Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE COUNTY RECORD. Published Erory Thursday ?AT? ?NQBTBEE. SOUTH CAROLINA. ?BY? 0. W. WOLFE . Editor and Proprietor. : Health suggestions always declare that anxiety must be avoided. But the man who has no anxieties is, as a rule, of so little use to the community that he might as well he dead. .1- I ! 1... kJ- . , The Supreme Court of New Jersey lias decided that though a note given on Sunday iu payment of the difference on an exchange of property concluded on that day is void, recovery may he had thereon where the maker made an express promise to pay the oCtor itut unto w.-is criven. Carl Peters, Hie African explorer, gives it as tin* result of his experience , that the mosquito is only ouo of ill? agents producing malaria. lie found that the contagion was carried by wind from swampy water, and that drinking stagnant water also produced the disease, ilis observations were made at a station where there were no mosquitoes whatever, and would therefore seeui to be more or less conclusive. France appears to be taking the lead In prison reform. At the new lockup, which is about eight miles from Paris, ^ the authorities show their belief in fresh air and sunshine, and the prison is a model sanitarium. The prison is the largest in the world, and takes the place of three-old ones. It is built in a very simple style, but covers, with its floral gardens* and residences of ofli- J rials, more thau half a square nine. There are 3*24 cells, but as there Is accommodation on the association system for about 400 more prisoners, the total It will contain is considerably over 2000. The project to drain the Zuyder Zee. of which a stood deal was spoken some five years ago, when it was made a part of the Dutch Government programme, has been withdrawn from the States General by the new Ministry. The reasons given for the withdrawal of the'scheme from the Netherlands Parliament are the state of the public finances (requiring the practice of ecouomy) and the fact that the tow ruling price for arable laud would inake the creation of new agricultural holdings undesirable. The Zuyucr Zee was once dry; but the recouqucst of this part of Llollaud will l>e reserved for a future generation of Dutch. TIic Argentine iccpuoiic is me greatest flax growing country in the world. That fact may surprise some who have regarded it as a scarcely explored wilderness. Nevertheless, it is a fact. Flax growing was begun in Argentina nearly a hundred years ago, but not until about twenty years back was any attempt made to raise it to the proportions of a national industry. Iu 18S1 some sixty-seven thousand acres were planted in flax in the province of Buenos Ayres. The success of the venture Jed to wider planting in that province, and in Cordova, Kutre Iiios and Santa Fe. To-day the crop is one of the most important in the country, and surpasses iu magnitude that of any other land. At last a legal check has beeu set to the practice, common in many cities, of discharging from the school service any woman teacher who is fortun ate or unfortunate enough to get married. In Snn Francisco the City Attorney has told the Board of Education that the marriage of a teacher Is uot a matter of school department business. The Board may make ruies tending to bring the department under good discipline and system, but a rule forfeiting a teacher's position upon her tnarriage is not a valid one, the attorney says. Moreover, the law prescribes the conditions upou which one may secure a teacher's certificate, and the Board cauuot nud to the conditions. Inasmuch as a judge of a San Francisco court has given a like opinion in the *uit of a teacher to retain her position, the probability is that in San Francisco marrying teachers inay hold their positions to the end of the contract jfa ? TWO OENTL (|7|) By SEWARD tC-.'pyriRht, by Bobhrt Boskkb's Soss.J CHAPTER XVIIE CONTINUED. "That is good. Pele will l>id Kanmai to accept yon graciously. Make pour offering here." The old rocue led me to a niche in the rocky wall. It was evidently s natural indentation. I placed a few cigars in it and bowed to Pele. I noticed tluit Niraolau wore a smile ol satisfaction, whether Tele cured foi the offering or not. I wondered how far the farcical side of this mystery extended. "When 1 had penetrated