Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

1AUIAN16 ILUTRATED y- I WT/Y'/J i2 Y ar u .O5 -dEALL cm. SYNOPSIS. CHAPTI'- I-John Valiant, a rich so ciety favorite, suaddenly discovers that the Valiant corporation, which his father founded and which was the principal source of his wealth, has failed. CHAPTI'rR I-Ito voluntarily turns over his private fortune to the receiver for the corporation. CHAP I1'FR III-llls entire remaining POsscisions consist of an old motor car, a white bull dog andl I at'wry court, a neglected estate in Virginia. CHAPTR:vt IV Ii- 'earn Ihit this es lato calo 111it Iro th :Unily biy royal gnalt ".nd h:as been in th, possession of tho \ allnrutsa ever since. CIIA I 'I'it \ o the w:iv to Dltm'rv ourt he I ne t. Shile Dte,',1iri-,' :tti ati ,urn-h~iir'a"l ienut . :an~i 111. is ":: ihit lie :t nofllin to like \'irginia bri vrim~n ly. CHAPTER Vi. Mad Anthony. Tho old niegro noddld his head. "Good wat ah," he said in the gen lie 1tlaverii; t0nes of ext re'e age. "Yas, Miarse. I e'p y'se'f. (otno 1iom he centah oh de yerf, dIt wiaah. En dah's olks say de centah of (o yerf is ai ciah. Yo' ro'ck'n dey's right, Mars' C''hahmahs?" "Now, how the devil do you know who I am, Anthony?" The judge set iown his cup on the well-curb. "I haven't been by here for a year." The ebony head moved slowly from side to side. "01' Ant'ny don' need no eyes," he said, touching his hand to his brow. "lie see ev'ything heah." The judge beckoned to the others and they trooped inside the paling. "I've brought some other folks with me, Anthony; can you tell who they are?" The sightless look wavered over thom and the white head shook slow !y. "Don' know young mars,'" said the gentle voice. " low many yuddahs wid yo'? One, two? No, I don' know young mistis, eidah." "I reckon you don't need any eyes," Judge Chalmers laughed, as he passed the sweet cold water to the rest. "One of these young ladies wants you to tell her fortune." The old negro dropped his head, waving his gaunt hands restlessly. The judge beckoned to Betty Page, but she shook her head with a little ,rimace and drew back. "You go, Shirley," she whispered, and with a laughing glance at the others, Shirley cane and sat down on the lowest step. Mad Anthony put out a wavering hand and touched the young body. 1it i fingers strayed over the habit and went up to the curling bronze under the hat-briim. ")is de ll'l mtistis,'' he 'nuttered, "ain' afeahd oh o' Ant'ny. D)ah's flah en she ain' aiealhd, en dhlt's watah en she ain' afeahd. Wondah whut Alt gwine tell huh? Whut de coloh oh yo' haih, honey?" "Black," put in Chilly Lusk, with a wink at the others. "lilack as a crow." Old Anthony's hand fell back to his knee. "Young mars' laugh at do ol' tnan," hte saidl, "but he dotn' know. D~at deo colih dat bithni malt han's-do coloh ob gol', eni eyes blute like er cat-bird's aig. Dalh's er man gwine look in dem eyes, hontey, en gwinte make 'emi cry en cry." lie raised htis head sharply, his lids shut tight, and swung his arm toward the North. "Dab's whah he come f'om," he said, "en heah"-his arm veered and he pointted straight lowardI the ragged hill behind thtem 'he stay." Lusk laughed noiselessly. "He's pointing to Damory Court," he whi: nered to Nancy Ch..lmers, "the only uninhabited place within ten miles. That's as near as he often hits it, I fancy." "Heaht's whtah ho stay," repeated the old man. "Heap ob troutble wait heah to' him too, honey-heap ob trouble, heah whah li'l mistis fIn' him." "Come, Anthony," said Judge Chal mers, laying his haind on the old man's shoulder. "That's mucht too mourn ful! Give her something nice to top off with, at least!" But Anthony p'ad no heed. "Gr'et treublo. Daht's flah en site ain' afeahd, en dah's wataht en she alit' afeahd. En Ah sees ye' gwine ter him, honey. Ah beah's do co'ot-house clock a-strikin' in de night-otn ye' gwine. Don' wait, (Ion' walt, li'l mistis, er do trouble cloud gwine kyaht him erway t'om yo' * * * When d~e clock strike thuh 'een-when de clock strike thuh teen-" The