Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ The House on Marsh; the mystery of the alders BT TbOanCB WAJLMJL • ' ^ CHAPTBR t » ‘'Wanted, a Governes*; wnst te young.” I cut out the advertisement thus headed eagerly from the ] was eighteen, and my youth had been the great obstacle to my getting an en gagement; now here was some delight ful advertiser who considered it an ad vantage. 1 w*—te to the address given, and within a week I was traveling down to Geldham, Norfolk, engaged t< teach “one little girl, aged six,” at s •alary of thirty-five poundsayear. Thi correspondence had been carried on bj my future puj il’s father, who said ht would meet p.e at the station at Be a consburgh, th : market-town nearest tc Geldham. It was about five o’clock on an after noon in early August that I sat at the window of the railway carriage as th< train steamed into Beaconsburgh sta tion. 1 looked out on to the platform. At one end there were two young mer engaged in securing a large mastiff. ] got out and spoke to the station-master. "There is Mr. Rayner Mmself, ma'am,” said he, pointing toward the two young men with the dog. One of them was now looking about, as if in search of somebody; and ] walked timidly toward him. He raised his hat. “Miss Christie?” he said, growing very red. “Yes,” said I, bowing and blushing too. “Will you come and show me whlcl is your luggage?” I was surprised to find Mr. Rayner sc much younger and less self-possessec than I had expected. I followed hin and pointed out my boxes. “The dog-cart is waiting outside,’' •aid he, “let me carry your nag.” I followed him through the station He helped me into the dog-carl anc then stood by the head of the browi mare. 1 was trying to get over my be wildermcnt Of course 1 might navi known the father of my six-year-olc pupil would not be the middle-aged gray-haired man I had pictured; bm for him to appear not more than foui and twenty was a surprise. He left th< mare and stood by me. We fell into i conversation, in which he expressed th* wish that I would not find my duties ic the school-room irksome, remarking that he had always hated school. “I hope your daughter does not shar* her father's dislike of school,” I brok* out, anxiously. He started and looked np at me, col oring vividly, and then said: “Did you take me for Mr. Rayner! My name is Reade. Mrs. Rayner sent her brougham for you; but a wagor ran into it and took one of the wheelt off; so I put my cart at your disposal 1 hope you don’t mind drivinir in a thing like this?” „ 14 ^ “Oh, no!” I said. “That was Mr. Rayner on the plat form with me,” he went on. “His dog rushed out iust as the train came up, and he asked me to see to your luggag* while he held him. I don’t know why he is so long.” As ho spoke, Mr. Rayner himseli came out of the station. I saw that h* was a few years older than my com- panion, and bore the impress of towr •reeding as clearly as Mr. Reade did that of the country. He was slight well made, with delicate features and a dark golden beard and mustache. H* came up and shook hands with me, apologizing for his delay, and express ing the hope that his sprightly young friend had entertained me well. “Miss Chris'ie took me for yon, Mr. Rayner,” said Mr. Reade, shyly red dening again. “And has now to suffer the awful dlsappointmert of finding that Mr. Rayner is an old fogy, after all. Now, Laurence, my boy, if you want us tc get home before the mut rises, we had iter start." Mr. Kayuer sprung up behind; Mr. Reade got up in front by my side and took the reins; and off we started. Wt had to drive right through Beacons burgh; down a long hill lined with the dreary old houses of the elite of a pro vincial town; over a small bridge, and then along two miles of straight wil- low-bordered road over a marsh. The scenery was not particularly pretty: but I had never lived in the country and everything was new and interest ing to me. “How beautifully green everything is,” I remarked, presently. “Yes, rather too green,” Mr. Reade rejoined, ruefully. “We have had a wet summer, aud now we are going to have a wet autumn, 1 believe, and tiUi place will be nothing but a swamp.” “ Don’t set Miss Christie against the place, Laurence,” said Mr. Rayner, rather sharply. We passed through a low-lying vil lage—some of the houses of which were flooded in winter, Mr. Reade told me—up a hill, down a hill, and up an other sloping road, at the side of which stretched the marsh again. “There is the Alders, Miss Christie,” said he, pointing to a pretty