Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE ADYjnltTIJSSR. Subscription l?Fu-?~12 Months, $1,00 Paruble In Advance. Itatos for Advertising.-?Ordinary Ad vortlsoments, per square, one ineor ... Mon, $1.00; each sutnequentirj-Ttion, 50 cents. Liberal reduction made for largo Advertisements. ' W. W. Ball, Proprietor. LAURENS, S. C, Mar. 18, 1003. Ilouest hut Abandoned. William J. Bryan stands by his col ors. Ho is no less a free silver man to day than he was seven years ago. He is in astonishing contrast to others of our great leaders. He had said in 1896 that he had convictions. So said they all*' Be declared that free silver was right In principle and forever right. So said they all, Bryan Is now where he was tbem. Not so with the others. ^j.-.Bryali writes and speaks now us he has always spoken and written. The others speak and write on other subjeots. In 1896 we believed that Mr. Bryan was honestly but hopelessly and wretch edly ?wrong. Events seem to have prov/w I*. In formor years, the statesmen, the b'.g gun Democrats, y told tho poople that freo silver was the r great and leading Domooratio doctrine. These Stateemen, these Big Gun Demo t "?ats, who told tho people,making them bolieve, that pol'tical life, salvation and hope, deponded on freo coinage at 16 to 1, havo abandoned free silver. They do not mention it. They dare not mention it. Apparently they are ashamed,?yes, ashamod of It. The mon who were loudcat about free ?11 vor, the men most Intolerant o! "gold bugs," aro tho men who most despise It now. In 1890 the DemoWats of South Carolina sont a delegation to the Chi cago Convention pledged to bolt the Convention unless it should declare for 10 to 1. Thus they were ready to smash the party to save free silver. If free silver was a right principle and an essential Democratic principle then, why is it not right and essential now? If It be right and essential now why la poor Bryan left solitary and alono to champion It? The history of tho Democratic party ? for seven yoars m3rely teaches that the people are sometimes deceived by their leaders. The political leaders largely shape party sentiment. They do the talking. The average man does not make up his own. mind. He thinks he does, of course. But ho hasn't the time. He hears the views of his favor ite political lepder and begins to Hhout. That is why it is important to have reasonably honest leaders. Tho habit has bjen in this state for the leaders to suppress their convic tions and applaud what they think Is for the tlmo popular. This is proven by tho fact that few of our leaders ad vocate now what they advocated live or ten years ago. In 1802 the sub-treasury was the cry. It died quick and is un niversally admitted now to havo been a most fool proposition but the leaders favored it.Not even the b ldest of them who knew how silly a notion it was had the grit to stand up before the people and say so. Not one had the nervo to challenge defeat for tho time. Each one wanted ofllce and cared not a fig for Democratic principle. It was the samo with free silver and It will be the same with "antl-imporalism," so cal'ed. Now our leaders, groat lead ers, aVo rearing In their boots about trusts and no two of them agree on what is meant by tha word. This Is when they aro away from homo. Mean whilo they aro promoting at homo the only monopoly in merchandise that lias oven been openly created and pro tected by monopolistic laws in the United States. General Wade Hampton wa=> a leader who did not change with the moon or with the whim of the majority. Ho was a gold bug all his lifo and a low tariff man all his lifo and to hlra Domocracy moant about tho same thing one year as another. Ho was not afraid of de feat. Ho folt tho duty of telling the truth and, he did. There were very few llko Wado Hampton . Some of those days the people will learn that the "underdog" Is not ne cessarily tholr enemy and that tho man who is making tho most noise about what happens to hi the popular fad at the monent Is not necessarily their best frlond. Take prohibitionists, for example. They are at present the most completely whipped crowd in the state. No man could run for office as a prohibitionist and bo elected. In this Stato of South Carolina we have made ' whiskey, or the trade in whiskey, our political god. WhiSKey Is tho "whole thing." No man could bo eleoted