further. I learned tha> Nnnolan had a monopoly ot the sense of :kumor existing in the island oi Lanai. He worked the Temple of tho Glistening Itock for his own purposes, and was, in hio small way, a blackmailer. But the realities I saw further on were horrible enough. "Tho priestess Kanmai is not alone,r said Ximolau. "She has with her ten high priests of Pele, who guard hei from her enemies, and who do her bidding. Then there are a hundred priests who pray to Pele all the time. Ten of them at a time, then ten more, and so on." "What is that for?" I asked. "Pele demands it. When you reach the presence of Ivaumai, you will be Btruck speechless by her great beauty, but you must not allow her to notice this. You mu9t kneel and bow yonr head. The high-priests are ready to slay any one not of themselves who dares look upon her face in any spirit but that of awe and worship. They are very fierce, these priests, and you must bo careful that you do not arouse them before they know you well. Yon will be compelled t-o prove your faith to Pele, after which they will regard you as they do the other priests. Come, let us go to Kaumai." Nimolau made some mysterons movements on the wall with his hands and evidently pressed a spring. A door opened leading into a dark passage. He bade me follow him. Just inside the passage was a lantern. This he lighted and started on before me. All I could see was the lantern swinging along ahead of me. The floor of the passage was smooth, so I had no difficulty iu following. The passage must have been a long one. I judged that we were at least an hour going through it. Suddenly I saw daylight ahead. Nimolau set his lantern down, blowing out the light. Emerging from the mouth of the passage, I found that we were at the base of a mountain, which, judging from its appearance and the surrounding country, had once been an active volcano. The formation of the country all around was jagged and rough. High ledges of lava-rock formed into fantastic shapes, Caves, mounds and deep crevices made the place a splendid hiding place for smugglers, pirates and other outlaws. "We ascend," said Nimolau, beginning to clamber up the side of th? mountain. "This is Kapatoli?" I said. "Yes.? The mountain was sparsely covered with a growth of trees and bushes. These assisted me in my ascent. The stratum of soil on the lava was not deep. The volcano had been silent a great many years. The farther up we got, the less soil there was and the less | vegetable growth. I was weary wlien we reached the top, but Nimolau did uot seem to feel the exertion. { "Oh, your mask is crooked!" he said. "The high-priests world slaj yon if your mask was crooked." "Then I had better straighten it," I said. "These high-prieats are dang, erous." '"Be careful what you say. Come!" He led me down a steep, pathless plain of lava. It was easy to go down. It would be a difficult matter to go up. We were now in the crater of the volcano. We stood on a ledge of rock, perhaps a hundred feet wide. This extended all the way round the mouth of the crater. On one side was the top of the mountaiu, au even wall anrrnnndinir ns. for we had I wmpvivy * O W - j descended probably a hundred feet into the crater. On the other side, and occupying the center of the mouutain, was a lake. Not a lake of water, but a lakd of molten lava. Now and then a rumbling noise could be heard. "How Jong has the lake been hot?" I asked Nimcdau. "Oh, a year!" Nimolau led rae a short distance; around the crater, to a spot where the ledge widened to nearly three hundred feet. Jntting from the over-topping mountain was the rude facade of a temple, hewn into the rock and built out of the same material. Nimolau shouted at the door. "Who inJerruptj the worship of tli< !emen ft ; OF, HAWAII. ? | ^ (1 W. HOPKINS (g)' J priestess Kaumai?" shouted a roietf : inside. 5 "Xiinolau, the guide, with a priest c of Pele, successor to Lowai, of Oahu, 3 who i9 dead!" replied Ximolau. J The door opened. A figure, clothed j and masked like myself, stood there. ; - .?..i "iL.iuer, HuuccAsiM- iu uu..