red house, half covered with ivy and surrounded by trees, which stood on the borders of the marsh. “Here, Laurence, TH get down and take the short cut,” said Mr. Rayner. After Mr. Rayner had alighted, Mr. Reade and I drove on. “ What a lovely placet” I cried, en thusiastically. My companion remained silent “ And on, what a beautiful pond! 1 do believe it has water-lilies! and how delightfully cool the hou.se looks, with by all over R to keep out the hot sun!” “Yes, and to keep in the cold moist ure, Miss Christie. That ivy ought to be torn down to make the place fit U live in. It is no better than a pest- boose!” he went on, getting more and more excited. “ I wouldn't let a labor m live m it!” “A laborer won’t have a oh anc* until my lease is up, Laurenoe,” said Mr. Rayner, dryly, coming out of s path among the trees. And the tws men exchanged looks which showed that at the bottom sf their hearts they were not friends. We drove slowly down to the halV door, which was open, and a gaunt, untidy-looking servant came out and carried in myboxes. Mr. Reade helped me down and stood by me, apparently examining the har ness. Then he seized a moment, when Mr. Rayner was speaking to the serv ant, to stoop and say to me, in a low voice: “ Don’t let them put you near Mrs. Ravner'a room ’’ I could not ask why, for the next mo ment he said good-bye and was walk- ing by .the side of the dog cart up the drive that led to the road. A distress ing s«tue of ioaeliaess came over me- pre- air. turner, aosoroea oy us letters, had gone into the house forgetting to ssk me in; the servant bad diiappeared with my last box. Instead of follow ing her, I stood watching the dog-cart and its owner out of sight, until a harsh woman's voice startled me. “ Won’t you come in? I’m to show : you to your room.” It was the gaunt servant who ad dressed me. I turned and followed - her into a low long ball, dark, cool and old-fashioned; up an oak-lined stair- ease, through a few short and incon venient passages, to a corner room, shabby, dark and hare-looking, where my boxes were already installed. I sat down on one of these, the only friendly thing I had with me, and began to cry. Somebody might at least ham come to the door to meet met I thought of Mr. Reade's words, and began to wonder with anew sense of dread what Mrs. Rayner was like. Was she an invalid? Was she—mad? If not. why had she left the correspondence about her child's governness entirely to her hus band. My tears dried slowly, and I was scarcely ready when the servant returned to tell me that tea was wait ing tor me. But my curiosity was only to be sharpened. Tea was pared for me alone, the servant that Mr. Rayner was busy, and'h had his taken into the study. Not a word about Mrs. Rayner—no sign of a pupil! So great was my anxiety that I forgot how hunger I was, and in a few minutes I had finished my tea, and was standing by the window looking out into the garden. It was not yet seven o'clock and a bright summer evening. On the side of the dining-room a mossy lawn stretched right up to the French win dows. I opened one of these and went out I had never seen such a beauti ful garden before. The house was built on the very border of the marsh, at the bottom of a hill which sloped down, covered with trees, toward the dining-room side of the house. I made my way round to the front and the moss-grown portico—from here one caught glimpses of the marsh through the thick trees. I followed a grass-path cat through them, facing the front of the house, until I came to the pond which had excited my admira tion from the dog-cart. Here the veg etation grew unchecked. The wa.cr was half covered with smooth green duck-weed and water lilies. The path 1 had followed continued through the trees, w’thin a few feet of the pond, to the outer edge of the little wood which inclosed the house and garden; there a few rough steps over the fenoe con nected it with the footpath along the borders of the marsh, which joined the road at the dust nt of the hill. This was the short cut by which Mr. Ray ner had reached the house before us that afternoon. I had turned back toward the gar den, and was close to the pond, wnen I heard a low crooning sound which seemed to come out of the ground at my feet. Looking about, I saw sitting among the reeds, at the very edge cd the water a tiny elfish-looking child, about two years old, in a dirty white frock and pinafore, with a small pale wrinkled face and thin straight red hair, who went on with her monoton ous chant