University of South Carolina Libraries
Tllg^DVERTISER. Subscription PrIce-12 Months, $1.00 Payable In Advance Kates for Advertising. - Ordinary Ad vertlscmcuts, nor square, one inser tion, $1.00; each subsequent Insertion, 50 cents. Liberal reduction made for large Advertisements. W. W. Ball, Proprietor. LAUKENS. S. C, April 8, 1008. To Make Long Staple. The time has como when the South ern cot' on mi Is are making fine grades of cloth. The Advertiser believes that with care Laurens farmers can produce a long staple profitably. Will? are go'ng up in this neighborhood which possibly need a better staple than Laurens produces, 'ihe "Allen Long Staple", wo believe, did not prove a groat success when plauted in Laurens, because the y'eld was too small. Nevertheless, with mills that will spin fine cotton, it is to the inter est of La-irons farmers to make the ex periment and make it thoroughly again with long staple varieties. If cotton that yields woll to tbo acre and sells to local mills for 12 or 14 cents the pound can be produced in Lau rens, tremendous profits will be mado out of it by Laurens farmers. Ten days ago wo noticed in an At lant? paper the advertisement of the Florodora seed a :d wo wero interested in it because we know Mr. Stonoy, the man who owns and soils it. Ho is an honorable and straightforward man. AVe have secured a small quantity of this seed and wo purpose to distribute it among eight or ten farmers who will test it this year and *oo what there is in It. Of course it is possible that pc cullartios of our soil or clima'c may prevent tho test from proving a suc cess, this seed may not be what is de sired for Laurens, but The Adver Tiskr will at any rate holp to tho ex tent of contributing the seed to having the test made. The farmers to whom the seed will bo given have already been selected. Undoubtedly, the production of this long staple if it can bo produced here will prove of enormous benefit. Num erous mills are b ing built that must import fine cotton from Mississippi and elsewhere unless it is grown in South Carolina If tho advance in cotton spioning oan be met by a correspond i'ug ?*ivanca in co'ton growing by the farmers of upper South Carolina, an ire-., mouse amount or tnoriej* cm Lu'made and kopt here. Tho seed will be given to thorn with tho understanding that they will make a fair trial of it and contest for tho prizes. *** Cruelty to Animal-. Tho rellmementof cruelty is illustrated in on editorial of tho Charleston Post last week calling attention to The Post's declaration last summer when Senator Tillman was uttering fierce threats of the "plenty that ho would do to Char leston" in the event of Mr. Von Kol nitz's election to the state senate. The Post declared substantially that the Senator was talking through his bat, that ho could not and would not ignore In Congress the interests of a South Carolina community. Senator Tillman was insisting than in a letter to The Post's editor that "ho was never more serious in his lifo'' then when making these throats. Charleston forged ahead and elected tho objectionable Von Kolnitz?in spite of the United States Senator's black-list. The Post during the Senator's visit to Charles ton last week, while he was being dined, coddled, trundled, fondlod, patted, petto l, stuff d, flattered and massaged with velvet fingers by tho great banking and mercantile prince lings of Charleston, called attention to tho Senator's numerous achievements in Charleston's behalf since the crime of electing George Von Kol nitz was perpetrated. The Post of course commonds the United States Senator, prais's him enormously, In fact participates in the massage treat ment itsolf. Nevertheless, when the editorial has been read, somebody looks like any other besmattered guy after being uncerimoniously dragged from the back of a high horse. V A Boast With Recoil. The boast como? from Columbia that the dispensary constables have for some time been earning ihoir pay and ex penses in the valuo of the liquors seized-. This being true, doos it not - - follow that a considerable volume of business is being done by the tigers? So long as there is an abundanco of il licit whiskey being seized, it teems that a still greater abundanco is being handled. If it wore all seized, or oven the bulk of it, tho tigers would be driven out of business. Not evon blind tigers will persevere in a losing game forever It appears that the consta bles do not capture enough to destroy tho profits of the tignrs. ROBBED THE GRAVE. A startling incident, is narrated by John Oliver of Philadelphia, as fol lows: "1 was In an awful condition. My skin was almost yellow, eyes sunken, tongue coated, pain continually In back and sides, no appetite, growing weaker dsy by day. Three physicians had given me up. Then I was advised to use Electric Bieters; to my great joy, the first bottle made a deoided im provement. I continued their nse for three weeks, and am now a well man. I know they robbed the grave of an other victim." Noono should fail to try them. Only 50 cent* guaranteed, at Laurens Drug Co. and Palmetto Drug (Jo. MONEY TO LEND Land and Houses. -Piedmont Savings and Investment Company, OF GREENVILLE, S. C. Represented In Laurens by \V. W. RAT/i, and M. L. COPELAND. WHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER Or, The Lo?? Story of Cuailca Brandon and Mary Tudor, the King's Sister, and Happening In fh? Reign of His August Majesty King Henry the