-i. make known your faith to Pele before her priestess Kauniai." I followed the masked figure. Nimolan turned and left me. I felt f sensation of fear and loneliness whex he had gone, yimolau did not seen to belong to this weird, wild scene 1 There was a suspicion of mocker? i about bis worship. Here it was rea enough. In a temple, lighted dimly by a holt in its vaulted roof, the hnndi cd priests, I spoken of by Nimolan, knelt in semicircles, with bowed heads and crouch ' iug figures, moaning and praying. Before them, ten high-priests, ar rayed still move grotesquely, swuup pots of incense aud chanted weird songs to Pele. Upon a throne sat Kanmai. My eyes fairly bulged when I be held this priestess. one was iur and away tno mos beautiful woman I had over looked upon. Her skin was fair, her hair and eyes dark, her form perfect as a model. She sat calmly surveying the scene. Kanmai was clad in a flowing garment of silk. A crown of jewels was on her head. She wore a girdle of jewels that sparkled and shone in the candlelight, and sent sparks of light from her side. Kaumai , looked to be about twenty years of age. "Advance before the high-priests, and give replies to their questions," said the priest who had let me in. "Bow your head. Do not look upon Kaumai, lest you die." ' With bowed head I followed him ' down the center of the temple, to a position before Kaumai's throne. "You are come to give worship to j Pele and to assist her priestess, Kaumai, to still the spirit of evil under the mountain?" said one of the ' high-priests, in a monotonous, singsong voice. Before the altar of Kaumai?or the throne, which they called it? , there was a smaller 'chair, much like the one occupied by the priestess. II tvas empty. I expected to be told tc take that seat. But instead, I wac told to kneel. "I have come to worship Pele," I Replied to the high-priest's monotone. "You swear before Kaumai, the jreat priestess of Pele, that you will In 1,ay Hi/7rlinrr in all tliinirs?" o ??O - "Yes." "Let the snccessor of Lowai wait,'1 J laid another high-priest. "Kanmai is not to be interrupted in her worship. Let the white fawn be brought for- ^ Ward that Kaumai may once more ook upon her, and annoint her to the joddess Pele, to whom she is to be lacrificed." A murmur went around the temple. | V high-priest went sway, and from jome inner recess brought a person jovered with a long white robe. Head, face and all were covered. This figure came with uncertain steps, .ed by the high-priest, and was placed ' .n the chair before the throne ol I Kaumai. Then the high-priest drew aside th^ I ?nH? I My heart leaped and throbbed and ' >ouuded my ribs. There, pale, faintng, seemingly bat half conscious oi | rhat was going on around her, was < Winnie, my long-lost sister. I forgot the words of Lowai. I for- ; cjot the advice of Nimolao, My brain i seemed on tire. I threw aside my mask and my hideous mantle, and with a cry of "Winnie! "Winnie! My darling sister!" I sprang to her and clasped her in my arms. A tumult at once arose. Loud | shouts and curses from the priests fell apon my ears. Winnie looked at me, reoognized me, and with a glad cry, put her arms around my neck. The next instant, rudehandstoreus apart, g I was surrounded by high i priests. "Seize him!" they cried. I And. as T saw Winnie borne oft at the bidding of Knumai, I was knocked, 3own and fettered by the maniacs wins worshiped Peie. CHAPTER XIX. In the acnfflo, during which I re. ceived many hard knocks gave ?ome as well, the m?>'' . two 01 three of the high . ^ Pele were disarranged, ?.r jeheld thoir faces. One glance w ,1 enough to show me that they were insane. The light ol fanaticism was in their eyes. Their thin lips writhed with the unreasoning hate that my action had inspired. I fought desperately for Winnie and freedom, but they were too much for aie. Knocked aud buffeted by laxawnj arms* I soon^uccumbod. I 0 A crazy high-priest leaped upon my illen body and called foriopes. Tbej (-ero brought, and my arms were seureiy fastened behind my back. All ho time tliey kept up a great shouting nd shriekiug. As I lay or. the stone floor of the reat bare temple, I saw Kaumai, the iriestess, move toward me. She aoved, as I say, rather than walked. "" ' it? "I! ?! _ 1 _ .nere was someming so uivuieiy ;racefuland dazzlingly beautiful aboul bis strange being. She was tall and if snperb proportions. Her face was old and proud, even austere. Yet it i as lovely in its fairness, with its skin >f velvet aud with well-molded chin ,nd lips of ravishing redness. Her inn, which was bare, was raised, and