The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, November 13, 1902, Image 3
EQUAL P
|| By HOWAR
f *
Copyright, 1901, b;
CHAPTER XVII.
THH RUNAWAY.
I'-EXDA snt down by
the bed. and she look(C
Jo ed very beautiful, a clr]r\
jln\Q cunistauce upon which
li? Elsie did not fail to
yjrjcomment with great
?> "You will be very
happy." she said. And then she heaved
a little/sigh, presumably for herself.
"My dear child." replied Brenda, "this
Is altogether too sudden and incomprehensible
to suit a conventional person
like myself. This weird flirtation |
of the madhouse which Dr. Kendall I
i eoom to iifivp be<?un in a manner \
shamelessly public may be only tbe
temporary aberration of our minds and
have uotbing to do with our hearts. 1 *
hope it will strike In; 1 do most devoutly.
Then you and Clarence could
arrange your agreeable romance without
remorse"?
"That is ended," said Elsie. "In fact,
ft never began. Brenda, you opened
your heart to me; let. use open mine to :
you. I want some one in tbe world. 1
some one whom 1 care for, to know j
tbe whole truth."
^"Are you sure you really wish to i
trust me with this couhdenee?" asked |
L Brenda earnestly. "You do not really
know me. Your mother may soon be
A with you."
B "I would never tell my mother." said
^ JBlsie sadly. "She has had trouble
ehough. As for trusting you, knowing
you-why. it seems to me that we have
been here together since the dawn of
recorded history and you were my
friend the first minute. I'm afraid you
may not care to be after you have
fd tl-.o ctnrv. but I don't want to
hoid you by false pretenses. So hear j
me. Brenda." I
"It will not excite you? It will not ;
make you ill again?"
"It would excite and worry nie if I
should stop now after I have made up
my mind." said Elsie. "Listen. You
shall know everything but a name. 1
can't tell you that."
Brenda was silent. She was saying !
to herself: "I am afraid. My heart Is \
trembling for this girl."
* "It doesn't matter when. It doesn't j
matter where." continued Elsie, "but
when and where fate pleased I met a
man who took a great liking to me. I ,
know little nov?. and I knew far less J
then, though it wasn't so long ago. ,
fie was an educated man. and I was
not an educated girl, but I wished that
t was. We met in a merry party, and
{ expected him to talk frivolity. He
didn't. His conversation was very improving.
Oh. he took a deep interest ,
In my mind.
"What idiots girls are! Why, this \
mam road me like a book. He saw that
I was full of yellow covered ambitions
and ten cent aspirations. He bad probably
seen a great many girls equally
deserving of encouragement. I thought j
r.-oo cniomliil 1 nut mv hand In his
? UO !#?.? ^ ?? .
fend prepared to ascend the hill o!
learning.
. "It was a supper after the theater.
w^rodc to iny house together i:i ;
a hansom afterward at *2 o'clock in th?
morning, and the chai>eron of out
supper party rode in another direction
In another hansom with another man.
My escort talked about the 'ltubaiyat1
?f Omar Khayyam, and I then lirst
appreciated the beauties of that sublime
composition. Afterward he spoke
of my work in a very earnest and encouraging
way. He let me know that ;
he had been quite a student of the i
drama,and that his criticism and ad- j
vice would be of the greatest assistance.
That, at least, was the inference.
Finally he bade me good night ;
on the doorsteps, with a gentle sadness
in his manner which let uie know that
there was a romance in his life. That ;
made me feel safe, for at that time I
surely did not want him to fall in love
with me. and 1 still retained the delu- j
sion of my earlier years that romances |
In a person's life acted like vaccina- I
tiou.
"The gentleman called upon me the j
next afternoon, and he was very enter- I
tabling as well as instructive. He
brought me a large book. I forget 1
what it was about. The next day he
took me out to dinner, and 1 remember
I that he gave me some very shrewd and j
helpful criticism about my work.
Then I didn't see him for two whole !
. days, and I began to miss Lim very 1
k much. At that time I was louely. My !
friends in the profession were all I
fnn-n mill enm<> fif tllf> mpil ill i
VUl v/i IV" U. ^ ?w ...
S^&tbe company who wished to be kind
to me were rough in their ways?not
all like the cultured gentleman
W whose acquaintance I had been so
fortunate as to make."
"But didn't you ask about him?" said
Brenda. "Didn't you find out how he
6tood socially?"
