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"V" * J- s ' ' <. . . . V- * {a *; t' .* ' '7 * V ' / . >>+% The kinc { _*choni A NOVEL OF AMERICAiN LIE > BY MAURICE Coorricbt. 1893 tod 1893 UUArifiO AAJ. V. CONTINUED. ".'Sf y6'll shet erp yer month, ^in'r'l, En' qait er ^otberin' me wi' yer talk, I'll do it yit!" cried the coat, with peevish fretfuluess in his oice. "Mary Ann cayn't stan' no ich jawin' es this yar 'at ye'r a-giviu' us! Go on erbout yer own business n* le' me erlone!" The general probably did not hear these words; but if he did he made no response, for Peevy was a privileged character. *T 1 ? ..J ?ntn nrttl iur. reruuu ntuun muic auu iuvuvuless, his eyes fixed upon that desperate horseman. "Order your men to shoot at that officer?that renegade yonder!" Jack- | on stormed in the old man's ear. Mr. Vernon made no respouse, but turned aud walked away. Just then the batteries and the rifles of Carroll's men all roared out as one. A level flood of destruction poured cross the ditch. For a few moments the smoke enveloped the American line so that nothing could be seen. Still the marksmen had the range and 1 kept on firiug b^ guess, doing frigutfui havoc. When the cloud lifted, the whole British army had melted away. All f over the level field lay heaps and windrows of the slain. A few scattered | / i. olmi.n in ilia distanee their ! WUUUav9 OUVUV iu wearers in precipitate flight. Broken J i cannon, t am bled fascines and crushed Udders marked the straggling route j / of the British Forty-fourth Regiment, j J which had been assigned to the duty j of making the ditch croseable. One , company, not far from the river, was | seen trying to re-form, although half ! of its men wore already dead and the j living ones nearly all wounded. i The rider who had been so boldly i oouspicuous was urging his sorely j crippled horse away across the held j toward the wood. He still had the | reins in his teeth, while both arms j dangled at his sides. | The terrible thirty-two-pounder was fired once more, and the horse weut down, torn into shreds; but up rose that dark, determined cavalier and " 1 ?* * f^,vf Sieauuj OUUUUUVH mo icucav uu A yell of admiration burst forth from the victorious Americans as they gazed. Then a still stranger sight met their eye9. A tall old man, who had climbed over the breastworks from the American side, set off at a tottering but singularly swift gait in the direction of the British lines. When he reached the fatal ditch, beyond which the ground was heaped with slain, he floundered through it and arose, muddy and dripping, on the farther baak. There he paused for a moment, wiped the ooze from his face and theu went right on. was Max Burns, the preacher, j * And who was that little man running after hira? The onlookers had scarce? i ^ 1 1 i? Ij naa time tu m?*o um uwui o iuv cloud of smoke settled down cgain *Dd hid both from view. Mr. Vernon stood like a grim statue -while this was goiug on. Very well he knew what it was that impelled both Burns and Vasseur. 1 CHAPTER XXV. PRISONERSTVhen Lapin recoiled before the incoming men out at the plantationhouse and uttered the name of Pierre Ram*:;, Mrs. Vernon, Pauline and Mademoiselle de Sezannes began to ahriek, rushing together into one another's arms. Colonel Loring entered, followed by two or three ill-favored men. If he was snrpriaed at seeing the three ladies so fiighteued at the mere mention of hia name?the name he had eome to like best?he did not show it in bis calm, cold face, or by even the lightest movement. He stood a moment as 11 to mate tare of bis vision and then stalked forward in his peculiar half-graceful, half-dogged way to whore the group of frightened and crying women stood. "Why, Madame Vernon!" he cried. 'Is this you? And you, Miss Pauline! And Mademoiselle de Sezannes!" He looked at them askance, but with no particular interest. "Oh, it is Colonel Loring!" cried Mrs. Vernon, springing toward him, almost as if to embrace him, in her sudden sense of reiief. "I was frightened nearly out of my senses; oh, I'm so very glad!" The man smiled so that his face for the moment flashed forth a fascinating light from its almost stolid features. He took Mrs. Vernon's hand, and at the same time looked at Pauline and Mademoiselle de Sezannes "I am making my way to my friend," he said, "and came in here thinking to get some information. I did not dream cf the pleasure of finding you here." He