The Darlington news. (Darlington, S.C.) 1875-1909, May 01, 1890, Image 3
» i'--
m
•ip*
Love’s Loffic.
I am a woman, uml I love vou, yet
I’m not a thing of changeling smiles
an J lean*;
Of pretty wiles, alternate hopes and
fears.
To weep when you are harsh, and
then forget
And laugh my grief away when your
brow’s tempest clears.
I am a woman and I love you, though
‘Tlsnot because you seek me, nor be
cause
Your eyes command me while your
voice makes pause;
You have revealed yourself to me; I
know
That your’s is not a nature free from
flaws.
1 am a woman, hut my love means not
Huhmission to some other mind's con
trol,
Surrender of my body and my soul.
The love 1 give to you I’d give un- j
sought,
Since loving you makes my poor half- 1
life whole.
[Elizabeth Leigh.
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Oapt. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.,
Author of "The ColoneCt Daughter” "From
the Itanks” "The Deserter," Etc.
Copyrigbted 1SH8 by J. B. Lipplocott Company,
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange-
meut through the American Press Association.
CHAPTER XIIL
OrWITHSTANDING the
fact that there was an at- ;
mospbere of suppressed
excitement over the gar-
rison this May day raorn-
ing, Mrs. Belknap’s hunt
came off according to plan, and the three
heroines of the previous run redo forth
with but slight change of escort, ('apt.
Stryker felt constrained to remain in
garrison; ho had a quiet investigation to
make, and was observed to be in close
conversation w ith Dr. Quin as the gay
party assembled in front of Col. Brai-
nard's quartern. Mr. Perry appeared in
his captain's stead, and very politely re
quested the honor of being escort to Mrs.
Lawrence, who accepted, yet looked a
trifle embarrassed as she did so. Indeed,
not until she had stolen an appealing
glance at her husband and heard his
cordial “By all means, dear; Perry can
guide you far better than I, and perhaps
you’ll win another mask,” did she thank
fully say “Yes.” Dana rode with Mrs
Belknap, as before, and it was the colo
nel himself who suggested to Stryker
that Mr. Perry should accompany Mrs.
Lawrence this day, and that he, the
colonel, should ride with Mrs. Sprague.
Perry had eagerly lent himself to the
proposition: he figured that now he could
have an uninterrupted chat with Mrs.
Lawrence and hear what she had to tell
about Dunraven. Just before starting
he sought Capt. Lawrence, laughingly
told him the terms of their agreement,
and begged that he would relax his
marital injunction and permit her to give
him such details as she happened to be
in possession of. “Indeed, Capt. Law
rence,” ho said, “I ask from no idle curi
osity. I have been to the ranch, as you
now know, and have good reason for
asking.” To his surprise, the captain
replied substantially that, while he had
regretted Mrs. Lawrence's impulsive rev
elations, he had thought it all over and
decided that the best way out was that
Perry should be told the whole story and
be able to see how very little there was
to it He had decided, therefore, to tell
him himself; “and this evening, Perry,
if you will dine with us informally, we’ll
talk it over afterwards. Meantime, I
prefer Mrs. Lawrence’s name should not
be mentioned in connection with any
story there may be afloat: so oblige me
by saying nothing to heron the subject.”
This was one matter for reflection and
something of a surprise; but there was
still another and even greater one. That
very morning, just before guard mount,
and while he was dressing, Perry shout
ed, “Come in,” responsive to a knock at
his sitting room door, and in came Capt.
Stryker. The object of his early call
was explained in very few words.
“Perry,” said he, “I have been over to
seo Sergt G wynne this morning, and the
doctor walked back from the hospital
with me and told me of yonr threatened
disagreement of last night If it had not
been for that sudden call to the stables I
fancy there might have been a quarrel.
Now, I think you know I’m one of the
last men to let an officer of my regiment
—especially my troop—be placed in a
false position, and—you can afford to
leave this matter in my hands, can you
not?"
“Certainly, Capt. Stryker."
“Then I want you to say nothing to
Quin on the subject, and to treat him,
as far as possible, as though nothing had
happened. His relations with the lady’s
father and family were, and are, such
that she ought to treat him with respect
and deference, and to accept his advice
even though it be given in a style that
Carlyle, his favorite author, is mainly
responsible for."
“There was absolutely nothing in—in
that—. Well, captain,” stammered poor
Ned, “I don’t know how to say what I
want to say." He wanted to say there
was nothing In that interview which
could possibly be criticised, but it sud
denly occurred to him that on the con
trary there was a good deal. Then he
desired to assure the captain that, so far
as he was concerned, there wtum’t a sus
picion of wrong doing; but—heavens
and earth!—that was equivalent to say
ing the lady was doing all that was open
to remark, and nothing would ever in
duce him to “give away a woman,” as
he would have expressed it Perry stam
mered and reddened all the more, and
at last gave It up in despair, Stryker
sitting there the while with a quiet grin
on his bronzed face and mechanio&lly
slashing his boot legs with a riding
switch.
