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SUMTER WATCHMAN, April, 18 SO. Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881-1 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." the true SOUTHRON, Eetabliehed June, 1 STJMTER, S. 0., TUESDAY, JULY 14,1885. New Series?Tol. It. lo. 50. Published every Tuesday, ?by the? Watchman and Southron Publishing Company, SUMTER, S. C. te rms - - .Two Dollars per annum?in advance. ADTBRTISKMSXTS. One Square, first insertion...........$1 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 ; Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. AH communications which, subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. ...Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged, for. Marriage notices and notices of deaths pub lished free. F?r yoo .work or contracts for advertising address Watchman and Southron, or apply at the Office, to N. G. OSTEEN, Business Manager. POWDER MOST PERFECT .MADE ? Prepared b, a physician with epedal regard ? : to health. No AmTtttmfo, lim? or Alma. ^ athat??g Qrapea for Making Cream of Tartar V lor WUHUCE* CREAM BAKING POWDER .1! *%SS3s\ m ism* SPECIAL EXTRACTS MOST PERFECT MADE Purest and strongest Natural Fruit Flavors. Vanilla, Lemon. Orange, Almond, Rose, etc., flavor as delicately and naturally as the irait. PRICE BAKING POWDER CO., CHICAGO? st. louis. trade Mark registered. A NEW^TSEATMENT JFor Consumzion^ Asthma, Bronchitis, Dyspepsia; Catarrh. Headache, Debili ty, Rheama?ism, Neuralgia, and all Chronic and Nervous Disorders. A CARD. ; . We; the undersigned, having received great and permanent benefit from the use of "COM POUND OXYGEN," prepared and adminis tered by Drs. St?rket & Pales, of Philadel phia, and being satisfied ttr it is a new dis covery in medical science, and all that is claimed for it? consider it a duty which we owe to the many thousands who are suffering from chronic and so-called "incurable** dis eases to do all that we can to make its virtues known and to inspire the public with confi dence. We.have personal knowledge of Drs. Star key & Palen. They are educated, intelligent, and conscientious physicians, who will not, we are sure, make any statement, which they do not know or believe to be true, nor pub lish any testimonials or reports of cases which are not genuine. WM. D. KELLY, Member of Congress from Philadelphia. T. S. ARTHUR, Editor and Piiblisher "Arthur's Home Magazine," Philadelphia. V. h. CONRAD Editor of "Lutheran Observer," Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pa., Jgse 1, 1882. In order to meet a natural inquiry in re gard to our professional and personal stand ing, and to give increased confidence in our statements and in the geoniness of our testi monials and reports of cases, we print the above card from gentlemen well and widely known and of the highest personal character. Our "Treatise on Compound Oxygen," con taining a history of the discovery of and 'mode of action of this remarkable curative agent, and a large record of surprising cures in Consumption, Catarrh, Neuralgia, Bronchi tis, Asthma, etc., and a wide range of Chron ic diseases, will be sent free. Address Drs. ST?RKET & PALEN. 1109 & 1111 Girard Street, Ph?adelpnia., Pa. F? H. F?ls m, -ESTAB'D 1868. L. W. Folsom. F. H. FOLSOM & BRD. Practical Watchmakers and Jewelers, Main-Street, opposite John Re?oVs, SUMTE?. S. C.? WALTH?M ?9 o td o Ol - tr *2< o Clocks, Silverware, Jewelry, Spectacles, . Cutlery, Fishing Tac?de, Violin Strings, Machine Needles, Oils, dec. Repairing- of Watches, Clocks and Jewelry promptly done and satisfaction guaranteed. The publication of this Story was buffu May 36. Back Numbers can be furnished. A FAMILY AFFAIR BY HUGH CONWAY, Author of "Called Backhand "Dark Days." CHAPTER XV. A DISPUTED CLAIM. During the lost three months cf the year Kazlewood House did not belie its reputation for calm regularity of its domestic concerns and immunity from the many petty ills and annoyances which afflict less methodically conducted escablishments, So far as could be seen all promised well for a quietl placid and uneventful whiter. Horace and Her bert employed themselves as wa? their wont. They were men who could spread out a little occupation over a iarge slice of time, so never found the hours hang wearily. Beatrice seemed fairly happy with her bright-haired boy. The little fellow was now