Eighth aVow ritten e-nd Rendered Into Modern Enrfliih Trom Sir Edwin C%akodcn'a Memoir By EDWIN CASKODEN [CHAttlXS MAJOR] Qrpvriyht, 1898 and 1901, by the BOWtH-ift n ill < V>Hi|?)if/ I . .. ' CHAPTER III. THE l'MINCKSS MAItV. |OW. at that time, Mary, tho king's sister, was just ripen ing Into her greatest woman ly' perfection. Her skin was llko velvet, a rich, clear, rosy snow, With tho hot young blood glowing tbrough It like the fuint rod tlngo we sometimes sec on the inner side of a white rose leaf. Her hair" was n very light brown, almost goiden, und fluffy, soft and fine as a skein of Arrus silk. She was of medium height, with a fig ure that Venus might have envied, ner feet and hands were small and ap parently made for the sole purpose of driving mankind distracted. In fuct, that seemed to be the paramount ob ject in her crentlou, for she had the world of men at her feot. Her great est beauty was her glowing dark brown eyes, which shono with an ever chang ing luster from beneath the shado of tho longest, blackest upcurvlng lashes ever seen. Her voice was soft and full and, ex cept when angry, which, ulus, was not infrequent, hud a low and couxiug lit tle note that made it irresistible. She was a most adroit coaxer and kuew her power full well, although she did not always plead, having the Tudor temper and preferring to cornmand? when she could As before hinted, she had coaxed hoi* roynl brother 'out of several proposed marriages for her which would have been greatly to his ndvontnge, and if you had only known Henry Tudor, with his vain, boister ous, stubborn violence, you could form some Idea of Mary'e powers by that achievement alone. Such wna the roynl maid to whose tender mercies, I now tell yon frankly, my friend Itrnndon was soon to be turned over. He, however, was a blade of very different temper from any she had known, and when I first saw signs of a growing Intimacy bo tween them I felt, from what little I had seen of Brandon, that tho tables were very likely to be turned upon her ladyship. Then thought I, "God help her," for in a nature like here, charged with latent force, strong and bot arxl fiery as the~?tfn"fl stored rays, it need ed frilf a flash to muko it patent when damage was sure to follow for some body?probably Itrandon. Mary did not come home with us from Westminster tho morning after the joust Inga, as wo had expected, but followed some four or five days later, and Brandon had fairly settled himself at court before her arrival. As neither his duties nor mine were onerous, we had n greift deal of time on our hands, which we employed wnlklng and riding or sitting in our common room reading and talking. Of course, as with most young men, that very attractive branch of natural history, woman, was a favor ite topic, and wo accordingly discussed it a great deal?that Is, to tell the exact truth, I did. Although Brandon had seen many an adventure during his lifo on the continent which would not do to write down here, he was as little of a boaster as any mau I ever met, and, while I am in the truth telling business, I Was as great a hraggnrt of my Inches as ever drew the longbow?in that line, I mean. Gods, I flush up hot even now when I think of It! So I talked a great deal and found myself Infinitely pleased with Brandon's conversational powers, which were rare, being no less than tho capacity for saying nothing and listen ing politely to an Infinite deal of the same thing, In another form, from me. I remember that I told htm I had known the Princess Mary from a time when she was twelve years old, and how I had made a fool of myself ubout her. I fear I tried to convey tho Im pression that it was her exalted rank only which made her look unfavorably, upon my passion and suppressed the fact that she had laughed at me good humorcdly and put me off as she would have thrust a poodle from her lap. Tho truth Is she had always been kind nnd courteous to mo nnd bad admitted me to a degree of intimacy much greater than I deserved. This, partly at least, grew out of the fact that I helped her along the thorny path to knowledge, n road she traveled at un eager gallop, for she dearly loved to learn?from cu riosity perhaps. I am sure Bhe held me In her light, gentle heart as a dear friend; but, while her heart was filled with this mild warmth for me, mine began to burn with the flame that discolors every thing, and I saw her friendliness in a very distorting light. She was much kinder to me than to most men, but I did not see that It was by reason of my absoluto hnrmlessncss, nnd, I suppose, because I was a vain fool I gradually began to gather hope?which goes with every vain man's love?and, what is more, actually cllmbod to the very apex of Idiocy nnd declared myself, I well know the inflnlto distanco between us{ but, like every other man who came within tho circle of this charming load stone, I lost my head and, In short, made a greater fool of myself than I naturally was, which is saying a good deal for that time in my life, Qod knows! I knew vaguely, but did not fairly re alize, how utterly beyond my reach in every way she was until I opened tho floodgates of my passion, as I thought it, nnd saw her smile and try to check tho coming laugh. Then camo a look of offended dignity, followed by a quick, softening glance. "L.enve mo one friend, I pray you, Edwin. I value you too highly to lose, nnd esteem you too much to torment. Do not make of yourself ono of