“I think I understand the situation,
Perry, and there's no great harm done.
Only, let the matter drop—so far as the
doctor is concerned, I mean; I do not
presume to obtrude advice upon you as
to anything else."
And, though he had meditated a dif
ferent course, and had fully intended
hunting up Dana and sending him with
» note to call upon the doctor for an
’ explanation," he was glad to have a
man or otryxer s staucung cry uait.
the same he was sore incensed against
Dr. Quin—main!/ because of the jeal
ous pain he suffered at the knowledge of
hi* being so welcomed by Gladys Mait
land when he saw fit to visit the ranch;
and this pain gnawed all the more an
grily now at thought of the embar-
nnuing—oven suspicious—situation in
which that very man had found him on
the previous evening. Pressing duties
and hurried preparations kept him from
brooding too much upon these sore
points, but the youngsters all rallied
him upon his preoccupation while at
their merry breakfast table. Ho had re
solved that there was one thing he could
and would bring to an issue with Dr.
Quin, and was all impatience for the
coming of evening, that ho might hear
from the lips of Capt Lawrence the act
ual stories that had been in circulation
concerning Dunraven Ranch. He never
went out to a hunt so utterly inunierent
to the fortunes of the day, so eager to
have it all over and dono with. And
jet—and yet—never had there opened
to him a day so radiant with glorious
possibility; never before In all his young
life had nightfall proved so unwelcome
when it finally came.
The first rabbit was started before they
were a mile from Roasiter ,and the hounds
tumbled over him nearly a league away
down the valley of the Monee. It was
while they were watering their horses in
the stream that Mrs. Belknap rode up be
side them and laughingly addressed Mrs.
Lawrence:
“That was too much of a straight away
for either of us, Mrs. Lawrence; but what
wager shall we have on the first ™«°lr
after this?"
"Why, Mrs. Belknap! l£anneyerhc>pe
to rival you. It was mere accident and
good guiding on the part of some of the
officers who were kind enough to stay by
me, that enabled me to bo ‘in at the death’
the other day.”
“You have Mr. Perry to lead you today.
Surely with such a guide you ought to be
inspired. Am I to see anything of you
today?" she almost whispered to him, as
her stirrup brushed his riding boot.
“Certainly,” he answered, quietly, and
looking her over with frank blue eyes
that wero rather too clear and calm for
her mood. “If Mrs. Ijawrenco will ex
cuse me a few moments by and by, it
will be a pleasure to come and ride with
you. I’ll ask her."
“Indeed you shall not.” was the low
toned reply, while the dark eyes fairly
snapped with indignation. “I do not
borrow other women’s escort. If you
know no other way that ends it.”
And then Mrs. Sprague’s cheery voice
had hailed them as her eager horse came
splashing into the stream; no opportunity
occurred for further impressive remarks,
but as the “field" rode out upon the
prairie again and the dogs spread their
yelping skirmish line along the front,
Mrs. Belknap felt confident that before
they returned to Rossiter she would have
her big, simple hearted admirer in some
shape for discipline. Two capital runs
added to her self satisfaction, for in one
of them sho was side by side with the
foremost rider at the finish, and in both
sho had left the other women far in rear.
Then came a third, and with it a revela
tion tc one and all.
It was almost noon, and from a point
well out on the prairie to tho northeast
of Dunraven tho “field” was hunting
slowly homeward, horses and hounds
pretty well tired out, and the riders
quite content with their morning's sport.
Up to this time Perry had been in con
stant attendance upon Mrs. Lawrence,
and had made no effort to join Mrs. Bel
knap. Now, however, ho could not but
see that every little while her eyes
sought his with significant glance and
that she was riding well out to the left
of the party, Dana faithfully hovering
about her. The colonel with Mrs.
Sprague ranged alongside just then, and
a general conversation ensued, In the
coureo of which Perry found himself a
trifle in tho way. If there was one thing
fastidious Nolan did not like, it was to
bo crowded by horses for whom ho had
no particular respect; and, as a number
of riders wero grouped about Mrs. Law
rence at the moment, it resulted that
Nolan’s teeth and heels began to make
play, and Perry laughingly resigned his
position at her side, in order, as he ex
pressed it, “to give you other fellows a
chance.” Even then, ns ho fell to the
rear, it was with no thought or inten
tion of joining Mrs. Belknap.' But, once
clear of the merry group, his eyes sought
the distant outlines of Dunraven Ranch,
glaring in the noonday sun beyond the
Monee, and between him and that mys
terious inclosure whither his thoughts
were so constantly wandering there rode
the dainty lady, the Queen of the Chase,
so far as that day was concerned at
least, and she was signaling to him with
her riding whip. Oddly enough, when
Perry rode up to obey her summons,
Mr. Dana presently found means to ex
cuse liimself and join the main body.
“Mr. Perry,” she said, as soon as Dana
was out of hearing, “Mrs. Pago will be
with us to-night, or to-morrow morning
at latest.”
“Will she?” answered he, unconscious,
forgetful, and with an air of pleased an
ticipation. “How pleasant for youl I’ll
come and pay my respects the very first
thing.”