to ofllce who did not approve or pretend to approve the stnt9 whiskey trade. And yet It Is possible that, the prohibi tionists aro right and that in a few yoars we shall all acknowledge it. The Advertiser does not bolieve in either prohibition or tho dispensary ? but Tino Auvkrtjseu may bo in error. Poor Bryan, he Is an object of pity because he seems to be comparatively honest In his views. Now lie finds him self left desolate by the scores of great Democrats who in 1890 and 1900 hailed him as their prophet and free silver as their creed. Nevertholoss, a straight forward man like Bryan is worth more to tho people in the long run than the the great leaders who do not lose iheir Jobs. *?* Mako It $000? The tlmo has come when the salary of the mayor of Laurens should be in creased. The sum of $250. Is far too small to compensate a man for the Work the ofllce demands. The town charter should bo amended at aa early a day us possible. The Advkktisbr thkiks that tho mayor of Laurens should be paid $600 a year. V Don't forgot that tho best fertilisers aro Always tho ehoaperst. When you put medicine in your system, yon-wan't the best inoJieino. When you put medicine in your soli to tone it up, you want the best. OASTOHIA. Baanth* h\i Kind You Hare Always 8hjH II BLACK Ii Sil ROCf?i CHAPTER XIII. how nelson camk home. HROUGH the long summer the mountains and the pines were with me, and through the winter, too, busy as I wan tilling In my Black Rock sketches for , tho railway people who would still persist in ordering them by the dozen, tho memory of that stirring life would como over me, and once more I would be among the silent pines and the mighty snow peaked mountains, and before me would appear the red shirt cd shanty men or dark faced miners, great, free, bold fellows, driving mo al most mad with the deslro to selzo and fix thoso swiftly changing groups of picturesquo figures. At such times I would drop my sketch and with eager brush seize a group, a face, a figure, and that is how my studio comes to be filled Avlth tho men of Black Rock. There they are nbout mo?Graeme and the men from tbo woods, Snndy, Bap tiste, the Campbells and, In many atti tudes and groups, old man Nelson; Crnlg, too, and his minors, 8haw, Gcor dle, Nixon, poor old Billy and the keep er of tho league saloon. It sooraed as If I lived among them, and the Illusion was greatly helped by tho vlvld lottere Graeme sent me from time to time. Brief notes came now and then from Cralg, too, to whom I had sent a faithful account of how I had brought Mrs. Mnvor to her ship and of how I had watched her sail away with none too bravo a faco as she held up her hand that bore tho miners' ring and smiled with that deep light in her eyes. Ah, thoso eyeB have driven mo to despair and made mo fear that I am no great painter after all, in spite of what my fricndB tell me who come In to smoke my good cigurs and pralso my brush! I can get the brow and hnlr and mouth and pose, but tho eyes?tho eyes eludo me. And tho faces of Mrs. Mavor on my wall, that tho men pralso and rave over, are not such p.s I cou!d show, to any of the men from the mountains. Graeme's letters tell mo chiefly about Cralg and his doings and about old man Nelson, whilo from Cralg I hear nbout Graeme and how ho and Nelson arc standing at his back and doing what they can to fill tho gap that nev er can bo filled. Tho three are much together, I can see, and I am glad for them all, but chiefly for Cralg, .whose face, grief stricken, but resolute and often gentlo as a woman's, will not leave me or let mo rest in peace. Tho noto of thanks ho sent mo was entirely characteristic. There wero no heroics, much less pining or self pity. It was simple and manly, not Ignoring the pain, but making much of tho Joy. And then they had their work to do. That note, so clear, so manly, so nobly sensible, stiffens my back yet at times. In tho spring came the startling news that Black Hock would soon be no more. The mines wero to closo down on April 1. The company, having al lured tho confiding public with entlo lng descriptions of marvelous drifts, veins, assays and prospects and hnvlqg expended vast sums of tho public's money in developing tho mines till the assurance of their reliability was ab solutely final, calmly shut down and vanished. With their vanishing van ishes Black Rock, not without loss and