told the lie with consummate i ease and naturalness. The young ladies now came forward smiling through their tears and greeted him warmly. For the moment even Mademoiselle de Sezannes forget that he had made himself odions to her. Meantime Lapin stood openmouthed and wondering to see that terrible robber received so consider>.lr'y by his mistress and Pauline. * 1 a;u on my way to join the Britu-tuy," "Loi'jug wcut ??a to eay, with i j O F.V5Y ISLAND E DURING THE WAR OF 1812. rr THOMPSON. Vj r.ot*rt Bonder's Sobs. I oeriect mdiirerence in his tone. "I think they are quite near here." Mrs. Vernon recoiled from him, horrified. Pauline's face whitened. "Butyou are jesting," said Mademoiselle do Sezannes. "You would not do that." "Why not?" ho demanded, with something like brutal emphasis. "What should hinder me? These Americans have set a price on my head; and, besides, I am a Scotchman. 1 owe my allegiance to my country." The scene in the theatre rose in 3IademoiseIIe de Sezanues's memory at once, and so vividly that she clasped her hands and uttered a little cry of pain and anger. Loring smiled sardonically, feeling her thought, as it were, flung upon him. "This country is too small for both me and my enemies," he smiled, "and so for a few days I leave them in possession; but when I return," and his face showed a sudden concentration of passion, "when I return they will be glad to get out of my way." Ho turned and waved his hand, and his men retired from the houso. "Go give them something to eat," he said to Lapin. Then he began tramping heavily back and forth across the floor. Pauline went to him and timidly yet with a certain firmness laid her | hand on his arm. She walked beside ! him. It was a strange picture they I mmld Tlifl nrirl's lmuulse could not j have been explained by her; she felt j as if she could save him, as if 6ome [ great spring in her nature compelled her try. The thought that the British array was very near her had affected Mrs. Vernon to such a degree that she could not feel the full force of what was impelling Pauline. As for Mademoiselle de Sezaunes, she stood shivering with a chill of blended emotions while she gazed at Loring. It is the last refinement of torture when we feel that we hate and detest and yet have to admire. Loring compelled Mademoiselle de Sezannes's admiration in some mysterious way. His manly beauty, marred with tho gloora of evil as it was, had yet tho fascination which captivates while it repels. - "Do not go," murmured Pauline; "stay with us. I do not know why, but 1 feel that I cannot let you go." Her appeal was so simply spoken, so earnest, so evidently straight from the heart that Loring looked down into her face with sudden softening of his cruel eyes. He did not speak, but she saw his look. "You know tliat it is not right for you to??" "Right!" he interrupted. "I never did a right thing in my life. Doing right would be a new experience." "Begin now," she urged. "You I will find it very comforting." "Do you know who I am?" he demanded, almost gruffly. "Yes, I know." "No, you do not. If you did, you would not touch me, speak to me, look at mo. You would abhor me." "I heard your name just a while . M ago. "Ah, that name! Yes, you heard that. Is it not dreadful to you?" "You might be a good man yet." "The words come easily; but deeds are not ao lightly fashioned. If I had always had one like you to influence me " "It is yourself that must do that. You are no child to be influenced. I am scarcely more than a child myself, but I know that " "You know absolutely nothing." "I know that, if you would try, yon could be a good man. Forgive me, if I say that you are bad; but " He laughed outright and looked at her as one looks at a child when it has said some laughable thing. She let go his arm and stood facing I him. Her attitude and her fresh deli- | cate beauty mime ner iook iikb u utu, graceful flower. He reached a baud and half caressingly touched her hair. It was the thing that a brother would have done: there was no way of resenting it. "I'd iather have a biscuit than a lejcture," he said, lie1-*1- ?noueh. "Can't you offer me something to eat ! and drink? I'm hungry. "Yes, certainly." They together approaehed Mrs. Yer; nou aud Mademoiselle de Sezaunes, j who had been standing helplessly looking upon what was to them an iucxj plicable scene. "Colonel Loring has not had dinner," Pauline said to her mother; "wo j must be hospitable." Mademoiselle do Sezaunes shrank ' away as they came up. Loring noticed litis and gave her a smile which made his face show all of its evil beauty. He waved his hand at her and said: i "You hate me beceuse 1 punished Ttallanche for his impudence." His j lip curled. "He and Jackson will be apt to remember me," he added, after a mo! ment's pause. j Mrs. Vernon hastened to set some j food for him, aud he ate and drank i heartily. Pauline was in a strange stato of mind. She felt irresistibly urged from within to do something, she knew not ?