droning voice ceased, The gaunt form became rigid. Then ho started and turned his eyes slowly about him, a vague look of anxiety ont his face, For a momnetnt no one moved. When he spoke again it was once more in his gentle quaverinig voice: "Watah? Yas, Mars', good watah. Hle'p yo'se'f." The judge set a dollar bill on tlto step and weighted it with a stone, as the rest remounted. "Well, good-by, Anthony,' Ito said, "We're mightily obliged." He sprang into the saddle and the quartette canttered away. "My experi ment wasn't a great success, I'm afraid, Shirley," ho said ruefully. "Oh, I thtink it was splendId!" cried Nqancy. "Do you suppose ho really be lieves those spooky things? I declare, sit the time I almost dId myself. What an odd idea-'when the clock strikes thiteenn, which, of conren t nevne [MIGIfJ3 POT -nr> AUREN $TOUT does." "Don't mind, Shirley," bantered Lusk. "When you seo all 'dem trou bles' coming, sound the alarm and we'll fly in a body to your rescue." They let their horses out for a pounding gallop which pulled down suddenly at a muflied shriek from Bet ty Page, as her horse went into the air at sight of an automobile by the roadside, Now, whose nder the canopy is that?" exclaimed Lusk. "It's stalled," said Shirley. "I passed her( this afternoon when the owner was trying to start it, and I sent U nc' .leffierson as first aid to the in jured." "I wonder who he can be," said Nancy. "I've never seen that car be iore." "Why." s:ai 1eity gaily, "Ah know! It's M"iad Anthony's tirotthle-man, of course, come for Shirley." CHAPTER VII. Uncle Jefferson. A red rose, while ever a thing of beauty, is not invariably a joy for ever. The white bulldog, as he plodded along the sunny highway, was sunk in depression. iv'ing trammeled by the limitations of a canine horizon, ho could not understand the whims of Adorable Ones met by the way, who seemed so glad to see him that they threw both arms about him, and then tied to his neck irksome colored weeds that prickled and scratched and would riot by dislodged. Go it was a chas tened and shamed Chum who at length wriggled stealthily into the seat of the stranded automobile beside his master and thrust a dirty pink nose into his palm. John Valiant lifted his hand to stroke the shapely head, then drew It back with an exclamation. A thorn had pricked his thumb. le looked 44 L "Howdy Do, Anthony," He Said. down and saw the draggled flower thrust through the twist of grass. "Oh, pup of wonders!" he exclaimed. "Where did you got that rose?" Chumn sat up and wagged his tall, for his master's tone, instead of ridicule, heid a dawning delight. Perhaps the thing had not been intended as a dis grace, after all! With the fIrst sight of the decora tion Valiant had had a sudden memory of a splotch of vivid red against the belted gray-blue of a gown. He grinned appreciatIvely. "And I warned her," he chuckled. "Told her not to be afraid!" He dusted the blossom pains takingly with his handkerchief and held it to his face-a live brilliant thing, breathing musk-odors of the mid-moon of paradise. A long time he sat, while the dog dozed and yawned on the shiny cush Ion ber ide him. Of a sudden Chum sat up) and barked in earnest. Turning his headi, his master saw ap preaching a dilapidated hack with side lanterns like great goggles and decrepit and palsied curtains. It was drawn by a lean mustard-tinted mule, and on Its front sat a colored man of uncertain age, whose hunched verte brae andl outward-crooked arms gave him a cun'ious expression of replete and bulbous inquiry. Abreast of the car tue removed a moth-eaten cap. "Evenin', suh," he said,-"evenin', evenin'." "Hlowdy do," returned the other amiably. "Ahi reck'n yo'-li done had er breck down wid dat machine-thing dar. Ye' been hyuh 'bout er hour, ala' ye'?" "Nearer three," said Valiant cheer fully, "but the view's worth it." A hoarse titter caime from the con veyance, which gave forth sundry creakings of leather. * "Huyh! Huyh! Dat's so, suh. Dat's so! Hm-m. Rteck'n Ah'Il be git tin' eriong