much deep cursing on tho part of the men brought some hundreds of miles to aid tho company in its extraordina ry and wholly inexplicable game. Personally it grieved mo to think that my plan of returning to Black Rock could never bo carried out. It was a great compensation, however, thnt tho threo men most representative to me of that life were soon to visit mo actually in my own home and den. Graeme's letter said that in one month they might be expected to appear. At least he and Nelson were soon to come, and Cralg would soon follow. On receiving the great news I at once looked up young Nelson and his sister, and we proceeded to celebrate the joy ful prospect with a specially good din ner. I found the greatest delight in picturing the joy and prldo of the old man In his children, whom he had not seen for fifteen or sixteen years. The1 mother had died some five years be fore. Then the farm was sold, and the brother and sister camo into the city, i and nny father might be proud of them.. The son was a well made young fellow,] handsome enough, thoughtful and solid looking. The girl reminded me of her' father. The same resolution was seen In mouth and jaw, and the same pas* I elon slumbered in the dark gray eyes. She -was not beautiful, but she carried herself well, and one would always, look at her twice. It would be worth] something to see the meeting between* father and daughter. ***** But fate, the greatest artist of us all, takes little count of the careful draw* ing and the bright coloring,of our fan cy's pictures, but with rude hand de ranges all and with one swift 'sweep paints out the bright and paints in the dark, and this trick he served me when one June night, after long and anxious waiting for some word from tho west, my door suddenly opened and Graeme walked in upon me like a specter, gray ?nd voiceless. My shout of welcome was choked back by the look In his face, and I could only gaze at him and wait for his word. He gripped my hand, tried to speak, but failed to make words come. "Sit down, old man," I said, pushing him Into my chair, "and take your time." He obeyed, looking up at me with burning, sleepless eyes. My heart was sore for his misery, and I said: "Don't mind, old chap. It can't be so awfully bad. You're here safe and sound at any rate." And so I went on to give him tlnie, fc\it ho shuddered and looked round and groaned. "Now, look here, Graeme, let's have It. When did you land hero? Whero Is Nelson? Why didn't you bring him wp?" "Ho Is at the station In bis coffin," he answered slowly. "In his cotfin?" I echoed, my beauti ful pictures all vanishing. "How was itr "Through my cursed folly," he groan ed bitterly. "What happened?" I asked. But, Ignoring my question, he said: "I must'see his children. I have not slept for four nights. I hardly know what I am doing, bot I can't rest till I see bis children. I promised him. Get them for me." "Tomorrow will do. Go to sleep now, and we. shall ^arrange everything to ru?rrow," I ?rgcci. "No," he sold fiercely; "tonight, nowl" lit hnlf nn hour they wero listening, pale and grief stricken, to tho story of their father's deuth. Poor G'rncine was relentless In his self condcmnntlon as he told how, through his "cursed folly," old Nelson was killed. Tho three?Cralg, Graeme and Nelson?had coino ns far as Victo ria together. Thero they left Cralg and caiiio on to San Francisco. In nn evil hour Graeme met a companion of other and evil days, nnd It was not k 'ig till tho old fever camo upon him. In vain* Nelson warned nnd pleaded. Tho reaction from the monotony and poverty of cnuip lifo to tho excitement and luxury of tho San Francisco gam ing palaces swung Graemo quite off his feet, nnd all that Nelson could do was to follow; from place to placo and keep watch. "And there ho would sit," said Grneme In n hard, bitter voice, "wait ing nnd watching often till, tho gray morning light, while my madness held mo fast to tho tablo. Ono night"? hero he paused n moment, put his face In his hands nud shuddered, but quick ly ho was master of himself again and went on in the samo hard voice?"one ulght my partner nnd I wero playing two men who had dono us up before. I knew they wero cheating, but could not detect them. Gaino after gamo they won till I was furious at my stupidity in not bcliv* able to catch them. Happening to glnnco at Nelson in- tho corner, I