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THE ONE GREAT GATHERING OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS The State Fair This Your?Octobci 20 to 30. The fortieth annual Stute Pair will be heM iit Columbia thin year Octobci 26-30. und It glveH promise to be He greatest Stute Fulr ever held. No mat ter bow b.td the crops or how hard the times, o very body goes to the State Fall at Columbia, it bus been the custom now for nearly half a century, and it Will ever continue so With crowds In creasing each yeur. The State Fair Is the one time or the year that work can be put down und e Very one have a good time for a tew days. Old acquaintances and relatives m?et ut the State Fair if they are not fortunate enough to meet olsewhor? 'Im I in-, the year. Friends meet friends and college men meet their college mutes and renew friendships with good stories of the good times of the past. This year the fair holds even mm > than that for South Carolinians. Jt will bo made up of new exhibits that will teach the farmers new methods and Improvements that mean money to every one of them. The races will be tin- lust ever seen In the South. This being the first year that the Fulr Association has entered the Virginia-Carolina Circuit. Tin Mnlw raccH will brliiK many of the country's very finest racers. The two football games will draw thousands of enthusiastic "rooters" from both the Ca rollnas. Columbia is better fitted to take car< of her gucnts than ever before, with more hotel accommodations. The rail roads will nil put on special rates, as usual.^ President John G. Mol.ley. of the Fulr Association, has worked hard to Ket everything in ship-shape, and he predicts the ludest crowd In the his tory of the fair. DEATH OF M It. A. >V. Sil A It 1?. Prominent and Esteemed Citizen of Princeton Passes Away Thursday, After an Illness of two weeks Mr. A. W. sharp, a prominent citizen and successful farmer and business man, died at his home near Princeton Thursday. Sept. 24. On Friday hi was buried at Ml. Bethel church, tho funeral service being conducted by the pastor. Rev. John I,. Ita.v The pallbearers were Messrs. .lohn B. Humbert, .lohn L. Bagwell, I. K Davis, .lohn B, Henley. Hobt. (' Reeves, and Dr. <\ Q. West. Mr. Sharp was ?'>:? years old and i. survived by his wife Who vvr.s, be fore marriage, a Miss ICpps, dull] ter of the late Mr. .IlllUCS I'JppS, Ion sons and three daughters. Iii. third son. the Rov. R. K Sharp, is a member of (he South Carolina col ference. located this year on li.. Heath Springs charge Writing an account of Mr. Sharp'! death to The stale. th<< I'rinei oi correspondent says: " In the death of Mr. Sharp tin church has lost a prominent member the community a useful citizen, i!i> home a devoted husband ami lovlne father." A pleasing, good, high grade, truly flavored, amber colored cup of coffee can be had ?and without the real Coffee danger, or damage to health -by simply using Dr. Shoop's new substitute called "Health Coffee." Pure, wholesome, toasted cereals, malt, nuts, etc., make Dr. Shoop's Health Coffee both health ful and satisfying. No 20 to30 minutes tedious boiling. "Made in a minute," says Dr. Shoop. If served as coffee its taste will even trick an expert. Test it and see. .1. M. Philpot. Rev. 0. R. Shaffer Dead. The Rev. Ceo. R. Shaffer, of the South Carolina conference, who was several years ago located on the Prince ton circuit, died at his home at Swan sea one day last week after a short ill ness. Mr. Shaffer was a lino Christian Sentleman, an able preacher, and his eath is a distinct loss to tho confer ence. $100 Reward, $100. The readers of this paper will he pleased to learn that there is at lea : one dreaded disease that science has been able to cure in all its stages, and that is Catarrh. Hall's Catarrh Cure is the only positive cure now known t" the medical fraternity. Catarrh being a constitutional disease requires a con stitutional treatment. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces ol the system, thereby destroying the foundation of the disease, and giving tho patient strength by building up the constitution and assisting nature in do ing its work. The proprietors have so much faith in its curative powers that they offer One Hundred Dollars for any case that it fails to cure. Send for Iis' of testimonials. Address F. .1. CHENEY & CO., To ledo, O. Sold by all Druggists, 76c Take Hall's Family Pills for consti pation. hen Hi of Mrs. w. v. Price. Mrs. Hattle Oodfroy Price, wife of Mr. Win. A. Price, died at her home three miles north east ol the city, last Sunday morning after a hrlof illness. On Monday the remains wore taken to New Prospect church, near Madden, for hurial. ?Mrs. Price was a daughter Of Mi. John Godfrey of tho county and was about 36 years obi. Besides her husband several children are left to mourn her departure. A Beautiful Woman. Her surroundings should be in har mony, and can best be made so by a well kept home. The I,. & M Pure Paint makes the homo beautiful. It preserves it and prevents decay. Tie cost per gallon ready for use' is only $2.00. It wears for ten years and long eft Thirty-three years of continuous use in evidence. For sale at, J. H. & M. L. Nash. Laurens Clinton Pharmacy, Clinton. Or. King's New Live Pim The best In the world. 