'poseV "()b. my Lord. Jake, the war'H kill him! It's Jest shore to. an 1 won't nev or git to lay my eyes on him ag in." "Why. land of Oosheu, Mrs. Sparks bow do you go 'bout llggerln that out How's the war gwine to kill EhcuCZCI when he ain't got notion to do with It I'd like to know'/" "Hut he's U-golU to have Boiuelhlll t< do with it. Don't you all know Ihn them cannons an them guns has don< sot him plumb crazy an made bim sc wild to light that he's jest put out OVO thar to Jlne the war?" Some of the little group laughed out right, while some of them only smiled Hicks did neither, although he wni strongly tempted to laugh, lie snv that "Mrs. Sparks was intensely in ear nest and sorely troubled, and lie pltloi her. Everybody knew Ebenezer Spark: was a braggart ami a cownrd every body v a, v ;>t Ills wife, the one persol who should have known it better thai any one else on earth. Tho blind, unreason lug faith ?omi wives repose In their husbands wouh be ridiculous wen? it not so pathetic and Mrs. Sparks was of that class. "I guess you ain't got no call to in skeered nbotlt Kliene/.er. Mrs. Kparks.' Hicks remarked presently. "You eat Jest bet ho ain't, gone to Jlne no win nn that he'll turn up here the fust thing you know." The woman shook her head. "You can't fool inc " she replied. "You uns all don't know Ebenezer like I do. If yo'. uns bad ever heard him talk as I b'lve, u-tcllin about the times when he I t Into the war an w-hupped the battles, you uns would know what lie Is now. . line an ng'ln I've beard blm A-slghln an n-hopln for a war to git started, so's he could git n chanst to jlne It an fight like he uster. lie was shy, an he wouldn't tell you nil them things, but he lold "em to nie." Even Hicks smiled at this. He could not help It when he remembered how often Ebenezer, sitting by the store siovA Of winter even-in--, lutd buitnivd of his brave exploits In war ami yearn ed, as a sick child yearns for its moth er, for a chance to repeat them. Ebon ezer's modesty, like his bravery, was n mere matter of assumption. Just at that momeul a boy came run ning down the street in n high state of excitement, nnd. stopping In front of the group, panted out: "Von all better come nn git Ebene v.pv Snarh* ...-.too i.... tttvr? OiV"" '"?inm ir ho stays thar mucu mnger no n uo deader 'au a mackerel. He's most played out now, I guess." There was a moment's silence; then Bcvernl of the men broke Into a loud laugh. Presently Hicks turned to tho hoy and said: "Is Qbenezcr In my store cellar?" "Yon bet he Is," the boy replied, "nn he can't glt out, uutlicr, 'less'n he's helped out." "What's happened to him?" "Why, tie's"All buffeul up under you all's Inters. They's most a thousand bushels on top of him." Without another word Illeks led the way to tho cellar, and there, sure enough, they found Ebenezer, the brave nnd tho bold, buried under a mass of potntoes which had rolled down over blm when he had attempted to seereto himself by burrowing Into them. Ho looked