Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"Ami your real mother \\<-n( away WhCII j'OU were Very yoUHg)'* "No, she ?!i< 111't go away." "NoV" There wan a puzzled note in the pastor's voice. "She went out," Polly corrected, "< ?nt!" ho echoed blankly. "Yes; finished lights out." "Oh, iin accident." Douglas under stood at last. "i ?I??11*t IlUe ti? talk nbout It." Polly raised herself on her elbow and looked nt hi in solemnly, as though about to impart a i.it of forbidden fam ily history, it was mis look in the round eye s that had made Jim s<> often declare that the kid Knew everything | "Why. mother ?1 'a' been nshuincd lf( she'd 'a' kuowed hew she wound up.' She was the best rider of her time ?everybody says so but she cashed In by fo Din* off jw 1)2 * dJdtVj have no idore ginger an ;i kitten. If you can heat that:'' She gazed at hi in with her lips pressed tightly together, evidently expecli"" some startling ox "Ami vour fu.tb*rV' Douglas! tisked rather lulilely, being at u h>s* for any I adequate comment upon a tragedy Which the child before htm was too desolate even to understand. "<>h. dad's finish was all right. 11?' K<d llls'll In a lions" cage where lie I Worked. There was not hin' slow til>..ut bis end." She looked up for his ap pro < al, "For dc Lord's sake!" Mainly ! groaned as tile wonder of the child's conversation grew upon her. "Alt' now I'm down an" out," Polly concluded, with u sigh. "Hut this Is nothing serious," said the pastor, trying to cheer her. "It's serious enough with a winde 1 show tt-dependin' on v on. Maybe y ou don i know how it feels to have to ? kuock off w<>rl;/' ?? 5 ?JSS'i'v'r' "* J "Oh, yes. I do," Douglas answered quickly, "l was i:i a while ago myself, j J had to be in bed day after day, lb lilt- J log of dozens of things that I ought to by, floing " "Wasy'ou ever floored?" Polly asked . with a touch ?#f unbelief ns she fitll^'^j ttito Jp.u.C, ignUhy pbystqiio nj jK^siue ' of her bed. ' ty "'Dew1'^'^as, cblle," Mandy eried. ^feidln^ t?->(t |K>I. opportunity hod now ?rrlved, "an' I ha<l the wits' time n-keepln' him lo bed. He act Jos' like you did." "Did he?" Polly was delighted to find that tue pastor had "notbin' on her," us she would have put It. "You ought to have heard him." 1 continued Mandy, made eloquent by Polly's show of Interest. "'What will ; dose poor folks do?" he kept a-sayln*. . Mrs' yo' lay where yo' Is.' I tole him. 'Dem poor folks will he belter oiT dan , dcy would be n-comin' to yoah fu- i ueral.' " "Poor folks;" Polly questioned. "Do you give money to folks'- We are al ways Itchin' to get It away from 'cm." Before Douglas could think of words with which to defend his disapproved methods Mandy had continued eager ly: "An' den on Sunday, when he can't j go to church .'in' pre-: h"-- She got no \ further. A sharp exclamation brought i both Mandy und Douglas to attention. I "I'reach!" Polly almost shouted. She j looked at htm with genuine alarm this j time. "That win do, Mandy," Douglas com manded, feeling an unwcUcme drama gathering about his head. "Great Bnrnum and Bailey!" Polly exclaimed, looking at him as though he wire "the very last thing In the Werid she bad ever expected to see. "Are you a sky pilotV "That's what lie am, chile." Mandy slipped the words in slyly, for she knew that they wen- against the pas lor's wishes, but she was until.V to re strain her mlschlovi US impulse to sow the seeds of curiosity that WOUld so, n bear fruit in the Inquisitive mind of the little Invalid. "Will you get on to me n-lnudlli' into a rnlxup like this?" She con tinned to study the uncomfortable man at her side, "i never thought I'd he adnlkln' to one of you guys. What's your na moV" "Douglas." He Spoke shortly. "Ain't you get m> handle to It'/" "!f voti mean my Christian name. It's John." "Well, that sounds like a sky pilot all