Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ ^ . - CoPr^i aHTEj7-i8qyor^Q^ PPL,TQK ^ ca * ^ Pu8USHtfi BY-5Pta^L ^Rran«Me*T^lTfC-?rHeflL' CHATTER V. vm still early morning at the Mee- ralley ranch. A calm tranquil lity rested upon the limitlesa prairie. The scattered files of trees that every- Straggled across the undulating and gave the locality its distin- ing title were mute and motionless, as if yet in awe of the recent sunrise. A few plover piped monmf-lly from the uplands. The quarrelsome cawing of ravens, holding a stormy conclave in some remote treetop, at times rose an grily upon the morning air, and grazing occasionally, at intervals raising his head to regard with attent ears and quiv ering nostrils the prairie before him, but pursuing a direct course for the distant ranchhouse over the summit level, a large sorrel horse, saddled and bridled, tnt riderless, came shrilly neighing. The house which the horse was thus approaching was large and substantial and built in the fashion of ranches of the better class. Square in shape, it yet looked from the open prairie a mere box, rising above the vast monotony of the boundless plain. But the curious visitor, who remarked it from a nearer view point, found it commodious in its ap pointment, surrounded with a strong, barb wire fence and flanked by out buildings and corrals more ambith us iu structure than the dwellings of most ranchmen. A broad, sunny veranda ran the entire length of the house, command ing the vast expanse of the outlying val ley. Over the floor of the porch, where the sunlight lay in broad squares and patches, a half dozen Mexican saddles were strewed, their bridles slung upon the circular pommels, their broad stir rup leathers picturesque and embossed. Whips and lariats were lying about. Several colossal rocking chairs occupied the foreground, with a general air of proprietorship enhanced by their un wieldy balk. A magnificent buffalo robe, thrown carelessly over a long re clining chair and warm with the rays of the sun, invited luxurious repose. The wide entrance of the rancho stood invitingly open to the balmy morning air. Within the broad, bare hallway, with its adjacent doors npon either hand opening into varions rooms, was dimly seen. The walls wore picturesque with rifles, revolvers and tennis racquets tastefully arrauged and grouped. A guitar lying carelessly among a heap cf cushions on a comfortable lounge be trayed by its bine and yellow ribbons the adornment of feminine fingers. A large stuffed eagle with extended wings, at the end of the hall, typified the far- reaching destinies of the American re public. A yonng girl came suddenly to the door Mild looked out over the broad val ley, shading her brown eyes against the glare of the sunlight with the fingers of a jeweled hand. She was tall and state ly, and the Ample folds of her cloth morning gown swept to her feet with p. graciousness and ease that betokened po sition. The dainty white collar at her throat was fastened by a single diamond stud that flashed as if in rivalry of the clear eyes above it. Her brown hair was gathered in the simplicity of the Grecian knot—the soft tresses waving about her temples were like spun silk. From the long, dark lashes that swept her beauti ful eyes to the heavily bo wed slippers that peeped beneath her robe she was all refinement and grace. And the small handkerchief she raised to her parted lips breathed that faint atmosphere of odor which seems to identify the pres ence of beanty. She stood quietly a few moments in the corner of the doorway, gazing out dreamily over the limitless prospect at the vast billows of prairie stretching before her like an emerald sea. Her eyes wore an expression of wistful tenderness, and there was in them a shade of disap pointment, as one has seen the water of a liquid pool darker in the shadow of some overhanging rock. Then she came listlessly forward and sank down upon the reclining chair, nestling in the soft folds of the warm robe with a little com- fortable shnoder. Her dark lashes swept her cheek half hidden in the long fur. Her hands held a vellum copy of verses she had take \ from the chair. But she was not reading, and the eyes she lifted •beently from the book strayed wearily away to the valley. Surely it was very early in the day for reverie and medita tion. The sudden neighing of a horse startled her. She sprang to her feet abruptly, the color mounting