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The Laurens Advertiser.! $1.50 Per Year in Advance. I THE PATH .* i TO PERDITION | By LOUIS VINCENT JJK FOE. 2 CopyrlsAt, 1001, by I<ouUVlncont Do Foo. ROM tho window of Dea~ cou Blrdsell's house tho bright rays of a lamp marked the t< "ks of the country d wl'.di led to the i'i 'til, past the old Quaker meeting house, and, to the left, through tho worldly and Iniquitous village call ed Into existence only a year before by the coming of tho new railroad. This little cluster of bouses, u mush room growth of unpaluted hoards, In cluded, besides a blacksmith shop and general store, both welcome enough In their way, n tavern conducted on wide open principles under the name of Lowden's Halfway House, which had speedily brought tin? locality Into gen oral dlsropute. No one had discovered toward what goal It marked the half way point, unless It was that goal of torment which Is the ending of every' career of Intemperate profPtfacy. In the dining room, which served like wise no a sitting room, the deacon was carefully gleaning stray scraps of wis dom from the columns of the Michigan Agriculturist, the silence of the house disturbed only by the loud ticking of the farm clock on tho shelf In the cor ner and tho busy click of the knitting needles In the deft lingers of Mrs. Blrdsell. it was characteristic of the deacon that he always postponed his study of Tho Agriculturist until after tho harvest, when the information he might gain was suro to be of least value to him. Presently the clock tolled the hour Of 8, lingering long, It seemed, upon the final stroke. Deacon Blrdsell started suddenly. "Mother," he said, "don't you know It's gettln pretty late?" Mrs. Blrdsell paused In surprise and dropped tho half ?ulshed sock lu her lap. "Bight and after, an It's high time folks was abed," said tho deacon. "Did you shut down the back window an bolt tho kitchen door? An Joel?of course Joel's In." As If In answer to tho deacon's ques tion, tho quavering, uncertain notes of a song sifted through tho celling from the chamber above. "Sh!" Mrs. Blrdsell said, holding up her finger In warning. The song from tho chamber above gradually bocamo more distinct until a word could be understood here and there In Its uncertain rhythm. It bore a distant resemblance to one of the pop ular songs of the day heard with great froquency lu the neighboring town, but Justly abhorred for its worldly Insinua tions In the peaceful Quaker church neighborhood. "William," exclaimed Mrs. Blrdsell In a trembling voice, "somethln must be done right away. It's gettln Ju?t awful] It's been welghtn on my mind until sometimes I get that nervous." Tho deacon gathered Ida shaggy gray brows and stroked his angular unshav en chin In silence for a moment. "I hate to think It of Joel," bo observed thoughtfully, "but I guess It must ba true. Have you been notlcin anythInfi else lately, Martha?" The deacon sel dom addressed his wife by her given name except on occasions of great so lemnity. "Anything! Good land alive!" Mrs. Blrdsell swept her bands around her head as If she was warding off a swarm of Impending evil. "It's gettln woi'bel an worser every day," she exclaimed, with great earnestness, "an the worst part of it all is he's gottln that brazen about it?to think-, too, William, that he's your own brother!" The song be gan again In tho chamber above, this time accompanied by the unmistakable sound of shufiling foet. "Just listen to that now," she went on, with mournful emphasis. "I guess you can hear It for yourself!" "Yes, mother, you're right," pro nounced the deacon reflectively, slowlj nodding his head In flho aftlrmatlve. "Poor Joel 1b certainly gotn strnigm 10 the?I wns almost gola *o say dovll, an here wo are, you an me, slttln with out hands folded, not doln tt blessed thing to put him right." "It didn't get renl baj till tho middle of June?leastwise Joel didn't take to goln out nights till tho*." Mrs. Bird sell squinted thoughtfully through her glasses as If to look lufeo tho past. "I first susplcloned him ?Mrcus day over in the town, when am spent all that money for a box of collijrs an them red an green neckties, litt seemed right ashamed of 'era, too?*0*t is to say, at iflrst he did." "When was it he spofee to you about ere&ftln h,9 nant 1****** , ,^ . "Why, dear me, yow ain't forgotten jtliat, have you? It wag the very sam? day ho como out from town brlngln hie mil coat. I'll nover forget that! Tie maa precious careful to keep thnt rl pp^io.io thing out of my sight, an when H&lpSES about tho pants no mushed [lllto a boy. Ho says to me: 'Martha, sown tlmo when you'vo got a flntlron fen I wish you'd press out my gray pants an leave 'em crossed beforo nn behind. Folks say nowadays It keeps 'em from wenrln out so quick.' I al most gavo him a piece of my mind right then nn there. I says: 'Joel Bird ?eil! An nt your timo In lifo too.' Ho 'didn't sny another word, but went off up stairs that ashamed-- nn that very night wns tho first time In the 20 years he staid out till after midnight!" Deacon Blrdsell clasped his long fin gers around his bony kneo nnd bowed his head. "If I do say it, I watched him from (the window when ho went out," Mrs. Bird sell earnestly continued, "an 1 seen him unmo ttrnlght off toward tho Jtavern. 