Elsie laughed.
"How was I to tind out any of those
things?" she said. "The world is a big
place, in the midst of which is society
as you know it. a little mutual insurance
company for the purpose of protecting
its members, especially the
younger ones, against accidents. I only
I knew that I liked this man and that he
seemed to be a true friend to me. What
other guide was 1 to have except my
t . own beautiful ignorance?"
"I don't know." said Brenda aloud.
' but to herself she was saying: "The
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more wrong she has suiiered the more
I want to help her. 1 won't let anything
take her away from me."
"Presently I heard the story of the
romance in his life." continued Elsie.
"It appeared that the gentleman was
married?most unhappily. Where was
his wife? lie had permitted her to obtain
a divorce. This was pure generosity
on his part. lie would rather suffer
an injustice than attack in the
courts the woman he had sworn to love
and cherish. He mentioned several
high society precedents lor this conduct.
In fact, he convinced me that
divorce was, upon the whole, a mark
of distinction in these days. It appeared
that his was a sort of limited
divorce which did not permit him to
remarry, but after this aspect of it
had been presented to me on several
occasions he discovered that he could
marry under certain conditions with
the full sanction of the law and heaven.
"Well, Brenda, let's be fair. 1 wanted
to marry the man. I persuaded myI
self that T was In love with him. 1
wasn't I can see that now. I wasn't ,
within a million miles of loving him, j
but I was ready to be loved, Brenda;.
that's the truth about it. My heart j
tTSs full of tenderness, and I paw the j
whole world rose tinted In the light 0( j
the dawn of love. That's poetical. But |
wait a minute. 1 am coming to some- j
thing very uuromautic. I wrote this
story, Brenda?wrote it all down for a
great heart thrilling novel?and then
had sense enough to burn it. But that
helps me to tell it straight, and you'll
catch fine phrases now and then, but
you .won't laugh at me.
"Well, we were engaged, of course.
My fiance presented me with a diamond
ring, and diamonds are my soul's
delight. After 1 got this one 1 used to
keep a little light burning in my room
at night so that 1 might see It sparkle
If I happened to be wakeful. I sub- j
sequeptly learned that there was a !
financial Irrecrularitv involved in the 1
obtaining: of the glittering gem, but I j
did not learn that until after it had
passed out of my possession."
"Where did fate find this precious
rascal?" whispered Brenda. "And why
did fate send hhn to you?"
"Why did fate send a good man afterward?"
said Elsie. "Why not before?
Well, 'the moving finger writes and.
having writ, moves on'? It was to be.
Finally the gentleman announced that
a marriage under the laws of the state
of Pennsylvania would meet the requirements
of the situation. I was a ;
good deal startled by this definite suggestion.
and I wrote to my mother on 1
the subject for the first time. The gen- J
tleman took the letter to post, and it,
has not been delivered yet, thank heaven!
"Before It was time to get an answer
sudden business of great Importance !
called my fiance to Philadelphia. How j
opportune! Well. Brenda, I packed a
little hand bag and went. What must j
you think of me?"
Brenda bent down gently and kissed
Elsie's hand and held it against her ;
face.
"I don't know the story yet," she said, I
"but you have portrayed a thorough
scoundrel. And" you have also shown
me a trusting and true hearted girl who (
nmrrinrt with fill innocent
heart. Blessed heaven! Think of a
man for whom a young and pure girl ,
will go out into the world like that, as :
if to walk in the fields! Should not ev- :
ery fiber of his soul bo thrilled to loyalty
for all his life?"
"The gentleman* in question had no j
soul." said Elsie. "I think he will be J
spared all punishment hereafter, as the ;
brutes are. Let us proceed, Brenda, ;
dear. The remainder of the story is
not long. We took the 11 o'clock train
and reached Philadelphia in time for
luncheon. Our marriage was to be
kept secret for awhile, and there seemed
to be some slight objection to the
public dining room of the hotel where |
our hansom set us down. However. I
we lunched there quite hastily, for 1 ,
had no appetite. Then we re-entered |
the hansom and went to look for a minister.
We had remarkable ditliculty in
finding one, considering that Philadelphia
is a large city l ull of churches, but
we finally succeeded. Then it appeared
that we had neglected to comply with
certain formalities, but the clergyman
was able to rectify the matter, and so
we were married pitifully, as I see it
- !*K -<1,1 cfvints nnd a
turn dUi^'iu \'?v? wv. ?
chance laborer who happened to be it
work In the house as our witnesses.