>i.ar, for tuo bcuclit of this dark, wicked, fascinating man. L\made her shudder to see liirn, and sue slirarir from the thought of his past lifeknowing now that he was Pierre lta? meau, the outlaw?but yet some.fountain in her heart hied for him, some center of sympathy iu the deepest chamber of her scul sent forth a thrib in his behalf. Sue was, to a degree, like one in a dream, albeit she realized to the full the hopelessness of ihe desire that was forming in her breast. How could 9he do anything to turn this strong man back from evil? Sue remembered that she had, when e child, seen the officials taking a young man to the scaffold to be executed. Ho was a mere youth, hard-faced and repulsive; but ever since she had regretted that ehe could not go to bird and show him thatono of all the world was sorry for him. Why should she recall that scene at this moment? The human heart beats through mysterious rhythms. We can never say by what labyrinths the roots of sympathy travel to reach their end. If Pauline could have known all the history of this man, she might have feltVione of the inexplicable fascination which came to her like a vague but powerful ^minder of something sadly but unmistakably imperative in her nature; but she was aware now of just enough to arouse all the romauce as well as all tho pity that an inexperienced young girl's heart can compass. When Loring arose from the table at which he had eaten, he turned to "\fn/1amr?iaollA (1 o Sln7o llllOU ami Ot). ^UaUClUUlOCiitV UU MUI.IIUUVW MUM peared aboat to speak, but he checked himself. "Thank you," he said to Mrs. Vernon. "I was very hungry. I will now go to the British lines, unless"? he hesitated just for a breath?"unless you will permit mo to help you and the youqg ladies back to New Orleans. Indeed, this is no place for you." lie had scarcely ceased speaking, when one of hisnieu unceremoniously broke into the room and exclaimed, with blunt, rough vehemence: "We'ro surrounded! The British are all arouud the pjace!" When Loring's companion ran in with the cry, "We are surrounded! The British are all around tho place!" the ladies were dumbfounded. They stood like white-faced statues. Loring did not appear to iind anything startling iu the situation. He walked boldiy out through tho front door, followed by his man. As ho passed close to Mrs. Vernon, he stooped toward her and said, with a ring of impatience in his voice: "Your husband must have been nnilfl nnt nf liia uonaPQ TvllAJl lift RPllt you ladies out bcre. But be calm. \o\i shall not hi ill-treated." There was a stir out-of-doors ?a sound of voices. Some low commands were given. Mrs. Vernon and Mademoiselle de Sezannes became hysterical, but l'auline, though pale as a ghost, seemed to have found ample strength to bear whatever was to come. She thought she heard her father's voice at the door. It was Loring speaking with the British officer. The two entered n moment later. "Thny must be taken to some place where they can bo protected." Loring was saying. "Certainly, if it can be done," the officer replied. "But we are in no condition to take care of ladies. "Send them to New Orleaus." "No, sir. That is against positive orders. We are to permit no white person to go from us to the enemy. No; we must take them. If you are what you claim to be, the general will receive you lumiiy ami gives iue muies the best comforts that he cau command. That is all that I cau say." "I advise you to treat me with reipect, sir," said Loriug, very calmly, lml fixing his eyes with a malignant itare on thuse of the officer. "You srill know more of me." "Do as I command you!" exclaimed the sturdy Englishman. "I'm not to be bullied by a prisoner! Bundle up these women and put them on your aorses. You will walk. There's no lime for talk. Move along!" Loring compressed his lips, bnt said not another word. He saw tlin (or once he had fouud a check to hi.