'Twasr.t tho last time r've ?een him either." The deacon suddenly stnrtod up ond thumped his flat hard upon tho table Them Cowdens will get to prison 7etl" he burst out wtth indignation. "?Twould be a true religious net to set their cussed dram shop on flret Fd do it, too, if*'? Mrs. Birdsell reached across the ta .ble to place a restraining hand upon her husband's arm, but tho tips of her fingers barely touched his shirt sleove. "William," she said In a more com posed tone, "we mustn't get excited. jWbat we must do Is to 'tend to Joel's case. The Lord thnt judges between the righteous an tho unrlghteouL will 'tend to the Lowdeus himself." Before such an undeniable exposition of truth the farmer's anger slowly sub sided. ^Smwlaow the time Joel washed tiie buggy an went 10 town f' Mrs. inrosei. went on. "Ho didn't get back that night till a quarter past 12, an be took his boots off before be couio Into the bouse. 1 know all about it because be clean forgot 'ein an left 'em on the porch." "You wouldn't call them things boots, would you?" The deacon threw his whole available fund of sarcasm Into tho words. "Galtess, I mean," corrected Mrs. Blrdsell quickly. "An that's another thing. Just to think of a mau takln to gaiters after boots has been good enough for him for 50 yearsl It's a sure sign, William." "Yes, mother, that's the long an the short of It. (Ja'ters may bo a small thing In themselves, but In Joel's case they help powerful to show what fast Hvln an strong drink will do ouce a man gets goln lu the wrong way." Tho deacon started suddenly at the meaning of his own words. A Bpade had llually been called a spade. Mrs. Blrdsell straightway began to sob au dibly, while her husband searched ab stractedly for bis handkerchief, which ho llnully produced from the armholo of his vest. Joel Blrdsell fllled the placo of a son not only In the hearts but In the home of the deacon and his wife. Back 1j the fifties, when heavy Umber still cov ered what Is now the rich, rolling farm land of lower Michigan, William Bird sell bad gone forth from tho clrsum scribed acres of the homestead In Ver mont to win a place for hlmBelf In the world, with only a young wlfo and his owu grit to aid him. Then Michigan was not the farmer's El Dorado It aft erward came to be. But tho house In which bo still lived was built, and then Joel, tho next younger by three years, was seut for to share the Increasing fortunes, Incidentally to lend a helping hand In the runnliu: of the furm. And Joel, he wns a shlnlug example of New England stagnation. Never In clined to marry, always content with a kind or helpless dependence upon his brother and sister, whoso homo had not been brightened by tho advent of chil dren, be grew moro and moro to be the object of parental solicitude to the fanner and his wife as tho years passed by. lie was satisfied with his unique position, and gradually tho hori zon of bis lifo came to bo bounded by the views and wishes of hie foster par ents. Mrs. Blrdsell was the first to break the oppresslvo silence. "William," she said, "there's no use puttln It off any longer. Supposo we call Joel down now ?thlB very night?an point out to him like?toll him?that Is to say, ask him"? She hesitated. The task seem ed greater when framed In words. "Shi" Tho exclamation escaped the pair at the same instant. in the chamber abovo the song began again. This time tho words were loud and distinct, although the tune was still doubtful. Silently Urn couple fol lowed tho lines: I dreamt that I dwelt In maxblo hall*? Not a word was uttered until the verse ended. Mrs. Blrdsell was busy maklug a mental analysis of the mean ing of tho words. Their Import seemed beyond a doubt "It's a real garablln house tune," she pronounced, with ussurance boia of conviction, although there was a trem bling in her voice. "I'vo heard all about tho infernal places; all marble an glass an electric lights an polished woodwork." The squeaking, heavy footsteps grew louder. Tho culprit was certainly com ing down tho stairs. Next the door opeued, and be walked into the dining room. Mrs. Blrdsell looked straight in front of her. Tho deacon hastily snatch ed The Agriculturist from the table. Joel appeared surprised to find the rest of tho family keeping late hours. "Still settln up?" he asked Innocently enough, but In tho ears of tho others the words had a guilty ring. From tho corners of her eyes Mrs. Blrdsell was taking a quiet Inventory of Incriminating evidence. There was the red necktio encircling the stand u\ collar that sagged out in tired fashioj at the front. Tho long tailed coat weu also conspicuous. She wished she bn<? had the forethought to put on bej spectacles, for she knew that prope. scrutiny would detect faint creases in front of the bagging gray pants. Ai for the shoes, the uoiso on the stah? bad already told its own story. "Well, I guess I'll walk out for a lit tie bit," he went on, taking no notlc? of the unusual restraint. "Tho sky'i as clear as a bell, an It seems Jusl shameful to stay In. Won't have nmu\ more nights like this." "It's time honest folks was abed nil asleep." The deacon's volco grated harshly, although he tried his best ti be natural. "That's Just ono of your notions, William," Joel answered, with a faint laugh. "Como now, night's Just np good as day, ain't It? Don't fret nbont me. Just leave the key to the dlnlu room door under tho stone by the steps, an I'll get In all right." There was no reply. "An that reminds me," the culprit went on, "the next time I go t<> town I'm goln to take that key nlong with me nn have ono made like It. No use talkln, a man ought to bnvo a latch key." This !i-'Ht worldly whim, more slgnlfl emit tlinn anything else, worse even tluin the reckless get up of tho cos tume, fell with astounding weight on tho farmer and his wife. It was noth ing less than the limit of moral de pravity. In the suddenness of tho shock there was no clinnce for reply. Joel hesitated a moment, then picked up his hat and went out The dencon and his wife remained seated, rigid with consternation, until they heard him step off the porch, Then with one accord thoy nroso and tiptoed to the parlor window. Peering out Into tho