sheepish and cheap when he was hauled out, and when the men laughed at him ho was In half a-mind to get angry, but he thought better of It and grinned Instead. "Your woman 'lowed you war gwlno to Jlno tho war," Pap Sampson said, with a smile, "but wo uns reckoned you WR'tt't, hmito-so ' * aa oil thnr to wimp uo ovules, nn it looks llko wo una war right." "I?I did start to Jlno the war," Ebenezer stammered, "but how could * glt to go any rudder when I done -got aotched under tbcm denied to toreV" "Did joi^'luw retched clean to Sampson asked, the war had done Hicks' cellar," Pap 'an war you down thar looklu round 'tnoug them tatcm for a battle to whupY" Kbenezer grinned, but mado no reply. Ills ?wife, however, who had come up Just lu time to hear Pap's question, said: "I reckon, Pap Sampson, you all thinks you uns is pow nful smart. My land, didn't none of you uns novor start nowhar an git lost on the way? Humph! Like as If Kbonezor couldn't 'a* fell Into that cellar or got sort of ruttled an run Into It by mistake: Reckon the next thing you all 'ill be trylu to make out that Kb.nozer are a coward." "Lord, Mls'us Sparks, we don't need to do nary sieh a tiling as that." l'ap Sampson replied promptly. "Kbcno i."r has done math- that all out as plain as the nose on your face hlssclf. Yes, slr-ee." "fjuess Kbonezor an Situ Hanks has done showed jest how brave they are," Jason Roberts observed, witli a laugh. "Out! of 'em u-hldil) In a cellar an the otber'n tearlu down the road llppcty cllppcty, an all on acc ount of a drove of old cows. Say, I bet the war d soon be lit if they uns had a whack at it." "Lord! Wouldn't it. though?" Tap said, with a ( buckle. "Why, It'd jest be Whupped all to frazzles in n<> time." Then everybody laughed? everybody except Sparks and Hanks and their wives. Tho two first hung their heads In shame, Mrs. Sparks bristled up in her husband's defense, while Mrs. Hanks gave her husband a look full of disgust aud COOlly tut lied her back on him. Mis. MatlU noticed the conduct of Mrs. Hanks and promptly called atten tion to it by saying: "Lord, Loucesy, you ain't ulgb so quick to stand up for your husband as Hetty Sparks is for hor'n. You acts for all lie world Jest like- you is plumb ashamed id' Sim." "I am." Mrs. Hanks replied flatly. "Who could help being ashamed of a coward, I'd like to ItliowV" Sim looked up at his wife, a pained expression in his eyes and his face very red. "I.oueesy," he gasped, "you dast tu talk that a way about me an we uns Jest been inn ri led a year?" "I dare to speak the truth," Mrs. Hanks replied cuttingly, her lips curl lug with scorn. 