without seeming at all dis turbed by the appearance of a stranger. She only stared at me, without alter ing her position, when I told her that she must not sit so near the water, or she would fall in and be drowned; bat, when I stooped to lift her up, she f >roved hei* humanity by screaming oudly and reproaching me in baby language too indistinct for mo to un derstand. I supposed her to be the child of the gardener or of some neigh boring cottager, and, not quite know ing what to ao with her, I carried her, still screaming, to the boose, where I met the servant whom I had already seen. “ I found this child sitting, with her feet nearly in the pond!” I said, trag ically. “ Oh, yes, miss, there’s no keeping her away from the pond! She’s then pretty nearly all day by herself. Come now, Mona, its time for you to go U bed. Dirty littls girl, look at your pin afore!” She took the child from me, and, ai there was nothing to invite me to stay in-doors, I went out again, this time or the side of the house which faced th* marsh. Here the grass grew rankly U the very walls, ana my feet sank into little pools which wetted them up b the ankles. However, I went on until within a few feet of a window heavily- shaded by gnarled and knotted ivy. when I caught sight of a woman's face staring intently at me throngh the glass. As soon as I saw the sunken face and large lusterlcss gray eyes I knew, by her likeness to the child at the pond, that this was Mrs. Rayner. I retreated In as leisurely a manner as I could, trying to look as if I had not seen her; for there was something in the eager. hopeless stare of her eyes as mine met them which made me feel like a spy. I went back to my room and wrote a letter to my mother. I did not tell her of the strange impressions made upon my mind by what I had seen and heard, for she was a gentle, nervous woman, and I feared to diatr-ss her. So I con tented myself with the general descrip tion of the place. I had to finish this by candle-light, and when I had ended I rose and went to the window to give one more look at the scene under a new asp. ot. My window, I afterward found, was over the one at which I had seen Mrs. Rayner's face; it was high enough from the ground for me to have, through the gafs between the trees, a good view of the marsh and the hills beyond. A low cry of admiration burst from me as I looked out. Over all the wide expanse of marsh lay a white mist, ris ing only a few feet from the ground, but so thick as to look like a silver lake In the moonlight The mist was dense under my window, too, on the very grass that I had waded through a couple of hours before. As I looked out a shiver passed over me, aud I drew in my head with a sudden change of thought “How cold It Is! Mr. and Mre. Rayner must be devoted admirers of the picturesque to live in a house that must be so very damp!” ITO BR C0STI5CBD.J . B. McGIRT.D. D.S. Offers his professional services to the people of Darlington and vicinity. Office over the store of Edwards A Co. Jan Ik. Creditor’s Notice. ALL persons having claims against the estate of T. A. Gaudy, deceased, will present them properly proved, and ail peisons indebted to said es tate will make payment forthwith to H. M. SMITH, Nov 31—3t. Administrator. Coggeshall & Co.'s Grocery Locals. Fresh nuts just received. Potato chips, 15 cents a box. . Our prices are lower than ever Tenney’s and Roytter’s fine candies. Our chipped beef broiled is nice for supper. The best crackers and cakes always on hand. We handle the best butter at the lowest prices. Yes, we are headquarters for tobacco, cigars, &c. Ferris’ hams and breakfast bacon in stock always. Have you ever tried one of our country hams for dinner? Macaroni and cheese are nice this cool weather; try ours. The Hartsville canned goods are the best; we have them. One of our large mackerel will make a fine breakfast dish. Try our strawberry preserves at 15 cents per pound; they are fine. Nothing is better than sweet pickles; in bulk, twenty cents a quart. Canned peaches at 75 cents a dozen cans, each can weighing three pounds. The little “Lady Finger” pea is nice for dinner; two quarts for five cents. How about a mince pie? Buy our mince meat; 6-pound buck ets, or in bulk. How about that fruit cake for Christmas? We have the best t'aisins, currants and citron, at the lowest prices. Are you going to the Exposi tion? If so, see the Cottoleno exhibit in the Agricultural building. It is good. We ban* die these goods. COGUESHALL & CO. FARMERS’ WAREHOUSE, IDTJ-RJELA IMI, IsT. C- RILEY, BARHAM & CO., Proprietors. 