beginning to prattle merrily, and bis manner towards the Talberts was more audacious and familiar fhnr\ ever. Altogether it looked as if noth ing would occur to disturb the even tenor of life at Hazlewood House, until the budding hedges once more brought round the usual spring cleaning. But, all undreamt of by the brothers, storms were brewing which were to shake their house to the foundations. Christmas came. Now Christmas Day was % day on which the Talberts made great sacrifices for the good of their fellow-crea tures, Sylvanus Mordle, who believed that those in poverty were as much entitled to creature-comforts as to spiritual consola tions, always sent the hat round at Christ mas, and collected a special fund for the purpose of giving all his poor people a hearty dinner. At this dinner the Talberts were his henchmen. No one who knew their fastidi ous tastes could have seen them carving huge joints of sangumaxy-looMng beef or serving out sticky segments of plum-pudding without feeling sure that, at heart, they were thor oughly good fellows. Herbert did once plaintively ask Mordle if the meat need be quite so red. The curate chuckled. "If it wasnt red, they'd say twas American, and leave it," he answered. It is to be feared that experience had taught Mordle that charity is often looked upon as a right to be demanded, not a bounty for which to be thankful y It was no doubt the terrible sights of the forenoon which made the Talberts rigidly taboo, so far as their own table vras con cerned, all conventional Christmas fare. As Horace gravely said, there is, to educated minds, something savoring of vulgarity in supposing that the celebration of a certain holy-day must be attended by the consump tion of a certain class of comestibles. So their dinner consisted of clear soup, fish, a brace of birds and an omelet. *?We never thought of Beatrice," said Her bert penitently. "Beatrice might have liked roast?eef and plum pudding." But Miss Clauson did not yearn for Christ mas diet. Moreover, her thoughts were far away from eating and drinking. Indeed, during the last three months the girl had been, even for her, strangely quiet and thoughtful As for a little while longer we must be contented to i_gard her from the outside only, her musings cannot be divulged. To-day, no doubt, she was thinking a great leal about an impending visit toher father's house. Horace and Herbert had urged it earnestly. Not, as they kindly and tnithfully told her, that they wished to lose her for even a day, but it was well that the world should think that the Clausenswcrca united family. It h curious what a simpleton most people think the world, and how easily they fancy it can be taken in. Beatrice consented to be guided by her uncles'advice. So on the day after Christ mas she left Oakbury. Sir Maingay and his family were wintering in London. It is sur prising the number of respectable families who do winter in London. Sir Maingay met her at Paddington. The baronet looked a little rounder and a little more commonplace than when last she saw him. He greeted his daughter affectionately but told her she looked ill and careworn. Then he inquired for Horace and Herbert. As from the very first day they had kept Sir Maingay in his proper place, he looked upon them with the greatest respect. "Is it true they have adopted a child he asked. Some garbled version of the affair had reached him. i{No," said Beatrice. "I have." "You, my dear! Adopt a child! TThy, it is timft you thought of the possibility of having children of your own. I have for months been hoping to hear you were engaged to be married." "I shall never marry," said Beatrice, rather coldly. "Depend upen?. It, ft is the best state," said Sir Maingay eagerly. Then he started off on the subject c$ ?he precocity which Beatrice's little half-brothers displayed. How the elder said this yesterday and the younger did that the day before?a record of mdividual but not general interest. Bui just before they reached his house Sir Maingay made a more notable remark. "I made the acquaintance this week of a young relative of your poor mother's?a Mr. Carru thers, who was staying with you some time ago. I told him you were coming up, and he promised to call." It was growing dusk, so the flush that leaped to Miss Clausons cheek was unseen. She was silent for half a minute, then she said, quietly: "I shall be very glad