howed full aud plump, and a hand hat an artist would travel leagues tc Ind, pointed a sleuder, tapering linger n my direction. "Let the vile desecrator of the tern)lo of Pele be carried at once into thf lungeon," said Kaumai; and, although ler words were harsh apd her manner item, the voice was a voice strangelj nusicai. low and capable .of as greal passion as it was of"Birch "Awav with the false priest! To [he dungeon with him!" they cried. "He awaits his own death! He must pay the cost to Pele!" Hooked at Kaumai, hoping to arouse in her breast some little mercy, but there were no sigr.s of it in the calm, bright eyes that looked sternly upon me as I was carried forth. "Oh. why do you think I am a falst priest?" I cried in the native tongue. "Have I not obejed all the injunctions of Lowai, whose successor J am!" "Yon have desecrated the temple of Pele," said one of the high priests. "How have I desecrated the temple}" I asked. 'toil have laid hands upon the sacred one act apart for sacrifice to Peie when the devils of the fire stir the volcano iuto action. That is your crime." "But Lowai did not tell me that r mutet not do that, and when I saw my sistev I could not resist the tcmpta /.on to caress,her." "He talks like the people of earth," naici the high priest, perhaps a little mora i??aue than the others. "He does not know that in the temples ol Pele no earthly relation exists." "No, I did not know that," I on* swered. "The sacred victim was my dster in Honolulu, and I thought she was iny sister here." "You have had your eyes opened, oh priest!" said one of the highs, with a half moan and half howl. "You know your error now." "I ought to," I said. "Ihavebeen pounded to a jelly and tied up into a knot. I ought to have learned some thing from all that.." "His eyes are opened, Pole be praised!" sang a skinny old lunatic, dancing along by my side. "He will issist at the sacrifice of the sacred one svhen the volcano spits and boils. So to the praise and glory of Pelo all mortals come." A happy idea seemed to strike them it this point. The words of the old ilauciug maniac were fortunate ones lor me. "Ah, that is what he will do!" they replied gleefully. "Let the new priest, the successor of Lowai, assist at the sacrifice of the sacred one, and thus show his devotion to the great and sjood Pole. If his work is done well, then we will make hici one of us?a tngh-priest of the Kammiloukanilimairai." "Yes. Ah, it is a good test of his devotion!" said another. "Do you agree to this?" asked one, who appeared to be the oldest and the highest in authority among them. "Do I agree to what?" I asked, as though I had not heard them. I did this to gain time. I was rapidly thinking. "Do you agree to assist in the sacrifice of the sacred one you saw in the temple, and hurl her to the feet of Pele in the boiling torrent, after which you shall become a high-priest, as we are, and enjoy the confidence of Pele and her priestess Kauinai?" "Yes, I agree to that," I said. "J will do your bidding." I had jumped to a hasty resolve to accept their terms, hoping that iu appearing to submit, I might gain something, either in freedom from imprisonment or the confidence of some of the priests. I knew that by holding out and protesting against my sister's death, I would merely hasten it. So ???'? r T r>r?tended to l?V ^aia nuau +. ? agre^ to their horrible proposition. Wo wer3 now in a dark room carved in the rock. The door of this room was heavy, and seemed to have been built for dungeon purposes. It had heavy bolts and chains, and swuugheavilyou great hinges that had evidently been rusty for ages. "Here is your dungeon, where you will remain until you are wanted," B&id one of the highs. "But why am I to be pnt into a dungeon like a criminal?" I asked. "I, who have promised to abide by all yoar comwauds and propositions?" "It is the law of Pele," said one of my captors. "But listen to me. Suppose there had been two of us instead of one. Suppose a fellow-priest had come before you and Kaumai for the first time, at the same moment that I did. Aitd SUDD098 we both committed a. sin i " i - * /V." ] that desecrated the temple and called for our punishment in the dungeon. Then suppose you had put yonr proposition to both of us, as you did to me. And suDnose that I acrreed. as I really did, and my