caught a meaning look, nnd, looking again, ho threw mo a signal. I knew nt once what tho fraud was and next gamo charged tho fellow with it. He gnvo mo tho lie. I struck his mouth, but before I could draw my gun his partner had mo by the arms. What followed I hardly kuow. While I was struggling to get free I saw him reach for his weapon, but as ho drew it Nelson sprang across tho table nnd boro him down. When tho row was over, throe men lay on tho floor. Ono was Nelson. He took tho shot meant for me." Again tho story paused. "And tho man that shot him?" I started at tho intense fierceness In the volco nnd, looking upon tho girl, saw her eyes blazing with n terrible light. "Ho is dead," ouswered Graemo in differently. "You killed hiin?" sho asked eagerly. Graeme looked at her curiously and answered slowly: "I did not menu to. He camo nt me. I struck him harder thou I knew. Ho never moved." Sho drew a sigh of satisfaction and waited. "I got him to a prlvnto ward, had the best doctor in tho city nnd sent for Cralg to Victoria. For three days wo thought he would live?ho was keen to get home?but by the tlmo Cralg enmo we had given up hope. Oh, but I was thankful to see Cralg come in, and the joy in the old man's eyes was beautiful to see! There was no pain at last nud no fear. He would not nllow mo to re proach myself, saying over nnd over, 'You would have done tho same for me,' ns I would, fnst enough, 'and It is better me than you. I nm old and done. You will do much good yet for the boys.' And he kept looking at mo till I could only promise to do my best. "Hut I nm glad I told blui how much good he had done mo during the last year, for he scorned to tbluk that too good to bo true, nud when Cralg told him how ho had helped the Boys in tho camp and how Sandy nud Hnptiste and tho Campbells would always be better men for his lifo among them the old man's face actually shone ns If light wero coming through, and with surprise nnd Joy he kept on saying: *K)o you think so? Do you think so? Perhaps so, perhaps so.' At the last he talked of Christmas night at tho camp. You wero thero, you remember. Crnlg had been holding a service, and some thing happened, I don't know what, but they both knew." "I kuow," I said, and I saw again the picture of the old man under the pine, upon his knees in the snow, with his face turned up to the stars. "Whatever it was, it was in his mind at the very last, and I can never forget bis face as he turned it to Cralg. One hears mt such things. I had often, but had never put much faith In them. But Joy, rapture, trjluuiph?these nro what were In his face ns ho said, his breuth jromlng short: "'You said?he wouldn't?fall me?you were right?not once?not once?best?ck to me?I'm glad he told me-Hhank Godr-for you?you showed?me?I'll fee him?nnd?tell him'?- And Crnlg, kneeling besldo him so steady?I was behaving like a fool?smiled down j through his streaming tears Into the dim eyes so brightly till they could see no more. Thank him for that I Ho help ed the old man through, and ho helped me, too, that night, thank God!" And Graeme's voice, hard till now, broke in ? sob. He had forgotten us nnd was back beside his passing friend, nnd nil his self control could not keep back the flowing tears. "It was his life for mine," he said huskily. Tho brother and sister were quietly weeping, but spoke no word, though I knew Graemo was waiting for them. I took up the word nnd told of what I had known of Nelson and his Influ ence upon tho men of Black Hock. They listened eagerly enough, but still without speaking. There seemed noth ing to say till I suggested to Graeme that he ronst get some rest. Then the girl turned to him and, Impulsively put ting out her hand, said: "Ob, it is all so sad, but how can we ever thank you?" "Thank me?" gasped Graeme. "Can you forgive me? I brought him to his death." "NO, not You most not any sol" she Answered hurriedly. "Yon would have done tho same for him." "God knows I would," said Graeme earnestly, "and God bless you for your words!" And I was thankful to see tho tears start In his dry, burning eyes. Wo carded. J^m, to tho old home In thov<go^)jByrtotj^^nlght Ho by tho B,(%J*J? *he\^l$Wj?bndfyovccl and wroAkel. A few'frien^hmefcus nt the wa^ywno station and fonrWcV In sad procc^jlon along the^cpuntry rend that wound pastvf?rm8 nrn\ through woods and at last up' to Hie ascentywhern the quaint old wooden church, W?