back." Hie clucked to the mule and proceeded to turn the vehicle round. "Hold on," cried John Valiant, "I thought you were bound In the other di recti on." "No, suh. Ah'mn gwine back whah I come f'om. Ah jus' druv out hyuh 'case Miss Shirley done met me, en she say, 'Uno' Jeffe'son, ye' go 'treckly out de Red Road, 'ease or gemman done got stalled-ed.'" "Oh--Miss Shir.t 8he told you did she? What did you say her ,rnt name was?" "Dat's huh fust name, Miss Sbirley. Yas, suh! Miss Shirley done said f' me ter come en git de gemman whut -whut kinder dawg is yo' got dar?" "It's a bulldog. Can you give me a lift? I've got that small trunk and-" "Dat's a right fine dawg. Miss Shir ley she moghty fond ob dawgs, too." "Fond of dogs, is she?" said Valiant. "I might have known it. It was nice of her to send you hero, Uncle Jeffer son. You can take me and my traps, I suppose?" "'Pens on whah yo' gwineter," an swered Uncle Jefferson sapiently. "I'm going to Damory Court." A kind of shocked surprise that was almost stupefaction spread over the; other's face, like oil over a pool.; "Dam'ry Co'ot! Dat's do old Valiant: place. Ain' nobody lives dar. Ah rock'n ain' nobody live dar for mos' er hun'ord yeahs!" ' "The old house has a great surprise coming to It," said Valiant gravely. "Henceforth some one is going to oc cupy it. How is it anyway?" "Measurin' by d coonskin en th'ow in' in d tail, et's erbout two mile. Ain' gwinetor live daL yo'se'f, sub, is yo'?" "I am for the present," was the crisp answer. Uncle Jefferson stared at him a mo ment with his mouth open. Then ejac ulating under his breath, ''Fo' do, Lawd! What folks gwineter say ter dat!" he shambled to the rear of the motor and began to unship the steam er-trunk. "Whut yo' gwineter do wid dat-ar?" he asked, pointing to the car. "Ali kin como wid ole Sukey---dat's mal mule-en fotch it in do mawn in'. Ain't gwineter rain ter-night no how." This matter having been arranged,, they started jogging down the green bordered road, the bulldog prospecting alongside. "S'pose'n do Co'ot done ben sold en yo' gwineter fix it up fo' do new, ownah," hazarded Uncle Jefferson presently. Valiant did not answer directly. "You say the place hasn't been occu pied for many years," he observed. "Did you ever hear why, Uncle Jef ferson?" "Al done heerd," said the other vaguely, "but Ah disremembahs. Sump'in dat happened befo' Ali come heah f'om ol' Post-Oak Plantation. Reck'n Majah Bristow he know erbout it, or Mis' Judith-dat's Miss Shirley's mothah. Her fathah wus Gen'l Tawm Dandridge, in he died fo' she was bawn." Shirley Dandridge! A high-sound ing name, with something of long linked culture, of arrogant heritage.. In some subtle way it seemed to clothe the personality of which Va liant had had that fleeting roadside glimpse. "Reck'n yo'-all come f'om New York?" inquired Uncle Jefferson, after a little silence. "So! Dey say dat's or pow'ful big place. lut Alh reck'n ol' Itichmon's big ernuf fo' me." Ile clucked to the leisurely mule and added, "Ah bin ter Iltichmon' onct. Yas, sub! Ah nevah see sech houses --mos' all bigger'zi d county co'ot. house." John Valiant expressed a somewhat absent interest. lIe was looking thoughtfylly at the blossom in his hand, in an absorption through which Uncle Jefferson's reminiscences dozed on. CHAPTER VIII. What Happened Thirty Vear-s Age. When Shirley came across the lawn at Rosewood, Major Montague Bristow sat under the arbor talking to her mother. The major was massive-framed, with a strong jaw and a rubicund complexion-the sort that might be supposed to have attained the utmost benefit to be conferred by a consist ent indulgence in mint-juleps. His blue eyes were piercing and arched with brows like sable rainbows, at variance with his heavy iron-gray hair and Imperial. Is head was leonine and he looked like a king who has humbled his enemy. It may be added that his linen was fine and immacu late, his black string-tie precisely tied and a pair of gold-rimmed eye-glasses swung by a flat black cord against his