'T in plumb ashamed of you." "Then you don't love me none," Sim whimpered broken beartcdly. "A wife What loses her old man ain't golll to run him down afore other folks. I.ou eesy, you don't love me; you don't lovo me!" Mrs. Hanks, instead of being touched, gave her husband one scornful glance und turned and walked away. With her utter want of tact Mrs. Mann said: "I guess, Sim Hanks, Loticesy'a been n-contrastln you with that Mr. Mclvlu, an I reckon she thinks you ain't much shakes compared with him." Sim's eyes Hashed lire in an instant, and, trembling with anger, he cried: "You are a-l.vin. Mrs. Mann, when you say any sieh a thing as that, an if you was a man I'd wimp you till your hide wouldn't hold shucks. Hain't no body got no call to spoilk nary a word ag'lli Loucesy, nn 1 ain't golll to stand still an let no sieh a word be spoke. That's jest what I got to say, an 1 mean it." Mrs. Mann sniffed contemptuously. "Sim Hanks," she said, "you kin Jest stand up for I.oueesy all you phases, but I mind she didn't stand up tor you none, nn my notion is she hain't golll to stand up for you. no maller what anybody says. I've got eyes, an what I see i see. i.oueesy was plumb struck with that man. an you mark my words, Sim Hanks, if she ever to know him she'll learn to love Ids little linger better than she'll ever lovo your whole body. You Jest bear them words In mind, Sim Hanks, an If you live you Will Und that they are the goSDCl truth." sirs. .Mann, tbough actuated oy a selfish interest and Influenced by that feeling of bitter enmity which a wom an has for a successful rival in the af fections of the man she loves, spoke nearer the truth than any of her hear ers dreamed - nearer even than she her* self suDopscd. ' [to nr: continued.] ) The domestic supply of rice Is con siderably less than the consumption, and there is yet abundant room for the expansion of this Industry. Pomelo, or grape fruit, Is nearly all larger than the largest orange and Is uniformly of a pale yellow color. In texture the rind may be smooth or even polished. THIN Lots of people nave thin hair. Per haps their parents had t hi n hair; per ocr ^7 haps their children have thin hair. But this docs not make it necessary for them to have thin makes the hair healthy and vigorous; makes it grow thick and long. It cures dan druff also. It always restores color to gray hair,? all the dark, rich color of early life. There is no longer need of your looking old be fore your time. $1.00 a bottle. All driigf/l?U. "As n remedy for restoring color '4 vigor ims no equal, it i,, , Always given in? |ior/cut satisfaction in ?ivi:ry Way." ".Mrs. A. M. STBRnt. Aug. is, ir!in. llammondsportiM.T, Writ.-? tho Doctor* llo will ?cd you a |,ook on The ?MIT :n;<l Sculp fr.-e, ?,10ii ,. if you ci<> not obtain ?n tho beneflte you Kxpioinl from tlic line of the Vigor writo iiio Doctor utiuut it. Aailrvfta, DR. J.c. AY.'.U, i "well, Man. The Golden Age is the GOLD DUST Age 9 that emancipates women of all ages from the tyranny of hard housework. GOLD DUST Washing Powder is the greatest boon of the century to woman, since it lightens her heavi est work. Large package is greatest economy. ?C (| The N. K. Fairbank Company, Chlc&(to. St. Lovils. Now York, Boston. P-JT ? ?Sfc?elable PrcparaUonforAs similaling llicFoodnndRc?ula ling U\e Stomachs and Bowels of Promotes Digcslion.Cheerful - oess and Rest .Contains neither Opium .Morphine nor Mineral. Not Nab c otic . AtefBtf ?fOU OrSMCl 'ELPtTCHKR sf/x.Sevitut ? HvKtlk Sn.'if - sU?xr Stu/ ' fiffifimmt - Ul Ci^'nilinlr-icffit * UaTH.Sr*,/ ffnrtfoH Mignr Im,tO/i?"".i Flavor. Apcifccl Remedy forConsUpo rion.Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea Worms ,(yonv\il?>ions,Kevorish ness ond Loss of Sleep. FncSuutlo Signature of NEW VOIIK. EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER. H ^ov ^nKlnts Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature In Use For Over Thirty Years TP C CINTAUR COMPANY. NtW VORK CITY. Double Daily Service Hctwron Now York, Tampa, Atlanta Now Oricur.?-, and Points South and Wost in Effect Feu. 21, 1001. SOUTH BOUND. Daily. Halb No. 31. Ne 2i i.v New York, P. Ii. lb ?? 12 r6pm 1J 10? i I ,v Philadelphia, " Slfflpm ? ?*? n Lv Baltimore, " ? ? ?> 46pm <> 22au I.v Washington, P. H.H... Ii6>prr. 8 36 in Lv Richmond. S.A. 1.10 10pm ljSJSp i LvPe ersburg " _ 1181pm i Opii Lv Noriina Junction. 2 06am 3.'Hpii bv Hendoreon. 23uain 365p<t Lv Raleigh. Warn ? ?inn by rJol'incH. 6 87am f?d7pn Lv Hamlel. *> ?oam H i<h-n LvColumbial.sfam lOSOnu ArSavannab.12 10pm 220an Ar.Jacksonville. 8 60pm tirOaii ArTitmpa. c OOam f OOpn No. 4U3. No. 41 Lv Now York, N.Y.P.&N. 17 Dflam B66pn Lv Philadelphia) " l0:0amU2?pn Lv Now York. ODS. 1 _ Lv Uiiltniiorc, B 8 P Co . ...... hi 30pir Lv Wash't?n, N ,v W~B B .._i? 30pin Lv Portsmouth S.A. L. .. I) 00pm iooftan LvWeldon .l(33'im 1236pnf bvNorlina Juno. 12 r.imm 2 lOpnr Lvtlondersoii. ... . 120am 2 4 pm LvHaloigh .3 0?am 4 547 in i vHouthern Pines . ;? 18am i> t iprrj bvllamlot.... ...... f) 4'nm 8(5|.hi Lv Wilmington. ... iLJUom A t VmO! v'.'. 0 rr. ...... i. 9 i V-'-1 '-: 4 ?{>K LvCheeter. . i? tw*rir*Vi'lOpn LvGreenwood.I2t>7pm ) :i2?.n) Lv Athens_...1! 19pm 4 08ar? Ar Atlanta {.sT??orn 6 30*n Ar Augusta, 0 & WO _ r> 10pm . Ar Miicon Oof da . 7 *0pinll 10am Ar Montgomery, A ."t W ?'. S)20pmll OOam Ar Mobile, i. .% e_ .. aft am 1 1 pm Ar New Orleans, L& N .. 7 30am 8 30pio Ar Nashville, N O & Bt L.. ? 36am i*> 65pm Ar Memphis. "_. . 4 00)mi K 1 (lam M0BTHBO0MO. No. 402. No. 08 i.v Memphis, N O & St L.. 10 ?ptr a 45pm Ly Nashville, " ..10;>>pin 9SOain Lv New Orleans, I. & N.. . 7 4C|>ni . Lv Mobile, ?' .. 12 20am i.v Montgomery, A& w P HvOaui 1 30pm l.v Maoon. c 01 Ga. a OOam 1 20pm Lv Augusta, C & W 0. II 4t>aui Lv am. hi i,i ;...?? 1..12 UUpm S 0 iptr Ar Athena. 2 48pm ll Jipm Ar (Irconwood. 4 60pm 2<4>n Ar ('hosler. 0 o'ipin 1'.! enr. I.v Charlotte S A ,.II30pm6UOam Lv Wilmington, 8 A 1. 3 80pm .... Lv 11 um iri H A L. 060pm 8 lO.ur l.vSo Piooa BAL. 10 .v>pm 903am Lv Raleigh. 1 (?min II: l) 01 Ar Henderson. .. 2 7am 1 (0,?? Lv Norhna ? unction .. .. a lOaiu 2 OOpm Lv Wohton .I 20am 6 lOpm j Ar Portsmouth, ?.. .... 7 ooam-o ?opm ' Ar VVasli'ton N & WS II. 0 6 am Ar Haltimorc, 118 I'Co.|U 4?aic \ Ar New York, O O 8 S Co . [180pm Ar Philadelphia,N Yf&Nt6 46pm 6 loan Ar Now York,_ " 6 40pm 8 Ui'am No. U. No. liii Ly Tampa, 8 A LRy. 80*pm Huoam Jacksonville.10 kOam 7 46pm h'nvannah. 