* arrogance. He explained to the ladies that all were prisoners and British "commander's headquarters." "I commend you to the good-will of Lieutenant Barnaby," he said, bowiug with perfect easa toward the officer. "He feels as big as a drummajor at present." "Silence, sir, or I'll have you gagged in an instant!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "You could not gag a hen!" sneered Loring. The lieutenant wr>opea oui ms sword; his face was ablaze with choler. Tho ladies began to shriek. Pauline sprang between the men. Loring put her gently but forcibly aside; then lifted the lapel of his coat and leaned forward. "Put your sword-point through that!" he exclaimed, laying his finger on a shining badge that covered his heart. "Thrust away, young maul Thrust away!" The face of the officer paled as suddenly as it had reddened. He stood us if faltering for a moment, and then saluted. Loring responded with lofty indifference, and turiug to Mrs. Vernon bade her make haste to go with her captors. "I will protect you all," he said, turning to Mademoiselle de Sezannes. "Yon will be safer with the army than in Naw Orleaus." After a moment he turned to tbe lieutenant and said: "Hurry things up, let us be off." It was a curious change; the prisoner seemed to be in commaud. "You will ride my horse," he said to Pauline, taking her gently by the arm, "and I am going to walk along beside you. Wrap yourself up well, for it is chilly out in this night fog." (to be continued. i BAPTIST CONVENTION, Important Work That Was Done in Annual Session; Sumter. Special.?The Baptist Con vention accomplished a great deal of work here last week. Reports were full and encouraging. At Saturday's session Dr. J. D. Chapman reported for committee to nominate trustees of the orphanage as follows: J. N. Brown, J. K. Durst, C. P. Evin, W. H. Hunt and R. N. Pratt. Dr. H. A. Bagby moved that a telegram of ackuowledgment be sent to Mrs. I. G. McKIssick for her gift to the orphanage. Carried. Rev. R. T. Marsh moved that the convention recognize in a suitable manner the splendid services of Mr. John W. King in the great work of increasing the Furman university endowment. On motion of Dr. Baglev the following committee was appointed to make recommendations as to enlargement for the coming year: W. W. Keys, H. A. Bagby, J. B. Shelton, J. D. Chapman and R. W. Sanders. The report on the report of the orphanage superintendent was offered by Rev. Rufus Ford. It expresses entire satisfaction with condition of all the affairs at the orphanage. Special recommendations are made in regard to having an orphanage day each year. Mr. B. J. W. Graham of Georgia stated that after some considerable observation he is profoundly convinced that the Connie Maxwell orphanage is the best managed institution of the kind in the Southern Baptist convention. The following standing committees were appointed by the president: Order cf Business: O. L. Martin, H. A. Bagby, M. A. Connors and B. J. Woodward. Foreign Missslons: C. M. Billings. J. D. Pitts, T. P. Lide, M. W. Gordon and S. R. Beliechampe. Home Missions: J. H. Boldridge, John O. Gough, F. M. gatterwhite, N. B. Fallow and W. H. Dowling. Sunday Schools: J. S. Ccrpensing. P. Easterling, S. R. B*rs, J, E. Brunsou and P. C. Freeman. Young Peoples Union: W. B. Oliver, Wm. Haynesworth and C. C. Vaughn. Temperance: J. H. Edwards, F. O. Curtis, W. E. Thayer, F. C. Ilickson and C. B. Bobo. Chairman of Committee on Obituaries: J. W. Perry, with a member from each association. The next session goes to Chester. Dispensary for Winnsboro. Winnsboro, Special.?Winnsboro will have a beer dispensary unless something is done to prevent the carrying out of the decision of the county board cf control to the effect that a beer dispensary be opened at an early date. It will be recalled that this matter came up several months ago when a petition was presented by Samuel Simpson to the State board of directors asking for the establisment of beer dispensary at this place where a regular dispensary was doing a thriving business. A counter petition was also presented at the same meeting, and the authorities of the State machine referred the matter back to the local board with the authority to establish said dispensary unless a petition against it should be presented bearing the signature of a majority of the registered voters of the township in which Winnsboro is located. The said