white waistcoat, "Shirley," said her mother, "the tina jor's brutal, and he shan't have his mint-julep." "What has he been doing?" asked the other, her brows wrinkling in a delightful way she had. "He has reminded fte that I'm grow Ing old." Shirley looked at the major skep tically, for his chivalry was un doubted. During a long career in law and legislature it had been said of him that he could neither speak on the tariff question nor defend a man for murder, without first paying a tribute to "the women of the South, sah." "Nothing of the sort," he rumbled., Mrs. Dandridgo's face softened toe wistfulness. "Shirley, am I?" shes asked, with a quizzical, almost a droll uneasiness. "Why, I've got 'every emo tion I've ever had. I read all the new French novels, and I'm even thinking of going in for the militant suffragette movement." The girl had tossed her hat and crop on the table and seated herself. by her mother's chair. "What was it he said, dearest?" "lie thinks I ought to wear a wor sted shawl and arctics." If er mother thrust out one little thin-slippered foot, with its slender ankle gleaming throuigh its open-work stocking like * f-pearl. "Imaginel In May. M knows I'm vain of my feeti *r you had ever had a wife, you mean well, and .I'll take back what I said about the julep. You mix it, Shirley. Yours is even better than Raneton's." "She makes me one every day, Mon ty," she continued, as Shirley went into the house. "And when she isn't looking, I pour it into the bush there." Major Bristow laughed as he lilt the end off a cigar. "All the same," he said in his big rumbling voice, "you need 'em, I reckon. You need more than mint-juleps, too You leave the whiskey to me and the doctor, and you take Shirley and pull out for Italy. Why not? A year there would do you a heap of good." She shook her head. "No, Monty. It isn't what you think. It's-hero." She lifted her hand and touched her heart. "It's been so for a long time. But it may-it can't go on forever, you see. Nothing can." The major had leaned forward in his chair. "Judith!" he said, and hl;i hand twitched, "it isn't. true!" And then, "low (10 you know?" She smiled at himn. "You remre'mber wheN that big surgeon from Vi''nn' camo to see the doctor last yea-Cr? \'ell, the doctor brought him to m'. I'd known it befor'' in a way. but it had gone farther 111:1n I thought. No ono can tell just liow long it emay hr. It, may be yea rs. of eoirrc. but I'm not taking any sea tris. Monty." lie Cleared his throat anid his voice was husky when he spoke. "Shirley doesn't know?" "Certainly not. She mustn't." And then, in sudden sharpness: "You shan't tell her, Monty. You wouldn't (dare!" "No, indeed," he assured her quick ly. "Of course not." "It's just among us three, Doctor Southall and you and me. We three have had our secrets before, eh, Mon ty?" "Yes, Judith, we have." She bent toward him, her hands tightening on the cane. "After all, it's true. Today I am getting old. I may look only fifty, but I feel sixty and I'll admit to seventy-five. It's joy that keeps us young, and I didn't rjt my fair share of that, Monty. For just one little week my heart had it all-all-and then-well, then It was finished. It was finished long be fore I married Tom Dandridge. It isn't that I'm empty-headed. It's that I've been an empty-hearted woman, Monty-as empty and dusty and deso lato as the old house over yonder on the ridge." "I know, Judith, I know." "You've been empty in a way, too," sho said. "3ut it's been a different way. You were never in love-really in love, I mean. Certainly not with me, Monty, though you tried to make me think so once upon a time, before Sassoon cane along, and-Beauty Va liant." The major blinked, suddenly startled. It was out, the one name neither had spoken to the other for thirty years! lie looked at her a lit tIe guiltily; but her eyes had turned away. "verything changed then," she continued dreamily. "everything." The major's fingers strayed across his waistcoat, fumbling uncertainly for his eye-glasses. For an