to 66 Mr. Car ruthers." Lady Clauson was gracious and conde scending. She had gained some sort of suc cess in town last season, so could afford to bes?. Nevertheless, Beatrice was shown in various ways that she was a stranger within her father's gates. The little boys were brought down to see her dressed in their ? company clothes and manners. They were good, ordinary, uninteresting little fellows, and no doubt Miss Clauson contrasted them with a golden-haired pet of hers at Oakbury. Although the ladies were civil to each other they did not sympathize. Like many others, Lady Clauson was utterly unable to under stand Beatrice. "Never, if you can help it, marry a widower," she said to a bosom friend. "No ono can tell the anxiety a first wife's child is ?no one who has not experienced it." "It must be," said the friend with great feeling. "If she did not alway. dress so carefully," continued Lady Clauson sorrowfully, "I should behove she had rondo up her mind to be an old maid, and might then do something for the boys. She has more money than any young girl should have." Carrcthers called; Carruthars dined at Sir Maingay's, and morex r, presuming on hi? distant relationship, Carruthershad the auda city and, after ah that had happened, we may say humility, to escort Mire Clauson to an after* <x>n classical concert. Since last Octo ber Frank had a thousand times pictured his meeting with Beatrice and a thousand times settled how he would deport himself. The result was that he forgot all his self-training and bore himself simpiy as nature prompted him. He was earnest, tender, respectful More than ever he felt the charm -w hich the girl exercised over him, yet ho dared not speak azaia of love. In his inner heart he knew that for well or ill he mast some day ? resay those passionato words?but not yet. The second cast of the die must, should be, the last. His nearest verbal approach to love-making was this: He told Beatrice he had received a letter from Horace begging him to spend a few days at Oakbury before the Lent term began "It is a great compliment," he said. "Yes," answered Beatrice, "very great. Are you go?ng?" "That is for you to decide, not for m-\" Sho dropped her eyes and was silent. Frank waited. "Do you forbid it?" he asked in that au thoritative voice which women love to hear with a man. Still sho was silent. He re peated the question. "I have no right to forbid it," she said. "You have every right. "VVo do not allude to the post, but wo do not forget it. Look up and answer me. Shall I go to Ha2leWoodr Strange to say, he spoke in a commanding way, such as be had never before displayed -when addressing her. Perhaps she liked him none tbe less for it. With an effort she raised her eyes to his. "It is most unwise," she whispered. "Unwise you mean for mo, of course," he said, quickly. "That part is for me to decide, not for you." She held out her hand impulsively. "We can be friends, Frank," she said. "Always," answered Carruthcrs. "And now we mayas well settio to go down to gether." To this she made no objection, and Frank's love-making ended for the time. His dreams that night may have been pleasant ones, but as for Beatrice she sat for hours in her room gating into the fire with a pained, hopeless look on her face. The little line which Frank had once noticed between her brows seemed to have grown deeper and more distinct. If Canuthers had hoped for a great deal from that journey to Blacktown he was doomed to be disappointed. Events occ orrod at Haztewood House which took Beatrice back in hot haste and alone. One morning Horace and Herbert were in earnest discussion respecting a hip-bath, the paint of which showed signs of wear. The question was whether it should be sent to the auctioneer's and sold for the best price, or should be rejapauned. Herbert, who was given to temporising, favored the reparation. Horace, who was more thorough in his ideas, thought it should go at once to the saleroom. The matter was so important and interesting that neither of the brothers heard the sound of carriage wheels outside the house. The wheels were those belonging to a gig, a genuine, unmistakable gig. Whittaker, who saw it come up the drive and stop at the front, not the side door, was much disgusted. He did not know the traditional respectability enjoyed by the driver of a gig. He drew the line at dogcarts. Sylvanus' tricycle