thoso fools who feel, or pretend to feel, I caro not which, such preference for me. You cannot know In what contempt a wom an holds a man who follows her though she despises him. No man can beg a Woman's love; he must command It. Do not Join their ranks, but let us bo good friends. I will tell you tho plain truth. It would bo no different wero we both of tho same degree. Even then I could not feel toward you as you think you wish, but I can be your friend and will promise to bo that always if you will promise never again to speak of this to me." I promised solemnly and have always kept my word, as this true, gracious woman, so full of faults and beauties, virtues and fallings, has ever since that day and moment kept hers. It seemed that my love, or wbnt I supposed was love, left my heart at once, frozen in the cold glint of her eyes as she smiled upon ray first avowal, somewhat as dis ease may leave tho sickened body upon a great shock. And in its place cairiu the restful dame of a friend's lov/, ' -.? .y*^~5& which so softly warms without burning. Itut the burning! There 1h nothing in life worth having com pa red with it for all its pains and agonies. Is there? "Now, if you must love somebody," continued the princess, "there is Lady Juno Boliugbroke, who Is beautiful and good and admires you und, I think, could learn to"? Hut here the lady In question ran out from behind the dru porios, where, I believe, she had been listening to it all, and put her hand over her mistress' mouth tu silence her. "Don't believe one word she says, Sir Edwin," cried Lady June. "If you do, I never will like you." The emphiiKlH on the "will" held out such Involuntary promise in ease I did not believe tho princess that I at once protested total want of faith In a single syllable sho had said about her and vowed that I knew It could not be true; that I dured not hope for such happiness. You see, I had begun to niako love to Jane almost before I was ofT my knees to Mary, and therefore I had not been pinch hurt In Mary's case. I had ?uf fercd merely a touch of the general epi demic, not the lingering, chronic, disease that kills. Then I knew that the best cure for the sting which lies In a luck,088 lovo Is to love elsewhere, and Jni< , as she stood there, so petite, so blushing and so fair, struck me ns quite the most pleasing antidote 1 could possibly find, so I began at once to administer to my self the delightful counter irritant. It was a happy thought for me, one of those which come to a man now and then and for which he thanks his wits In every hour of his after life. But the winning of Jane was not so easy n matter us my vanity had prompted me to think. I started with a handicap, since Jane had heard my declaration to Mary, and I had to undo all that before I could do anything else. Try the same thing yourself with a spirited girl, naturally laughter lov 'Don't bellCVO one word she says Sir Edwin." Ing nnd coy, if you think it a simple, easy undertaking. I began to fear I should need another antidote long be fore I heard her sweet soul-satlsfylng "yes." 1 do not believe, however, I could have found in the whole world an antidote to my lovo for Jane. In the course of my talk with Bran don I had, ns I have said, told him tho story of Mary, with some slight varia tions and coloring, or, rather, discolor ing, to make It appear a little less to my discredit than tho barefaced truth would have been. I told him also about Jane, and, I grieve and blush to say, expressed a confidence in tlint direc tion 1 little felt. It had been perhaps n year since my adventure with Mary, nnd I hud taken all that time trying to convince Jane that I did not mean a word I had said to her mistress nnd that I was very earnest In everything 1 said to her. But Jane's ears would have heard Just as much had they been tho pair of beautiful little shells they so much re-* scmhlcd. This troubled me a great deal, and the best I could hopo was that she held me on probation. On the evening of the day Mary caino home to Greenwich, Brandon asked: "Who and what on earth is this won derful Mary I hear so mucli about? They sny she is coming home today, pud the court seems to have gone mad about it. I hoar nothing but 'Mary is coming! Mary is comingl Maryl Mary!' from morning until night. Thoy say Buckingham is besldo himself for love of her. Ho has a wife at home, if I am right, and is old enough to be her father. Is he not?" I assented, nnd Brandon continued: "A man who will mako such a fool of himself about a woman is woefully weak. The men of the court must bo poor creatures." He had much to learn about tho power of womanhood. There is noth ing on earth?but you know as much about it as I do. "Wait until you see her," I auswered, "and you will be one of them also. I flatter you by giving yon ono hour with her to bo heols over head in love. With an ordinary man it takes one-slxt?3th of that time. So you see I pay a com pliment to your strength of mind." "Nonsense!" broke in Brandon. "Do you think I loft nil my wits down In Suffolk? Why, man, she is the sister of tho king nnd is sought by kings and emperors. I might as well fall in love with a twinkling star. Then, besides, my heart is not on my sleeve. You must think mo a fool?a poor, enervat ed, simpering fool like?like?well, like one of l hone nobles of England. Don't put me down with them, Caskoden, If yon would remain my friend." We both laughed at this sort of talk, which