-k with the rains and snowsVof mjbjt years, Mtt? tmwiJtMitent graved ThoJIt tie graveyard eloped gently Toward tfis setting sun, and from it one could see, far on every side, tbe fields of gTatn and meadowland that wandered off over softly undulating hills to meet the maple woods at the horizon, dark, green nnd cool. Here and there white farmhouses, with great barns standlug near, looked out from clustering or chords. Up the grass grown walk and through tho crowding mounds, over which waves uncut the long, tangling grass, wc benr our friend and let blui gently down Into the kindly bosom of Mother Berth, dnrk. moist and vrsrs, The sound of a distant cowbell mingles with the voice of the last prayer; the clods drop heavily with heart startling echo; the mound la heaped and shaped by kindly friends, sharing with one another the task; the loug, rough sods are laid over nnd patted Into place; the old minister takes farewell In n row words of gentle sympathy; tbe brother and sister, with lingering looks nt the two graves side by side, tho old and tho new, step Into tho farmer's car riage and drive away; the sexton locks the gate and goes home, and we aro left outsldo alone. Then we went back nnd stood by Nelson's grave. After a long silence Oruomo spoke. "Connor, he did not grudge his life to nie, und I think," and here the words came BlOwly, "I understnnd now what that means, 'Who loved mo and gave himself for me.' " Then, taking off his hat, he said rev erently: "B: Cod's hell), Nelson's lifo shall not end, but shall go on. Yes, old man," looking down upon tho grave, "I'm with you," and, lifting up his face to the calm sky, "God help mo to be true'." Then ho turned nnd walked briskly away, as one might who hud pressing business or as soldiers march from a comrade's grave to a merry tune, not that they havo forgotten, but they have still to tight. Aud this was the way old man Nel son came home. CHAPTER XIV. GRAEME'S NEW UIBTlt. HERE was moro left In that grave than old roan Nelson's te-vSSfwfl dead body. It acemcd to me HBBJ tlint Graeme left part at least of his old self thero with bis dead friend and comrade In the quiet coun try churchyard. I waited long for tho old careless, reckless spirit to appear, but he was never the same again. The change was unmistakable, but hard to define. He seemed to havo resolved his life Into a definite purpose. He was hardly so comfortable a fellow to bo with; ho mndc me feel even moro lazy nnd useless than was my wont, but I respected him moro nnd liked him none the less. As a Uon ho was not n success. Ho would not roar. This was disappointing to me and to bis friends nnd mine, who had been waiting his return with eager expecta tion of tales of thrilling and blood thirsty adventure. His first days were spent in making right, or as nearly right as he could, the break'that drove him to tho west His old firm?and I have had more re spect for the humanity of inwyere ever since?behaved really well. They prov ed the restoration of their confidence In his Integrity and ability by offering him a place In the firm, which, how ever, ho would not neeept. Then, when he felt clean, as he said, he posted otf homo, taking me with him. During the railway Journey of four hours he hardly spoke, but when we had left tho town behind nnd had fairly got upon tho country road tha'(tad toward the home ten miles away his speech came to him In a great fiow. Ills spir its ran over. He was like a boy re turning from his first college term. Ilia very face wore the boy's open, Inno cent, earnest look that used to attract men to him In his first college year. Ills delight in the fields and woods, in tbe sweet country air and the sunlight, wns without bound. IIoW often had we driven this road together In tho old days! Every turn was familiar. The swamp where the tamaracks stood straight and slim out of their beds of moss; the brule, as we used to call it, where the pine stumps, huge and blackened, were half bidden by the new growth of pop lars nnd soft maples; the big hill, where wo used to get out nnd walk when the ronds were bad; tho orchards, where tho harvest apples wero best and most accessible?all had their memories. It was one of those perfect after noons that so often come in the early Canadian summer before nature grows weary with the heat. The white