“You do not understand,” was the re
proachful response. “You do not care,
I presume; but this means that you and
I will have no more long talks and hap
py times together.”
“I’m awfully sorry, Mrs. Belknap,
but I’m blessed if I can see why we
shouldn’t."
“No,” despairingly, “it Is plain enough
that you eeo nothing. Ah, well!”—and
the sigh was pathetic-profound, and the
look from tho dark eyes was unuttera
ble in its sadness, “I suppose it is better
so—better so.” She was silent a mo
ment, and Perry’s puzzled faculties took
refuge in a long look over toward Dun
raven again: he fancied he saw figures
moving down the slope on the southern
side.
“One thing I want you to promise
me." she presently said, sad and soft
and low. There was no reply. Looking
up, she saw his head was averted. Was
he feeling the sting, then, after all? Was
he actually suffering a little pang after
this affectation of nonchalance?
“One thing you must promise, for my
sake,” she repeated.
And still no answer came. How odd!
He was bending over in toe saddle as
though turning from her, perhaps to hide
his face from her and from them alL He
had shifted the reins Into his right hand,
and was apparently fumbling at the
breast of his riding coat with the left
Was it the handkerchief he needed?
Were there starting tears in those bine
eyes that he dared not let her see? She
could not lose that luxury! Out went
the little hand and touched his arm. Her
“Say, Perry, what do you make that
out to be down there in the valley? Col.
Brainard and I feel sure it’s a lady on
horseback.” 0
And, looking at Perry, Mrs. Belknap
saw that he had flushed to the very tem
ples—that an eager, joyous light had
sprung to liis eyes; but before she could
•ay a word there came a shout from the
huntsman, a yell from the leading line, a
simultaneous yelp H cm the curs and
mongrels among the “irregulars," and
her horse leaped at tho bit and went tear
ing off toward the Monee, foremost in
; mad pursuit of a wild careering “jack."
“Come!” she called, as she glanced
over her shoulder; but the sight was one
j that only added to her wrath. Nolan,
plunging and snorting, was held to the
spot, while his rider, sitting like a cen
taur, was still eagerly gazing over Into
the distant cottonwoods. The next in
stant she realized that all the field were
thundering at her heels, and the instinct
of the sportsman came to her aid. She
could not be beaten in the chase.
For half a mile Bunny shot like a streak
of light straight away southwestward,
the hounds bunched in a slaty, sweeping
cloud not thirty yards behind the bobbing
tuft of his tail Then he began a long
circle towards the stream, as though to
head for a “break” that extended some
rods back from the line of bluffs. Another
minute and he had reached its partial
shelter and darted in. For the next min
ute he was lost to sight of his human
pursuers, but presently flashed into view
again down in the creek bottom and
“streaking It” up along the northern
bank, with the whole pack at his heels.
The bluffs were steep just here, some of
the riders a trifle timid, and all the
“field” reined in a little as they made
the descent; Dana, Mrs. Belknap, Parke,
Mrs. Lawrence, Graham, tho colonel and
Mrs. Sprague straightened out for their
pursuit in the order named, the instant
they reached the level of the valley. The
hounds were far ahead by this time, and
tho two light troopers in charge of them
close at their heels; but who—what was
the figure that flashed into view between
those huntsmen and the field, darting like
arrow from the fringe of willows and
dashing straight in wake of the quarry?
Tliirty yards ahead of the foremost riders
of the Rossiter party a superb English
hunter, the bit in his teeth, las eyes afire
and his head higli in air, fresh, vigorous,
raging with long imprisoned passion for
tho sport of the old island home, gaining
on the hounds at every stride, and defy
ing the utmost efforts of his rider, leaped
from the covert of the timber into sight
of one and all, bearing a lovely but most
reluctant victim on his back.
In vain with might and main she
leaned back and tugged at the reins:
though checked in his speed, the horse
still tore ahead, keeping straight for the
hounds, leaping in his easy stride every
little gully or “branch” that crossed his
path. Bunny took a sudden dive into
tho timber, fairly flew across a narrow,
gravelly rapid, and darted up on tho op
posite bank; the hounds veered in pur
suit, the huntsmen wavered and sought
along tho bank for a better place to cross,
but the mettlesome English bay lunged
through in tho very wake of the hounds,
crumbling the sandy banks and crashing
through the pebbly stream bed. Out on
the southern slopes went Bunny, close
followed by the hounds; out on their trail
went the big hunter, but bis rider’s hat
haa been brushed away in the wild da§h
through tho timber, and now a ftame of
beautiful golden hair—a groat wave of
light—flies on the wind over his glossy
back, and, though she still leans over the
cantle tugging hard at the reins, she is
plainly losing strength. Some of the
Rossiter party burst through the timber
in pursuit; some still ride hopefully up
tho north bank, and these are rewarded,
for once again poor, badgered, bewil
dered Benny makes a sudden swerve,
and, throwing half the hounds far be
hind, darts a second time to the shelter
of tho banks, with the other half closer
at his heels than before.