was only borne with, because it carried a clergy man. The gig in question was driven by a man who dismounted and helped to the ground a woman with a good-tempered looking shiny face, and who was dressed ?n refreshingly bright colors. One of them rang the bell timidly, and after a befitting interval the dignified Whittaker condescended to open the door. The man asked if the Messrs. Talbert were in. This collective style jarred upon Whittaker, who had been in the family long enough to remember the tame when "Messrs. Talbert and Co." was a well-known form of address. He replied that Mr. Tal bert and Mr. Herbert were in, but at present engaged. "We will wait until they can see us," said the man. So Whittaker let them como into the house. They wiped their feet on enter ing so carefully and thoroughly that all doubts as to their being persons of any im portance were at once set at rest. Whittaker felt he was quits right in offering them chairs in the hall. They were too respect able to be left standing, but the gig and the feet-rubbing combined showed they were not to be ushered into the drawing-room. "What name shall I say he asked. "We are strangers," said the mam "Yon can say we have called on private and confi dential business." "Yon had better givo me your name," said Whittaker. "Mr. and Mrs. Bawlings," answered the woman. So Whittaker went up stairs, found his masters, and told them that a Mr. and Mrs. Bawlings wanted to sse them on private and confidential business. "Bowlings, said Herbert, with a shudder. "We knew no one with such, an awful name. Who are they, Whittaker V i(l have no idea, sir," said Whittakc?. As his masters adjudged the name horrible,-he felt half o?ended at it being supposed he knew any cne named Bawlings. "Whnre are they, asked Horace. "Ih the hall, sir." Whittaker felt thankful he had not been tempted to give them sitting room honors. "Whittaker," said Horace, gravely, "we shall be extremely annoyed if you have let persons come inside our heuse who are book hawkers, or, worse still, those who try to buy up secend-hand clothes, as these people saj they come on private and confidential busi ness." However, they put their eye-glasses up and went down to the hall and comronted their visitors. They found a woman whose pbilistinic attire set their teeth on edge, and a pale-faced man with rather prominent light blue eyes and a weak looking, agitated kind of face. The brothers wondered mightily what these people could want with them. "You wish to speak tous?" said Horace, suavely. Although they kept persons et a distance, as long as possible at arm's leug'-h, the Talberts were always polite and kindly spoken. ' "If yen please, sir," said the man. Horace and Herbert waited. 4iWe should like to see you in private," said the woman, glancing round the hall. Sc Herbert opened the drawing room door, and they all walked inside. "Now, then," said Horace, encouragingly, "what can we do for you, Mr. Bawlings?I believe that is your name?*' "Yes, sir," said Mr. Bawlings, drawing out a pocketbook, and handing Horace a card, on which was printed, "Bawlings Bros., Purveyors of Pork, 143 Gray street, London." Horace shivered. He felt very angry. "Pork," he said, t:is a meat we never touch." Then he motioned to Herbert to ring the bell. But Mr. Bawlings interposed. "I didn't come on that sort of business, sir. The fact is, I bave heard that some time last year a child, a little boy, was left at your house, sent from no one knows where. Is this correct, gentlemen "It is quite true," answered Horace. He was sorry he had misjudged the man in thinking him a touting tradesman. "But why do you ask V he added. The man grew visibly exalted. "Me and my wife," he said, "have strong hopes thai the little boy is one we lost, or had stolen from us, more than two years ago." "YouwisJi to speak to ustn said Horace, suavely. The brothers' faces were perfect studies. That two people like this should lay claim to Beatrice's boy was simply absurd. "Iinpos sibfe!" they ejaculated ixi one breath. "Don't say impossible," said Mr. Bawlings. "We may find our little boy at last; wo bave boon hunting about all over England for foundlings such as this. Itmey be this one is ours." "Why should it have bwn son there?" "I can't tell, sir. But I won't leave a stone unturned. May wo see tbo boy?" The situation was growing ridiculous, and if the Talberts disi iked ?n?tdfcung more than another it was a ridiculous situation. The best way out of this one seemed to > that Mr. Bawlings should see tbo child and be sat isfied it was not his missing offspring. 