1[0TICE il huntii Notice to Trespassers. is hereby given that il hunting and fishing are pos itively prohibited on the lands of E. R Mclver, W. C. Ervin and Miss E C. Fountain, bor dering on Black Creek, and that trespassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. NM-at. Have That Old Bicycle Fixed Up and made to run easy and look attractive. We hnve the proper tools and a specially trained workman, aud guarantee henest work and moderate charges. If you want HATCHING RUBBER, CEMENT, ETC.. to carry on your trips, we can furnish you RIDE A MONARCH if you want to get ahead of the heat and stay in good trim for the winter. W. L PEARSON, Beneath the Enterprise Hotel, Darlington, - - S. C. LAND FOR SALE. L ots and parcels of land for sale by the Darlington Land Improvement Company, who will %11 on terms one-third cash, balance to suit purchaser, lots of f acre to 50 acres, lo cated where desired on our property. Our lands are good farming lau us for all kinds of crops, as well as being loca ted in or near our town All persons desiring to purchase will please call on the undersigned, who will afford every facility to purchasers to examine our property. We believe we offer rare in ducements for investors. J. J. WARD, Pres. A Tress., D. L. I. Co. Oct. 81-*m. CO 03 M. J. BD desires to announce that she is now prepared to serve her friends and the public generally with a full line of Mill lira MUM!, Fancy Notions, &c., at lowest prices. Call and examine both Goods and prices. THF BANK OF DARLINGTON. DARLINGTON. S. C. CAPITAL, SURPLUS, — — — — 1100,000 — — $50,000 Having rented th<* Farmers’ Warehouse, which has the best of lights to show tobacco, overhauled and refitted for the accommodation of our pat rons, we propose to LEAD in sales in the oldest, most substantial and regular bright tobacco market in the world. Our home manufacturers use more than 10,000,000 pounds yearly. Onr foreign orders are large and competition for all g.ades lively. We have ample financial facilities, and are prepared to insure the highest prices for all bright stock We give personal attention to all shipments, whether from farmer or dealer. The members of our firm have been in the business from the in ception of onr market. Onr Messrs. Barham and Riley are the acknowledged best tobacco auctioneers in the State. We make prompt returns on all re ceipts and give our best individual effort to every customer. We are prejutred to have stripping and handling done by experienced hands at sea- viable rates, for which we charge actual cost. Make ns a shipment, and he convinc ed that we can save yon money. For further particulars address YOURS TRULY, RILEY, BARHAM & CO., DURHAM, N. C. Savings Department. Interest allowed at rate of 5 per cent, per annum from date of deposit —payable quarterly on tne first day of January, April, July and October. Tranaacta a General Banking Busineaa. DIRECTORS: W.C. Coker, J. L Oeke*v R. W. Boyd, J. J. Ward. E. R. Mcfver, A. Naefatnivuv Bright Williamson. BRIGHT WILLIAMSON, Pmeident L. £. WILLIAMSON, Cashier. The Darlington Shoe Store. That’s our buiness. and we have the larg est and most complete stock in Darlington County. of genuine Dongola, patent tip and plain toe, button shoes for ladies at $1.25; now worth that at factory. S3. oo . Our line of $3.00 Shoes for men is more popular than ever, as we took more pains with this line than ever before, and succeeded in getting the best $3 Shoe we ever handled. In speaking pf our line of for ladies and gentlemen, it is nnneessary to make any comment, as we have sole control of Edwin C. Burt’s Shoes for Ladies and Johnston & Murphy’s celebrated hand-sewed Shoes for Gentlemen. We carry also a full line of Children’s and Misses’ Shoes, Rubber Goods, Trunks, Valises, Umbrellas and Shoe Findings. We are also sele agents for the The Best $3 Hat on the Market. WOODS & MIG, Purl THE DARLINGTON SHOE STORE. ILBCY M. :: . Alt. DARLINGTON, S C. — :o: — ~7 Mre. Norment begs to acknowledge her sincere thanks and gratitude for the very generous, sod highly appreciated, support accorded to her in the contin uance of the Fire Insurance department of her late husband's basiness:—With much satisfaction, she calls attention to the prompt and liberal settlements, which have been experienced by those having snatained loss under policies is sued through her Agency;—and as she represents only first-class, high grade Companies she feels assured of a con tinuance of these valuable business ad vantages, as connected with transactions hrough her Agency; and therefore takes ; great pleasure in requesting continuance i sf like generous support. 