darkness, they watched him walk through the yard to the gats and then turn his steps In the direc tion of the tavern, the lights of which tinkled dimly half a mllo away down tho left fork of tho road. "The time's come, Martha," the dea con burst out. "Joel will hear from mo tho first thing tomorrow mominl ELo's got to be shut off his scand'lous, drunken ways Instanter or, by the Lord, he'll never stay another day un der my roof I" Mrs. Blrdsell was fairly struck dumb beforo her husband's awful denuncia tion. It was the tlrst time in her mar ried ,iff that he had so ruthlessly broken tho third commandment, and sho laid herself down to broken sleep and troubled dreams. Tho first gleam of the rising sun was already painting gold and purple hues In the eastern sky when the deacon slowly roused to the troubles of a new day. Quickly throwing on his working clothes, he hastened to the foot of the stairs. "Joel," he called to the upper Cham? her, "Joel, bestlrrlnl The pun's more*n an hour high. We've overslept scan d'lous!" No answer came from above* "Joel!" This time thers STM Ml ftf> m rlMia.*ft?WMfc_, Ami still no answer. The deacon did uot cull again, lull started briskly for the stables Ins heavy boot iu><aiH making dark iiair clrch's lu tbe llgbt frost thill covered tbe groUlld. lie was surprised Hgillll to litid tbe heavy doors thrown wide open to the morning breezes. Sounds were Issuing from within, and as tie paused be beard bis brother Joel's voice lifted In song, tbe rhythm puncto nted by tbe Bteady "swish" of milk against tbe bottom and sides of the tin milk can. The absolute uuexpectedness of tbe situation caused tbe deacon to hesitate In doubt a moment on tbe threshold. Bending slightly forward ami listening attentively, he managed to catch tbe words: Met my money on the old bay mare, Somebody bet on the ?ny. The doggerel bad only one meaning to the deacon. It was a shameless de fense of horse racing, an unholy pas time Into which be had gained some In sight through the Innocent medium of country fairs. "Morula, Wllllotul" Tbe greeting was fresh and cheery?surely not spo ken with the languor that Is supposed to follow a night of debauchery. "(Juess you kind of overslep'. Must be you an mother kept late hours!" "There's one way you might of know ed bow late hours mother an me kept." The deacon's answer bristled with harsh Insinuation, but It was all lost on tbe erring one. Whistling softly to himself, he picked up the milk palls again and Btarted for tbe bouse, while the deacon, mystified and angered, clambered up the perpendicular ladder to the hayloft. He threw down a generous quantity of sweet smelling clover to tbe neighing. Impatient horses below and then leaned medi tatively upon tbe fork handle to ar range In his mind the admonitory talk which lie wos morn certain than ever alone Intervened between his brother nnd Irredeemable damnation. The morning menl In the little farm house wii8 not os comfortable as usual, particularly for the farmer and Ids wife. It might have been noticed that the deacon lingered long nnd fervently over the thanks which he Invariably offered up from his board. It might tinve been noticed also that appended to those fervent thanks was an earnest supplication that Divine Providence In ^ nil seeing wisdom might not Judge ..irshly the weaknesses of bis erring children, nil of which wns lost on Joel. Inasmuch as It was well known to be a part of the deacon's religious philos ophy to regard all earthly beings as weak and sinful In the eyes of the Lord. As for the deacon, he was sur prised to note that .Joel's appetite seemed even better than usual. The meal finished, Mrs. Hlrdsell arose nnd from force of habit began to cleat away the dishes. "Joel," the deacon Bald, trying to ap pear natural nnd nt ease, although In spite of himself there waf- n threaten Ing ring In bis voice, "supposln yoi: walk down to the barn with me for n moment. I've got somothlu I'd like to talk over with you this mornln." Joel had picked up his hat nnd bnd started toward the door. "Better put It off till dinner time. William," he r?t plled carelessly. "Pin an hour hit* now gottln to the creamery, an"? "Then the creamery cun wait! I wnut you nhould do what I say! D'yor hear?" "All right, then; must be somcthlv terrible pressln. What's on your mlndf Jowl detected a stern look on his broth er's fnce and sensibly concluded thai argument was n waste of tlmo. Th? deacon did not wait to make fur ther reply, but started out of the house, motioning for bis brother to follow him Silently lending the way, he sought th? seclusion of the storeroom, where a nondescript collection of sleighs nnd bobsleds stood, covered nnd festooned with a summer's accumulation of dust anc* cobwebs. The silence of the plae* good man prided himself on tho exer cise of a neat bit of strategy. Further more, It removed the most remote dan ger of Interruption. For some time the deacon sat In si lence, his cold eyes Bhnrply fixed upon his brother's fnce. Then, when the sonnen He had begun to grow painful, he cleared his throat with evident ef fort and spoke, carefully weighing ev ery word. "Joel," he said, "I've come down here to talk to you man to man, an I'm In earnest. It's hard, but It's got to be done. It's been on my mind for a long time." "I hope there ain't any trouble, Wil liam." Tho shadow of on Impending calamity had gradually formed beforo Joel's eyes, and his face wore a polo and anxious look. "Troublo? Yes, there Is trouble an plenty of It Tho truth la, I've been? mother an I've been ? watchin you now this last six months, an what you've been doln Is as clear to us as an open book." Instantly a sheepish, self conscious expression spread Itself over Joel's face, and his eyes