1 60pm I169prn Columbia, j. 0 27pm if 46am Hamlet . I)40pm 9 20am Soulheru l ines.1032pm lu : am tiaielgh .12 28am 12 07pm Henderson. I 4lain 127pm Noriina Junction. 21 am 2 1 ipm Petersburg,. 1 09am 1 4 pm ^Richmond. 4 Man, 636pn WaehingtonyiaPennRR s i am ?> ?!?>? Haliimoro " ic < .lam 11 2 >pn Philadelphia " 12 27pm 2 ;>iianr. New York- _3 Ifepm li ;:oarr Note?tHaily Ex. ?und?y. ~ I)intng ears between Now York und tlohmond, and Hamlet and St. Augustine n Trains Nos. 31 and 4L (Central time. ^Eastern Timo. ,. 1 North Carolina's labor commissioner reporls that 82 por cent of adult em ployes und f?8 per cent of children rend nnd write. CHKAPKIt MlLiUAGE HOOKS. Seaboard Air linn Makes a Noto worthy Reduction ol l'rioe. The Seaboard Air Line beingevor alive t. > ibe people's interests as well as its own ban, effective February 3?, reduced its ? 1 000-mile ticket? in h lorida, from $30 to I $25; all one thousand mile tiekeiRof ibo I Seaboard Air Line railway issue are now good over the entire system (with (be ex ception of the family mileage tickets sold in the State of North Carolina,) which trav? rses Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ueorgia, Florida and Alabama, j and rcaelies the capital* of all the above States. i Hy agreement, one thousand mile tickets of Seaboard Inane arc good in addition to its own lines over the Itichmond, Fredor ioks urg and Potomac railroad from Itich mond to Quantico, nnd the Pennsylvania railroad from Quantico to Wath n^ton, the Columbia, Newborryand I.aureus rail road, and the Baltimore steam Packet com; any'fl line from Norfolk to Haiti?? ore The Seaboard ?ir bine railway is the short line from South Carolina to all points north, south and west and lias a service that is second to none in the Sou'h, and its trains are run on ipliok and convenient Bchcduk B. For Information write Ceo. McP. Unite.T. P. A , Columbia, s. C. n. K. [,. Bunch, Uen. l'ass Agent, Portsmouth. Vn. GAQTOD j A ' mm '^J ? i lin For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Boars tho Signature of Oharlu8ton :iud Wostorn Carolina R. R A.U01 MIA AND AHIIKVII.I.It SHOBT I.INB. In effect Nov. V.r>. IlKi.l. I.v Augusta.u 40 a '?'< 35 p Ar Greenwood.Ii 16 p . ?? Anderson. ,s 00 \> " Laurens . i 20 p II 66 u ?' Greenville_ . 8 00 p I" 16 n " Glenn Springs ...... 4 30 p . " Bpartanburg. :J i<? i> i' 00 a ' Saluda. . 6 88 p .... " Hendersonville. 0 03 p . " AshovUle.. - .. .. 7 Hi p . Lv ABhovilie. ? ? 8 00 a " Hendersonville.? n a .. .. j" Vlat Kock. i? 24 i? . " Kahida..... 9 46 a . ? Tryon.I? -'<? ft ?? ? " Spartanburg .....11 49a 4 10 f " Ohmn Spring?_? .. .10*10? .. .. " Greenville_-... 14 01 p 4 00 j> " Laufens.i J>7 p 7 oo i u Anaurson . 7 25 u " Or en wood. 2 87 p Ar Augusta. . 6 10 p ll 40 a Lv AugUHta. 2 Op Ar Alh<nda,l?. 1 10 y " Fairfax. 4 62 j " YeiintMHoo. 8 60 a b Hi ) " Boaufort.10 10 a ? 60 j " l'ort Royal. _10 20 u 7 00 | " Savannah . 7 65 i " Chiuhmtuu- . 