"When we got hack to the hotel, it
was <1 o'clock, ami I was nearly famished.
We hurried right into the dining
room, and my husband ordered a
great spread, with champagne, for our
miserable celebration, and now 1 W'r'.l
tell you the unromantic part. In the
midst of that dinner, and while 1 fancied
that 1 was eating with a splendid
i appetite. 1 was suddenly seized with
the most awful pain that ever devastated
my poor little stomach. Yes,
Uremia, it was a regular, terrible
stomach ache?just pain, without a hit
of nausea. I felt as if some one had
my stomach in his hand?a hand about
the size of Captain Xoale's?and was
crushing it to pieces.
"My husband said he guessed it
would soon pass away, but it didn't,
and so he left bis dinner and ran out
to a drug store to get me something to
1 take. When he came back, I took it.
and 1 didn't feel any worse, because
that wasn't possible, but I certainly
felt no better. In a few minutes I began
to realize that I was going out of
my wits. I talked insanely and saw
things that weren't there. The next
thing 1 knew we were riding up in an
elevator, and it seemed to go up for a
week. Then there was a woman leading
me along a hall and into a room,
and she began ?o take off my clothes in
the bedroom of a little suit. I stared
at her and ask"1 bar who she was.
" 'I'm the assistant housekeeper.' shesaid.
'I belong to the hotel.'
"As if she had been a piece of furniture.
Then I asked where my busband
was. and she said lie had gone
out fcr a doctor. So she made me lie
down. Probably I seemed to be there
on that bed, but in reality?my own
reanty?i wus inuyiu^ m ium uiu u.u.r
6tormlng eompauy and studying,
studying. studying on long parts that
were always changing, but sometimes
I was a little girl again in a town way
out in Michigan, running through the
streets, with my long legs flying and
my heels touching the back of my
head, as ray mother used to say. I
stole the neighbors' flowers in the
scented June evenings and staid out
under the little whispering stars till
iny mother came, weeping with anxiety.
to bring me home. And, strangely
enough, right in the midst of it all
there stood the doctor, a tall, gaunt
young man. asking me how I felt.
But where was my husband?
" 'lie has not got back,' said the woman.
'I was afraid to wait any longer,
so I got this gentleman, who is a
New York doctor stopping in the
hotel.'
"Then I felt something sharp pricking
my arm and afterward the pain
was easier, and my mind suddenly became
as clear as it is now. I heard
the doctor say that I would be all
right when I had had some sleep, and
hen ?7 appeared, looking in
between the curtains that hung bv tliS
bedroom door. It seems that he ha*
nnt VinnmrUf n doctor, but had left
word for one to come.
"My husband remained there, between
the curtains, perfectly rigid,
staring, pale as a ghost. He was look"YouP'
said the doctor.
Ing at the doctor beside my bed, and
glancing up I saw that the doctor was
staring at him.
"'You!' said the doctor, and he took
three strides out of the room, ray husband
backing away as the other advanced.
"They whispered together; they
thought I could not hear. But, Brenda.
I would have heard them if they had
VnrL*
Ul't'U IU C?? AVIU.
'"She says you were married this
afternoon,' said the doctor. 'How is
that?'
" 'Who in the devil's name called you
In?' demanded my husband. 'Where
did you come from?'
" 'This is state prison business,'
6aid the doctor, without minding the
questions.' 'You are living legally
separated from your wife, but you are
not divorced, and you never will be by
your own consent for her father is
paying you to behave yourself.'
" 'There has been no marriage here,'
6nid my husband. 'Don't say anything.
This is a mere freak of mine.
"You were going to see Dr. Kendall7'
she asked. "Please wait in bis room."
She hurried by him and reached the
spot where Alden and the detective had
stood, just as the latter was upon the
stairs, for it had not suited Elmendorfs
purpose to wait for Alden.
"I must speak with you privately at
once." she said. "Come."
There was a sort of bay window opening
from one of the corridors, and she
led Elmendorf there. They were partially
shielded from observation and
could speak in guarded tones without
much risk of being overheard.
"Mr. Elmendorf." she said, "how
could you do this thing? I have a serltr\
L*nAtr "
UUO ? IOU IV Ck ?AV ??