petition was presented, and with the records that the county board had before it they decided that it contained the necessary majority and so the instructions of the State board were not carried out. The next step was a summoning of lip mpmhrrs of the county board to appear before the State board and show why their instruction had not been carried out. The whole matter, however, was referred back to the local board with the resu't that it yesterday reversed its previous action. Those who have opposed the establishment of the said dispensary will now take out an injunction against its establishment till certain facts can be decided by the courts. The issue is in regard to who are voters. According to the registration board there are a great many names there of parties who do not now reside in this township and who have been away from it long enough to be entitled to vote elsewhere. Those who oppose the dispensary hold that these are not now entitled to vote in the township and their names can not therefore be counted in making up the list of registered voters. Those who favor the dispensary not only *?? V?Qhnvp warn lilt: iiuujca ui iuuov oU^u ..... counted, but they also claim the names of those who are registered elsewhere and who have been here long enough to have registerd If thy had only attended to it. Both of these points have been submitted to the attorney general, but for some reason he has deferred giving an answer in the matter. The Brunson Bank Robbjry. Branson, Special.?For the robbery of the Bank of Brunson six suspects have been arrested so far, but only two, Ed. Parker and Mike Brady, have been hound over for court: the other four, having proveO an alibi, were released. It is sincerely hoped thai the perpetrators of this crime will be speedily brought to Justice. The two now held for trial wer seen around Branson for several days preceding the robbery, ...u!?v >?/.( tiiov siHmit and vpf erive no V\ liltU latb -t ^ ? plausible reason for being here. It would be wise for the town council to enforce the vagrancy law more rigidly, thus perhaps preventing such crimes. New Enterprises. The Mab Lumber company of Georgetown, which received a commission, is capitalized at $20,000, the petitioners being LeGrand Walker and E. L, Lloyd. The Chicora Realty company cf Charleston, a real estate business, received its charier. This enterprise hai j a capital stock of $400 and its ofUcerf are: Henry H. Ficken, president; J, H. Armstrong, secretary., and William 1 Fait, treasurer. WINTBROP COLLEGE REPORT. Good Work Beinz Done by This School for Young Women. Thetrimtees of Winthrop College met in Columbia last week to prepare the annual report to be submitted to the general assembly and to suggest a budget of appropriations necessary to carry the college through next year. Among those in attendance were: Gov. Hey ward, President Johnson. Mr. John E. Brezeale of Anderson, Superintendent 0. B. Martin, Prof. Joyner, Senator G. W. Brown and Mr. D. W. McLaurin. The following is a synopsis of President Johnson's annual report: Winthrop College has begun its ninth session with the largest enrollment in its history. The enrollment in the college classes since the opening. Sept. 16, i3 474. There were 790 applicants for admission. A gratifying feature in connection with the admission of new students this session is the fact that comparatively few waited until the opening of the session to stand the entrance examination. Most of the applicants stood the entrance examination held at the county court houses July 10 or came up with certificates from accredited schools. It is very much to the interest of prospective students to stand this county examination and it is hoped that in time all new applicants not from accredited schools will do so and thus be saved the expense of traveling to and from the college and the mortifim * * ? ??A U/vm. in oirn nf cation or Demg sent, uumc i:- v.asv ?. failure to enter. The enrollment in the model schools and kindergarten thus far this season is 199, making the total number in all departments cared for by the college 593. Every county in the State is represented in the enrollment. The following is the enrollment by classes: ?cniory 60 Junior 80 Sophomore 115 Freshmen .147 Special 72 Model school (children).. .. 