7 .')'?j i.v Charleston. 0 28 * l'ort Royal .. . 1 20 p 7 oo h B'-aufort..I 10 p 7 2o a " YninaH??o. 2 AO p a 30 a " Fairfax. 0 35 " Allcndnlo. <j 47 A Augusta. 11 ,r)0 h Ulose connection at Greenwood for ?i points on S. A. L. and II. A Q. Railway ami at ftpartanbarg with Southern Rail way tor any information rnlative to Uckot* ratest sohedulas, ?u>.., >^? t?11-.-i W. j. Craio, Oen. I'rhm. Agent 10. M. North, Sol. Agt. Angn lo,(?a. T.M. Kmkkbon, TraOlo > an?ger: As a result of 11)0 anti-saloon agita tion in Kansas, a " jointkeepor" at Wotinore was notified Ol) a Saturday that bo would bo given until the fol lowing Tuesday morning to close hie place, lie at once got out a thousand handbills announcing a " grand cIor lug " on Monday evening, to which "one and all" were invited. A local paper describes tbo "grand closing" as " tbo biggest drunk the town ever had." The salt production of Michigan last year filled 4,820,800 bin reis, a gain over the preceding year of 4,510 barrels. [YIONUY TO LOAN On farmirglands. Kasy payments. No commissions oharged. Borrower pays ac tual cost of perfecting loan. I merest 7 per cent, up, according to security. j NO. H. PALMER A SON, Onlumhia. P. (1 k SOUTHERN RAILWAY. Cuiuleniuil Nolmdulo of I'Hi?AiiK<ir Cialaa, In lifTcct .Inn. 27, 1001. UiTonviiio, Washingtonaud th? ICaat. iNTi. ri'No. "as >To..t4jNo. 4a I Dully1 iiiuii. D.uly Hull), Lv. Atlanta, CT. " At laola. R. T. " < InilMHIVlllS.. " At liens. " hula. *? Toeeou. " Sl-lllV.'l. " <i 1 -run VI110 . " Bpnrtnnhurg, " (4nffn?v . " Blaokaburg., " (iustoiiin. " Charlotte Ar. Ii r< i iisboro Ar. I >-.ir!i:itn . . . Ar. liulvigh . 1 00 ?i 25 7 50 u 12 00 in 8 60 to;?5 I) 05 1U 6S 11 6S i a 52 2 M 0 :tr ?I a 4 47 B 40 li 40 V 55 n 52 ul 2 45 n ? 1? P * 15 pi 5 2J ]>! Q IS p tl 411 to: 12 20 i> 1 20 p a os i> U 89 v 4 10 p 5 05 1> il 1ft 1 7 07 l 7 4.1 p : ;.r i> 05 \ pi 8 18 \> II In l 1? 10 4.' 1> 11 41'. 1 II 53 ti S 53 11 5 .so 111 5 ao 11 11 50 a 12 60 m 18 ? Ar. Danville.Ill 26 |> li 50 i> 1261 11 Ar. Norfolk .....I 8St) a 8 00 a 8SO a Ar. Hlolimoiid .. 0 00 ? 00 ill 000 n Ar.Wnshingtou, I " Haltiu'ePUH.! " Pliiladolpliln. " New York ..I li 4 V 8 0! 10 1: 7 85 II t> 15 11 11 II 85 2 88 ? U 28 a 4 28 ? tl 02 a 7 Oil a 7 45 a 8 02 a b 51 h H 50 a 18 20 |i 2 27 11 aj.*;ijp 1 1W_J1 ii 25 |i 8 50 p '1 H5 p 2 .Mi a 12 40 111 I 2 00 pj li 20 a From ilio KWai toe rcem Iho; also to Mhiutii. No.":).VNo. 37|No.lT N'oTS Daily. Pally. Diiily Duilv 12 l.i ? I EG p. ? tl .!>? v it M 11 I) 65 p|.I 0 o.r) v Son I lilt ?> li *?>I. CvTSTYrrror. " Philadelphia.. " halttmotu....1 " yVaahbtttton l.v. Richmond . Lv Norfolk Lv. Uniivillo l.v Halidgh. I.v. biiiiiiuii Lv. Grconalioro Ar. 1 linrlotlH Lv. Oastoiiln " liiNiikalmrg " Oaffnuy ... " Spart mil iuri " Qroonvlllo.. " tkwon. 11 22 11 '.1 2\J jii.(8 '_. , 11 !.". a 10 45 pj.j U 63 { 12 Oinii 11 03 p 11 00 plil ?? i p ; 40 v Ttlb i < hi Ar. Coluni)>iiH,Oa * Macon ' Brunswick... Ar. .)...-)<~.