"I can do anything." he answered,
the picture of shame and woe. "There's
absolutely no good in ine. What made
you think there was?"
"Do you remember that you rose
when you saw that I was not seated."
said she. "in Elsie's room that tirst terrible
day? That's not much, but your
manner was fully that of a gentleman."
"I was trained in a gentleman's home
In Massachusetts." said Elmendorf. "So
was the gentleman's dog. and we both
reih&ined bnites."
"You'MTanjmd a place to listen." said
Brenda, "in ill?t unused room next Elsie's.
The nurse~\Vil9 helped you has
confessed to Dr. Kendal).'' I4^'as s,,e
and not you who overheard tbe'StGT
told this afternoon." ^
"She and not I?" echoed Elmendorf
in a voice of the dead. "Do you think
1 ever listened there? Miss Maclane.
there's some limit eten to what 1 will
do. No. uo: I took the chance; that's
all. This nurse, whom 1 seem to have
got into a lot of trouble, as I always
get everybody soouer or later?this
nurse listened when her duties would
let her. 1 knew Miss Miller would
\
some day tell her story to you." Ij
"Now that you have heard the story, |J
what shall you do?" asked Breuda.
"It seems evident," replied Elmendorf.
"that Dr. Blair Is the physician r
referred to in that story. He has
known her seerot frnjn the beginning.
That was why she had him uere, to
plead with him. Well, I've no faith in
Blair. lie's crooked, or I'm no Judge, y
But lie seems to have played a fairly ''l
creditable part toward Elsie Miller."
"Dr. Blair!" exclaimed Brenda.
"Think of his being called to dress her A
I iennn/1' Think nf his standing there
In that room with Nenle and ourselves
and keeping liis own counsel so quietly!
I begin to have an admiration for
him."
"Well. I wouldn't go so far as that," er
said Elmendorf. "lie has bad his selfish
ends to serve. However, that is
neither here nor there now. I am
going to him and I shall make him tell
me who that man is." in
"Her husband?" tu
"Yes." at
"Then what will you do?" she av
added. ur
"Find him," said Elmendorf. "and ba
see that he gets what he deserves. 36
This will afford me many (Afferent in
kinds of satisfaction. Miss Maclane. 0f
1 shall have credit for It In the news- 0j
papers, and they're the only friends gc
I've got. My Job will be safe for another
year at least; 1 shall beat Joe* .
Nenle, whom I hate devoutly, and, *
lastly. I shall get square with the cow- *
ard who struck down that little girl.
! I have longed for him ever since I Pc
first saw her. It's a poor thing to do 0(
I *? > ? u'o oil i oror Mn do. I'm ar
I UK Utl, Ulll lb O Ull V> V. - n
afraid." $2
"It is no service to ber," said Brenda: m
i "far from it You will reveal ber m
secret." to
"Nothing can save that," he replied. w
"It is a mere dream to think it can be j
done." U
I "It !s not a dream." rejoined Brenda. jE
I "It shi!' be kept n secret if possible, j ^
She is wise t0 w'shl 't, though of 5)
I course she sbouij' Alden,
j that she will do as t,?00 nf he?' mitld ?
gets back to its proper basket after i.
its long strain with bis wretched story.
But she Is right In thinking tbat pub- jg
llcation of it will leave a stain upon UI
ber and perhaps bring many sorrows t y
to herself and Mr. Alden. It will be 1 eg
! distorted and redistorted in the telling , of
until the poor girl's name can never j th
1 be clear of it. And in any case I have j ^<3
given my word. Mr. Elmendorf, will ' P
I mnnpv heln?" j ja
Elmeudorf was silent. I ^
"1 think you are uot a man to take a I in
bribe." sbe began. I -p,
"Yes. I am." said Elmendorf de- ; th
cisively, "but not just here. If the clr- !
cumstances were different, why, 1 | vc
could be bought and sold like my as- wl
sociates. But this Isn't the time nor
the place." > ^
"You would like to get out of this
life Into a better one," said Brenda. ! ca
"1 suppose most of us would." re-' | $6
piled Elmendorf. "except that dying is pc
disagreeable." st;
Brenda laughed, as one sometimes ad
will at a funeral, from the effect of ,
do
contrast. in
"1 didn't mean that," she said. "1 m
mn?"i tho? mn tvnnld like another re
way of earning your bread. And 1 of
think you might have ^ery high ambl- th
Hons In another career. My father Or
will put you lu the way of profitable 3t5
business, but don't fancy 1 would \?