5 B/>e Merry Widow "By AL'BE'RT TAySOfi TEK.HUJNE Coo<^<x->o- COPYRIGHT, 1908. BY HENRY W. SAVAGE o<^<o<^><^o ^ _ CHAPTER I. The Girl With the Millions. ,4f/-f-"s(' HO widow Just now is the ? I <111< - ii of our diplomatic chess* I hoard," sighed the Maraovlan i iimhnssndor'spretty wife. "She will ln> hero tonight. My husband Is hanging over the banisters watching fop her." "lint wlinl reason7" "Oh, In- lias exactly twenty million reasons for'' "I don't understand," murmured M. de .Toll.Ion. "No/ Then you are probably the only bachelor in Paris who doesn't. She was tin- daughter of a poor Mar Kovhtn farmer no dowry but her beauty. An enormously rich old hank er named Sudown. wealthiest man in Marsovia, fell in love with her, mar ried her and did her the exquisitely graceful favor of dying a week later, she Inherited his whole fortune?$20, 000,000." "And now 1 suppose-she has come to Paris to spend it V "Oh, the money is snfo enough for the present, 1 believe, in the Hank of "Hush! Von mustn't Bay lt. I am a dutiful witv. And what are you do Ing?" she queried as he snatched up her fun from tho table. With the I I'M. II thai dangled froui his dancing card De Jolldon scribbled three words on ono of the Ivory Micks of the fun, then huuded It to his hostess. Natalie, with a little catch in ber breath, slowly read the words aloud: "I - love?you!" "Why did you write this?" she asked. "Because you forbade me to tsny dt," he retorted. "Tell bis excellency I have come bnck," broke In a voice at the door. As a servant hurried off with the message the speaker waddled Into the room. lie was a stout, ungulnly little man, clad in the quaint natlouul cos tume of Marsovia, P>uld of head, pop ping of eye and with abuornially long red mustache, his was a personality to excite laughter in a mummy. The newcomer was Nish, messenger and clerk of the embassy. At bin ap proach Natalie and l)e Jolldon slipped away to the ballroom. A moment later a tall, lean, fussy man with hooked nose and mincing gait trotted down the stairway and into the salon. "Well, Mr. Nish," he asked peevish ly, "did you Und Prince Danllo at home'/" "No, your excellency," faltered the little man. "He"? "Did you go thence, as I told you, to thp American bar at"? THE MERRY WIDOW. Marsovla. Hut my husband wants it to K(ny thoro. So ?lin s tho Marsovian government, Ours is not a rich uoun Iry, M, do Jolldon. Thai's why a now white hair nppoars in my worthy bus* band's head ovory llmo otio of your Parisian latly killers makes love to her. It's all absurdly simple." "Well," laughed Do Jolldon, "his hair needn't turn whiter on my account. I'll he (he one Frenchman who won't make lose to Mine. Sadowa." "But you must." "What?" Von must marry her, at any rate." "Are you mad, Natalie, or Is this"? "It is no Joko, and I'm not mad. I've, thought it all out." The ambassador's wile glanced nerv ously nhout her. She and De Jolldon Were ensconced in an alcove of the salmi. 11 was the high! of (ho embassy bail. From the ndjolnlng ballroom en mo lllO stNiins of a wait/ and the soft gliding of hundreds of dancing feet. Cuests were passing ami re passing along the great hallway and broad Stairs at (ho rear of tho salon. But for the moment the two had tho room to (hemselves. "Listen," Bbo said. "My husband sus pects nothing thus far, but ho Is cer tain to in time unless" "UnloSS I divert his thoughts by mar rylng some ono olso? I can't, and you know I can't, for I"? "Yes, sir. Hut ho was not at home there tonight." "Odd. IIo'h usually very much at homo there, I'm told. So you failed In your mission? You couldn't find him?" "Oh, yes, your excellency, I found him?that Is to sny, I"? "Oh, you found him at last? That's better. Whore?" "At Maxim's, your"? "Maxim's, eh?" snorted Ambassador Popoff scornfully. "Idling away hte time, as usual, when"? "Oh, no, your excellency, not ex netly 'Idling,' If I mny say so. He seemed very busy. There were n num ber of bottles and"? "Was he sober?" "Not distressingly so, your excel lency. In fact, If I may"? "Did you give him my message? Dkl you tell him?" "I gave It word for word, sir. I told him bis country was calling for him and that your excellency desired his Immediate presence at the embassy." "'Well, what was bis answer?" "Ho snld, 'dive my country my re gnrdS and tell It. to go "? "Whore?" snapped Popoff ns Nish paused In embarrassment. "I'd I'd rather not Jtny, sir; no place I'm at all famlllur with." "Ob, the Ingrute," walled Popoff, "the Ingrute! Here be has been em ployed at the embassy,all these uiontns, and I've winked at his loafing and his dissipation, and the very first minute 1 really need him ho refuses to come." "Oh, no, your excellency, ' pleaded N'lsh; "scarcely as bad as all that, If I may suy so?not 'refused' exactly. He will come. At least he promised , to." "Ah, that lifts a load from my brain if he promised he'll come! Diplomat Ically speaking, Prince Danllos word is as good as his bond." "Diplomatically speaking, your excel lency," atllrmed Klsh, "he agrees to be here as soon as he has finished the magnum of champagne that was in the Ice pull beside htm when I left." "How much of It was gone'.'" "The cork was not yet drawn, but" ? "Bo ou the lookout, for him. Mr. Nisb. When he conies put li e on his head If necessary. Sober htm at any cost." "I fancy It will he cheaper than 1111 lug him up. I'll do my best, your ex cellency." But the ambassador at a whispered word from a servant had already pot tered out of the room as fast as his \ somewhat shaky old legs would carry htm, and tho voluble Nlsh ran along in his wake. A commotion swept through the scattered groups In the foyer a mur mur, a rustle, a whisper that resolved Itself at last Into the excited phrases: "The widow has arrived!twenty millions and unlneumberod!" "Widow of Sadowa, ttie animated money bag!" "A Monte Cristo fortune for some lucky man!" "Her name Is Sonla Sa dowa; twenty millions?red hair, too. but n beauty!" "Twenty millions!" "The Merry Widow!" Down the stairway from the dress ing rooms and into the salon swept a woman?young, beautiful, vivacious. A light of mischief danced in her great dark eyes. Her masses of auburn hair shone like an aureole above her rather pole, delicate face. About her hovered a half score of gallants, all vying for n word, a look, from the beauty (and fortune) of the Paris season. Two men the Marquis of CascadA and tho Count de St. Brioche were lucky enough to claim for a moment or two her attention. "No, no!" Sonla was saying in pro test. "At home, in Marsovla, men don't make such pretty speeches Courtship there is very primitive and? marriage Is for life. When a man makes love to another's wife, he is promptly shot. When a wife flirts, her husband beats her black and blue a good plan. Why not try It In Paris?" "Delightful!" exclaimed Cascade, "Do you know, madanie, we have been counting the moments until you ap peared?" "I can well believe It," assented So nla. "It must have been just llko counting money." "Oh, madame!" protested the group, horrified. "Don't I know?" retorted Sonla, a little bitterly. "It's always like that. People count me like so much money. If It Is coarse for me to say so, re member I'm a farmer's daughter and that In my country people call a spade u spade." PopofT and Natalie came hurriedly In to pay their respects to the guest upon whom Marsovia's hopes so depended, At a Hlgn from the ambassador the oth ers drew back. "So you were shocking some of our Paris gallonts?" beamed the ambassa dor. "What a child of nature you are!" "You mean," countered Sonia, "that 1 Bin a peasant dressed up. How I wish sometimes that I were a real peasant again!" "Ah!" chuckled PopofT. "Child of na ture, true child of nature, always remembering the dear old days on tho farm?the bleating of the pigs, the new laid milk, the tomatoes freshly dug up and all the simple Joys of the coun try! But I want you to meet tonight some of our MursoVhiu nobility for Instance, Prince Danilo, a (?harming young fellow. He'll be here; presently. Danilo 1b"? But the mischief had died out of Simla's eyes. Her face was paler than was Its wont, and there was a stern look as of pain about the daintily tUtseled IllOUth. "I have already met Prince Danilo," she said curtly. "Really?" cried PopofT. Then, not ing her change of expression, he added with apprehension: "I hope it was not on ono of bis wet days a charming, lovable youngster In spite of his"? "I am not Interested in hearing about him," broke In Sonla In'a curiously level, emotionless voice, "It was long ago that wo met. He will have forgot ten nie even as as I have forgotten him. I ? t us talk of something else, please." Mven Popoff could see something was seriously amiss. CHAPTER II. Old Love and New. Mfv7y ELL, hero I am," announced lAl a tall, slender youth, entering ? ? the deserted salon a few min ? I utes Inter with N'lsh nt his Bide. "I'm hero nt my country's call, tdl right, but my confounded country doesn't seem to be on hand to meet me." Ills graceful walk was not wholly Steady, and there wns a flush on the handsome yotlUg face. The late ar rival was Prince