gravel road was trimmed on either side with turf of living green, close cropped by the sheep that wandered In flocks along Its wholo length. Beyond the pictur esque annko fences stretched the fields of springing grain, of varying shades of green, with here nnd thero a dark brown patch, marking a turnip field or summer fallow, and far back were the woods of maple aud beech and elm, with here and thero the tufted top of a mighty pine, tho lonely representative of a vanished race, standing clear abovo the humbler trees. As we drove through tho big swamp, whore tho yawning, haunted gully plunges down to its gloomy depths, Grneme reminded me of that night when our horso saw something in that same gully and refused to go past, and I felt again, though it was broad day light, something of the grewsomeness that shivered down my back as I saw In tho moonlight the gleam of a white thing not far through the pine trunks* As wc came nearer home the bouses becaiuo familiar. Every houso had its talc ' We had eaten or slept in most of them; we had sampled apples and cherries and plums from their or chards, openly as guests or secretly as marauders, under cover of night?the moro delightful way, I fear. Ah, hap py days, with these innocent crimes nnd fleeting remorses, how bravely we faced them, nnd how gnyly we lived them, nnd how yearningly we look back at them nowl The sun was just dipping into tho treetops of the distant woods behind ns wo camo to the top of tho last hill that overlooked the val ley In which lay the village of River dale. Wooded hills stood about It on three sides, and where the hills faded out there lay the mlllpond sleeping and smiling in the sun. Through tho vll Inge ran tho white road, up past the old frame church and on to the white mnnso hiding among the trees. That was Grncmo's homo nnd mine, too, for I had never known another worthy of the name. Wo held up our team to look down over tho valley, with Its rampart of wooded hills, Its shining pond and its nestling village. The beauty, tho peace, the warm, loving homollncsfL^yf^ the scene, came about our^lM&iiWj^)ut, being men, we could And no wordt?. "Let's go!", cried Graeme, and down tho bill we toro and rocked and sway ed, to the nmnKcmcje^of tho steady team, vJuAaj^i^WfHamifctaho earli est yonfl^PrmlPnnipres?ed' lsmn their minds tho crhninail||^t attempting to *~ ANNOUNCEMENT r It gives us much pleasure to advise our patrons and the many friends of our product in South Carolina that we have arranged with the State Board of Directors to place on sale at all dispen saries in the State of South Carolina For sale at all dispensaries in the state in quart and pint bottles. JOS. SCHLITZ BREWING CO., Milwaukee, Wis. do anything but walk carefully down n hill, ut IcoBt for two-thirds of the way. Through the village, In n cloud of dust, we swept, catching a glimpse of n well known face here and there and flinging a salutation as we passed, leaving the owner of the face rooted to his place In astonishment at the sight of (Irnemo whirling on In his old time, well known reckless manner. Only oid Dune Mc Leod was equal to the moment, for an Graeme called out, "Hello, Dune!" the old man lifted up his hands nnd called back in an awed voice: "Bless my soul! Is It yourself?" "Stands his whisky well, poor old chap!" wns Graeme's comment. Ah we nenrcd the church he pulled up his team, and we went quietly past the Blcepers there, then again on the full run down the gentle idope, over the little brook and up to the gate. He had hardly got his team pulled up be fore, flinging me the lines, he was out over the wheel, for coining down the walk, with her bunds lifted high, wns a dainty little lndy, with the faco of an nngel. In n moment Graeme had her In IiIb arms. I heard tho faint cry, "My boy, my boy!" nnd got down on the other side to attend to my off horse, surprised to And my hands trem bling and my eyes full of tears. Back upon the steps stood nn old gentleman, with white hnlr and flowing beard, handsome, straight nnd stately, Graeme's father, waiting his turn. "Weleome home, my Indl" was his greeting as he kissed his son, nnd the tremor of his voice nnd the sight of the two men kissing each other, llko wom en, sent me again to my horses' heads. "There's Connor, mother I" shouted out Graeme, nnd the dainty little lady, in'her black Bilk nnd white lace, cams