was a llttlo In advance of the time for a noble, though an idiot to the most of England was a noble still, God 'created and to be adored. Now, when Mary returned the whole court rejoiced, nnd I wna anxious for Brandon to meet her aud that they 'should becomo friends. There would be no trouble In bringing this meeting about, since, ns you know, I was upon iernci of intimate friendship with Ma ry ond was tho avowed nnd, as I thought, at least hoped, all but accept ed lover of her first lady In waiting and dearest friend, Lady Jnno Bolingbroke. Brandon, It is true, was not noble, not even an English knight, whllo I was both knighted nnd noble, but he was of ns old n family ns England boasted and nenr of kin to some of tho best blood of tho land. The meeting came about sooner than I expected and was very near a failure. It was on the sec ond mornlag after Mary's arrival at Greenwich. Brandon and I were walk? Ing In the palace park when we met Jane, and I took 1tho opportunity to i- ? make these, my two best loved friends, acquainted. "How do you do, Master Brandon?" said Lady Jane, holding out hoi plump little hand, so white nnd soft nnd dear to me. "I have heard something of you the last day or bo from Sir Edwin, but hud begun loJear he was not going to give me the pleasure of knowing you. J hopo I may sec you often now and that I may present you to my mis tress." With this her eyes, bright as over grown dewdrops, twinkled with a mis chievous little smile, as if to say, "Ah, another large handsome fellow to make a fool of himself." Brandon acquiesced in the wish sho had made, and after the Interchange of a few words Jane said her mistress was waiting at the other side of the grounds and that she must go. She then ran off with a laugh and a cour tesy and was soon lest to sight behind the shrubbery at the turning of the walk. In n short time we came to a summer house, near the marble boat landing, where wo found the queen and some of her ladles awaiting the rest of their party for a trip down the river which had been planned the day before. Itran don was known to the queen nnd sever al of the ladies, although he had not been formally presented at an audi ence. Many of the king's friends en joyed a considerable Intimacy with the whole court without ever receiving the public stamp of ognltlon socially which goes with . nal presentation. The queen, seein?. sent me off to bring the king. Afti 1 had gone sho asked if any one had seen the Princess Mary, and Brandon told her Lady Jane had said she was at the other side of i the grounds. Thereupon her majesty asked Brandon to ?nd the princess and to say that she was wanted. Brandon started on* nnd soon found a bevy of girls sitting on some benches under a spreading oak, weaving spring flowers. He had never seen tho prin cess, so could not p< -ely snow her. Ar a matter of fact t d know her as soon as his eyes rostt .1 on her, for she could not be mistaken among a thou sand. There was no one like her or any thing near it. Some stubborn spirit of opposition, however, prompted him to pretend/-Jgnornnce. All that ho had heard of her wonderful power over men nnd the servile manner in which they fell before her had aroused In him a spirit of antagonism nnd had be gotten a kind of distaste beforehand, lie was wrong In this, because Mary was not a coquette in any sense of the word and did absolutely nothing to at tract men except to be Ao beautiful, sweet .wd-M'JnnfnB thttt they could not let her alone, for all of which surely the prince of fault tinders himself could in no way blame her. She could not help that God had seen fit to make her the fairest being on earth, and the responsibility would have to lie where It belonged?with God. Mary would have none of It. Her attractiveness was not a matter of volition or Intention on her part. She was too young for deliberate snare setting, though It often begins very early in life, ami made no effort to at tract men. Man's love was too cheap a thing for her to strive for, and I am sure In her heart she would Infinitely have preferred to live without it?that Is, until the right one should come. The right one is always on his way and, first or last, is sure to come to every woman?sometimes, alas, too Into and when he comes, bo it late or early, she crowns him, even though he be a long eared ass. Blessed crown, and thrice blessed blindness?else there were fewer coronations. So Brandon stirred this antagonism nnd determined not to see her manifold perfections, which he felt sure were exaggerated, but to treat her as he would the queen, who was black and leathery enough to frighten a satyr, With nil respect due to her rank, but with his own opinion of her neverthe less safely stored away in tho back of his head. Coining up to the group, Brandon took off his hat and, with a graceful little bow that let the curls fall around his face, asked, "Have I the honor to llnd the Princess Mary among these ladies':" Mary, who I know you will nt once say was thoroughly spoiled, without turning her face toward him replied: "Is the Princess Mary a person of so little consequence about the court that she is not known to a mighty captain of the guard?" Ho wore his guardsman's doublet, and she knew his rank by his uniform. She had not noticed his fuce. Quick as a Hash came the answer: "I cannot say of what consequence the Princess Mary is nbout the court. It Is not my place to dctermlno such mat ters. I am