Those who were watching see the big
hunter making a long, circular sweep,
then once again bring up in the wake of
the leadere, once more go leaping, plung
ing, crashing through tho stream, and,
in another minute, rabbit, bounds,
huntsmen, tho “field,” and the fair in
cognita are all strung out in chase along
the northern shore, and all eyes can sec
that she is an English girl and well nigh
exhausted. Still, no man can catch that
hunter and lay hands on tho rein. She
is riding with the foremost now, leading
the troopers, even, and still Bunny spins
along in front, the hounds gnashing not
six feet behind him. A little point of
bluff juts out just ahead; tho stream
winds round its base and takes a turn
northward for a dozen rods. Bunny
shoots the turn like the pilot of the
lightning express, the hounds strain to
make it without loss of vantage gained,
the big hunter sways outward to the
very verge of tho steep and crumbling
bank, and a groan goes up from the
breathless pursuers; but he rallies and
straightens once more in the track, and
the golden hair, streaming in advance,
is tho oriflarame of tho chase. Thun as
they round tho point Dana gives a shout
of joy. Straight down the slopes,
straight and swift os rode the daring
tiuzzar from whom he got his name,
when ho bore the fatal message like
arrow flight from the Sapoune crest at
Balaklava, down the bluffs to the right
front comes Nolan, with Ned Perry on
hia back—Perry, with set, resolute, yet
almost frenzied face—Perry with eyes
that flash blue fire in the intensity of
their gaze, and Nolan’s vigorous strides
have brought him in circling sweep, in
just ten seconds more, close to tho hun
ter’s quarter, close behind the fluttering
skirt.
Just ahead there is another sudden
turn to the left; the stream goes one
way, the bluffs another, and between
I them lies a five-acre patch of level prairie
thickly studded, here, there, everywhere,
with tiny earthen mounds and tiny, gap
ing, treacherous holes—a prairie dog
village, by all that’s awful! and that
runaway hunter, mad in tho chase of
the sweeping hounds, is in the midst of
it before mortal hand can check or
swerve him. Another second, and they
who pursue have veered to right or left
or reined up on the verge—all save one.
Never faltering, Ned Perry is at her
hunter’s quarter, almost at her side.
They see him spurring, they see him
bending eagerly towards her, they see
that he is shouting something to her-
Heaven knows what! Then there is a
groan of misery and dread from a dozen
breasts, a groan that as suddenly bursts
into the gladdest of cheers; the hunter’s
forefoot has caught in one of the thou
sand little death traps; down he goes,
plunging, heaving, quivering, rolling
over and over; but Nolan leaps gallantly
ahead, and Ned Perry's strong arm has
tone was sweet, thrilling, appealing, yet tho S ir \ [ ro “ tho “ dd,e
commanding; she would sJkTfac*. i f** 1 &"» oruhlng u> earth and hear.
• “ - — ^ - - j her, drooping, faint, frightened, well
l nigh senseless, but safe and clasped
tight to his thankful and exultant heart
Another Instant, and Nolan is reined
in in the very midst of tho tumbling
hounds, and Gladys Maitland Is the only
wnmnn “in nt th* death."
CHAPTER XIV.
J 'llii,.
gathers
later is
'Mr. Perry—Nedl Look at me.
“Eh! oh! What! I beg your pardon,
Mrs. Belknap, but I was trying to make
out who that was in the timbw yonder.
Looks—looks almost like a woman on
horseback, doesn’t itT >
But when he appealed to her for
flnnation of his timid,
vision he was aghast
fled to her for con
oid, half credulous
at the look in her
“You were not Hstwnfngt
: of what I'
Accc riling to me eminent ptiysiologibi
Sappey, the stomach contains 6,000,000
glands by which the gastric julos is se
creted, and a few others which sscrets
only mucus.
HE group that
there a moment
as interested a party as
the central figures are
interesting. Unable to
set her left foot to the
ground and still encircled by Perry’s
arm, Miss Maitland stands leaning heav
ily on his breast She is very pale for a
moment, partly from exhaustion, partly
from pain, for there was no time to free
her foot from the stirrup, and the ankle
is severely wrenched. Nolan, riderless
now and cost loose, stands with lowered
head and heaving flanks, a sympathetic
but proudly heroic looker on; he knows
he has played his part in that rescue.
The huge English hunter is plunging in
misery among the mounds a few yards
back, his fore leg broken. One of the
troopers has seized his bridle, and an
other is unstrapping the heavy English
saddle. “Splendidly done!" says the colo
nel, as he trots carefully up, casting a
glance at the fallen cause of all the mis
chief; “but if that saddle had been one
of those three pronged abominations be
couldn’t have swept her off as he did."
Graham has galloped to the stream
for water, and the colonel lifts Mrs.
Sprague from her saddle, and together
they advance to offer sympathy and aid.