Danilo of Marsovia. attache of the Marsovlau legatlou at Paris, As a diplomat he had scarcely scored n success, for he had a delight fully normal aversion to work and n simple, unfailing Joy In the amuse ments Of Maxim's and Iiis clubs. "I'll hunt up his excellency nt once," "No," replied the widow; "but I'll look in this room If you haven't made a thorough search hero already." Natalie, thanking her, burr led buk with her cavalier to the (stairway. Souia idly begau her search, but Cas cade. Interrupted her. "That can wall," ho pleaded, "I tu I cannot. Won't you hear mo?" "Certainly," assented Sotih cheerful ly. "You are going to propose, aren't you?" "Ah, you read my socrctl*' "it required little cleverness. You men are all alike." "Hut no man ever befoi'0 lovel as [ love!" protested Cascnda, his voice un consciously rising in Ills emotion. "You are all the world to me. I'ntil I met you I never thought I could"? "Hing off!" grumbled Dnnilo in his sleep, vaguely bothered by I ha -loud voice. Souia started. "Some one is here!" the whispered, pointing toward the hidden couch. "You are mistaken," contradicted ? Cascade, "and even If it were so 1 um I willing for all the worl I to know how I" - THE LATE ARRIVAL WAS PRINCE DANILO. ? Nisli was assuring tho prince. "Are? I ' ore you quite In condition to sec him, I If I may"? , "Oh, I'm all right enough," yawned Dnullo, "only I forgot to go to bed last night. If I COUld reel off a few yards of sleep"? "Perhaps I could Und you some place to"? "I'd prefer a desk, if you can find one. I always sleep best nt my desk. Hut I suppose"? "There is a couch, Hlr, over lu the corner behind the palms. How would that do? You could get a nice nap there, and in a little while I'd find bis . excellency for you. But, sir, if l may I sny so, why do you waste your life in 1 dissipation when you might marry and settle down? Just think, now! Would not a dear little wife mid a home of your own be better worth while than nil your clubs? I leave It to you If"? "You leave It to me?" retorted Dn nllo. "Then I make It clubs." "But, If I may sny bo"? "You may not," Interrupted Danilo, crossing to the couch and throwing himself nt full length among Its cush ions. "By by! 'If you're wnkiug, cnll me early?' " He spread a handkerchief over his face and In a moment wns sound nsleop, leaving Nlsh to tiptoe out In search of l'opoff. For a few minutes no sound was audible In the empty salon snvo the distant swell and fall of dance music, punctuated by the slumbrous prluce's heavy breathing. Then Natalie hurried In with De .Tolldon. Both looked anxious. "How careless of mot" the ambas sador's wife was exclaiming. "Where can i havo dropped the miserable fun? if my husband should pick it up nnd And on It those words you were foolish enough to write I wonder if I loft it In the niche on the stulrs when we were sitting there. Let's go back and see." They turned back, nlmost colliding with Bontd, who was entering, Can cada directly behind her. "Oh, Mine. Sadowa," asked Natalie, "you haven't Roen anything of a white Ivory fan? I've looked everywhere, and" - A long, blissful, sonorous Bnoro from tho couch. Sonla laughed, her eyes nllght with amuscmont. "Snoring and romance don't go well together, marquis," she observed, "ami uh tho snoring doesn't seem likoly to stop the romance must. Von say you are in love with mo, and 1 know you are la love with my fortune. Good by." "You misjudge me cruellyl" Cnscada protested. "Oh, no, I don'tl Men are all alike. Gocxlby." As the dlscorafltcd marquis made his way wrathfully from tho room Sonla i mischievously crept across to the couch. There lay the man, sound asleep, his face still covered by the I handkerchief. Sonla touched his hair. "Scat!" roared Danilo, giving his bend a shake that lei the handkerchief . fnll from his line. "Danilo!" gasped the widow, starting bnek. At sound of his name the prince sat up, dazed and blinking. His wander ing eyes fell on the woman, and, with I nn exclamation of utter amazement, ho stumbled to his feet and stood staring j Incredulously at her. "Sonla!" he exclaimed. "Soiiia!" Then, recovering himself, he bowed stlftly and said: "I beg your pardon, madaine." "No; I beg yours," she replied. "Pray go on snoring." "You don't remember nie'/" he asked, surprised. "Not in the very least," she an swered, moving away. "Yet you called my name." "You wore asleep then. That was different." "And now I am awake to the Joy of seeing you again." "The Joy is all your own. Is It so surprising to And nie in I'arisV 1 am here enjoying my wealth and free dom!" "I congratulate you on both, especial ly the freedom." "Yes, freedom Ifl one of your fads, I believe," remarked Sonla, "especially freedom from marrlngo, Do you still make a hnhlt of avoiding marriage ? I at tho last mouiontV"