to her cheeks and sufftfting her neck with blushes, an elo quent delight flashing in her dark eyes. The sorrel horse s' ood expectantly at the gateway of the rancho, his long lariat trailing from the saddle bow, bis mane and forelock tossed and disheveled with Ho loner waiiderlmr. The girl gazed at him breathlessly a brief moment; the next, the rosy flush faded from her cheeks and she stood white as the neighboring wall, her hands clasped before her. She reeled.a little and eat down again in the nearest chair r heraelf. moments she sat thus, trem- heaving, ro- i horse at the gate face and agonised eyes, > was the sound of footsteps, , handsome man, with bronzed hashing eyes, came striding hall and ont npon the sunlit ours less neneBclal than we anticipated, or perhaps, Edith, you neglect your ex ercise. We must go today for another long prairie canter. Let mo call my wife to your assistance.” He turned back to the door of the rancho and called “KateI" twice in a loud, imperative voice. There was a musical reply, the sound of a closing door, the hurrying of slippered feet across the bare hallway, and then, with the sudden revelation of a pale blue morning wrapper, fluttering skirts and flying golden braids, the advent of “Kate.” “Just gee the state that Edith is inff said Phil Kernochan pityingly, directing the gaze of this blond and radiant ap parition to the figure in the chair. “What had we better do with her?’ He turned as he spoke. “Hello!” he shouted, his eyes falling for the first time on the sorrel pony standing by the rancho gate. “There’s Hal’s pony! When in th« world did he arrive?’ He glanced again at the re clining girl. A light seemed breaking In upon him. “Why, it can’t be,” he said in amaze ment, “that his horse has walked off and left him, and he’s been obliged to lay out i night or two on the bald prairie! Well, that’s rich, 1 declarer* He ran hurriedly down the stops of the veranda and strode away to the ranch $ate. He threw it wide open, and the pony, with a whinny of welcome, trotted gladly within. Kernochan regarded him critically, taking his meerschaum pipe from his lips, an amnsed smile accenting the curves of his month beneath his light mustache. There was no sign of violence or acci dent. A few cockle burs clung to the mustang's mane, an acquisition of lus re cent travels. The rolled blanket still hnng from the crupper of the saddle. Kernochan gathered up the lariat and slung it on the pommel. -IVT> efY.Tr. <2? “There 1 * Hal’t pony!” “Rube!” be shouted, turning his head in the direction of the neighboring cor rals, where a thick set and sun tanned individual was busy doctoring some ail ing sheep, “give this horse a feed of corn and groom him aYittle. Take his saddle off and turn him loose in the dooryard till tomorrow. Don't hopple liirn!” he directed as the man approached in an swer to the summons. He turned back to the veranda, laugh ing quietly t'> himself, as if some pleas ant revelation had dawned upon him. The fragrant wreaths of smoke from his pipe rose above his head and brooded in tho still air. “Well, ladies,” he said, coming tran quilly up the steps, his recent amuse ment still lingering in his eyes, “it seems our carelqss friend, Bruce, has seen fit to let his horse come home without him. I suppose the only thipg we can do U to ride ont and look him up.” “There, Edith Stafford, I told you tliat was all it amounted to!" exclaimed Kate Kernochan, smiling reassuringly at the the young lady over whom she had been sympathetically engaged ever since his departure. “Give me buck my cameo vinaigrette this instant! The idea of your being so foolish, dear!” Miss Edith Stafford languidly extend ed the article in question—an exquisite blue trifle carved to represent a crested grebe 1 , and a relic of PhiT Kernochan’s generosity during his extravagant court- (hip. "Do you think, then, he isn’t dead?' she inquired, sitting up with sudden ani mation. "I was certain of it! Oh, dear! I shall never get used to the dreadful un certainties of this primitive country. 