Mrs. Lawrence follows os quickly as she
can pick her way among the prairie dog
holes. Dana has deserted Mrs. Belknap,
and she alone remains mounted while
all these others throng about the two
who stand there for the moment, cling
ing to each other. And now Gladys
Maitland lias raised her head; blushes
of shame and confusion triumph over
pallor and pain; she strives to
alone, but Perry bids her desist The
moment she sees Mrs. Sprague’s sweet,
womanly, sympathetic face her eyes are
filled with comfort and her heart goes
out to her. Most reluctantly Perry re
signs his prize to the ai ms that open to
receive her, and then come the wonder
ing exclamations of some, and the brief,
breathi'xp'.iuu;ioii:< *
“Don't try to talk yet," pleads Mrs.
Sprague. “We are only too glad it was
no worse.”
“Indeed, I’m not hurt," answers Gla
dys, bravely—"only a little wrench,
but,” and sho laughs nervously, trying
to carry it off with nil the pluck and
spirit of tier race, “it would have been
what we vail a ‘nasty cropper’ at home
if”—and her eyes turn shyly yet with a
world of gratitude to his—“it had not
been for Mr. Perry.”
“Oh, then you know Mr. Perry!" ex
claims Mrs. Sprague, with frank delight,
and Mrs. Lawrence turns in rejoicing to
look first in his glowing face, then at the
dark beauty of Mrs. Belknap silently lis
tening. “Why, we had no idea’’— And
she concludes irresolutely.
“Oh, yes; we met at the ranch—at
home. I am Miss Maitland, you know;
and that is my father’s place. But we've
ordy just come,” she adds, with the wo
man’s natural desire to explain to new
found friends why and how it was that
they hail not met before. And then the
group is joined by a bulky young Briton
in the garb of a groom, though modified
to suit the requirements of frontier life;
he comes cantering to the scene all el
bows and consternation; hegivesagroon
of dismay at sight of the prostrate hun
ter, but rides directly to his mistress.
She is paling again now, and in evident
pain, and Perry’s face is a study as he
stands, his eyes riveted upon her: but she
tries to smile and reassure him.
“You’ll have to ride to Dunr—to the
ranch, Griggs," she said; "and—there’s
no help for it—papa will have to bo told.
Let them send for me.”
“Pardon me, Miss Maitland,” inter
rupted (JoL Brainard. “You are almost
under the walls of Fort Rossiter, and
Dunraven is miles away. I have sent a
swift horse for Dr. Quin and a spring
ambulance. We cannot let you go home,
now that you are so near us, until you
have liad rest and proper care.”
“Indeed we cannot, Miss Maitland,”
chimed in both ladies at a breath. “You
are to come right to my house until you
are fit to travel.”
•Tm not very fit just now, certainly,”
she answers, with a faint smile; “but I
can surely wait here until they send;
’twill not be more than an hour at most”
“It will be two hours—perhaps three—
Miss Maitland,” pleaded Perry, bending
eagerly forward. “Do listen to our la
dies!”
And “our ladies” prevailed. While
Griggs went spattering off to Dunraven
with the sorrowful news, the strong
arms of Perry and Graham lifted and
bore their English captive to the shade
of a clump of cottonwoods. Mrs.
Sprague and Mrs. Lawrence managed
to make a little couch for her as a tem
porary resort Mrs. Belknap rode up
and was formally introduced, then gal
loped away to Rossiter to send blankets
for the picnic couch and see to the pil
lows of the ambulance. The colonel and
Perry remained with the ladies and en
grossed their attention while Graham
went back and sent two pistol bullets
into the struggling hunter's brain, still
ing his pain forever. Then came Dr.
Quin galloping like the wind down the
familiar trail, chiding “Gladys" as
though his right to do so were a long
established thing, and thereby setting
Perry's teeth on edge, and. long before
the call for afternoon stables was sound
ing, the fair daughter of Dunraven
Ranch was housed within the walls of
Rossiter and the “ice was broken."
Perry had had the joy of helping carry
her into Mrs. Sprague's coolest snd co
ziest room. Sho had held forth her hand
—such a long, white, beautiful hand—
and let it rest in his while she said,
“You know how impossible it is for me
to tell you how I thank you, Mr. Perry,"
and he had simply bowed over H, long
ing to say what he thought, but power
less to think of anything else; and than
he had gone to hia own quarters and
shut himself in. Mrs. Sprague—bless
herl—had Invited him to call after re
treat. and he had totally forgotten the
Lawrences’ dinner when he said he
would be only too glad to coma
At the sounding of stable call his darky
servant banged at the door and roused
him from his reverie. He rose mechan
ically and went out Into the breed sun
shine, glancing first along the row to
see how things were looking at tbs
Spragues’ and wishing with all his heart
that they were somewhere within reach
of a conservatory, that he might —"<j a
heaping box of freeh and dewy ness to
that sacred room where she lay. How
nutay a time, he thought, had he strolled
into some odorous shop in the cities
where his “leaves" were spent, and care
lessly ordered cut Bowers by the cubic
foot sent with his card to some on# with
whom he had danced the german tho
night before and never expected to mo
again; what wouldn't ne give now tor
just a few of those wasted, faded, for
gotten flowers! Stables that afternoon
proved a sore trial to him.