91 Kindergarten (children) .. ..23 Total cared for by college.. .593 The average age at the beginning of the session was 13 years two and one-half months?over three years above the age required for admission. There is no sub-freshman class. Among the new students admitted this session are 63 graduates of high schools and colleges. Of those in attendance 42 have taught school before entering to further perfect themselves as teachers. The health of the student body is good. The normal courses have been much ' " * /I ?i/*4 (An r\t strengmenea uy tut? muuuutuuu vt [ I manual training, which is being taught by Miss Wickliffe. There are 36 instructors and assistants in the college and nine executive officers. It has been the endeavor to so conduct the college as to make it a pleasant, busy and well ordered home. The object has been to develop self-control, to strengthen character. Privileges heretofore confined to the senior class have been extended to the whole school this session and the students ] are responding with a fine spirit of j loyalty to the confidence and trust imposed in them. An Exchange Suggestion. The school board of London has proposed to Superintendent Martin that i a sort of correspondence school be j opened up between the children at- I tending the London schools and the I children attending the schools of j South Carolina. The board's idea is j that the children here write compositions and descriptions of the country and exchange these with the cihldren of London for similar compositions. The idea is a good one. Superintendent Martin thinks, and it will be submitted to the school authorities of Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Spartanburg and other towns, and in the meantime should any of the schools desire to take it up the adress of the board is Victoria Embankment, W. C., London. The Camden Bank. j The statement or tne rarmers ana \ ' Merchants' Bank, of Camden, S. C., the president and cashier of which killed themselves on the same day, is not encouraging. The depositors and credit, ors will get their money eventually, but $72,370, belonging to the stockholders, will not be realized. On the day of the double tragedy, when the bank closed, the cash in hand was $171.99. State Superintendent's Report. Superintendent of Education Martin is preparing his report to the Legislature, and while statistics have not been received from all counties a pretty accurate idea of the school population as to races is obtainable. The negroes constituting the larger part ef the population have the largest school enrollment, but the proportion j I is not perhaps larger than that cf the whites, when population is considered. The total enrollment for the year ; hows a large increase, it being 2S6.S92 against 243.400 for the previous year. Of the total for 1903 the white pupils munbe'' 133.070 and the colored 153."10. The figures for 1902 were 120,995 whites and 131,465 colored. New Enterprises. The Secretary of State has issued a charter to the Darlington Drug Company, of Darlineton. capitalized at S3.000. W. B. Hoole is president and treasurer, and A. S. Dargan secretary. A commission was also issued to the Woodruff Agricultural society of Spartanburg county, capitalized at $2.1 300. The petitioners are L. H. Yrby, A. ' W. Smith and others. J A charter was given the DavisReeves Drug Company of North, capitalized at $1,000. I * ** ***? SSSS ?3t*5H3 5C\J 1 PfllHEIIO 1MB a - B i ? i ,t ninor Event* of the Week In ? i # * Brief Form. % *?TOinantfflHn^XiraKSS*CSS* Palmetto Matters. A very sad accident, about which but little seems to have been known, occured on the Seaboard Air Line near Osceola, In Lancaster county, on Monday night of last week. Paul Lowery, whose home was at Doster, near Monroe, got upon the rear end of a vestibuled car to go to Monroe from Catawba Junction, but not being able to get inside of the vestibule door, Lowery swung on to the car, having a grip In front of him and pressed up against the door. Near Osceola there Is a long rbek projecting out of the side of a deep cut. As the train whirled along at a high rate of speed, the rock struck the young man's head, killing him instantly. His body was not discovered until the next morning, when an inquest was held. Lowery was about 20 years of age and was esteemed as an excellent young man. His fate is a melancholy one, but no blame it attached to the railroad authorities. It is reported that on Monday, Sheriff Cornwell, of Chester, shot a man from Spartanburg whose name could not be learned. According to the rumor Sheriff