out to me quickly, with outstretched hands. "You, too, are wclcomo home," she said and kissed me. I stood with my lint off, saying some thing nl>out being glad to come, but wishing that I could get away befoi* I should make qulto a fool of myself, for as I looked down upon that beauti ful face, pale, except for a faint flush upon each faded check, and read the story of pain endured and conquered, and as I thought of all the long years of waiting nnd of vain hoping, I found my-throat dry and sore, and the words would hot come. But her quick senso needed no words, and sho came to my help. "You will find Jack at the stable," she said, smiling. "He ought to have been here." Tho stablo! Why had I not thought of that before? Thankfully now my words came: "Yes, certainly, I'll find him, Mrs. Graeme. I suppose he's as much of a scapegrace as ever." And off I went io look up Graeme's young brother, who bad given every promise In the old days of developing into as stirring a rascal as one could desire, but who, as I found out later, had not lived these years in his mother's home for nothing. "Oh, Jack's a good boy!" she an swered, smiling again, as she turned toward the other two, no,w waiting for her upon the walk. The week that followed was a happy one for us all, but for the mother It was full to the brim with joy. Her sweet face was full of content, and In her eyes rested a great peace. Our days were spent driving about among tho hills or strolling through the ma ple woods or down into the tamarack swamp, where the pitcher plants and the swamp lilies and the marigold waved above the deep moss. * In the evenings ws sat under the trees en tbe lawn till the stars came out and the night dews drove us in. like two lov ers, Oraeme and Ma mother weu?J w?nder oft together," leaving Jack" nnd me to each other. Jnck was rending for divinity nnd wns renlly a fine, man ly fellow, with all his brother's turn for Rugby, and I took to him amazing ly, but after the day was over wo would gather about tho supper table, and the talk would bo of all things under heaven?art, football, theology. The mother would lead In all. How quick she was, how bright her fancy, how subtle her intellect, and through nil a gentle grace, very winning nnd beautiful to see! Do what I would, Graeme would talk little of tho mountains and his life there. "My lion will not roar, Mrs. Graeme/' I complained. "lie simply will not." "You should twist > his tail," said Jack. "That seems to bo tho difficulty, Jnck," said his mother, "to get hold of his tale." "Oh, mother," groaned Jack, "you never did such a thing before I IIow. could you? Is it this baleful western influence?" "I shnll reform, Jnck," 'sho replied brightly. "But, seriously, Graeme," I remon strated, "you ought to tell your people of your life, that free, glorious lifo in the mountains." "Free! Glorious! To some men per haps!" said Graeme and then fell into silence. But I saw Graemo as a new man tho night he talked theology with his father. The old minister was a splen did Calvinlst, of heroic type, aud ns ho discoursed of God's sovereignty and election his face glowed and his yolco rang out. Graeme listened intently, now nnd* then putting in a question, ns ono would n keen knife thrust Into a foe, but tho old man knew, his ground and moved easily among his idens, demol ishing tho enemy as ho<appeared iwith Jaunty grace. In tho full flow, of his triumphant argument Graeme turned to him with sudden eerlousness. "Look here, father. I was born n I Calvlnist, and I can't see how any one .with a level head can hold anything ?Ibo than that the 'Almighty has.somo Idea ns to how, he -wants to run his uni verse, and ho."moans to carry out his idea nnd Is carrying It out. But > what would you da In a caso like this?" Then he told' the story of poor 'Billy Breeu, hls/flghtfand his defeat. "Would you-preach election to?that chap?" Tho niother'S'eycsfcwere shining \with tears. The old gentleman*blew his noso+liko a trumpet and thenmnid gravoly: "No, my boy. You don't feed babes with meat. Bub what'came to him?" Then Graemo. asked >mevto finish tho tale. After I bad flnlshedttho, story of Billy's final triumph ana of Cralg's part In It they sat long silent till the minister, clearing his thront hnrd and blowing his itoso more llko?n trumpet than ever, sold, with .great emphasis; "Thank God for