right. Mut you don't look like I s'posed they did." "Why not V" "1 always s'posed sky pilots was old an' grouchy-like. Von're n'most oh good lookin' us our strong man." "! done tole him be was too good lookin' t<> be an unmarriii! parson.'' Mandy chuckled, more and more amused at the pastor's discomfort. "Looks don't pay n very Important part in my work." Douglas answered curtly. Mandy's confidential snickers made him doubly anxious to get to a less personal topic. "Well, they count for a Whole lot with us." She nodded her head decid edly. "How long yotl been sltowltl' In this town, anyhow?" "About a year," Douglas answered, wiih something of a sigh. "A year!" she gasped. "In a burg like llils! Yoti must have an awful lot of laugbfl in your act to keep 'em a-coniln' that long." She was wise In i"!ie ways oT pr irosslonal success. "N"t many, I'm afraid." IIo won dered for (ho first Mine if Hit-; might he iho reason for Iiis rather Indifferent siicccss. ? "Do you give thorn the sat no stuf)', or ? ha v? you gol a repV" "A repV" he repeated In surprise. ??Sure rc|K>rtory, dlft*erent acls?en tri- s. Koine calls 'em. Uncle Toby's pot twenty-seven entries, it makes n heap or difference in the 1>U towns where you have a run." "Oh, I understand!" Douglas answer ??<l In a tone of relief. "Well, I try to say something now euch Sunday." "What hind <.f spiels do you glvo 'em?' she Inquired, with growing in terest. ?!?.??> . ~ ... <4)?x: ?. . "1 try to help my people (o gel < n better terms with themselves and to forgot their week day (roubles." II" had never had occasion to dehne his ef forts so mluiitcSv. , T> ? "Ii1..5*?JOS' the same ftS US, | *v?. t?lu Ulm, with an air of con le se' . .), '"only circuses draws more pn< |q ?an churches." "Yours does seem to lie a more pop ular form of entertainment," Douglas answered dryly. Ho was beginning to feel that there were many tricks in the entertainment trade which he had not mastered. And. alter all, what was his preaching hut an effort at entertain ment? if he failed to hold his congre gation by what he was saying, his lis teners grew drowsy and his sermon fell short of i;s desired effect. It was true tint his position ami hers had points of similarity. She was appar- ' Clltly successful. As for himself he could not be sure. He knew he tried very hard and that sometimes a tired mother or a sad faced child looked up at him with a smile that made the service seem worth while. J'olly mistook the ['aster's reverie for envy, "anil her lender heart w as quick to find consolation* fo?: him. "ion ain't got all tTiO .worst of It," she said. "If we tried to play a flump like this for six mouths, we d starve Co J death. You certainly must give 'em a ' gr. at show " she added, surveying him with grow-inj? interest. ^* *" "if doesn't make much difference nbout the show"? Douglas began, but be wtis quickly interrupted. "That's rijrht; It's Jos' the same with a circus. One year you give 'em the rottonest kind of n thing, an' they eat It up; the next yonr you hand 'em a knockout, an' It's a frost. Is that the way It is with a church show'.-" "Much the same." Douglas admitted, half amusedly, half regretfully. "Very often when I work the hardest I seem to do the least good." "I t-'uess our troubles is pretty much alike," Polly nodded, with a motherly "U'<JJ, pou take tnp tip. Jion't j/ou mrrr [to In 1'ir rldlu'." air of condescension, "only there ain't so much danger in your act." "I'm not so sure ftbout that," ho laughed. "Well, you take my tip." Sho leaned forward as though nbout to iinpar' a very valuable bit of Information "Don'l yon never go in for rldlu'. There ain't no act on earth so hard as a rldlu' net. The rest of the bunch has got It easy alongside of us. Take the fallows on the trapeze. They al ways ?et their tackle up In Jos' the same place. Take the