The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, March 20, 1901, Image 4
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.