1 was quite poritive some awfnl crime had been perpetrated.” Then, springing ea gerly to her feet: “Let ns ride for him at once. Poor fellow, he may be starving to death! I'll put on my riding habit right off.” She dashed away to the door with a haste that contrasted with her recent feebleness. One moment,” said Kenochan, catch ing up a leather quirt from the veranda and flecking his boot with it. “I thought we’d make a hunting trip cf this search and kill two birds with one stone. Ha! ha! starving to death—that’s good! You catch Henry Brace starving to death with a brrechloadiiig shotgun and matches enongh to stock a ranch! Not much! Well, what do you say? There are lots of wild curkey between here and the Colorado river. We might take the dogs along and course any that came car way.” “Oh, that would be charming!” cried Mias Stafford, taming back to flash her gratification npon Kernochan, with a revelation of radiant teeth and eloquent oniles. “Come, Kate, let’s hurry and get ready! We won’t be a inomsnt!” And with this feminine estimate of that indefinite period allotted to matters of the toilet the ladies rushed from th? veranda. CHAPTER VL The leafy ceiling above was bright with luminous points from the without, Row and then nr a feathery seed vessel to the earth in the gloom Okies. The rattling at intervals, tho in conversation, to- 11 eaoe of visitors. They were Brace and Cynthia. The yonng girl was seate 1 at the base of a scarred and denuded hemlock, the light sifting through the bra’iches above and falling fall upou her head and shoul ders. A small Ij.injo, showing signs of abuse and exposure to the elements, lay in her lap. Uecasionally she struck the strings. Half reclining at her feet and completely enveloped iu the wreaths of smoke that brooded like a blue vapor In the quiet air, Bruce lay smoking. The antelope fawn, its feet curled up. Its vel vet eyes blinking drowsily, solemn and meditative as usual, and A ulus com pleted this rural quartet. A sudden breath of air dispersed the smoke, favoring the dog with a passing whiff. He sneezed violently and looked annoyed, as if the last test hud been put upon his patience. “You smoke too much, Mr. Brace," said Cynthia, waving the passing cloud from the dog's head with a compassion ate hand. "Ef you keep it up, I wouldn’t wonder of one day you got jest as home ly and coffee colored as thet skull Why don’t ye quit before it gets you?" Bruce laughed and removed the long amber mouthpiece of his pipe from his lips. It was of meerschaum and carved to represent a hand holding a human sknll “I don’t know,” he said, blowing a huge ring that shot forward with curl ing folds until it broke npon the nose of the nodding antelope. “I suppose 1 like to smoke, and then I seem to stand it very well Possibly, too, there is some thing in my associations with the pipe.” “Who gave it to you, Mr. BruceT said Cynthia, quickly raising her eyes to his. They were solemn and deep, and beneath their dark lashes reminded Bruce of some calm, blue pool be had seen in the shadow of a wood. “A friend of mine," he answered in definitely noting her earnestness. “Y’es," she said, “but I meant was it a man or wasn’t it?” Her eyes dropped suddenly from his face, and she struck the banjo roughly in her embarrassment. “It was a lady,” Bruce replied gravely. “Light or dark complected?’ asked Cynthia breathlessly, not raising her eyes. “Dark,” said Bruce in the same tone— “arp,, creamy brown. I don’t think that even that beautiful tint there,” he continued, indicating where the soft ■fthite of the stem was faintly dyed, “could hope to vie with her. Her eyes were dark, too—more like that,"—touch ing the hue of the bowl—“and her hair —there is nothing here to show you that can doit justice." Cynthia sighed. “Lawful sakes!" she exclaimed. “An is thet the reason you're smokin thet thing all the while, ’cause ye jest natur ally expect one day to make it look like the chocolate colored woman?’ Brace hurriedly disclaimed any such intention. “Well, I wouldn’t try,” she rejoined, “for by the time you've done it ye'll prob’ly be dead. Father bed a meer schaum that he was colorin once, but he said before he got through it colored him instead. I reckon so." After this a 1 arming instance of the effect of nico tine, she became silent. Bruce continned smoking. “How old is she?’ Cynthia inquired, suddenly, taming from him and glan cing across the river. “That’s an uncertain question,” the gentleman replied. “In fact, I know nothing so difficult to ascertain precisely as the age of a young woman.” Cynthia looked puzzled. Then *he apparently received an inspiration. ‘•Didn't ye get to see her teeth?’ ahe inquired demurely, but revealing an ir resistible circle of pearl by the question. The gentleman overlooked in silence this query, p-ompted no doubt by her knowledge of sheep. “Where does she live?’ inquired Mira Dallas, nothing daunted. “About 20 miles from here,” Brace replied. “Oh!” said Cynthia. She was sudden ly silent. The soft sunlight played amid the tresses of her golden hair as with downcast lashes she caressed the ante lope, burying her fingers in his rough coat. A few needles shaken from the pines drifted down npon her. It was at If the fond fathers of the wood were wafting a benediction upon the one who cheered their solitude. Suddenly Cynthia raised her head. “Do yon expect to see her soon?’ “See—whom?’ “Thet girl you’re so gone on?’ she in quired with matter of fact gravity. Bruce was about to enter an emphatic protest. In his earnestness he leaned to* ward Cynthia and took her hand. The girl trembled a little, and tKe color dyed her cheek, but she did not withdraw her hand. She lifted her eyes to his and smiled upon him so sweetly, that whatever of mischief there had been in her question fled before it. Such a radiant beauty had suddenly come to dweH within her eyes. The quick snapping of a twig caused Brace to look np. He dropped the girl's hand abruptly with an embarrassed air Two ladies were standing in a sunlit opening without and gazing into tho bower. They were in riding habits, their long skirts gathered in their left bands, their whips in their right. The younger of the two—a dashing brunette—was modishly attired. A glossy black bearer, perched saucily on her head, accented the flash of the dark eyes beneath. The bit of black lace at her throat was fas tened with a diamond. Her bands were fastidiously gloved. She laugh-d a mer ry, ringing laugh os she advanced into the bower. “So, sir!” she said, laying her slim gloved hand npon B* ace's shoulder with a certain familiar air of proprietorship, '‘we have found you out at last! And, Os usual, f urproedyoO in the attitude of a gallant. Dc not let us interrupt you, I beg, but at least favor ns with an in troduction.' « We hart found you out at iatt!" She glanced coldly down at Cynthia, who. Intuitively recogsigifig • jtnLJt- turaed the glance with the customary feminine cordiality. “Why, Edith—you here?" exclaimed Brace, springing to his feet and clasping the gloved hand in both his own. "And Kate?” advancing to meet the lady who had lingered without. “How is this?’ “It means,” said Kate, laughing, “that you are a careless, wicked fellow and that Edith has been half dead with anxi ety, fancying you killed or starved to death.” "No srjch thing!” replied Edith, with spirit, lashing a small cedar with her rid ing whip in her embarrassment "I knew all the While we should find him at some farmhouse. But I certainly think, Hal,” she added, glancing down at Cynthia, who, with lowered crest, had been caress ing her fawu and lavishing tender solici tude upon the solemn Aulus ever since the ladies’ arrival—“I certainly think you are very exclusive in regard to your new dnlcinea.” Brace glanced at her with a look in his bezel eyes that was almost reproach. Thsir eyes met. Edith's expression was one of defiance, but in spite of herself there stole into her dark orbs such a wist ful tenderness—such a caressing fondness for the man before her—that she let their curtained fringes drop before his stead fast gaze and turned her attention to Miss Dallas. An embarrassing pause en sued. "Cynthia," she heard the cordial voice of Bruce say a minute later, “this is Miss Stafford—the lady of whom I spoke as having given me the pipe. Let me make you acquainted; also with Mrs. Kerao- chan—my partner’s wife.” The ladies exchanged salutations, Mrs. Kernochan bestowing a kindly glance npon Cynthia as her admiring eyes dwelt upon the piquant face in its picturesque setting of red gold tresses. Cynthia s greeting was frank, bat accompanied by a shy restraint that was r^nsoal with her; Miss Stafford’s disdainful and re served. Probably her feminine appre ciation of the fact that Diana's namesake was both fascinating and pretty preceie tibly lowered the temperature of her rec ognition. A fow moments later they were al! wending their way back to the ranch. Cynthia preceding them, escorted by the gracefully tripping fawn and the digni fied Aulus. Bruce accompanied the la dies. “This picturesque gypsy acquaint ance of yours is quite enchanting, with her quaint simplicity and original pets," remarked Miss Stafford, glancing at Brace from under her eyelids as they fared on. “I can readily see how easily you forget your former friends.’’ "Nonsense, Edith!” Bruce returned, with some impatience, breaking a small twig of dry brash as they passed and hnrling it from him violently as if to give vent to his irritation. “This banter and child's play have gone far enough. The little Lone Star maiden is quite a character—a charming little idyl of her native river. I want yon to cultivate her and appreciate her originality. She is like a spicy breath from her*native woods; she interests me by her very novelty.” “Your eloquence is quite astounding, considering the apathy of your interest,” Miss Stafford returned satirically, glanc ing away in the direction of the low western hills. "But how came she possessed of that beautiful antelope?’ inquired Kate, anx ious to divert Edith's jealous annoyance. “I quite envy her such a charming com panion." “Isolated as she is,” Brace replied gravely, “she is not without her ad mirers. The mother of this fawn, she tells me, warshot by one Bnck Jerrold, a cowboy admirer of hers, I fancy. He found the little thing bleating about the body of the dead antelope and brought it in to her after one of his hunting trips. Patient unrsmg enabled her to rear it.” They had reached the ranch gate anil passed within the inclosure. Alcides Dallas, smoking one of Phil Kernochan’s long cigars at a precarious angle owing to the scarcity of his teeth, was seated on a nail keg under a live oak, regaling the latter with one of his most dismal fantasies npon the violin. Mr. Kernochan, discreetly removed to the vantage of the distant doors tone, was preserving the attitude of polite atten tion, but with a contortion of featnn that was distressing to witness. The tableau was so ludicrous and expressive that the party hurst into laughter as they joined him. Alcides, seeing that his ef forts were producing an erroneom im pression, ceased playing at once, and set ting ms instrument down regaruea mem vacantly, a hand placed idly upon either knee. "Ye don’t seem to ketch on to what I was gettin at," he said, regarding them with his lack luster eyes. “I reckon ye would have, though, if ye’d waited till I got to the ‘windup.’ Butef ye’d known Msrier ez I did and bed to live with her ez I bed inter the bargain I allow there’d been no question.” He paused as if for confirmation. That being not forthcoming, but his visitors preserving s grave silence—an apology, it seemed, for their previous rudeness— he essayed to present his reflections in a more forcible way. “It was nigh onto 10 years," be said deliberately, crossing bis legs luxurious ly an he sat upon the nail keg, removing hie cigar carefully from its socket be tween his teeth and blowing a volume of •moke forcibly upon the weed—“it was nigh onto 10 years thet I lived with Ma- rier, and a more hair raisin existence, I’M allow, was never lived by any critter within the circle of God’s providence”-- “Father," said Cynthia, coming for ward with a look of annoyance in her false eyes, “aren’t it almost time to have di-melr Don’t you think yon better put off what you’re goin to say about mam ma until we've all had somethin to eat sndll be better able to stand it?” An amnsed smile went round the cir cle. "I reckon so, Cynthy,” said her father, rising to his feet, not without visible re gret at her interruption of his narrative, “What’s gone with Ameelyer natoh’ally? Fell her to harry up her cakes and not keep eveybody wMtin. B posin we fetch the table ont an eat dinner in the open air, where well hev plenty of room, bein ez we happen to he so durned crowded?” With this hospitable climax he rolled an Inquiring eye around the aaeembled com pany, reetiiig finally upon Bruce. “Oh. that would be charming I” ex claimed the Impulsive Mn, Kernochan. with a little gesture of ecstasy. “Bo like a picnic! And to think of our being able to do it with perfect comfort in the month of February! There is eomething astonishing, Edith, to write about to your northern fnepW Forthwith the edict of Alcides was tarried to th# ebony Amelia by the d* UffhtedXVnthia. . ’Bsw MhawJ 4nmarthi wmtrrthHM on ms yere ranch am an abequutouted," grumbled that Important per-ono(,-o as she busied herself in carrying ont the crockery and arranging the table. “De boss am jee’ ez crazy es de res: ob 'em.” she added darkly as she noted < Id Dallas still violently attaching bis < igar and watching her preparations with evident satisfaction. "De