When at last the men went swinging
homeward in their white canvas frocks
and Perry could return to his quarters to
dress for his eagerly anticipated call, the
first thing that met his eyes as he came
in sight of officers' row was a huge, bulky,
covered traveling carriage in front of
Spragues’. Two or three ladies were there
at the gate. Mr. Eweu, the English man
ager. was just mounting his horse; Dr.
Quin, too, was there and already In sad
dle; and before poor Perry could get half
way across the parade, and just as the
trumpets were sounding mess call for
supper, the bulky vehicle started; the
todies waved their handkerchiefs and
kissed their hands, and, escorted by Ewen
and the doctor, saluted by CoL Brainard
and the adjutant with raised forage cape,
Gladys Maitland was driven slowly away,
and Mrs. Belknap stood there in the little
group of ladies smiling sweetly npon him
as he hastened towards them. For many
a long day afterwards mess call always
made him think of Mrs. Belknap’s smile,
and Mrs. Belknap's smile of mess 0*11
He shuddered at the sound of one or sight
•f the other.
It was Mrs. Sprague who stepped for
ward to greet him, her womanly heart
filled with sympathy for the sentiment
she suspected. She had to push by Mra
Belknap to reach him; but, this time, no
consideration of etiquette stood in the
way.
“It couldn’t be helped,” she said, tn
low hurried tone, her kind eyes search
ing his, so clouded in the bitterness of
his disappointment. “It couldn’t be
helped. The news of her accident—or
something—brought on a seizure of some
kind. Mr. Maitland was taken very ilk
and they sent for her. The manager
came, and with him her old nurse, Mrs
Cowan, and Dr. Quin said she could be
moved without trouble: so she had to go
I hated to have her, too, for I’ve liardly
had a word with her; Mra. Belknap has
been there most of tho afternoon, oven
when she had a guest of her own just
arrived, too.” And Mrs. Sprague could
not but show her vexation at this retro
spect
Perry stood in silence, looking yearn
ingly after the retreating vehicle. It
would take him but a few minutes to
hasten to stables and saddle Nolan; he
stand could easily catch them before they had
gone two miles; but there was parade,
and he could not ask to be excused.
Not until he suddenly looked around and
saw that Mrs. Belknap’s dark eyes were
fixed in close scrutiny upon his face did
he realize how he was betraying himself
Then he rallied, but with evident effort
The colonel was standing but a few
paces away, chatting with Mrs. Law
rence and his faithful adjutant Mra
Sprague stepped quickly towards him
and spoke a few words in a low tone,
while Mrs. Belknap remained looking
straight Into Perry’s eyes. Before the
young fellow could gather himself, CoL
Brainard, as though in reply to a sug
gestion of Mrs. Sprague’s, suddenly
started, exclaiming, “Why, by all
meansl” and then called aloud:
“Oh! Perry, why not gallop down and
overtake the Dunraven carriage and say
good-by? Here’s my horse all saddled
now right in the yard. Take him and
go: I would."
There was something so hearty and
genial and sympathetic in the colonel’s
manner that Perry’s face flushed despite
his effort at nonchalance. The thought
of seeing her again and hearing her
sweet voice was a powerful incentive.
He longed to go. The colonel’s invita
tion was equivalent to an excuse from
parade. There was no reason why he
should not go. He was on the very
point of thankfully accepting the tempt
ing offer, when Mrs. Belknap’s words
arrested him. Clear and cutting, but
still so low that none but he could hear,
she spoke:
"Take my word for It, you are not
wanted, nor any other mah, when Dr,
Quin is with her."
Perry’s hesitation vanished. “Thank
you, colonel I believe 1 don’t care to
go," he answered, and, raising his cap
to the ladies, turned on his heel and
hurried to his quarters. Mrs, Belknap
stood watching him one moment, then
calmly rejoined the party at the rate.
“Well,” said she, with the languid
oentJi ‘
Dargan & Lide.
1STEW SCHEDITXJB
drawl that her regimental associates had
learned to know so well, “this has been
a day of surprises, has it not? Only
fancy our having a beautiful English
heiress here within reach and never
knowing it until today 1"
“But you had a surprise of your own,
had you not?” interposed Mrs. Sprague
who was still chafing over the fact that
her lovely and dangerous neighbor should
have so monopolized the guest she con
sidered hers by prior right, and who
meant to remind her thus publicly of
the neglect of which she had been guilty.
“Mrs. Page, you mean?” responded
Mrs. Belknap, with tho same languid,
imperturbable manner. “Yes; poor Jen-
nlel She is always utterly used up after
one of those long ambulance journeys,
and can only take a cup of tea and go to
bed in a darkened room. All she wants
is to be let alone, she says, until she gets
over it I suppose she will sleep till
tattoo and then be up half the night.
You U come in and see her, won’t you?
Au re voir."