auch'a-.man in such a placet I wish there were> more of us like him." "I should like to see you out there, sir," said Graeme admiringly. "You'd get them, but you wouldn'fthnve tlmo for election." "Yes, yes," said, his faUiorttwnrinly; "I should lovo to have a cfhnuice just to preach election to those -.poor lads. Would I wero tnfenty years* younger I" "It Is worth a man's .life," eaid Graemo earnestly. HIb younger brotner ilurned his face eagerly toward tho mjother. For an swer she slipped her bnjnd into-his and said softly, whllolberavycs ehono llko stars: I "Some day, I Jack, Arperhaps. God J n . But Jack only looked steadily at her, smiling a llttlo nnd patting her hand. "You'd shine there, mother," said Graeme, smiling upon her. "You'd bet ter come with me." She started and said faintly: "With you?" It was the first bint he hnd given of his purpose. "You are going back?" "What?as n missionary?" said Jack. "Not to preach. Jack?I'm not ortho dox enough." looking at his father and shaking his head?"but to build rail roads nnd lend a hand to some poor chap If I can." "Could you uot find work neurer home, my boy?" asked tho father. "There Is plenty of both kinds near un ] here surely." "Lots of work, but not mine, I fettr," answered Graeme, keeping his eyes ' away from his mother's face. "A man must do bis own work." Ills voice was quiet and resolute, and, glancing at the beautiful face at the end of the table, 1 saw in the pale Hps and yearning eyes that the mother was offering up her firstborn, that an cient sacrifice. But not all the agony of sacrifice could wring from her en treaty or complaint In the hearing of her sons. That was for other ears and for the silent hours of the night. And next morning, when she came down to moet us, her face was wan nnd weary, but it wore the ponco of victory and a glory not of earth. Her greeting was full of dignity, sweet and gentle, but when she came to Graeme she lingered over him nnd kissed bim ??vice, nnd that was all that any of us ever saw of that sore fight. At tho end of tho week I took leave of them nnd lust of all of the mother. She hesitated Just a moment, then suddenly put her hands upon my shoul ders and kissed me, saying softly: "You are his friend. You will some times come to me?" "Gladly, if I may," I hastened to an swer, for tho sweet, brave face was too much to bear, and till she left us for that world of which she was a part I kept my word, to my owti great and lasting good. , [to be continued.] t t Mrs. Laura. S. Webb, VIee*Prest<fen< Woman's Demo cratic VlubM of Northern oiilo. "I dreaded the change of life which was fast approaching. I noticed Wine of Cardui, and decided to try a hot. tic. I experienced some relief the first month, so I kept on taking It for three months and now I menstruate with no pain and I shall take it off and on now until I have passed the climax." Female weakness, disordered menses, falling of the womb and ovarian troubles do not wear off. They follow a woman tothechnngn of life. Do not wait but take Wine of Cardui now and avoid the trou ble. Wine of Cardui never fails to benefit a suffering woman of any a<>e. Wine of Cardui relieved Mrs. VVobh when she was in dan ger. When you come to the change of life Mrs. Webb's letter will mean more to you than it does now. But you may now avoid the suffering sliO endured. Druggists sell $1 bottles of Wine of Cardui. A NEW LAW FI KM. The undersigned have this day en tered Into a partnership for tho practice of law in the Courts of this State, under the namo of Simpson & Cooper and will promptly attoncl to all business en trusted to thorn. II. Y.Simpson, R A. Coopkr. ANTICIPATING THE FUTURE DOES NOT SELL GOODS. But all the indications point to a prosperous Spring Season. Without a single exception every department of this store will be better prepared than ever before to please you and supply your needs in Spring Merchan dise. Advance shipment of the new Goods are arriving daily and we are offering spe cial inducement to early purchasers. 36-inch White Madras, worth 25c at 18c 36-inch White fladras, worth 18c at 12ic Checked Nainsook, 5 cts to 25 cts per yard India Linon, - - 6 cts to 30 cts per yard Gingham and Seersucker in lovely pattern 7 cts, 10 cts and 12? cts. Special Values in Embroideries. g0t* Satisfaction with every purchase or your money back. THE MU?. gtkf Dial. Corner.