instant he, too, was back in the long-ago past, when ihe and Valiant, had been comirade-. It had be'en 1 curious three sided af'air--. he. and Valiant and Sassoon. Sassoon with his dissipated flair and ungovernable temper and strange fits of recklessness; clean, hilgh-ldealed. straight -away Valianit; and lie-a Ilristow, neither beotter nor worse than the rest of his name. -He remembered that mad straliied season when he had grimly recognized lisa own cause as hopeless, and with burn ing eyes had watched Sassoon and Valiant racing abreast. He remem bered that glittering prodigal dance when he had come upon Valiant and Judith standing in the shrubbery, the candle-llght from some open door en goldening their faces: hers smiling, a little flippant perhaps, and conscious of her spell; his grave and earnest, yet wistful. "You promise, John ?" "I give my sacred word. What-. ever the provocation, I will not lift my hand against him. Never, never!" Then the same voice, vibrant, appeal ing. "Judith! It isn't becauso-be cause-you care for him?" Hie had plunged away in the dark ness before her answer came. What, had it mattered then to him what she had replied? And that very night had befallen the fatal quarrel! The major started. How that name had blown away the dust! "That's a long time ago, Judith." "Thirty years ago tomorrow they fougiht," she said softly, "Valiant and Sassoon. Evey woman has her one. anniversary, I suppose, and tomor rowv's miino. Do you know what I do, every fourteenth of May, Monty? I keep may room and spend the day always the same way. There's a little book I read. And there's an old hair cloth trunk that I've had since I was a girl. Down in the bottom of it are some-things, that I take out and set round the room * * * and there is a handful of old letters I go over from first to last. They're almost worn out now, but I could repeat them all with my eyes shut. Then there's a tiny old straw basket with a yellow' wisp in it that once was a bunch of cape jessamines. I wore themn to that last ball-the night before it hap pened. The fourteenth of May used to be sad, but now, do you know, I look forward to it! I always have a hot of jessamines that particular day-I'll have Shirley get me some tomorrow -and in the evening, when I go down stairs, the house is full of the scent of them, All summer long it's roses, but on the fourteenth of May it ham to be jessamines. Shirley mumt think me a whimsical old woman, but I in sist on being humored." lHe smilo4 . a little bleakly, and cleared isitfoat. "Isn't it strange for me to be talk. ing this way nowt" she said present ly. "Another proof that I'm getting: old. But the date brings it very close; it seems, somehow, closer than ever this year.-Monty, weren't you tre mendously surprised when I married Tom Dandridge?" "I certainly was." "I'll tell you a secret. I was, too. I suppose I did it because of a sneak ing feeling that some people were feel ing sorry for me, which I never could, stand. Well, he was a man any one might honor. I've always thought a woman ought to have two husbands: one to love and cherish, and the other to honor and obey. I had the latter, at any rate." "And you've lived, Judith," he said. "Yes," sho agreed, with a little sigh, "I've lived. I've had Shirley, and she's twenty and adorable. And I've had peopl enough, and books to read, and plenty of pretty things to look at, and old laco to wear, and I've kept my figure and my vanity-'m not too old yet to thank the Lord for that! So don't talk to me about worsted shawls and horrible arctics. For I won't wear 'em. Not if I know my self! Hero comes' Shirley. She's made two juleps, and if you're a gen tieman, you'll distract her attention till I've got rid of mine in my usual way." " * * * * * * * The major, at the foot of the cherry bordered lane, looked back across the box-hedge to where the two figures sat under the rose-arbor, the mother's face turned lovingly down to Shirley's at her knee. Ho stood a moment watching them from under his slouched