sure, however, Bhe Is not hero, for I doubt not sho would hava given a gentler answer to a message from the queen. I shall continue my search." With this he turned to leave, nnd the ladles, including Jane, who was there and saw 1t all and told me of It, awaited the bolt they knew would come, for they saw the lightning gath ering in Mary's eyes. Mary sprang to her feet with an an gry flush in her face, exclaiming: 'In solent fellow, I am the Princess Mary. If you have a message, deliver it and l>o gone." You may be sure this sort of treatment was such as the cool head ed, daring Brandon would repay with usury; so, turning upon his heel and almost presenting his back to Mary, he spoke to Lady Jane: "Will your ladyship say to her high ncss that her majesty the queen awaits her coming at the rnarblo landing?" "No need to repeat the message, Jane," cried Mary. "I havo ears and con hear for myself." Then, turning to Brandon, "If your Insoleuce will permit you to receive a message from so Insig nificant a person as the king's sister, I bog you to say to the queen that I shall bo with her presently.** Ho did not turn his face toward Ma ry, but boved again to Jane. "May I ask your ladyship further to say for me that if I hnve been guilty of any discourtesy I greatly regret It. My failure to recognize tho Princes* Mary grew out of my misfortune In never having been allowed to bask in the light of hor countennnco. I cannot bo j lleve tho fault lies at my door, and I hopo for her own sake that her high ness on second thought will realize how ungentle nnd unkind some ono else has been." And with a sweeping courtesy he walked quickly down the path. "Tho ItiBolent wretchl" cried ono. "He onght to hold papers on tho pil lory," said another. "Nothing of the sort," broke in sensi ble, fearless little Jane. "I think tho Lady Mary was wrong. Ho could not havo known her by Inspiration." "Jano is right," exclaimed Mary, whoso temper, if short, was also short lived and whose kindly heart always set her right if she but gave it a llttjp time. Her faults wero rather those of education than of nature. "Jane is right. It was what I deserved. I did not think when I spoke nnd did not really mean it an it sounded. He acted llko a man and looked llko ono, too, when he defended himself. I warrant tho pope at Rome could not ran over him with Impunity. For once I have found a real live man, full of manli ness. I haw him in the lists at Windsor a week ago, but tho king said his name was a secret, and I could not lenru it. Ho seemed to know you, Jane. Who Is he? Now tell us ull you know. The queen can wait." And her majesty waited on a girl's surloslty. I had told June all I knew about Brandon, So sho was prepared with full Information and gave It. Bhe told the princess who he was, of bis ter rible duel with Judson, his bravery and adventures in the wars, his gener ous gift to his brother and sisters, nnd, UiRtly, "Sir l?dwill says he Is the best read muu In the court and the bravest, truest heart in Christendom." After .rune's account of Brandon they all started by a roundabout way for the marble landing. In a few mo ments whom did they see coming to ward them down the path but Bran don, who had delivered his message and continued his walk. When he saw whom he was about to meet, he quickly turned In another direction. The Lady Mary had seen htm, how ever, nnd told Jnnc to run forward and bring hi in to her. She soon overtook him und said: "Master Brandon, the princess wishes to see you," thou maliciously: "You will suffer this time. 1 assure you she Is not used to such treatment. It was glorious, though, to see you re Rcnt such an affront. Men usually smirk und smile foolishly and thank her when she smites them." Brandon was disinclined to return. "I nm not In her highness* com mand," he answered, "and do not care to go buck for a reprimand when I am In no way to blame." "Oh, but you must come. Perhaps she will not seold this time." And she put her hand upon his arm and laugh liTgly drew him along. Brandon of course had to submit when led by so sweet n captor?anybody would. So fresh and fair and lovable was Jane that I am svire nnythiug masculine must hove given way. Coming up to the princess nnd her ladles, who were waiting, Jane said, "Lady Mary, let mo present Master Brandon, who, If he has offended In nny way, humbly sues for pardon." That was the ono thing Brandon hod no notion on earth of doing, but he let It go ns Jane had put it, nnd this wos his reward: "It is not Master Brandon who should sue for pardon," responded the princess. "It Is I who was wrong. I blush for what I did and said. Forgive me, sir, nnd let us start anew." At this she stepped up to Brandon and ofTored him her hand, which he, dropping to Ids knee, kissed most gallantly. "Your highness, you can well afford to offend when you have so sweet and gracious a talent for making amends. 