balancin' acts, i There ain't no difference In their lay outs. Take any of 'em as depends on regular props, and they ain't got much chance a-goln' wrong, Hut. say, when you have to do a rldln' net there ain't never n<> two times alike. If your horse is feelin' good, the ground is stumbly; IfUhc ground ain't on the blink, the horse Is wobbly. There's al ways Bomotllln' wrong somewhere*, und yotl ain't never kliOWln' how It's goin' to end, especially when you got to do a careful net like mine. There's a girl. Elolse, In our bunch what does a showy net Oil a horse what Marker calls Jlnrbnrlnn. She goes on in my place sometimes, and. say, them Kylies applauds her as much as me. an' her slants Is bahy tri' ks nlotlgsldo of mine. It's enough to innke you sick of ttrl." Sho shook her head dolefully, then sat up with lenewnd Interest. "You see, mine Is careful balancin' I an'~oTl thai, an* you got tolinow your hOF8C uii' your ground for that. Now, you got wise n t I'm rt-toHill' you and (lotl't you never go into anything which depends on anything else." "Thank you, Polly, I won't." Doug las somehow felt that Iks was very much Indebted to her, "I seen a church show onoo," Polly sai<] suddenly. "You did?" Douglas nsked, wl?h new Interest. "Yes," she answeerd, closing ho? Hps and venturing no further <? nnrnent. "Did yon like it'.-" he quest! :;? ?1 aft er a pause. ''Couldn't make nothln' < ut of it. I don't care much for rendln'." -oh, it Isn't a:: rending,'' h - correct ed. "Well, the guy I saw read all of hls'n. Ho gol ti:<- whole tiling right out of n book." '?oh, (hat was < nly his text," laughed Douglas. '?Text?" "Yes. And later ho tried to Interpret j to his c< ngrogu"? "ISosy! Kasy!" she Interrupted. I "Come again with that, will y< nV "lie n id them the meaning of what he read." "Weil, i don't know what he told I conscious ' f lior ?it iii'i?:iiclea! ??Kead Ti for nie, will you?" "Certainly." Ami ho drew bis chair nearer lo the bo.l. one Btroug Land supported the other half of the Bible and Ids head was very near to hers as bis deep, full voleo pronounced the si eiau words in which Kiifh pleaded so tiiuny years before. " 'l'utrcnt ino not to leave thee,'" be road, ""or t<? return from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will Eo, and where ihou balgest I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people and t'.iy God my ?!od.' " l le st< p| ed to |>oji !er ovi r the i cotry A tin- lines. "Kind of pretty, ain't ;?.':*' Polly said softly. Shu foi.' awkward ami con strained and n Hille overawed, "There are far more beautiful things than tili:!.?" Douglas assured her en thusiastically a* TTle echo ? f many such rang \\\ \\\ ^ ears. "There are'''' And her < yes i posed wide with wonder. "Yes, Indeed," he replied, pitying tm re and more the starvation ?r mind and longing ti> bring to it il.is of light and enrl ?hinont. "I guess I'd like to hear you spiel," and she fell to studying him solemly. "You would?" he asked eagerly. " IIS THE A T ME NOT TO LEAVE THE.!:," HE HEAD. 'em, but it Uldu't mean anything to inc.. But maybe your bIiow is better'n Iiis was." she uddcd, trying lo pacify him. Douglas was undecided whether to feel amused <>r grateful f<?r Polly's ever Increasing sympathy. Before he could trust his twitching lips to an swer she had put another question t" him. "Are yon goin' to do a stunt while I am hereV" "i pit a. !i every Sunday, if that's what you mean, i prent h this morn ing." "is this Sunday;" sho asked, sitting up with renewed energy and looking about lite room as though everything had changed color. "Yes." "And you got n matin?