'm A New Buccy and a nice new set of harness O U< You should have an Accident Policy before you «tart. By all means get it in “ The travelers,” the largest accident insurance company in the world, and larger than all the others In America put together. It will coat you only 25c ;:i $3,000 m. MBS. IUCT M. NORMENT is the company’s agent at Darlington. “The Travelers” has oald all its claims for 80 years. Assets, $l7,fl«4,6a7.«8; lia bilities, $15,193,138.09; surplus, $3,473, 584.99. Mrs. Norment is alto agent for one of the largest life Insurance comnanlea In tha world. $35. I now have, and to arrive, the largest stock of CARRIAGES. BUGGIES, WAGONS AND HARNESS I have had for ten years. Call and examine before buying. C. W. HEWITT. So Simple. Nine timet out of ten whenweare out of sorts our trou bles can be removed by that re liable old medicine, Brown’s Iron Bitters, which for more than 20 years has been curing many people of Dyspepsia, Biliousness, Ma laria, Impure Blood, Neural gia, Heaoache, Liver and Kid ney troubles. It’s the peculiar combination of iron, the great strength-giver, with selected vegetable remedies of true value that makes Brown’s Iron Bitters so good for strengthen ing and purifying the system. It is specially good for women and children—it makes them strong and rosy. Brawn 1 * Iron Bitten I* piraenat to toko, and it will r.- nuin the teeth nor nua constipation. See the crooned red limed tie uiiminii . pla'm -AND- Cofct Fori ol oil ~: undertaken, and satisfaction guaranteed JNHN SISKRON’S SHOPS; in J VilUIURlO and Undertakerc’ supplies always ou hand at low onces. T. C. Jeffords, Jr. •a the wrapper. Our hook, Lire s Hundred Veil ., —— ™~-. -How to _ rents,' 1 tolls nil shoot It; (res lor Ic. stamp. t» t-iowtt Cmsmicju. Co, BALTUioan, Mo LAH (JABUB. R. W. BOTD. 810. W. BROWN BOYD & BROWN- « Attorney! and Oonnselon at Law Office in S. Marco building, p posite Court House. DARLING TOU C. R., A V. PROMPT PERSONAL ATTENTION TO ALL BUSINESS. R. L. DARGAN, Attorney at Law. Darlington, S. C. Office opposite Court House. SPECIALTIES; REAL ESTATE. INSURANCE, •n<P COMMERCIAL LAW. B. O. WOODS. ROBERT MACKARLAN. WOODS & MACFARLAN. (Successors to Woods fit Spain.) ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Darlington, S. C. Offices over The Bank of Darlington. JanlO—y T. H. SPAIN. H. T. THOMPSON SPAIN A THOMPSON, Attorudus at Law, Darlington, - - - 8. C. Offices in Darlington Guards’ Armory building, first floor. Special attention given to practice in the Probate Ceurt. Manuiacturers -or- Hnors, Sasb, Blums, B^OTTIaDXlTOS —AND — Building .Material. . ESTABLISHED 1843, CHARLESTON, 8. 0. tpril, 20 1898— y «eeeee—aeewMMMM Does This Hit You? The management of the Equitable Life Assurance Society in the Department of the Carolinas, wishes to se cure a few Special Resident Agents. Those who are fitted for this work will find this A Rw Opportunity It is work, however, and those who succeed best in it possess character, mature judgment, tact, perseverance, and the respect of their community. Think this matter over care fully. There's an unusual opening for somebody. If it fits you, it will pay you. Fur ther information on request. W. J. Roddey, Manager, Rock Hill, 8. C. Claude Milling, LOCAL AGENT FOR Fmalei & Bum’s c £LEBRAT£ 0 Gents’ ■ “ ‘ Veritable bargains now offered. LATEST STYLE, FINEST QUALITY, MOST PERFECT FIT, FULL LINE OF SAMPLES Examine them and be convinced. TO RENT. C 'NhiiAP, an eight-room dwelling J and (levers! cottages, all of them desirably located Apply to R. L. DARGAW, Typewriting and Copying. 1 AM prepared to attend to thiaela of work promptly.and accnratelv, and would be gl-d for those needing such services to call at my office over Messrs. Welling 4 Bonnoitt’s store. Mas. LUCY M. NORMENT. GROVES TASTELESS CHILL TONIC 13 JUST A* GOOD FOR ADULTS. WARRANTED. PRICE 80 eta. Galatia. Ills., Hot. M. MW. PortaMaaMaaCa.. at.Umio,Mo. _ Gentleman:—W. »M loot raar, 600 bottle. o( OROVE'S TASTELESS CHIU, TONIC onO Iwro •murtit three sioee elrerdf this rear. In all oar perlenra of M roan. Id Ilia anif brain*.., tanro rarer ooM an arttel* that rare nob anlraiaal uti» taatkm aa roar Tools. Toon tnilr, Asnr.CABf For Sale by DR. J A- BOYD. Darlington lodge. No. 7. Knights of Py<hj os, meets on 1st and 8rd Tiibbdat Evenings in each month, at t astle Hall, Florence street nvitad