And so, calmly and gracefully and
victoriously, the dark eyed dame with
drew, leaving her honest hearted antag
onist only the sense of exasperation and
defeat
It was full quarter of an hour after
parade, and darkness was setting down
on the garrison, when Capt Lawrence’s
orderly tapped at the door of Mr. Perry’s
quarters, and, being bidden “Come in,”
in an easy chair in front of the nreplacc
his attitude one of profound dejection.
“Beg pardon, lieutenant,” said the
n. “Mrs. I
man. ‘
waitin'
Lawrence and the captain’s
dinner for vou.”
(To be continued.)
FIOKEHICB
HUI SI ms!
To the Citizens of Darlington
and Vicinity:
I take this method of thank
ing you for the very liberal pa
tronage heretofore extended to
me by you, and respectfully so
licit a continuance of the same.
I call your attention to my
large and well selected stock
of Ladies’, Gents’, Misses and
Children’s Boots and Shoes ; not
surpassed by any other dealer
in the State. I call special at
tention to my
Custom Made
BOOTS and SHOES,
which I warrant to fit and give
perfect satisfaction.
CHAS. BULTMAN.
Dec. 19, ’89—6m
DARLINGTON, S. G.
Purpose conducting on establishment that will be a credit to
Darlington County at the stand next door to Dr. Boyd’s
Drug Store.
-o-
-o-
Schedule of the Hartsville R. R.
Hartsvillk. 8. C., D«e. ’ ».
DAILY MIXED TRA1
Leaves Hartsville, 7.16 A. M.
Leaves Jovann, 7.40 “
Arrive at Floyd’s, 8.05 “
Making connection with the South
bound passenger train on the Cheraw
& Darlington Railroad.
RETURNING.
Leave Floyd's, 10.00 A. M
Leave Jovanu. 10.20 “
Arrive at Hartsville, 10.50 “
This train waits two hours, if necessa
ry, for the North bound freight train
! on C. &. I). K. R.
J. L. COKER.
President.
A full line of Stationery and School-
Books always on hand.
-o-
Law Blanks in great variety .
-o o-
This is the place to buy your ledgers and blank books of all kind
at the lowest market prices.
Sporting Headquarters!
Base Ball Supplies, Croquet Sets, Ham-
mocks, etc.
A LARGE LINE OF HANDSOME ROOKS SUITABLE
FOR PRESENTS.
Any hook not in stock will be ordered out on a few day’s notice at
catalogue prices.
FOR C. & D. AND C. k P. RAILROAI*
PKiiiDBZT’sOrrici )
C. & D. andC. & 8. RAILROADS, J-
Charleston, 8. C., Way 1, 1890. J
On and afttr May 1’J, the train! on
ihcse roads will run as follows (Sunda , ex
cepted) every day:
nows rnAis.
Leave Wadcsboro 5.25 A M
Bennetts 5.40
Morven’s 6.55
McFarland 6.10
Leave Cheraw 0.48
Cash’s .-7.00
Society Hill 7 18
Dove’s 7.30
Floyd’s 7.38
Darlington 7-60
Palmetto 8 00
Arrive at Florence 8 16,
tip TRAIN.
Leave Florence 8.10 P M
Palmetto 8 25
Darlington 8.36
Floyd’s 8.46
Dove’s 8.62
Society Hill 9.12
Cash’s 9 17
LcaveCheraw 9.43 P M
McFarlan 10.08
Morven’s 10.20
Uennelt’s 10,85
Lake Wadesboro ...11.00
Freight Train going up.
Leave Florence 8.15 a m
Arrive Darlington 9.05 a m
Freight going down
Arrive Darlington 2.00 pm
Leave Darlington 3.30 p m
Arrive Florence 4.10 pm
A. F. RAVENEL, Pre«.
Q II Master Transportation.
Everything You Want in the
Stationery Line,
O-A-IST BE BOTTGKEIT -A.T
THE DARLINGTON BOOK STORE.
Terms Cash:
DARGAN & LIDE, Proprietors.
January 16, 1890.
N
ORTHEASTERN RAILROAD.
Read these Prices.
Call at
1
On and after this date the follow! is
schedule will be run :
GOING SOUTH.
No. 27, Daily.
Leave Florenoe
•1 86 a is
Leave Kingstree
2 29 a in
Arrive Lane*
2 50 a m
Leave Lancs
2 60 a in
Arrive Charleston
5 00 a m
No. 23, Daily.
Leave Florence
•8 30 a m
Leave Kingstree
9 46 a d
Arrive Laues
10 or a 1
Leave Lanes
10 07 a 1.
Arrive Charleston
11 59 an
No 63.
Leave Lanes
*7 60 P. M.
Arrive Charleston
9 30 p. in.
Train on C & D R R coin
cts at Flor-
enoe with No 23 Train
GOING NORTH.
No, 78, Daily.
Leave Charleston
*1 20 a n
Arrive Lancs
3 00a m
Leave Lanes
3 00am
Leave Kingstree
3 17am
Arrive Florence
4 20am
No. 14,
1,000 yards assorted Worsteds at 10 cts, worth 20 to 40cts»
A full line Cashmeres at 12£ and 15 cts. We nrestil I run.
ning our famous 25 cts. yard wide Cashmere in all shades
more popular than ever this season. 45-inch Henrietta at 50
cents. A large line of Black Goods consisting of Cashmeres,
Henriettas and Imported Reps from 15 to $1 per yard.