sought the floor In embar rassment. The deacon noted the quick chango, and bis last lingering doubt In stantly vanished. Ills course was now clearly defined. "Yea, Joel," he continued, with great er earnestness, "there's no use denyia it now. Mother an me"? "I ain't denyln nothln, William." The deacon started suddenly and bit his lips with anger. The last thing he had anticipated was a frank acknowl edgment of guilt. It came so unex pectedly that he hardly knew how to go on, yet he realized that the bent way to approach the crisis was by successive steps. The culprit exhibited no further willingness to speak in solf defense, so the deacon plunged In again. "Yes," he repeated; "we've knowed all about you right along. We suspl cloned you when you took to high fan glcd notions about stand up collars an gay neckties. We was surer of It when you got to soendln your money on tall 1 coats an such, an then," dropnlng his voice to an Insinuating whlepei and | punctuating each word with a pause, "we Anally saw tbtough tbe whole thing when you took to goln out lato nights." Before such an accumulation of evi dence Joel hung his head. Uhi expres sion changed gradually from embar rassed confusion to guilty assurance, while with the heel of his boot ho on consciously drew parallel lines on the dusty barn floor. "Well, what of it, William r he ask ?d. with a faint smile. "What If you have?" "What of It?" The deacon repeated the words, with angry surprise. "Yes; what of ltt I don't see the good of makln a fas* about It, any way." The deacon swallowed something that seemed to rise In his throat to choke hlk' words. "What of it?" he re peated again angrily. "Why, man, you have gone clean mad. Can't you see that If you keep on It's goln to mako your life a regular hell en earthT" Bven tbe unpleasant prospect of Im mediate earthly perdition seemed to have no effect upon the culprit. His confusion did not diminish, but his ?mile broadened to a faipt .laugh. VheA be looked luOUgbtful nod Bald: "1 Bliouldn't hardly tblok you'd like 1 to say tbat, William." "Bay It, man alive! Why, don't 1 kuow It? Do you tblnk I've been livin all these years for notbln? Ain't It al ways tbat way?" The deacon spoke the words In an angry treble, accompanied by an Im patient and deprecating gesture. "An besides, Joel," be went on, bis voice rising to a still higher key, "look at It this way, If It ain't too late: You've got a little money put up In the sav in's bank. How long dj you suppose It's goln to last If you keep on?" To a tlnnnclal consideration of the question Joel made no Immediate an swer. He seemed to be actually rock oulng up the costs. After meditating quietly for a little while he composed ly replied: "Well, suppose It does cost a litt!? more? I guess It's worth the dlQYr eucc." The calm reduction of moral depru\ tty to a matter of dollars and ecu brought the deacon to his feet with ai I Impatient start. "An your friends, your now friends!' he exclaimed. "What do you supposi they'll do when your money's gone Are they goln to stand by you theuV" "Come, William, you talk as If 1 \va. goln to commit a crime Instead of jus! followln out a man's natural way There ain't much ?langer of starvii anyhow." Joel's Impatience, too, win beginning to show Itself. "If you'rt goln to go back on me now, well, I suppose there's other places I can g? to. 1 wasn't ex pect III to stay In tin old house much longer anyhow. Hut 1 didn't think this of you, William. It ain't deserved for you to get mad." "TryIn to play reproachful, eh? Just look back over the last !H) years oi more. Ain't I always been ;ill a broth' or could be? Ain't Martha boon moro'ti a flesh nn blood Bister could be? An how about your home? Ain't it been all a reasonable man couhi waut?" Tho deacon's voice trembled n little as he rapidly summed up tho list ol unappreciated kindnesses. "Well. William. 1 ain't forgettln all that, not a bit of it. But what if n man after awhile gets tired of llvltl day In an day out In a rut? What If ho wants to get out Into a bigger, bet ter life? I suppose I wouldn't though I of It if tho railroad hadn't been put through. I got to goln there first when they was layin the tracks. Well, that wos all right enough, an then" "That'll do! Enough of that! I won't hear It from your lips." "An then"? "Stop, man! I say stop, In the mime of what little regard for decency you've got left! 1 won't hear from you! I didn't come out hero to listen to yout bonstln nn plumln yourself ubotit yotli reckless, senseless goln on." The deacon's bloodless Hps trembled as he fairly thundered the command and shook his clinched list In unbridled wrath. "I won't have It made any worse by your goln Into all the details of what you did," he went on hotly. "I wanted you to listen to reason, an I wanted to talk to you like a brother. But there ain't any reason left In you. Ifs gone too far, nn Martha an I'm too lato. You're proud of that broader UtV you talk nl>out, are you? All right, then. Now listen to what I've got to ?ay. The way's still open for you to tarn over n now leaf an come back an be one of us ns you was before tho Lowdens an their tavern came to Quaker Church. It's got to be one oi the other, an you've got to decide right now. Either you quit this new. broad er life that you've been harpln on ot you must get along without Martha an m? from this day for'ard!" The deacon pronounced the sen toned In excited, Impassioned tones. "Tho wny's open. Which do you take?" ho repeated, wiping away the beads of cold sweat that stood out upon his brow. Joel's flushed face turned pale at tho deacon's words. They cut him like a sharp knife, and his brother knew It. But quickly the scornful look returned, and he met the Issue squarely half way. Without