tempt you with an empty promise. 1 w*
am.rich lu my own right by Inheritance
from my mother, and f will be glad to ac
be p you. We will give this a color of tif
perfectly honorable dealing, and It ov
shall be so Indeed. Take $50,000 of an
my money and select whatever busl- ov
ness pleasqp you. and 1 will be a silent v.a
partner, an equal partner, in the en- ^
terprlse." q
"Fifty thousand dollars." said El- ha
mendorf. with awe In his tones. "Why, th
Miss Mac-lane, this is what 1 have th
prayed for. The idea of a tenth of It ^n
is the explanation of ray going on the
force. And te think that it should ln
do
come at last in a way that 1 can't touch
Itl 'Billy Elmendorf's luck,' as the boys pa
$6
At tbls moment Kendall, passing 87'
run away to a strarage city, trusting to ori
luck to be married there." Ac
Brenda kissed Elsie's hand again
very tenderly. it
"I'll tell you what, my dear," said Tr
she; "the fact is that you have brooded
over this matter until you are not quite 00
sane about it I really mean what I
say. Now, this is my advice to you: an
Tell Mr. Aldeu this story just as soon ar
as you're strong enough to do it and"? 0f
Elsie gripped her hand hard. go
"I have told you this in confidence," th
she said. "Give me your solemn word an
i that you will never breathe one sylla- Eo
i ble of it; that you will help me in ev- sa
j ery way to conceal it! Promise!" coi
"The word and honor of one who
! loves you, Elsie." Uremia answered. ag
j "Whatever you wish I will do." fai
"You are so pood to ine!" said Elsie. Tr
1 letting her head sink back into the pil- re;
lows. sil
"There is one thing more." said Bren- Is
da. "Did he. your husband, strike this ca
blow?" o*
"Don't ask tae that." cried Elsie. "1 ^e-'
! can never toll you how 1 got this _a
wound. Think what a frightful bur- q:
den that knowledge would be to you if be
I I should die." sn
tii
TO BE CONTlXOe-D. nc
Game Rooster Rides Aloft.
The resources of the milliner seem
| to be inexhaustible. The game rooster
i^iat is the latest thing to make its ja
la^oaranee on the street. It is a safe tQ
guessM^01" no man wou,d (5are to f0
quire iPt0 these things) that the
rooster hi^ comes from Paris. The
head of th? bird> looking exceedingly ^
saucy and vdr>* much alive, protrudes ar
ircm a sortV turban d'nsus. the gi
whole creating^ impression of a th
live rooster jam^J?d a fancy wed- gj
dinz cake. ^ N cr
\ v
/
ilG CASH BALANCE.
reatest Amount of Money On Hand
In Country's History
:RY GOOD TRrASURY SHOWING
II Large Denominations Becoming
Gold Certificates and the smallest
Silver Certificates.
Washington, Special.?Elias H. Robts,
Treasurer of the United States, in
ening his annual report, says that
e magnitude of the available cash
ilance and the unprecedented holrtgs
of gross gold are the striking feares
of the condition of the Treasury
the close of the fiscal year 1902. The
ailable cash balance in the Treas y
July 1, 1902, was the largest net
ilance in our history. It amounted to
2,187,361. The gold reserve is counted
as it i3 available for the redemption
legal tender notes. Nearly one-half
the available cash balance was in
>ld coin and certificates, $103,801,290
rer and above the gold reserve of
50,0000,000 and by October it became
36,124,771. As a measure of the finanal
strength of the government the re>rt
says the fact deserves mention. By
:tober 1, 1902, the available cash bailee,
exclusive of the reserve, was
21,263,394; and owing to the large
easures for the relief of the money
arket was reduced by November 1,
i $220,621,870. Of this sum $145,885!012
as in national banks. To- the total
nf mrmor in the country an addi
VV,I\ VL ? .? ? ?
on of $130,138,841 was made during
le fiscal year. Of this $657,699,517 was
i gold coin and bullion. National bank
r>tes received an increment of $2,851,5*9.