*-:" she cx elninit d Incredulously. "Wo have services," he corrected, gently. "We rest up on Sundays." she said In a tone of deep commiseration. "Oh, I see." he answered, feeling it no time lo enter upon another discus sion as to the comparative advantages of their two professions. "What are you goln' to spiel about today'/" "About Ruth and Naomi." "Ruth and who?" "Naomi," he repeated. "Naomi," she echoed, tlltlnrr her head from side to side as she listened to the soft cadences of the word. "I nev er heard (hat name before, it 'ml look awful swell on a billboard, wouldn't It V" "It's a Bible name, honey," Mandy said, eagor to gel Into (lie conversa tion. "Dnr's a buful picture bout her. I seed it " "I like to look at pictures," Polly an swered tentatively. Mandy crossed the room lo fetch the large Bible with Its Steel engravings. "We got a girl named Ruth in our 'leap of death' stunt. Si. of the folks is kinder down on 'er, but I ain't." She might have told Douglas more of her forlorn little friend, but Just then Mandy came to the bed hugging a large, old fashioned Bible, und Doug las helped to place (he ponderous book before the invalid. "Sec. honey, dar dey is." the old wo man said, pointing to the picture of Until and Naomi. "Them's crnckcrjacks, ain't they?" Polly gasped, and her eyes shone with wonder. "Which one's RlllhV" "Ms one," said Mandy, pointing with her thumb. "Why. they're dressed Just like our chariot drivers. What docs It say about 'ein V" "Von can read It for yourself." Doug las answered gently. There was some thing pathetic in the eagerness of the starved little mind. "Well, i ain't much on readin'?out loud." she faltered, growing suddenly "is there any more to that story?" she asked, ignoring his question. "Yes, indeed." "Would you read mo a little more?" Slif was very humble now. "?Where thou dlesl will I die. und then- will I lie buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part nie and thee.' " Their eyes met. There was n long piltise. Suddenly the sharp, sweet m-tos nf the church bell brought John Douglas lu his feet with a star; of surprise. "Have you g< t to go?" Polly asked regretfully. "Yes, I must, but I'll read Iii? rest from the church, open the window. Mnndy!" And ho passed out of the door and quickly down the stall". _ CHAPTER VI. ty?T TI r.X .lohn Douglas' un.'lo of I l/u fered to edueate \i'.< neptiew ||| f< r the ministry the boy was less enthusiastic than his mother. Ho did not remonstrate, how ever, for it had been the custom of generations for at least one son of each Douglas family to preach the go-pel of Calvinism, and his father's career as an architect and landscape gardener had Hot left him much capital. Douglas senior had been recognized Its an artist by t.o few who under stood his talents. I tit there is small demand for the bul'der of picturesque houses in the little business towns of the middle west, and ill last lie passed away, leaving his son only the burden of his financial failure mid an ardent desire to succeed at the profession III I which his father had fared so bndly. I The hopeless, defeated look on the de parted man's face had always haunted 1 the hoy, who was artist enough to feel I his father's genius Intuitively and \ human enough to re-sent the Injustice of his fate. I ?otiglas' mother had suffered so much because Of the impractical ef , forts of her busband that she discour aged the early tendencies of the son toward drawing mid mathematics and tried to :.rect his thoughts toward Crccds and Bible history. When he went away for his collegiate course she was less In touch with him und he was aide to steal lime from his ath letics to devote to his art. He Spent his vacations lu n neighboring < ity is fore a drawing board In the office- of a distinguished architect, his father's f rlcnd. Douglas wns not a brilliant divinity student, and he was relieved al last when he received Ids degree In theol ogy and found himself appointed to a Small chnn h In the middle west. Ills step was very bright the morning ho List went up the path that led to his new