a tremor he stepped close to his brother and, placing bin hand gently on the other's shoulder, exclaimed: "William. William, If It was the last thing on earth I didn't expect this of you! If It was anybody else, I'd 'a* -said he'd gone clean crazy. You an mother never did circulate much around among tho neighbors, but I never onco had nn Idea either of you had anything against Mis' Cook. I can't understand It. Dor husband's been dead for three years now, an dur ta that whole time she's hardly been oateido her doorynrd. It's goln to be hard to tell her that this is our weddln present from you an Martha, but I can Ao It, an I will. One thing has got to be settled between you an me, howsom ?fer." Hero Joel's words became delib erate and foreboding. "I ain't goln to Stand up an listen to anybody throw SSlsernblo slurs on tho woman that's gain to be my wlfo, not even you, my ?Wn brother an a dencon in the church, Who ought to bo above such a thing. I Want you to understand that If the Lewden boys did build their tavern across from her houso sho ain't respon sible nor the worse for It. An as far aa that place Is concerned, I hate It worso than you do. It's hurt her property Hrei fipcil When that cry sounds how people Mh to help and sympathize! And fMsen some fireman rescues n woman from the flames, the tstreets echo with ap /Hrf plaudlng shouts. 'ffljay' And yet if thai UKy woman had pe-ished J^js*- In the flof.s it Is pos 'iyjT^ slble that she would V^A Luve Buffer?! less ^5j^ than she suffers ul i B^XB^ disease has lighted In frXnffvSUf i\ tnt' delicate womanly Cdui*J&(3L : That fire of inflaui "jyET |B illation can hr put fSL <>ut' 1'u* K,,ftwn,K T&\<!zz^M3?nh ulcer can be cured. aSssT xJt&Smi Or. Pierre's Pavorlte nfllk vHSraK Prescription not only uhSHBUI wBjSE establishes womanly wJ\S^^/?^ia0A regularity and dries Al? IfSrJ aWr enfeebling drains, but wMn. I QU It heals inflammation 77fy*lBS k and ulcerations and WfBte^E' 11 t\ Walt cures female weak *^B#^ if//// ness. It makes weak \ * women strong auu f.lck women well. ?I sttflWred for four year* with what four phy ?liana pronounced uleeraUon and prolapsus of e iiterun," write* Mrs. Ada Brook?, of Ktrby vfile, Teney Co., Missouri. ? Also Inflam motion of bladder and urethra. My case was chronic and complicated. Had several good physicians, but kept getting worse. Had been confined to my bad ova months whan I wrote to you. t received your reply very soon and then dis missed my phyafolan and began taking Dr, sVierce'a medicines. I took eight bottles of his 'Favorite Prescription* and TQoiden Medical Discovery.' and began to get better at once. In two months I could sit up in a chair, and kept KUng better. In four moath* could do all my im work, including was bins and sewing.* Dr. Pierce'a Common Sens* Medical Adviser, paper covers, is sent Jrt* on receipt of ai one-cent ?tamps to pay ?msnss of mailing only. A4 dress Or. R. V. Fis??aiBufllAkc,?V. BCUU?'loUS." Wedding bells often ring out In unex pected places. Tbelr notes ace the sweeter when they sound above the din of discord. In vain the deacon, per- j plexcd and confused, his excited mind In a whirl, tried to Interrupt Joel's words. Then he gave up the attempt nnd grasped weakly at the objects near him for support, tie could only gasp, "Mis' Cook; you marry Mis' Cook?the Widow Cook at the erossln ?I?you"? "We've been thlukln It over ever since the day the circus was In town, un last night we fixed it all up an de cided to hitch." "Lord save us all I Joel, I"? It was too much for the deacon, and his strength deserted him. Ills knees bent beneath his weight, and his voice drop ped to an Inaudible whisper, lie lean ed upon the sleigh and rubbed his eyes as if to bring back his scattered senses. Then he suddenly found his voice again. "Is that the meanln of It all? Is that where you've been goln evonin after evonin when mother an mo thought you was at the Lowdons'? Say Bomethln, man! Are you struck clean dumb?" The scornful look had left Joel's Tace, and tho suggestion of a tri umphant smile played around the cor ners or ins moutb as lie watched tht successive stages of his brother's col lapse. But malice was not a part oi Jool Blrdsell'fl make up. Hi* answered the deucon's question with a question "You ain't forgot, William," be askec" seriously, "the day you an me signed tho pledge back In Vermont? Well %1'VC kept my share of It to this day but I never signed a pledge not to go married." "But you dido't tell us." "I didn't have nothlu for sure to toi! till last night. You know how court Ii | Is, William. A man don't like to speal right out"? Onco again the deacon Bwnllowoc Bomothiug that Bcoinotl to choko hi. words. "(Jod lilcss you both!" ho said und his voice trembled as he spoke Then he added quickly: "Pcrlmpi you'll forget the hard things I Bald You sec" - "It's Just the same as If you hadn't ever spoke 'em." Joel Interrupted. "All now perhaps there's time yet to g<. over to the creamery. Supposln yoi tell Martha about It while I'm gone." The quitverlug notes of a song awak ened the deacon from a deep brown study as he.strode alone In the middle of the storeroom lloor. Listening, lit caught the words until they were los In the rattle of the wagon wheels: Hot my money on tin- ? >1?1 bay insrc, Somebody bet on tlio gray. The deacon did not stir until the sound had died away in the distance. Then ho left the barn and slowly walk ed tip the path to the farmhouse. A> he reached tin- porch he hesitated a moment. "Darn my fool picture," he said to himself, "I might have knowod it! Hut it's a good Joke on mother anyhow 1" Then he entered the kitchen, closing the door behind him. Hlv DIDN'T WANT THE PLACI? An Atlnntn Man Twice Offered Position in Treasury Depart