'A wrong acknowledged,' as some one has said, 'becomes an obligation.' " He looked straight into the girl's eyes as he said this, and his gaze was altogeth er too strong for her, so tho lashes fell. She flushed nnd sold, with n smile that brought the dimples: "I thank you. That is a real compli ment" Then laughingly: "Much better than extravagant comments on one's skin and eyes and hair. We are going to the queen at the marble landing. Will you w?lk with us, sir?" And they strolled awny together, while the other girls followed In a whispering, laugh ing group. Was there ever so glorious a calm after such u storm? "Then those mythological compli ments," continued Mary. "Don't you dislike them?" "1 can't say that I have ever received many, none that I recall," replied Bran* don, with a perfectly straight face, but with a smile trying its best to break out. "Oh. you have not? Well, how would you like to hove somebody always tell ing you that Apollo was humpbacked and misshapen compared with you; that Kndymlon would huve covered his face had he but seen yours, and so on?" "I don't know, but I think I should like It from some porsor^," he replied, looking ever so liuiocent. This savored of familiarity after bo brief nn acquaintance and caused the princess to glance up In slight surprise, but only for the Instant, for his Inno-, cent look disarmed her. "I have a mind to see," she returned, laughing and throwing her head back ns she looked up nt him out of the cor ner of her lustrous eyes. "But I wilt pay you n better compliment. I posi tively thank you for the rebuke. I do many things like that, for which I am always sorry. Oh, you don't know how dtflicult It is to be a good princess!" And she shook her head with a gather ing of little trouble wrinkles In her forehead, as much as to say, "There Is no getting nwny from it, though." Then she breathed a soft little sigh of tribu lation as they walked on, "I know It must be a task to be good when everybody flatters even one's shortcomings," said Brandon and then continued in n way that, I am free to confess, wos something priggish: "It Is almost Impossible for us to see our own faults even when others are kind enough to point them out, for t'iey are right Ugly things and unpleasant to look upon. But, lacking those outside monitors, one must all the more culti vate the liobit of constant Inlooklng and self examination. If we ore only brave enough to confront our fault;* and look them In the face, ugly as they ore, we shall be sure to overcome the worst of them. A striving toward good will achieve at lenst a port of It." "Oh!" returned the prlncesB. "But what Is good and what Is wrong? bo often we cannot tell them apart until we look back at what we have done, and then it is all too late. I truly wish to be good more than I desire anything else in the world. I am so Ignorant nnd helpless and hove such strong Inclina tions to do wrong that sometimes I seem to be almost oil wrong. The priests soy so much, but tell us so little. They talk about St. Peter and St. Paul and o host of other saints nnd holy fa thers and what nuts, but fail to tell us what wo need every moment of pup lives; that Is, how to know the right when we Ree it, nnd how to do it; nnd how to know the wrong and how to avoid It. They nsk us to bellovo so much and Insist that faith Is tho sum of virtue nnd the lock of It tho sum of sin, that to faith all things oro uddetl, but wo might licltcvo overy syllable of their whole disturbing creed and then spoil It nil through blind Ignorance of what Is right and what Is wrong." "As to knowing right and wrong," replied Brandon, "I think I can glvo you a rule which, although It may not cover tho wholo ground, Is excellent for everyday use. It Is this, Whatever makes others unhappy Is wrong, what ever makes tho world happier Is good. As to how wo aro always to do this I cannot tell yoq. Ono has tq leor? that by trying- We can but try, and If wo full altogether there Is still virtue lu every futile effort toward tho right." Mary bent her bend as sho walked along In thought. I "What you have snld Is the'only up- ! preach to a rule for knowing a ad doing the right 1 havo ever beard. Now what do you think of me as a Hutterer? But It will do DO gootl. The had Is In me too strong. It always does Itself be fore I con apply any rule or even real ize what Is coining." And again she shook her head, with, a bewitching lit tle look of trouble. "Pardon me, your highness, but there Is no bad in you. It lias been put on you by others and Is all on the outside. There Is none of it in your heart nt all. That evil which you think comes out of you simply falls from you. Your heart is all right or I have greatly mis judged you." He was treating her al most as If she were a child. "I fear. Master Brandon, you are the most adroit Hutterer of all," said Mary, shaking her head and looking up at him with a side glance. "'People have deluged U10 with all kinds of Mattery I have different sorts listed and labeled ?but no one has ever gone to the ex travagant length of calling me good. Perhaps they think I do not care for that, but 1 like it best. 1 don't like the others at all. If I am beautiful or not, it is as God made me, and I have noth ing to do with it and desire no credit, but If l could only be good It might be my own doing perhaps, and I ought to have praise. I wonder If there Is really and truly any good In uio and if you have read me aright." Then, looking up at him with a touch of consterna tion, "Or are you laughing at ine 7" Brandon wisely let tho last sugges tion pass unnoticed. "I am sure that I am right. You have glorious capacities for good, but, nlos, corresponding possibilities for evil. It will eventually all depend upon tho man you marry, lie can make out of you & perfect woman or the reverse." Again there was the surprised expres sion In Mary's face, but Prandpn's seri ous look disarmed her. "I fear you are right, as to the reverse nt any rate, and the worst of It Is I