The gold coin and bullion October 1
xceeded all other kinds of money, exluding
national bank notes, by $200, 9
433. in five years, the ratio of gold
S country has run up from 36.52 to
\ '-e 100. The growth in the vol.4d
to U*. jn circulation during the
ne of mone# ^49 carrying the per
iar was $74,0?a,v. * '3. The element
pita from 27.98 to 2a.-?. *-*tes was
gold .coin and gold certlpw "he
largest part and the increase re&u..
! $61,966,174, and advanced from 40.30
ir cent, of the total to 41.31 per cent,
'silver of all denominations, includg
certificates, there was an increase
$25,226,146, of which $6,486,014 was
subsidiary coin. The reduction in
reasury notes of $17,677,800 is due to
eir withdrawal.
The advance in circulation in the
ilume of gold including certificates
thin 12 years by the large sum of
33,703,516, is the measure of the
pat strpneth of our circulation. The
dition during the past fiscal year was
1,966,174. The increase in the future
n hardly be less than $50,000,000 to
0,000,000 a year. The mines, the reirt
says, are thus confirming the gold
andard steadily and Invincibly and it
ds:
"For the 'immediate present, and
mbtless for a'few years at least, the
flow of gold will be in such large
easures as to lift the volume of curacy
to the highest level of all needs
business. Our currency keeps more
an equal pace with the population
l June 27 ,the gold certificates outinding
for the first time exceeded in
lume the United States notes and
;re $347,179,089. By November 1, they
;re $567,078,569.
"The gold in the Treasury keeps in
tive circulation as currency the cer
icates issued against 11 anu iuureer
$346,658,016 in TTnited Statos notes
d $30,000,000 in Treasury notes, or
er $140,000,000 more than its own
lue. The question may well be conlered
whether the United States
tes may not properly be fumed by
ingress into gold certificates. They
ve much that quality already, and
e change could be gradually made as
e supply of the yellow metal takes
greater proportions. The demands
the people for notes of small denomations
have surprised the closest stunts
of the currency. In 1890, there
;re 37,065.880 pieces of government
per issued of the average value of
.61. In 1902, the issue was 116,697,4,
and the average value was $4. The
cllities for production have been
ten increased and now seem to be sufient
for present requirements.
me act or Aiarcn n, iyuu, maites
the duty of the Secretary of the
easury to maintain the party ot
lue on all forms pi money issued or
ined by the United States with the
Id standard and fixed by that law.
lis parity is now easily maintained
d all kinds of government money
e exchangeable with each. The flow
gold permitting the free issue of
Id certificates of $29 and upwards is
e key to this maintenance of parity
d interchangeability of all kinds of
vernment money. On the other hand,
lall denominations. including silver
in are constantly in demand for the
rriad transactions of retail trade and
e current uses of rural communities
well as for pay rolls in furnaces and
:tories and harvest fields." The
easury ,in recent years, continues the
port, has had much more clamor for
ver and small notes than for gold. It
now abundantly afte to meet all
lis for every kfnd of money for its
?'n obligations for redemption and for
?itimate transfers. As a result of the
ovements which have been noted our
per currency is gaining in simplicity,
adually all large denominations are
coming gold certificates, and the
laller silver certificates, while in
ne all $10 will be United States
ites.
Separate Street Cars.
New Orleans. Special.?The State
w requiring the street car companies
provide separate accommodations
r whites and blacks went into effect
uesday and is being enforced with
fllculty. The company has reserved
ie rear seats for negro passengers
id placed screens In the cars, but
nee the repent strike the decrease in
ie number of cars operated is sr,
eat that all of them are generally
owded to the guards.
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SIGHT IS RESTORED
*.' ? >
A Man of 95 Regains His Sight In the
Spartanburg Section.
Spartanburg Correspondence Columbia
State, 7th.
Spartanburg may not be modest in
j her claims of being a healthy clime,
Sut facta stand for themselves. The
writer this afternoon enjoyed a long
tall: with a resident of tnis county wno
was born In October, 1303?be is '
yoais of age. His name is Casswell
Edward Smith, and his home is near
the burnt factory on Tyger river in the
lower section of this county. He is an
ideal representative of the muscle and
brawn which have made the vast
tracts of woodland bow to the axe and
the impenetrable swamps, lagoons and
wild verdant meadows yield to the
plough share and pruning hook and
the general cultivation of the 60il.