ment. The Oiltcers of the Treasury Depart ment in Washington have had a strange experience. A few months ago in making a .selection from one of the eligible registers of bookkeepers at the civil service commission their at tention was attracted by the most ex cellent papers of a young man from Atlanta, (Ja., and as they were so busi ness-like and presented such a neat clerical appearance he was selected and tendered a position at $fi<i() a year. In due course of time the department re ceived a communication slating that at that lime he was so busily engaged that he very reluctantly declined the "I have used Aycr's Hair Vigor for over thirty years. It has kept my scalp free from dandruff and has prevented my hair from turn ing gray." ? Mrs. F, A. Soule, Billings, Mont. There is this peculiar thing about Ayer's Hair Vigor ? it is a hair food, not a dye. Your hair dees not suddenly turn bla ;k, look dead and lifeless. But gradually the old color comes back,?all the rich, dark color it used to have. The hair stops falling, too. $1.00 a bottle. All druu!?ti. If your druggist cannot mi|>ply yon, send us ono dollar and WO will express you a tiottle. Ro Hiiro nnd plvo tlio nnmo of your nearest exnroai office. Address, J. C. AYKK CO., Lowell, Mass. . irf^K^ .i ntlSCHOOL- SHORTHAND CAclual Business!? ^4,r*r? g# h e p p PoTrT^/ sITUATlQWtSrc u R E D, position. A few mouths aftcrwuril his name was again certified, und ho was again selected and tendered a position at the same salary. He again, in a very courteous and business-like letter, declined the position for business rea sons. appearod at the department a day or two ago and called on the prop er otlieers, and after paying respects and thanking them for their selection he stated that the reason he did not take tlie position at the tunes tcudercd was that he had a business position that was now paying him $00,000 a year. Ho stated that he was born in Pennsylvania and drifted from there to Wilmington, Del., whore bo en tered the Technical Institute at that place and completed a four years' course. He obtained the means for bis college course by selling newspapers in the mornings and afternoons before and after classes. After finishing bis course at the iuslituto he went to At lanta, Ga., and eugaged in his present business, Being in a position to en I joy a rest from bis hard labors be stated that he. was taking a vacatiou, I which included a trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Buffalo exposition ami other 1 [daces of interest ill that section of the I country, and beingOU his return home and passing through Washington be called at the department to express hia thanks for I he twice-olTcred Appoint* moot, which, under the circumstances, be thought he very wisely declined. The veteraus in tho .Secretary's olilcc speak of this caso as the most unique that ever came under their obsorva I tlon. Kansas City, Mo., docs not main tain n city iirc-alarin system, but the lire department depends entirely upon the telephone for alarms for lire, we arc told by The Electrical Hcvicw. u Statistics show that Kansas City bus been remarkably free from destructive (ires. The chief of the lire depart ment gives the credit for the efHcicncy of his department to the promptness and correctness with which the alarms and exact location of fires are trans milled to the lire department by means of the telephone. Every telephone, is a recognized lire-alarm signal. The company also maintains for the city a police system, and police headquarters may he. promptly rcachc 1 at any hour from any subscriber's telephone in the Kansas City Exchange. These liro and police connections widen the scope of the telephone, particularly for re sidence purposes, and they arc of special advantage to residence sub scribers." OASTOTIIA. Boars tho /J lhe K|nd YOU HaVB AlWSJfS BOUgtlt ?Charleston and Western Carolina R. R Auru'Hl'A and AB1IK\ Ii.i,k Shout 1 anit. In effect May 'i?, 1001. i.v Augusta.10 ur> a 3 20 p Ar Greeuwood.is lf? p . " Anderson. 7 411 p ?' I ?tu 1 ens. 1 85 p *' Ureenville.... . ll 25 y " Glenn Springs .... . 4 -15 p " Bpartanburg . 3 20 p ' Saluda. ? 'M p " Hendersonville. .... 0 11 p " Asheville. 7 15 p Lv Asheville. 7 05 a " HemlerHouvillo. 8 05 a " Flat hock. N 15 a " Saluda. 8 39 a " Try on. 0 13 a " Simrtanhurg. 12 10 p " Glenn Springs. 9 00 a " Greenville. 19 15 p " Lbufens. . 2 00 p " A inn 1.11 ii: . 7 25 a " Of en wood. 2 5?i p Ar Augusta. . !> 20 p Lv Augusta. 2 80 p Ar Allendale. 4 42 y " Fairfax . . . 4 62 p " Yoiiiassee. D fi3 |i " Beaufort. (> 50 p Port Royal. 7 00 p " Savannah. .... " Charleston. . I.v Charleston. .. .. Tort Royal. i> <tU a U-aufort. 6 60 a Youiassee. fi 40 a Fairfax_ . 7 41 n Allendalu. 7 62 a Ar Augusta. . . 10 00 s Close connection at Greenwood for all points on S. A. L. and 0? & G. Railway, and at spartanhurg with Southern Rail way lor any information relative to tickets rates, schedules, etc., address W. J. Ckaio, Gen. I'ass. Agent K. M. Noam, Hoi. Ant. Aug? la. Uh T.M Kmriihon. TratMo 4 h> m^.