shall never be able to choose a man to help me, but shall sooner or later be compelled to marry the creature who will pay the greatest price." "God forbid!" said Brandon rever ently. They were growing rather serious, so Mary' turned the conversation again into the laughing mood nnd said, with a half sigh: "Oh, I hope you are right about the possibilities for good, but you do not know. Wait until you hove seen more of me." "I certainly hope I shall not have long to wait." The surprised eyes again glanced quickly up to the serious face, but the answer came: "That you shall not. But here Is the quean, and I suppose we must have the benediction." Brandon understood her hint, that the preaching was over, and, taking It for his dismiss al, playfully lifted his hands In imita tion of the old bishop of Canterbury and murmured the flrst line of the Lat in benediction. Then they both laughed and courtesled, and Brandon walked away. pro na continued.] TO ClJRK A COLD IN ONE DAY Tnke Laxative Biomo Qu'.nine Tab lets, All druggists refund the money If it falls to cure. E. W. Grove's sig nature is on each box. 25c. Can anyone suppose that we would double the necessary cost of our brewing without a i vital reason ? Would we spend so much on cleanliness ? Would we cool the beer in plate glass rooms ? Would we filter all the air that touches it ? Would we age it for months ? Would we sterilize every bottle ? We do it to attain absolute purity?to avoid the remotest possibility of germs? to make Schlitz Beer healthful. Why r cept a com mon beer, brewed with out any of these pre cautions, when Schlitz Beer costs no more ? Your dealer may prefer to fur nish a beer that pays a littic more i profit; but does it pay you to per Imit it? Isn't pure beer?Schlitz |?eer?worth asking for ? Ask for the Brewery Bottling. For sale at all dispensaries in the State, in quart and pint bottles. A NEW LAW FI IUI. The undersigned have this day en tered into a partnership for the practice of law in the Courts of this State, under tho name of Simpson & Cooper and will promptly attend to all business en trusted to them. H. Y.Simpson, It. A. Ooophh. l)r. W. H. DIAL. No. 110 W. Main St. Spojial Attention (ilvcu Women nnd Children. OMicc hours in the city from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. 'Phone?Residence No. 44 Oflioo No. 89. At the First Sign That your Eyes are Hurting;, you Should visit us. It may mean blind ness if you persist in think ing that it is nothing, and that it is not worth while to attend to it. It will only take a little of your time and money to have us test your eyes and lit you properly. Fleming Bros. J. N, LEAK, Auctioneer, Offers his services to the peo ple of Laurcns County. Address : Gkay Coukt, S. C. THE KYLE hay Press Farmers take care, of what you make. There is as much iu saving ay there is in making, and if you halo your hay, fodder, nuts, shucks etc, at tho proper tirao you not only save room and time, but you tave XI per cent of the nutri cious matter that evaporates when it is not baled. The Kyle Hay Press fills a lonsr felt want with farmers. It is the best yet made. The opinion seems to be. unanimous th at tho KYEE HAY PRESS is unexcelled by any press on the market. It is going to the front, already a great number of them have been sold, you only need to try it to be pleasvd. It is easy oper ated by 2 men and 1 hoi\?e. It 18 cheap, durable, simple in construction and easily mounted. It is the only press that can be made or repaired on tho farm, ith;is no easting to break and cause Ion? delay. No other press hi.a this advantage. It is the only press that the farmer can afford to buy, to pays f r itso f out of l!h> lirst crop. Every farmer can own his own press, and halo his hay xt tho proper time. A. L IIP EGENS, Laurens, S. O. F LO RO D O R A or hybrid COTTO N PRIZES ALMOST DOUBLED. Sl.OOO IN CASH TO BE AWARDED. Seed Now Within Reach of Every Farmer. ?Order To-day. Don't, miss this opportunity! Fortune (opportunity) is wondrous shy?it comes not often. As you read this, however, it approaches. Seize ltl Welcome it! It's name is "FLORODORA." A Hybrid or Extra Staple Cotton, worth 12 to 14 cents per pound. -m "Florodora" i? a cress between an extra Ptapie cotton and an ordinary proHflo variety, in which productiveness and characteristic 1% to 21 inch staple are fixed, no deterioration having occurred, though years have elapsod tmtco its Introduction. In other words, It will not run out. On February 13. 1903. W. S. Wheeler, of Mayesville, S. C, report?: "Just sold two l) des of your Florodora cot ton, the Ian of my crop, ht 13! cents per pound, grown from seed b mght of you last, year P. H. Allen, of bemiaolo, S. C, haB just sold at 13* cents. ,, , , t. x . .. I. B. Fonville, of Go'.desboro, N. C, made considerably over a balo per acre, though dry weather prevented ger mination till late, stand being poor, while later, excossive ruins destroyed by rot a lanje per cent of the lower b ?Iis. Georgo W. Kellev, of Swalnsboro, Ga , though us'ng only 200 pounds of fertilizers por aero on ordinary soils hav ing secured not over two-thirds of a stand, produced a heavy balo per aero, soiling the lot in Swalnsboro at 12! cent* per pound. W. H. Kerr, a reliublo cotton buverof fame address, corroborates Kelly T. O. Sanders, Jr., of Haygood, S. 0., reports most Haltering results. J. Hurt Jono3, a ootton expert of Hcrndon, Ga , tays my cotton is all I claim for it. It