fellow priest refused. What then? You yould. put bim in a dungeon for punishment.. What would you do with me? Would I not deserve better of you than he?" j ''True," said the leader; "it would | bo so, but there is only one 'of you." "That is true enough," I replied* seeing a slight advantage gained; "bat I have acted the same as in the proposition concerning two. I have agreed to everything, yet you punish me the same as you would the priest yho re- ? fused everything." ' "The successor of Lowai has a subtie tongue," said the leader. "What m he says is true. Had he refused to w assist at the sacrifice of the sacred one, he would be cast into this dnngeon. Now he has agreed to it, and t is he to be cast into the dungeon just the same?" "It is well spoken," said another of * the highs. "The successor of Lowai uses his head well in his own behalf. Let him use it as well to the glory of p?]* ? "Let us carry him before Kaumai,. und hear the wisdom of her wor.ls,'* said the leader. I feared the result more from the hands of the beautiful priestess than I did from the high-priests. Somehow,, when beauty is associated with cruelty, the terrors are increased. But I lured offer no resistance. (To be continued.) . Squadron Goes to Cuba. New York. Special.?The Unite*! -v States first-class battleship Koorsarge left port early Sunday afternoon t* Join the North Atlantic squadron. Sh? was fully bunkered and it la thought she will proceed direct to Havana, where the other vessels of the squad- , * roil are due to arrive on tho 17th Instant to remain until tho 2Cth, the programme of the annual winter cmiise having been changed at the request of General Wood that tho squadron bo allowed to remain in the port of Havana for Christmas. Could Grant No More. , Ixmdon. Special.?The T'mee, In aa [editorial on the Hay-Pauncofote canal treaty. say3 it is naru to see nuvr ?jrrr?i Britain could concede more without pretending to give what 6ho did not possess, ffiLiaely, the rights and incidents of territorial sovereignty. "That fact, however," say3 the Timos, "would not weaken the obpections .of th:*3oSenators anxious to oppose anything making for good relations with Great Britain. As President Roosevelt and public opinion both seem to favor this treaty, we v.enture to hope that it will surmount the threatened obstruction.' John Mo rely, pointing to tke fact that the British taxpayers ioad has been ii?- JBT creased by $i6o,cco,ooo a year during the last ten years, declares there is "real danger ahead of the country." ^ < Sflrirj ItfdAAAA aflt?' V WV For the speedy and permanent *cnre of tetter, salt rheum and eczema, Chamberlain's Eye and- Skin Ointment is .vithont an equal. It relieves the itching and smarting almost instantly and .Is continued use effects a permanent. :ure. It also cures itch, barber's itch. / scald head, sore nipples, itching piles, chapped hands, chronic sore eyes and. granulated lids. Dr. Cady's Condition Pourdcrs torhorses are the best tonic, blood purifier and vermifuge Price. Stfoenta Sold to' u a a a~ rvoaoi Dyspepsia Curs Digests what you eat. It artificially digests the food and aid* Nature in strengthening and reconstructing the exhausted digestive organs. It is the latest d iscovered digestant and tonic. No oth|r preparation can approach it in efficiency. It instantly relieves and permanently cures* Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Heartburn^ Flatulence. Four Stomach, Nausea, SickHeadache!Gastr:ilgi3,Cramps,an?': all other results of inipcrfcctdigestioo. Prepared by E.C. .ncwitt &Oo-, Cfaliaao. Registration Notice. J Tbe office of the Supervisor of Registration Will be opened on tbe firafc Monday in every month for the purpose of the registering of any personwho is quulifietl as follows: Who shall have been a resident ot tho State for two yoars, and of th* county one year and of the polling: preeint in which the elector offers t?vote four months before theday ofeleot'.on,and shall have paid,six months be.ore any poll tax then due aud payable* and who can both read and write any section of the Constitution of 1895submitted to him by the supervisors, of registration, or ca* rbow that heowns, and has paid all t ixes collectableduring the present year on property in tHis State assessed at throe hundred dollars or more. J. J. EADDY, Clerk of Board.