-r Macfeat's Business College COLUMBIA, S. C. Hook Keoplng, Short Hand, Type Writing. Expert Teachers. Reputation Established. Terms Reasonable. Bend for Catalogue, W. H. MACFEAT, President, (Otllclal Court Stenographer.) A $50 INVESTMENT Thai will pay $?5 to $100 Dividends Mom lily is a thorough, practical llusi neas or Shorthand training at Stokes' business College. Write or ooll for Catalogue and full par ticulars. ?09 King street, Charloston, S. C. P08ITION8I POSITION? I! NO OBJECT More oalls than we can possibly IUI. Guar antcoof positions ImoKod by $5000. Courso* unc icollcd. Unter any tlrao. Catalogue free AddruBS, COLUMBIA BUSINhH? ' :< > I, i. K< i K in.r M in a H. C The practical Bide of science is roflected in JkTENT i? Record A monthly publication of inestimable valuo to tho student of every 4ay scientific problems, tho mechanic, tho industrial expert, tho manufacturer, tho inventor ? in fact, to every wido-awako person who hopes to better his condition by using his brains. The inventor, especially, will find in The Patent Record a guido, philosopher and friend. Nothing of importanco escapes tho vigilant eyes of its corps of expert editors. Everything is pre sented in clean, conciao fashion, so that the busiest may tako timo to read and comprehend. Tho scientific and industrial progross of tho ago is accur ately mirrored in tho columns of The Patent Record, and it is tho only publication in tho country that prints tho official news of tho U. 8. Patent Office and tho latest devolopomenta in tho field of invention without foar or favor. suiihcuiption trick onb dollar pkb tbar. THE PATENT RECORD. Bmhlmoro, Md. GREENVILLE FEMALE COLLEGE, GRKENVILLE. S. C. ? -.-rtf Irvn * Beautiful. Near tho Hluo Ridge. Unsurpassed Healthfulness. Moun LOCallOIl. . tuin water. No deatli since school was founded?forty-no von years. i> '1/1'iw t Bnlatgad. Beautiful, Repainted. Bisgant largo new Library. Read DUllUlIl&o lug-room. Parlor, Vocal Room, Dining Room, Study Hall, and Audi torium with seating capacity of 1,100. Comfortablo Dormitory and Lecture Rooms. Batb Rooms?hot antl cold water, /""Sif ?-!/mi1i ltvi Thorough work. Full collegiate coursos. Muslo, Art, Elocution, LyUrriCUlUIIl. Physical Culture, Pedagogy, Htonography, Typewriting. Primary Department, Kindergarten. 1 , n Kxpert teachers, solecteri for toobnical skill, moral worth, Christian FaCUlly. devotion and social excellence. Conservatory of Musio headed by an experienced and distinguished director educated in America and Germauy. For catalogue and particulars, write E. O. ?JAMES, President. H?ll ? ." ?Vc?clahle Preparation lor As similating meFowandRegula ting the Stomachs and Bowels of 1NFAN TS /( HIL l)RKN Promotes Digcslion.Cheerfur ness and Rest.Contains neillier Opium,Morphine nor Mineral. Not Ti.utc otic . GASTQRIA S For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of /dKtptafOM OrSAMUELPtTCHKR iSunpkut Sertl' Mx.Stnna * HocketU Ult - ytniw Seed r Jiffjrntwit. - /// CttrtannhSotfit * Clarified .Itignr WYnt. n/iirit ftatW. Aperfeci Remedy forConslipn lion, Sour Stomach,Diarrhoen Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and Loss OF SLEEP. FncSunilc Signature or KKW YORK. LXACT COPY OK WRAPPER. In Use For Over Thirty Years 1851. FUR MAN UNIVERSITY. GREISNVIIvIvK, S. C. A. P MONTAGU k, Ph.D., LIj.,D., President. Two courses are ottered leading to tho deurcos of Uaohelor ?o o- ? tt. \ > mid Afafitor of AriH (M.A.). Library and Reading Room. Physical a id Chemical 1.i ?..-a torice. Now Forty-Room Dormitory. Kxpenses rwdueed to n minimum i>y the mea system. Catalogue and r.nculars of information on request. Address, Dil. A. P. MONTAG UK, Greonvlllo, 8 0 For rooms apply to 1'kok. h. t. cook Greouvdlc, S. C Presbyterian College of South Carolina, Next Session opens Sept.''.'<>, 1901. special rates to board u;studon Limited nurn tier can be accomodated in Dormitory. $10001 will pay for Ii ?ir?l ? i n noil, muri oulation, and tuition, for Collegiate year, five profnawrs und ono ii r in f, ;ii ty. Moral influences good, Courses of study leading I > degrees ol It \ and M A, tin? Commercial Course. Write for catalogue or information >t any kind to A. E SPENCER Clinton, s. u INDIA llMlTED trains Double Daily Service CAPITAL CITY UOUTK. Shortest line Let ween nil principal cities North, Kast, South and West. Unequalled Schedules to Pan-American Kxposition at ItutTalo. L!cii rimu.hs In Kpprct May 20, HH>t. NonTii noOND. No. 00. No. 31 (.-/Savannah, Central T...11 15pm 2 lopm Fairfax . 1 34am :> ftspm Denmark. 2 10am I 3!lpm Columbia, Kastorn T... 140am 7 12pm ('amden.> :<7am K06pni Chcraw.... . 7 12am !l43pm Ar Hamlet .7 loam in 16pm Lv Calhoun Kails. 1 00pm 4 1 lam Abbeville. 1 33pm l Main Greenwood. 2 01pm 5Ulam Clinton .. .... .... 2 66pm 5 47am Carlisle. 343pm U l^ani Chester .4 10pm 7 dSam Catawba Junction. 1 15pm 7 85am Ar Hamlet.7 lopm 10 loam Lv Hamlet. 800am 10 35pm Ar Kaleigh.1037am 1 21am Petersburg.2 15pm 5 18am Kichmond. .., 3 28pm 0 20am Washington.7 ospin in loam Baltimore.1125pm II 25am Philadelphia. 260am I iMipm New York. 6 30am I2>pm Portsmouth?Norfolk.. 650pm 7 00am local atlanta to CLINTON. No. ;,?> Lv Calhoun Kalls. II 47am Ahheville.12 22pm Greenwood. 1240pm Clinton. ., I ."? m.iii 80UTIIHO UND. Dally. Dailv. No. 81. No. 27. Lv Cberaw, Kastern T... " 18am n l.spm Camdcn. 0 ?5am 12 63am Columbia, Central T. ? 0 lUam 1 OAam Denmark.II 00am 2 tVam Fairfax .II.Mam 3 05am Ar Savannah. 1 47pm 152am Jacksonville. U lopm 0 I Bam 'l'ampa. 0 15am 340pm Lv Catawba. Kastern T 045am 105am Chester .lU 20am I 42am Carlisle.in i?am 20r>am i linton .1137am 2 55am Greenwood ...12 22pm 8 40am Ahheville .12 48pm 115am Calhoun Falls. 1 h>pm I iKai.i Ar Athens . 240pin Ij 28aui Atlanta. I .v>pm '.i 00am 1.0 CA I. CLINTON TO ATLANT A. No r>:i Lv Clinton. 2 10pm Greenwood. 305pm Abhcville . 3 33pm Calhoun Kails.4 1 Ipm Ar Athens. 