la worth 12 to 14 cents per pound and any man with ha'f sense can m ik -? as much of It on an acre of hind as he can of any other kind of cotton. Nicely prepared cotton, free from trash, should bring not loss th*n 15 cents per pound. T. P. Hunnicutt, mnnager of The S mihern Cultivator, bus seen reports from farmers of very satisfuct >ry yields and 13 to 14 cents per pound, aud pronounces tho seed cotton sample sent him by me the llnest ho has ever seen g own on upland. This cotton differs in no esi ential frcm tin ordinary prolific variety save in extra length of staple, being adapted to every otton aroa, most Hatten ng reports coming from upper and lower section* of North Carolina, S'juth Carolina and Georgia. Areas north of Ohatanooga, Tc-nn , being adapted to It. Lint covers the seed as in ordi nary cotton, common saw gins for short staple being used successfully for ginning it. I gin this cotton on any ordinary 00-saw gin. Such gins have a capacity of about ton bales por day of short stsplo, but in dcllnting my extra Staple 1 speed to not over ?vo bales per day in o--der not to injure stap'o by cutting it. Do likewise. Cottin of early maturity?plant any time in April or May?paying crops being common nftsr oats in Jane. It is not only very prolillc, but of ear'y in tturity, paying crop* being commonly planted aft-ar oa'.s in June. Why do I plant this cotton to the excusion of ail other varieties, though farming in the heart of thushortstaplo bolt? I novel' made moro with any other variety, while owincr to oxtra length of staple an independent market is open to it, it being used extensively in the manufacture of fine yarns, commanding never iess than 12 to 15 cents per pound, when c irofully gathered. Why are you plant ing common cotton? You have fallen in a rut and cannot see beyond Its edges; then t lie. New York and Liverpool speculator^?- the makers of prices, they who livo by raising or lowering it at will?tell you ootton is scarce, acreage reduced, less fertilizer bought, colton wi!l bring 10 conts next fall. What are tho faots? Doa'C bo lieve me; read your paper. More ootton in sight than the same time lust yoar; sales of commercial fertilizers surpass those of any other period in the history of tho world; never before such aotivo preparations for an increase.11 acreage Lookout for 5 cents cotton! Did you evor get that pr.ee whan overythlng pointed to 10 cents? No, you got 31 eonts, an t so did I, and I bestirred myself then for a substitute and found It in "Florodora " Fur roott heavily fruited stalk, $400;.second best stalk, $75; th'rd best. $20; fourth host, $5, For best, one-pound sample of "F orod >ra" lint, $>0; second host sample of lint, $25; third bast, $2); fourth, fcfj. As it, is the opinion that tho productive capacity of this cotton is almost liinitlcas, three to fivo bales par aera being possible, following an intonsivo system of farming, an additional prize of $403 in cash will bo given for the greatest yield of aoed e )tton on one acre to be determined as fo'lows: An acre planted 4 feet by 2 feet will givo, say 6512 stalks per acra. Every contestant for the prize must ship me five unpiokod bt)iks. Assuming that 100 bolls will glvo ona pound of soed oatton and th*t average of five stalks represents tho yield of tho 5512 stalks on an acre, the total production par acre m ly thus be approximated, not accurately, but in perfect fairness to contestants. Every contestant must buy at least ono bush ?I of soed and will bo permitted to entor for every prize. Uuplckcd 8talks only will be aocopted, as picked cannot be distinguished from an ordiui-y projiflj variety. Dataohed bolls will not be counted. Five sta'ka In one paekign well wrapped and tag^ad for tho $100 contest for largest yield per aero. Four stalks in one package with four samples of lint well packed and tagged for entry to the $000 Contest. All sttlks must be shipped, prepaid by express or freight to arrive at Allendale, 1 C, not later than December t lin:5. If this cotton is what I claim for it, It behooves every farmer in the ootton belt to prove it by correspondence: if it is not, it is equally Imperative to disprove ar,d brand it as a fraud. Many contestants aro suspicion-; tho' remitting for the contest, a vein of unoasinois is evident In theli' letters' therefore in order to guarantee to evory one perfoct fairness, I shall allow froo transportation with accomm illation af ter arrival to tholr representatives from Atlanta, Ga., to Allondale, 8. O., constituting a committoe upon wh'ch will devolve the responsibility for an honest awarding of prizes. One bushel of this cotton carefully planted should cover four acres, which treated intensively should yield i !> ?-> slblo 8 bale c op, returning In seed a sulllciency to plant any ono farm r's entiro crop for nno.her yoar Fouthern Cultivator of Atlant?, Ua., has ei>n?entod to hold prise in >noy and namo ojmmiUeo to decide oantoat. PRICE OF SEED. l-Bushel Lots, f. o. b. Allendale, 8. C, $2.00 per bu. 50 bu. lots, t\ o. b. Allendale, 8. C, $1,50 per bu. Cash mu*t accompany all orders Remittance to be made by registered money letter, poatoflloo money order express order money or cortifled check. L. A. STONEY, Allendale, S. C. REFERENCES. To Cure a Cold in One Day Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets./* m/L 3?vm MHBou hcn*+ aoM in paat 13 mooUn. \ TMt signature* jf?*jCfr Cures Crip la Two Days. on every fr*%r%^0 box. 25c.