Mr. Smith came to this city about
four weeks ago. For sixteen years
past he has been totally blind. Doctors
; told him it was due to old age, but a
relative of his, Dr. W. A. Smith, examined
him and found that it was a
j case of cataract of the eyes. He was
: brought tj> Spartanburg, and a little
! over a month ago Dr. George W. Heinj
itsh performed a successful operation
I tn- thfrratarart and thp old eantleman
can now see. Considering his age, ani
the accompanying infirmities of advanced
life, it is Wonderful how sue- ?
cessful the operation is; and it is, a
real joy to hear the old man comment
on the fact of his seeing, after having
been totally blind for 16 years. Mr.
Smith remembers when there' were
only four buildings in this city?one of
these was the old Lee house, a frame % structure
erected near the present store
of J. A. Lee & Son. which has
long since passed the dilapidated stage.
The first railroad train and locomotive * .
he put his eyes on was in Columbia in,
1869. The first circus he attended was
in 1838 in Spartanburg. He recalls
tnany points and incidents of the mua- i
ter days. He has lived as a farmer
and worked hard and lived honestly all
of his life.' He has lived with his present
wife (his first wife dying a few
months after their marriage) for 70
years, and the four weeks he has been
up here is the longest time they have f
ever been separated. He is a great lov~ *
I er of tobacco, when it comes to chew- < vy.
He was for years an inveterate k ?
i?*_ "id never gave up this hatrtt
smoker, ... v"nd?his only reason .
untii he became ... "Sn?t smoking
or argument to offer ag?.._ " *ot v.
is blindness. He i3 and has bet*
40 years a member of Putman Baptist * :
church. His rule in life is, as he expresses
it?"do to your neighbor, hs
you would be done by." He states that
with his eyesight restored as now, he
will be plowing on the farrii again long
before spring. He stands six feet in
height and weighs 150 pounds. He
looks remarkably strcng for a man of
his advanced years. .
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County Boards Have No Cont'd.
Bennettsville, Special.?The investigation
by the county board of educ?
tion of the charges against E.. J
Sawyer, on an appeal from the trustees
of the Bennettsville graded
school district, has been stopped by a
writ of prohibition issued by Judg<
Klugh. The judge gave an exhausting
review of the law and decided that a
county board of education has no su- "~
pervision cr control over a graded
school district and cannot reverse 01
modify any action of the board ol
trustees. He says that even if Sawyei
were totally unqualified to teach, hi*
election by the trustees could not b?
interfered with.
Qranlte Beds in Chesterfield.
Chesterfield, Special.?It will law
terest many to know that in thlc
county there are extensive granitebeds.
One of the chief beds is neai
Evans' mill, on Black creek, 16 miles
west of here. They are 10 miles from
the nearest railroad point. Ruby, bul
when the C. M. & C. road is com- / *
pleted to Jefferson, which it soon will
be, they will then be only four miles
from the railway. The rock is of different
color, some are brown, gray,
black and red. These beds are very
extensive and are said to compare
favorably with the granite of Winnsboro.
There is a fine opportunity for
some man with capital to secure a
bonanza.
Winter Bull Fighting in nexico.
Mexico City, Special.?The winter
bull fighting season opened Sunday af.ternoon,
the first fighting being attended
by a large crowd, including many .
Americans. The sensational spectacle
was the serious norning 01 rarrau, uuc
of the matadors, by the third bull. Parrao
received a deep wound in the abdomen
and may die. The fight was not
interrupted. Ten horses were disemboweled.
Palmetto Cleanings.
Progressive business men of Columbia
have organized a company for
the purpose of operating a line of
steamers between there and Georgetown.
A report from Winthrop College is
to the effect that the students of that
institution have taken up the quarrel
between Clemson and -South Carolina
College and that partizanship 6as
since been running at a high pitch.
James McPherson Wheaton, the
nlrlost nressman in the State, died on
Friday at his home in Charleston
aged 94. He worked at his trade in.
the Deutsche Zeitung office up to a
few days before his death.
The Hotel Sumter at Sumter is trying
the experience of young white
woman to wait on the tables. The 1 v (
proprietor brought them from Boston
with him, not being able to secure the
required number in South Carolina.
Two young men named Ben (- Ross
and Poinsett Trammell had a difficulty
on Tuesday night, Oct. 28th,
about twenty miles north of Greenville,
in which both of them used
knives, and Ben Ross was fatally
stabbed by Trammell, his death occurring
on Friday last at the home of
Wilburn Gosnell, a short distance
from where the fight took place.
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