fac' is, fo’ G d, I spec’ de ole man's brain hab been soft’nin fo' de las’ yeah. Ef he keeps np like he hab been goin ou lately, de reckonin day am not far away." And with a gesture of utter bewilder ment and disgust she disappecred in the kitchen. That picturesque banquet under the good live oaks was long remembered by guests and host. The details of the memorable repast are not strictly a part of this veracious chronicle. We are not called upon to record how Cynthia ar rayed herself in her most gossamer robes with a view to paralyzing tlie faultless Edith and presided at the upper end of the festive board, flanked on either side by the patient Anlos and the mischiev ous fawp; how the great turkey was served in a tremendous dish pan, it hap pening that there was no other nteusil at the ranch sufficiently large to afford him accommodation; how the last drops of the extra proof whisky which Sheriff Mosely had donated were lavishly poured to crown the cups of cheering eggnog that passed from guest to guest, and how, above the heads of the merry revelers, the hardy Texan oaks bent ever with a sturdy sympathy and showered their bounty on that rural feast, dis pensing a perennial benison of sprays and withered leaves that lent the affair, In the words of Mrs. Phil Kernochan, “a true picnic flavor"—all these are phases of the festivities less to be dwelt npon than imagined. I must not omit to mention, however, a musical feature of this frontier dinner. It was at that convivial period usually indicated as “across the walnuts and the wine.” The afternoon was declining. The short, bright wintry day was h. : -g itself in pensive shadows and gray mono tone. Something of the sadness of the approach of night began to fall npon the company when Mrs. Kernochan pro posed singing, probably from a sense of this. After varions ineffectual efforts to arouse the table to the attempting of a chorus she abandoned these in a per sonal appeal to Miss Stafford and Henry Bruce. “Come, Edith,” said she, “you and Hal must really do something for us. Sing that lovely thing yon have been learning lately that Is so like a hope of heaven in a field of graves.” , Thus bidden, after the usual protesta tions of being in bad voice, etc.—afflic tions which I observe affect the amateur vocalist quite qs unremittingly as the most capricious prima donna—Miss Edith nplifted a contralto so singularly rich and thrilling that the very mocking birds among the live oaks were stricken mute with admiration. Doubtless they were charmed, too, with the tenor of Henry Bruce, who sang with an appre ciative sympathy which is often lacking In the work ol more accomplished vocal ists. About his performance also there was a subtle suggestion of being quite in harmony with the beautiful brunette whose voice thrilled so passionately with his. This was very convincing to one of the audience. She sat apart, quite de jected and alone. Her sweet eyes were downcast, and as she raised them at the cloee there was a strange dew upon them,“like woodland violets newly wet." Yet lest you, my dear sir or madam, fail to appreciate the pathos of this affecting duet I subjoin the words. Read them, since they are eloquent with a faith more cheering than creed or sermon: Some day, w* say, and turn onr eyea Toward the fair hllla of paradise; Some day, aotne time, a sweet, new reel Shad blueeom, flowerlike, In each breast; Some time, some day, our eyes shall sec The faces kept In memory; Some day their hands shall clasp onr hand* .luat over in the morning lands; Some day our ears shall hear the aong Of triumph over sin and wrong; Some day, some time, but, oh. not yet, But we will wait and not forget That, acme day, all these things shall be. And rest be given to you and me. So wait, my heart, though years move alow, The happy time will come, we know. I am afraid, however, that what most appealed to onr little Cynthia and caused the singular dew above alluded to was s certain energy of conviction abont the singing of the musical couple and an ap parent belief in an earthly “rest” and a “happy time" that would attend both, al beit their impatient hearts found the years “moving slow.” I am not positive, of course, but it would seem that the cir cumstantial evidence pointed to that conclusion. I can only say tliat when the sweet blfllad ceased and the little concert was at an end she was oppressed by a sudden sense of loneliness and left tha banquet quite abruptly. She hur ried away to her bower, there to confide her disquietude to the circumambient pines. What view was taken of her agi tation by these ascetic mourners of the wood I cannot say. I only know that after Cynthia had relieved her overbur dened feelings in a shower of passionate tears they were as ignorant of the cause of this sudden melancholy as their prote gee. [to h continued. 