Cornwell was on a Seaboard Air Line train and was appealed to by the conductor to suppress two young men whose conduct was bad. When the sheriff attempted to use ? his authority, both men took oJ|.their overcoats and showed fight, but the sheriff was not to be bulldozed and held his ground until the train reached Leeds, when he attempted to put the men in the guard house. They grabbed up a lot of rocks, but being pushed they ran, and the sheriff, happening to be going hunting and his shotgun being handy, pulled down on one of the men, filling his leg full of bird shot. This stopped both the men and they went into the jug at Carlisle. The government distillery of J. H. Beard, about three miles from Greenville. together with 2,500 gallons of whiskey, was seized Monday by dispensary constables and United States revenue officers. The valuation of the property seized Is estimated at $5,000. In the government warehouse the officers discovered a trap door leading into the basement, where was found 3S1 gallons of contraband liquor. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of several parties. There came near being a stampede in the Neely's Creek church in York county Sunday night. The shingles in, the roor caught a nre r:om"aeieeo7?_ flue while the services were in progress and the congregation was not long getting on the outside of the building. Fortunately some young men ran to a nearby neighbor's home and secured a ladder, while others carried water. The flames were subdued before muh damage was done. The building was Insured. The Southern Railway has filed notice of appeal in the verdict rendered against It by a jury at the recent session of criminal court in Columbia in the suit brought by John Pickett for^" the loss of his arm. The suit was for $10,000 and a verdict for $8,000 was . rendered. Pickett was a messenger bnv who lost his arm at St. Matthews while trying to board a moving train, the agent having refused to sell him a ticket. In Kershaw Sunday Dr. R. S. Beckham. Sr., father of Dr. R. S. Beckham. Jr., a former resident of Rock Hill, was stricken with paralysis while making a talk before a church conference in the Methodist church. His condition was considered serious and his death expected at any time. He is a physician of long experience and a man who/ has always taken a prominent part y the affairs of his country Mr. Ben Neal, a prominent farmer 0?^ the Meeting Street section of Edgefield county fell dead in the street Monday. He had just left the bank, where he had some business, and was preparing to go home when he threw his bands to his left breast and sank J to the ground expiring in a few seconds. He leaves a lance family to mourn his untimely end. There are no further development# ^ in the Abernathy tragedy at Fort Lawn, but parties from that town say that the community is almost unanimously of the opinion that the killing was purely accidental. This is made almost absolutely sure by Abernathy*# remark to Miss Thomasson that he believed he would commit "susancide,** and her Jocular reply, "What wfth? soothing syrup?" Miss Thomasson persists in the positive belief that it was an accident and could not been anything else. I ^ in tne annual report of the>State superintendent of education will be nrocon o ?vm rviQfiim c\f |/A VUVUWU %M W4 K/fclV/i O from the county superintendents discussing educational conditions. Improvements needs and prospects. Mr. Martin asked particularly for information from those districts which have levied special taxes, which have centralized and consolidated schools, built or improved any houses, established any libraries or made any other forward movement. The censvts of 1900 gave Orangeburg a population of 4,500, but since then the city has made wonderful strides and the most conservative now place the population at 6,50#^ Newbuildings have gone up on evSry- side, both mercantile and for residence purposes, and the work of crcltion continues unabated. It is estimated that Rlchand county and Columbia will divide 140,000 dispensary profits botwecn fcem. The profits for December are slvays larger than for other months, an| officials are counting on that matefuiy neipmg out until taxes come in.# The L. C. Braddy c<Jpanv of Dll- J Ion has received its chmer. This firm /" which does a mercanJe business Ia?> capitalized at $5,000 has 33 Its! officers L. C. Bradd J president and recretary, and Ana^^E- Braddy? treasurer. J