hat-brim. "You never looked at me that way, Judith, did you!" ho sighed to him self. "It's been a long time, too, since I began to want you to-'most forty years. When it came to the show down, I wasn't even as fit as Tom Dandridge!" (Continued Next Week.) HOW'S THIS? We offer One llundred Dollars Re ward for any case of Catarrh that can not be cured by lail's Catarrh Cure. F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. .1. 'Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable In all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligation made by his firm. National Bank of Commerce, Toledo, O. lMall's Catarrh Cure Is taken intern ally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 75 cents per bottle. Sold by all drug gists. Take Hlall's Family Pills for consti pation. Ine. W. Ferguson C. C. Feathertonm W. B. Knight FI R(itSON, PEVA THIERSTONEi & KNI(iMiT Attorneys at Law Laurens, S. C. Prompt and carerful atentkmn given to a2l huainess. Offie Over Palmetto Bank. tTires! Tire Buy Your Tires Dire Bly buying and contractIng dl I large quantities for spot cash, we money saving price direct to the to 60 per cent. to pay the dealer's profit, the dis mission andl other high selli'ng tir-es direct to consu-mer at jobbers AND) EXACTLY WHl-AT YOU -PAl Shrewd auto owners compose bankers, merchants, lawyers, doet who know values and realize tht excellent deals from the factoriei I the followIng prices: U Among our tires are Diamond, D ire, Fisk and others of equal qu *ALL~ TIRES GUARANTEOD F1 5 CAREF 28x3 $7.20 $ S 30x3 7.80 30x8%A 10.802 5 3ix3%A 11.002 32x3%A 11.902 O 34x8%k 12.408 30x4 13.10 32x4 13.703 33x4 14.803 34x4 16.80 . 35x4' 17.25 36x4 17.853 34x4%1 18.00 4 35x4%A 18.75 4 I 37x4%. 21.50 5 * 36x5 23.00 5 * 37x5 24.405 * WE OAN FURINISHI ALL OTIJI * CENT HI Our supply of those tires is limw *high grade .goods (hat will give'b * TIDRMS-5 PER CENT DISCOI *order. C. 0. D. upon receipt of F( * monts. Mosey returied If unab order now, UTire Factories~ Daytor CONPAY A Carpenter Said "1 certainly do like to Work on a job where the material is furnished by the Augusta Lumber Co." "Everything they furnish is right -- never any botch job -carelessly f i n i s I e d sash, doors, blinds, etc. Things go smoothly - contractors feel good -we don't get called down, and when the building is done, she looks fine." That carpenter was simply expert encing the result of a perfect organi zation. When you build, let us make you an estimate on your requirements. It will save you time, trouble and exphnse, and you will be certain of an No. 1 job. ur specialty Is complete house bl . all or mail us your specifi cat "Buy of the Alaker" AUGUSTA LUMBER CO. AUGUSTA, GA. 1-ORSE SENSE wats , i ver better demonst.rated than whei t.he animal voluntarily comes here Ito be shod. After once being shod here, a horse knows the coim fort of our system and would pre t'or to come here always for his foot wear. And you can rely upon the quality of tho work in every pirtlenlar, as well as upon saving yourself money. J. D. SEXTON & SON LAURENS, S. C. s!! Tires!! ct at Lowest Prices. rect from factories for tires inU are able to offer them at a groatU consumer. A Baving of from 35 au got full value, you don't have tributor's profit, salesman's comn Lnd overliead expenses. Wo sell prices a d YOU GET 1310 VALUE our ,ous omers. Among them u~re ors, jy,~ ters and men in all lines Sadlva tages of buying direct. and now offer our purchases at Goodyear, Quaker, Nassau, Emr alty. DLLYN. NOTE THESE PRICES 'ULLY. TUBlES .65 $1.90 $1.85 .95 2.20 1.40 .80 3.10 1.90 .90 3.20 1.95 E .95 3.25 2.00 .00 3.30 2.05 .10 3.40 - 2.300 .20 3.60 2.35 .35 3.80 2.40 U .50 3.90 2.45 .60 4.00 2.60 U .75 4.20 2.70 .80 5.10 3.40 .85 5.20 3.45 .90 6.30 3.60 .10 6.40 3.70 . .80 . 6.20 4.00 .90 6.35 4.20 OR SIZES-NON-SKID 10 PER IGHlER.5 ted, so we advise early ordering. 'esh, fully guaranteed Foods. All etservice.I INT If full amount accompanies I per cent of cost. Prompt ship.. le to fill order. Send us trial Sales CompanyI ,Ohio