A well selected stock of Ladies’ and Misses’ Wraps consisting
of Jackets, Modjeskas and New Markets,
A specially large line of Staple Dry Goods, and Notions at
prices that move them rapidly.
SHOES.
Our line of Shoes is large and complete and well adapted to
the wants of the people. We continue to maintain
our reputation for selling solid goods.
Gents* Furnishing Goods t
Our success in the Gents’ Furnishing Goods Depaitment war
rant us in the belief that our Clothing and Hats
Men’s, Youths’ and Boys’ suit the people,
both as to quality and price.
We carry always in stock a full line of Hardware, Crockery,
Tin, Harness, &c.
GROCERIES.
The Grocery Department is large and kept well supplied, at
Rock-bottom prices.
HARDWARE.
At the Hardware Store, Managed by J. H. Early, is kept
Stoves, Sewing Machines, Pumps; Gins, Belting Steam
Engines, &c., in fact everything that comes
under the head of machinist’s supplies.
REPAIRING A SPECIALTY.
October 31,1889.
Leave Cnarletton
Arrive Lanes
Leave Lanes
Leave Riogstree
Arrive Florence
*4 80 p m
6 29 p m
6 29 p hi
6 46 p m
7 55 p m
No. 52. Daily.
Leave Charleston *7 00 a m
Arrive Lanes 8 4 27 a in
* Daily, f Daily except Sun
Nos 52 runs through to Celumbia
via Central R R of S C.
Nos. 78 and 14 run solid to Wilmingtea,
N. C., making close connection with W. It
IV R R for all points north.
J. R. KENLY, J. F, Divihi,
Supt. Irene. QenT Sup’t.
T. M. Entases, GenT Pass. Agt.
WILMINGTON CQLGIBIA AND AUGUSTA RAHMA
May 1, 1890.
GOING SOUTH
No. 23.
Leave Wilmington
Leave Marion
Arrive Florence
(&\)c punk of PurUngtnn,
-HAS OPENED A
SA.'STTN’aS X3EBABT1M E3STT,
And from and after this date will receive deposits of One Dol
lar and upwards, and pay quarterly interest on the same,
at the rate of five p^r cent, per annum, under regu
lations to be made known at the Bank. This is
a favorable opportunity for
Farmers, Clerks?
Mechanics, Laborers,
Factory Operatives,
To Save Their Earnings.
W. C. COKER, BRIGHT WILLIAMSON,
President. Cashier.
Darlington, S. 0., J»Ue« 18, *89.
Leave Florence
Arrive Sumter
Leave Sumier
Arrive Columbia
Leave Wilmington
Leave Marion
Arrive Florence
No. 50.
No.
*6 16 p ■
9 38 p ■
10 20 a ■
3.20 a *
4. -6 a a
4 36 a ze
6. 16 a t>
*10.10 p m
12.40pm
1 20 a m
Leave Florence
Arrive Sumter
No 62
Leave Sumter f 9 46 a ■
Arrive Columbia 10 65 p v
No 68
fS 25 a a
9 36 a ■
No 62 ran* through from Charleatta via
Central R R.
Leaving Lanea 8 80 A M., Manning 9 10
A
Train on C & D R R connected Flortnee
with No 53,
GOING NORTH.
No 61
/.cave Columbia.
Arrive Sumter
Leave Sumter
Arrive Florence
No. 78.
Leave Florence,
Leave Marion
Arrive at Wilmington,
No. 69
Leave Snmter
Arrive Florence
No. 68,
Leave Columbia
Arrive Sumter
No 14
Leave Florenoe *8 16 p a
Leave Marion ^ ■ 8 66 p a
Arrive at Wilmington 11 46 p a
•Daily, fDaily except Sunday.
No 63 rnne through U Cherleeton, via
Central R R, arriving Manning? 04 P A.
Lanee 7 42 P M. Charleston 9 80 P M.
No 69 eonueoie at Florenoe with CAD
train for Cheraw and Wadeeboro’.
Noe 78 and 14 make eloee eoaaeetlea nt
Wilmingtou with W A W R R for nil paints
North.
Train on Floreaoa R. R. leave Pee Dee
doily except Sunday 4.40 P. M., arrive
Rowland 7.00 P. M. Returning lanee
Rowland 6.30 A. M., arrive Pee Dee 8.60
A.M.
Train ou Maucbrster A Angnota R. R
leave* Sumter daily ezeept Sunday, 10 64
A. M., arrive Rimini 1S.01P. M. *•
turning leave Rimini 12-16 P M.,ar
rive Sumter 1.80 P. M.
JOHN F. DIVII
*10 86 p a
11 68pm
11 68 p m
115 am
4 35 a m
6 20am
8 36 am
f6 37 p m
7 60pm
*6 20p m
6 82pm