home. Ills artistic sense was charmed by the picturesque approach to the church ami parsonage. Tllfl view toward the tree encircled spire was Unobstructed, for the church had CHILDREN WHO ARE SICKLY Mothers wlio value their own comfort and tlio welfare of their children, should never bo without u box of Mother U ray's Sweet I'owdcra for Children, lor use throughout the season. They brink up Colds, i ure Pevcrlshiiots, Constipation, Teething Dis orders, Headache and Stomach Troubles. THESE ! POWDERS NEVEK kail. Sold by all Drug Stores, , V5c. Don't neerpt any utbttttute, A trml package will hot-cut PltEE to any uiother wuo will uddrces Allen fc. Olwtted, Le Jtoy, N. Y. lent bullt <n lltooulslilfiS ?* Iho town to allow for it growth tlmi hud not I materialized. Ho throw up his head and pttxod tit Iho blue hills, with their background of soft, slow inovln;? clouds. Tito smell ? f Iho fre.'h cttrth ; the bursting of tli'4 bv.ds. Iho fui'juhbj i f new life, sot iiim t'lrlilh'S with :: J y !' :i! whs very tn ,r : i l' ..n. i: ? r-'P ? pod halfway tip the ??hih ?ami considered the tidviinIngos <-r n tu ,v fr n< to tho narrow onvotl cot ...?r witch Iii- fohl lotiohod the firsi step i f iho vino covered porch !.. was fur moro concerned iihoul a new pbrileoJjhmr? with any thought of his first sermon. ? His speculations were nbr'ipt'y cul Short hy Mandy. Who hustled out "f the ?1?><>r with a wide smile of welcome < ;i her black fnce ami an unuiistilkul.de ambition t-> take him hmt]cdlutol,v un der lor motherly wing, she wasniucii concerned hecnuse the church people | had le t met the Uo\V pastor iM. tno sta- j Iton and brought him to the iioiiso, Upon lonrnlng that Douglas Tia<T pur? post ly nvoided their escort, preferring t" tome tn his new home the first time ah ne, sin- made up her mind that she was going; t" like hhu, Mnndy had long been a llxtr.ro in the parsonage. She and her worse half. 1 Tasty Jones, hail come lo knew and discuss the weaknesses of the many i ?lergymen who had come ami gone, the deacons and the congregation, both Individually and et llectlvely. sin- eon fidod t" Hasty thai sin- didn't "blame do new parson for UOt wan; tn mi\ up wld dui nr crowd." In Iho study thai night, v. hen she und Hasty helped Douglas to unpack] 1ih many boxes of 1.ks. ihoy were as eager as children nboul Hie drawings and pictures which he showed tliotn. Ills mind hat gone beyond the ptirson ngo front now, and he described tn them the advantage of adding an ex tra ten feel |.. 11|(> church Spll'O. Mandy fell herself almost an artist when she and Hasty bade the paster, good night, f u- she was siill quivering from the contagion of Douglas' enthu siasm. Here, at last, was a master who could d*ksomcihing besides find fault with her. "1 Jos' wan* to ho on do groun' dc f!rsT HuiC dat Mars Douglas und dal ere I leaeou Strong clinches," she said lo nasty as they locked Ihe doors and turned out the hall light. "Did you done see his jawV" she whispered, "ih look langhin' enough now, but Jos' yon wait t'iii he done sei dat 'ere jaw <>? his'n, and dar ain't nobody what's goln' tor unsot It." rtMnybe dar ain't goln' tor he n<> i Um hin'." paid Hasty, hoping for Mnn dy's assurance to the contrary. "What?" shrieked Mandy. "Wld <iat 'ere sneaktn' Widow Wlllonghby al ready a-tellin' de deacoiiN how tor start de now parson n-goln' proper?" "Now. why youse always a-pickin' on to dat 'ere widow'.