1 When the Heart is Affected By Rheumatism, or any of the muscles near that organ, it is like tampering with an elec tric wire, for death may come at cny moment. If life is worth $5, go to the druggist and get Dr. Drummond’s Lightning Re medy, or send to the Drummond Medicine Co.. 48-50 Maiden Lane, New York, and they will send you a large bottle by pre paid express. It is not as quick as electricity, but it will save your life if you take it in time. Agents wanted. Who was the best man at your wedding ? The man I married. Now, who was the best man a* yours? The man I wanted to marry. —Life. WlnsBshy Wheels* ss stele. *« gsre her Cantorla. i a Child, she cried for Qwtoria. When ehs became Mlse, she clung to Cartorta When the hod ChtMreii, ebe give them Cistcrie. — * Bra A Million Friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed, and nc jess than one million people hav« found just such a friend tr " King’s New Discovery for Consumption, Coughs, and Colds.—If you have never used this Great Cough Medicine, one trial will convince you that it has wonderful cur ative powers in oil diseases of Throat, Chest and Lungs. Each bottle is guaranteed to do all that is claimed or money will be refunded. Trial bottles free at Willcox & Co’s Drug Store. Large bottles 50c. and $1.00. “You have a lively set of clerks,” he said to the proprie tor of the establishment. “It must be pleasant and profitable to have employees so full of en ergy and enthusiasm.” “Yes,” responded the proprie tor, “we close early to-day, and they are getting ready to go home.”—Ttt Bits. The Poisonous Acids In the blood should be taken up and removed by the Liver and Kidneys, but these organs get out of order—fail to do their work, and the result is Rheu matism. There are a thousand remedies for the Liver and Kid neys, but there is only one cure for Rheumatism, and that is Dr. Drummond’s Lightning Re medy. A large bottle may be had at the druggists’, or will be sent by express to any address on leceipt of $5. That is the price of a cure, and any one who is having an argument with the Rheumatism, will feel fully repaid by the first dose. Drummond Medicine Co., 48-50 Maiden Lane,NewYork. Agents wanted. Wife—Why, Charles, what do you mean by burning our old love letters ? Husband—I have been ing them, my dear, and curred to me that after some one who wished to my will might get hold of them and use them to prove I was in sane.—Tk Bits. read- it oc- I die break Deserving Praise. We desire to say to our citi zens, that for years we have been selling Dr. King’s New Discovery for Consumption, Dr. King’s NewLifePi Is.Bucklen’s Arnica Salve and Electric Bit ters; and have never handle! remedies that sell* as well, or that have given such universal satisfaction. We do not hesi tate to guarantee them every time, and we stand ready to re fund the purchase price, if sat isfactory results do not follow their use. These remedies have won theirgreat popularity pure ly on their merits. Sold by Willcox & Co. Druggists. Maude—The word “homely” is not used in the same way in England as it is in America. A homeiy girl there means one who is fond of domestic sur roundings. Marie — Domestic surround ings are the only things a home ly girl has a chance of being fond of, whether in England or America.—Life. Do not confuse the Famous Blush of Roses with the many worthless paints, powders, creams, and bleaches which are flooding the market. Get the genuine of yourdmggist, Dr. J. A. Boyd, 75 cents per bottle and 1 guarantee it will remove vour pimples, freckles, black heads, moth, tan, and sunburn, and give you a lovely complex ion. Bucklen’s Arnica Salve. The Best Salve in the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruptions, and positively cures Piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction, or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale at Willcox & Co’s drugstore. Creditors’ Notice. A LL persons having claims against the estate of the late William J. Alexander will present them, duly verified, to Dargan A Thompson, at torneys at-law, and all persona in debted to said estate will make pay ment to them. CELESTE J. ALEXANDER, Jul 13—lit Executrix. N orth Carolina college, Mt. Plkasaxt. N. C. Session begins $ept«Mber 7. Class ical, scientific and commercial courses. Academic department, preparatory to college. Instruction thorough and practical. Brick buildings. Health ful location; no malaria. Expenses, 38 weeks, |103 to t!45. For catalogue address J. D. SHI KEY, A. M?, Jul 13—St President. TXARTSVILLE RAILROAD. In effect June lo, DAILY MIXED TRAIN Leafe Hartsville 6.00 a m Jovann...... 