6 43pm Atlanta . s 00pm No. (Hi connects at Washington with the Pennsylvania Uailway Buffalo Kx proas, arriving Buffalo 7.;i? a m. Columbia, Ncwbcrry A I,aureus Kail way train No. 52, leaving Columbia, Union station, at 11.2'tam dally, connects at Clin ton with 8 A l< Ky No f?;t, affording short est and quickest route l>y Rovcral hourR to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville,St. Louis, Chicago and all points West. close oonneotion at Petersburg. Rich mond, Washington, Portsmouth-Norfolk, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville and Atlan a with diverging lines. Magnificent vestibule trains carrying through Pullman sleeping cars between all principal points. Kor reduced rates, I'uilman reservations, etc, apply to Wm. Uutlkr, Jr.11).P. A..Savannah,Oa, (i. Mel', Battk, T. I*. A., Columbia, S. C J. M. Barb. 1st. V. P. a.m> o. M? it k i, Hunch, (i P A, Portsmouth, Va. THE YOUNGBLOOD LUMBEH COMPANY AUuWSTA, OA. OrVH K and WoKK*. NORTH \(Kluhta S. 0 Doors, HrhIi, KIIikIh and Iluiidcr'ff Hardware. FLOORING, SIDING, OKI UNO AND INSIDE FINISHING LUMBER IN GEORGIA PINE. All Correspondonco given prompt _at tention. MONEY TO LOAN On farming lands. Kasy payments. No commissions charged. Borrower pays ac tual ooat of perfecting loan. Interest 7 per oent. up, according to seourlty. J NO. B. PALMKR A SON, y Columbia. 8. O SOUTHERN RAILWAY. Oon<l<'ii?i<il Bohaflrtle of l'ittHongor rradne. In Bftvot Juoe BO, 1001. QrcoaviUoi Washington and th<? Haut. i i asl&r?.aTNo. ?* Nortltbouud. D?ily Dally.lDailyl Daily. Lv. Atlanta, O.T " Atl/rota, ic. t " QaiiioBvlUs.. " Athens,. " Lula. u Toecon. " Beueotl . - Greenville.. " fji'ailutiliui'b " QaJTney. " Blaoksburg. " Gastonla. " Charlotte Ar. Sreonaboro Ar. Durham Ar.Raletgh Ar. Danville Ar. Norfolk .'. ? Ar. Riohinond . Ar.WusJiiiiKt " Balim'ePliR " Philadelphia " Now York froin file ?osi Soul Iii ii' i . " Philadelphia. " Baltimore. " Washington.. Lv. Rlchjm :? '. . Lv. Norfolk. ,U'J 48 ml 8 08 p| Greeuvlllo; aTso to Atlanta. .No. ItfilNo. 87|No.ll|N0.8i |Dally. Dally. 1 DallyIDally U'" 1 i a ?? :*? p.I i' au p BO ? OH p|.. " OS p 'ii a| v ~\> p. 8 87 p .I ?65 p_ :i 33 p u ;so v TTJ pj Tib" p Lv. < Irocn iboro Ar. < harlotte ... Lv. Gastonla.... " Black shurg . " Gnffney. " Bparlanhurg " Grconvlllo... M Benecn. - Tnoeoa . " Lula.?. I Ar. Athena. I QalnoavIHe . " Atlanta, 13, f. I " Atlanta, ?. T Ai.Romo . " i hat (anooga Ar. Clnolnnatl .., J' Leuisvillo " Birmingham, n 10 n io 4 ?Tiinin Ho" ~v (0 p is 4 4U 7 10 0 V' 10 ? 11 es hi: 18 so 1 a ?i ?-< u It 4 0;< 1 CO li i ; *) n ill ..... n il 40 ii i2 10 C 10 u1 1 05 ? 2 HO a 486 a 1 OT) a ?i <M a 7 87 a 1: 85ui j 00 i) .: 17 p i 24 p 4 ?! >'3 1 ! 0 4S p 3 0' 1" S 08 p ! 4 ,6 p 0 13 p 4 20 n :i .:; p 8 :? p o lo al 4 ;>.?? plio p ft lo at u bl p 0 '.6 |> f. 65 a 8 10 a DOM a Ii w a i !< id a " pill M a - u ll .o a S 12 4? p : i ua p a 3 80 i> ] l is p : i 4^ o 3 a 7 26 a 10 o:> ' 08 u i 46 a 00 p 8 10 al 6M) p 60 pj s 40 aj ? 60 r 8::;;p p I l? oil Iii 10 00 p| 10 05 ? j 10 oO p 7 20 a Ar. New Orleans' 8 25 p i 86 .i Ar. Columbua.Qa! t> 60 ? B 85 p_.. ! 8 08 p " Macon .. ft h,i q 7 00 p 12 65 a! 7 00 p " Uriiuawlck... | 8 86 p I 5 16 a. ..... X^jav^mvnia, si',i7ni... h.iliy iM.ff, ...,.?....?.'. ' ' l)aov*-r^nTT7 Nodtf. llTo.lfc Daily No.11. i >ai a No.li. Lv TTTT? Ii (k!\> 7 41 a 18 in n 11 16 a 'i 'ii a 12 ho pi 7 !>o a 8 06 p 8 w a 8 25p| i 1& a 1 4it i?[ W a Ut6 pjlu 10 aiHv BT ATIONS. yavajinah~..Ar|_?.... 14 51? a Lv .'Ulaok vj 11 u Jar.J4^5Ia Lv .Ohai:'TJ;vi, Ari 7 00 a 5 TiJp " .?U!innc-r\tllo." I f? fi? a 0 48 " .. Cohwnl.iu . " '11 60 V 2 4> " .. Newhfil ry . *? 110 !5 p1 1 10 " ..Greenwood., " 8 50 p ll f? "a Hodgea .. . " I 8 80 p 11 86 a bhevllle Arl SOfjp R?Tp He ton Ar 7|> R 46" J?45p 6 40 ?IlT. .Andersou *Xr ? [fj IMS"_a Jfcipjil ft) ai Ar. .(-ii of n vi |lft. 7> '^<7 j> (i 4J a ip 6 lTp Lv...Groonvllle?. Ar T5o a I7wrp * "jAr i<i'ai lantuirg Lv 18 80 a H 44) a ' ..Aehovllla.,,, "I ...; 7 OS a .Kdoxvilla... " I ,_1 60 a IA r ?. Of??l nil a 11.. L y I.....,. !"5 ivTe |Ar...l.-?'.-..-i:;- .iCv'.I 7 45 a "A" a. m, "P" p. in. "M" noon. "N" night. Trains lcnvo Spartanburg via H U. A (.*. dl jl-tlon dully for Qlendelft, Joiiosville, Union and OolnniMa and intermediate points at 10::tf a ?I, and 0:1ft p. in Ohesapaaka Line Htoamers in dally aervloo between Norfolk and Paltlinor*. Noa. 87 and W>? \Va?hlngton and South wettern Limited," solid Pullman train, Threugh sleeping cars between New York and Now Orlifina, via Wiinhinftton, Atlanta and Montgomery, Rtin ?lao botweon New York and Memphis, via Washington, Atlanta and pu* tniligliaiil. A ? <>l<>tratlt I'um.han LlBHAftY piirtmviTiON Oaka between Atlanta and New York, ok.stixmbs ? Club Oaw? uxtwi? A tlanta asm> MhW Yomr. Dining cars aorva all iiifnli on rout*. Pudinan sleeping uri botweon Qrennahoro and GohUboro. Close eon neotion nt Norfolk for OLD VotWT Comfort Alxont Atlanta witti Pullman D. K. Hlaopar for OhAliAiioiiita and Cincinnati, Now. B5and Ii? -? I nlti'd statoa Kept Mall" run? aoitd between Washington and Now Orl?ant, benig composed of conches, through without change for | n iHongoi n of all nlaAgee. Pullman drawlngToi >m .-;< apingcaru betwyen .s York and New Orleans, via Atlaiouand Montijomarr and botweon Ulrniuighnm nu<l itlonmoiid. Dining cars noi ve all meals on route. Nos. 'M and .'>4 ?''Atlanta and New York HxnrcsV Local train botweeri Atlanta auu charlotte, connecting at Charlotte with through trnliiH of same nurubors oarrr lng I'Ullmiin aUiiMdug ciri between Charlotte and Richmond, Norfolk, Washington aud Now York. No Pu?iiuui cms on th'*a<> train* \>6 tWOen Atlanta ami Charlotte. LmvUig WaaV lngtoneach Monday, Wednesday and Krida? a tourist sleeping oar win run through txV twaen Washington ana Hau Kranolsoo without ohnngo. Conn",mi, ii at Atlanta with through Pullman drawing loom Hleonlng oar for Juok ?onvtlle; also Pullman sleeping oar for Brun? (?ick. Connection madf through I'ullmaii sie vide and Cincinnati; vannah and Jacksonville. IRANKS, ?ANNON. 8. II. IIARUWICR". Third V P, i- Geil. Mgr., Gen. Pa^n Agt., Washington, l>. C. Washington, U. O W. H. TA V (.< >K, J. I) MOOHB, Asa'tUcn'i I'iikm. Ag't., Pass. ?sT'kt Agent, Atlanta. U?. _ Qreepvlllo. B, Q, Sdo at tlpartanburg with ?looper for Asheyiile, Knox ati; nlao at Columbia for Ha