-" asked Hasty, al ready enjoying the explosion which he knew his defense of the widow was sure to excite. "I don' like no woman what's nltus brngglli' 'bout her < lean floors," an swered Mandy shortly, she turned out the last light and tiptoed upstairs, trying not !?? disturb the pastor. .lohn HougblS was busy already w ith pencil and paper, making notes of tin plat s f'-r the church and parsonage. which he would perfect later on. Alas, f<T Douglas'day dreams! it was not many weeks before he understood with a heavy heart that the deacons were far loo dull and uninspired to share his faith In beauty as an aid to man's spiritual uplift. "We think we've done pretty well by this church," said Deacon strong, who was the business head, the political boss und tin* moral mentor of the small town's affairs. ".Mist you worry along with the preachin', young man. and we'll attend 10 the btiyin' and bulldin' operations." Douglas' mind was too active to cor? tent Itself wholly with the writing of sermons and the routine of formal pus toral culls. He was n keen humani tarian, so little by lit lo he came to he Interested in the heart stories and disappointments of many of the vll lagc unfortunates, some of whom were outside Ills congregation. The men tally sick, '.'?o despondent, who needed words of hope and courage more than dry talks on theology, found 111 him an ever ready friend and adviser, and these came to love and depend on him. Mut he was never popular with the creed hound element of the church. Mandy had her wish nbonl being <>n the spot the first time thai the parson's 1 jaw squared iiseif at Deacon Strong, The deacon had called at the parson ago to demand that Douglas put a stop to the boys playing baseball In the ad joining lot on Sunday. Douglas had Peon unable to see the deacon's point of view He declared that baseball , was a healthy and harmless form of exercise, that the air was meant to be breathed and that the boys who en Joyed the game on Sunday were prln Clpally those who wore kept indoors by work Oil other days. The '-lose of the Interview was unsatisfactory both tO Douglas and the deacon. "l?oy kinder made tue cold an' prickly All lip an' down de back," Mandy said later when she described their talk lo Hasty. "Dal 'ori denCOll don' know uutlin 'bout glttln' roiIU' de parson." She tossed her head with a feeling of Superiority. She knew tin way. Make him forgol himself with a laugh. I'.xclte his sympathy with sdme village underdog, (Continued on page Six.) GHICHESTER SPILLS BRAND i.APirs t a.V Tour I'ruKitiKt for Cni.CHKS-TKR'8 a diamond 1ikand PILUS in Kf r> ''"'l/Vv Goi.i> metallic l">xes. ai-ntcd with UIju-(w> Ribbon TAKR no orllRK. liny oF your V/ Drun^ut and a?k for cni.CUEB.TKK? V H1AMON1I II It a N D IM 1.1.8, for twenty-five year* regarded .'is Best,Safest, Always Roll able. SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS i8& EVERYWHERE JgSffi /// / / Car ? <?! I i ( jHi?il Ml lightning STRIKE.-" when least expected. It's tho same old story of the "ur.oxpee.t - ed" happening. Cover your house and poods with one of our [\ VlUK insurance policies Lightning or torch w ill lose their dread. If you suffer loss you're sure of reimbursement. Spring time and lightning pranks go hand in hand together. Take out a i olicy now. E.H.WILKES&SON BTOCKS, BONDS 4- Lj>w Range Laurens, S. C. V i I Fresh Postum, Post toasties Grape nuts, Oat flakes in air tight tin can, Figs, Seedless Raisins, and eleanen Currants, California Lemon cling and yellow free stone peaches, Canned Peas, Canned Tomatoes, Fresh and domestic Sardines, Cheese, Pulk and Pottled Pickles Snow Flake and Pack age Crackers, Fresh Vegetables from the Coast and all the sea sonable dainties, qual ity and prices right. KENNEDY BROS. Laurens, S. C. X 1 i 1 * 1 1 1 I Is There Sickness in Your Home? Then who's filling your prescriptions? Who is sup plying your sick room wants? < lue thing about our s'ock is that it is rcli.i blp fresh, the drugs ;in<: medicines can be depended on to do just what they are expected to do and best of sll our service is p.iolllpt, We fill any doctors pre emption as it should be filled TRY rs Agent for Yours Dodson, Edwards Dmy; Co. I)H. CLIFTON JONES Dp n (ist Offne in Simmons building Phon?: Office No. 86; Residence 210