6.20 a in Floyd’s 6.85 a in ArrlveDarlington - 7.20 a in Leave Darlington 6.80 p m Floyd’s..... 8.15 p m “85 p Amive ljnrtoville....« — 8JH p m /■CHARLESTON, SUMTER AND NORTHERN RAILROAD CHARLES E. KIMBALL Seeetrer. In Effect Jan. 16. 1893 NORTH. SOUTH. 1 9 AM P.M. 6.50 Charleston 10.80 8.10 Pregiiall'e 8.50 10.25 Sumter H.30 11.16 Lamar 5.20 11.30 Syracuse 5.06 11.45 Darlington 4.50 12 00 Mont Clare 433 12.11 Robin’s Neck 4.20 12.26 Mandeville 4.05 12.40 KenuetUville 8.60 1.05 Gibeon 3.25 1.85 Hamlet 3.55 P.M. P.M. No. 1 connnects with C. F. A Y. V. at Bennettsville for Fayetteville, con nects with Seaboard Air Line at Ham let for Wilmington, Charlotte, Shel by, Routherfordton ; and at Charlotte with K. A D. Vestibule Limited for Washington and New York. Passen gers can take sleepers at Charlotte at 8 :1S p. m. No. 2 passengers by Oils train have through Sleepers. New York to Char lotte, connects with S. A. L. at Ham let from Charlotte and Nortn, and from Wilmington, connects with S. C. Ry. at Pregualls for Charleston. Dinner at Hamlet. J. H^AVERILL, General Manager. c. A D. and C. A 8. RAILROADS, In effect Jane 18, 1823. Through Passenger Tralr Leave Wadfslioro.... .4 am Bennett’s ......... 4.01 a m Morven’s McFarland Cheraw . 6.00 a m Cash’s Society Hill.... Dove’s . 6.26 am Floyd’s 6.49 a m Darlington 7.00 a m Palmetto Arrive Florence 7.25 a m Leave Florence 7.80 p m Palmetto 7.43 p m Darlington — 7.58 p m Floyd’s 8.05 p m Dove's 8.10 p m SocietyH.11 8 28 pm Cash's 8.42 p m Cheraw. 9.05 pm McFarland 9.38 p m Morven’s 9.54 p m Bennett’s. 10.09 p m Arrive Wadesboro 10.80 p m Freight Train. Leave Florence 7.80 a m Darlington 8.40 am Arrive Cheiaw 11.20 a in Leave Cheraw 1.00 p m Darlington 4.00 p m Arrive Florence 5.00 p m A. F. RAVENEL, President. N ORTHEASTERN railroad. In effect June 18, 1893. SOUTH BOUND. No. 61 Leave Florence 7 45 a m Kingstree 8.58 a in Lanes 9.20 a in Arrive Charleston 11.20 a m No. 27. Leave Florence 10.50 p m Kingstree 11.50 p m Lanes 12.08 a in Arrive Charleston 2.19 a m ■■ No. 23. Leave Florence 11.00 p m Kingstree 12.14 a m Lanes 12.32 a in Arrive Charleston 2.38 a m No. 58. Leave L&nee 7.10 p m Arrive Charleston 8.45 p m Tftin on C. A D. R. R. connects at Florence with No. 61 Train. NORTH BOUND. No. 78. Leave Charleston 1.88 a m Lanes 8.25 a m E Ingstree Arrive Florence 4.60 a m No. 60 Leave Charleston Lanes Kingstree Arrive Florence No. 14. Leave Charleston Lanes Kingstree Arrive Florence No. 52. Leave Charleston Arrive Lanes No. 52 runs through to Columbia via Central R. R. of S. C. No. 78 runs solid to Wilming ton, N. 0., making cldse connection with W. A W. R. R. for all points North. Train No. 14 runs via Wilson and Fayetteville—Short Line—and makes close connection for all points North. J. F. DIVINE, Gen. Snpt. vv ILMINGTON, COLOMBIA i AUGUSTA RALROAD. (In effect June 18,1893. NORTH BOUND. No. 23. Leave Wilmington 6.26 p m Marion 9.41 p m Arrive Florence 10.25 p m No. 50. Leave Florence 2.20 am Sumter 3.85 a m Arrive Columbia..". 5.15 a m ■ No. 68. Leave Sumter 9.53 am Arrive Columbia 11.05 a m No. i*3. Leave Florence 7.45 a m Arrive Sumter 9 20 a m No. 52 runs through from Charles ton via Central Railroad; leaving Lanes 8-44 a m, Manning 9 20 a m. SOUTH BOUND. No. 78. • Leave Florence 6.10 am Marion - 5.53 a m Arrive Wilmington 9.10 am No. 59. Leave Columbia Sumter. .’ 5.55 p m Arrive Florence......... 7.10 p m No. 8k. Leave Columbia 4.90 pm Arrive Sumter 5.45 p m No. 51. Leave Columbia 10.00 p m Sun Sr - 11.90 p a* Arrive Flounce. .... 12.45 a m No. 58 rune through to charleston via central Railroad, arriving Man ning 6.24 p m. Lanes 7.06 p m, charleston8.45 pm. Traine on Manchester and Augusta B. R-, leave Sumter daily except Sun day, 10.50 a. m., arrive Rimini 11:59 a. m. Returniug leave Rimini 12:80 p. m.. arrive Sumter 1:40 p. m.