-ny Iii,..' " Luin... Ar. Athens Gainesville " Alhuitn, 1:. T " Atlu 11 In, ( '. T Ar. Rome .. I 7 2.S n' ii lo " ChuttnnooK*.] si 45 n| s 40 Ar. Oincinnnti " LmiHvlllo " Birmingham. 112 00 m 10 00 Ar. Now Orleans ? 45 pi h ;to "A" n. in. "1*" p. m. "M" QOOIt. "N" night. Trains leave Kingvllle, dully except Bpadayt forCntndon 10:16 n. ni. ami 4:60 p. in. Roturo' Inr leave t'nmdon for Klngvllle, dully except Sunday,8:35n. m. nnd 2:50 ii. m< AlaoforSunc tufdully oxcopl Sunday 8.00a, in. lU:lft h. m and 4:iVI|>. in. in-turning loavo Smntor at 6.60 a. ? in. 10.05n, in. and 4:80 p. in., inakhigconnecting at Klngvllle wit It trnlns lad ween Columbia and ChfirhMton. Trulna loiivo Bnnrtftnhurs vie, S. U, A C. dl> vtsliui daily for Glendalo, Jonesvlile, Union and Columbia and Inltn-incdiute points at 11 :4ft a, m. ami li: 16 p. ni Trains leave Toeeoa, Ha., for Klborton, Oa., dally 4:46 p. m. except Sunday, 7:0?> a. in. Returning lonve Rlberton daily 0:00 a. in. except Sunday, 3:16 p. in., inalclng nonnri/ 11on nt Toecoa with (raltlfl botwoan Atlanta, Greenville and tlio (Cast. ClieMiipeaku Lino Stoamerfl In daily sorvio? between Norfolk ami Baltimore. Nos. iiT and ;is?"Washington and South' woatorn Limited." Through Pullman aieop US cars Ix-twcen New York and New Orleans, via Washington, Atlanta and Mont1 gnincry. and also between Now x.->rk ?r.d Slemuiils, via Washington, Atlanta und nir n.li.einen. AlHO lllogttnt Pl'i.i.man LlllltAllf pnSMIIVATIO.N CAIWtWtween Atlanta and New York. Pirateln** thoroughfare ooaohee he* Ivreen Washington and Atlanta, iauing oari am? nil meals en route, Pullman aloonlni, cur* lioUveen Uieonahoro and Raloigh, ('ton* qoiine dion nt Norfolk for < )i,i> Point Com iron v. Jl>'i ni .\r.;inta w.tli Pullman I), ft. aleapai for Ohnttanoogn ami Oiaolnuatl, Kos, B6atid?O?''UnltodStates Fast Mall" rum ?olid In,i wren Washington and New CLrJaan?, t, -. composod of oooohei, through without cliunKefor pUMsengors of nil claaaar Pullman artwing*ronm sleoplna om-.-i hutwoan New York ami New i)i'loans, via At Inntaund Montgomarr ?nil hot wenn Mlrininghain and Richmond, bluing ears serve all meals onroutc. Nos. ;'"t and 84 ?"Atlanta and New Yorl Express," New loual train bat warn Atlant? and Charlotte, conuontlng at Charlotte with through trains Of name nnmliers. oarry? ?mi Richmond, Nor'ollt. Washington and New York. No I'lillinnn cars on thaaa tralna t>e> preen Atlanta and Charlotte. Leaving Waah' (Baton each Monday, Wednesday and Frlduf ? tourist Hlooplng enr will run through be tween Washington and San Kranolsoo without Change, Connection at Atlanta with through Fulllnun drawing-room sleeping oar for Jack' ?onvillo; also Pullman aloeplng car for Drun? wlrk. Commotion made at Spartanbnrf witfl through Pullman sleeper for Aahevllle, Knot Tille and Cincinnati j also at Columbia for &a> nniiHh nnd .faekaonvtlle. IfHANK S. (4ANNON. S. H. HARDWIOK, Third V P. & Urn. Mgr., Gen. Paar Agh, Washington, L>. 0. Washington, D. U W. H. TAYLoB. J. D. MoGBB, Aea't Gen'1 Pass. Ag'k, Pass. S$ T'kt Agant, Uanta, go.