80 Horace rang the bell and desired that the little boy should be brought down. Mrs. Miller, tho nurse, upon receiving in structions to this effect, imagined that her charge was to be shown to visitors of im portance. So sho quickly put on his host r;ar ments, and made him look very cherubic He trotted into the drawing- room a cabinet picture of childish health and beauty. Bawlings looked at him with excitement in every lino of his face. His light blue eyes seemed to be starting out of his head. "Maria," he whispered hoarsely to his wife, ! "look at him. Just what ours would have grown to. The same hair?tho same eyes. Maria, is this not your boy? Answer me? and thank heaven wo have at last found him." The wife looked at the child but did not answer at once. "It is?I know it is," said the man. "Tell them so, Maria." "I hope it is," said his wife. The Talberts on hearing this looked stupe fied. The case was assuming undreamt of proportions. Dimly they saw that thi3 recog nition meant strange things. "My good mani" said Horace, "you are making a complete mistake." "Oh, no, sir?no mistake. How can a father be mistaken?. Oh, my pretty boy?my long-lost lamb? Come tome and give me one kiss 1 Come to yoy father 1" He shot out his arms so vehemently that Harry was frightened, and instead of accept ing the invitation ran to Herbert, and hiding his face against his leg set up a howl, which brought in Mrs. Miller, who at once whipped him away. She had strict instructions from Beatrice never to let the child become a nui sance. Horace and Herbert, with arched eye brows, sat staring at their visitors. "We may take our little boy back with us at once, sir?may we not?" asked Rawlings. "Certainly not," said Horace. "You have not given us the slightest proof it is your child." "But it is, sir. I know, and Maria knows it is." I "Tell us how it came here. Until you can do that we cannot admit your claim for an instant. It is absurd?you must be mis taken." "Absurd!" echoed Herbert. "Tell me whose child it is, if it isn't minor retorted the man. "Do that and I will go away. I don't care how it came here. I know it. I recognize it. It is my poor lost little boy. and I will have it." The man grew more excited than before. Horace was intensely annoyed. Ho turned to the woman. ' 'You seem to have some sense," he said; "do you claim this child?" She glanced at her husband and tears sprang'into her eyes. "Yes, sir," she said, "I believe it is my child.'' The situation grew worse and worse. It was well for the boy that he had made such friends of Horace and Herbert or he must have been sacrificed forthwith, if only to rid the house of his self-styled father and mother. As it was the Talberts temporized; they promised to consider the matter for a few days, and let Mr. Rawlings know tho decision they might come to. Mr. Bawlings wrote on his business card the name of a hotel at which he was staying, and having again and again asserted that ho would not be robbed of bis ref ound son, at last, to the unspeak able relief of our friends, drove away in his gig Never had Horace and Herbert been placed m such a difficulty. They sat stroking their beards for at least half an hour, but could see no way out of it. The arrival of the child on that evening of last year was as nothing compared to the present dilemma. Then, had they chosen to use it, there was at least a short cut out of the difaculty; now there was none. The more they tnought the more improbable it seemed that these people could be the parents of the boy. And yet the man at least asserted that it was so, as if the matter was beyond doubt. The belief that tho child was "some one's" child still clung to both Horace and Herbert. It teemed, moreover, an- absolute insult that the child of such persons as Mr. and Mrs. Bawlings should have been sent to Eazlc . wood ?cuse. Why should thoy have been chosen out of all the world to have this child f o?3ted upon them! Why did not the unknown sender return it to its rightful home? The whole claim was a mistake; whether willful or accidental, it was a mis take. Fond as they had really grown of the little boy, the Talberts were far too just to \hink of wishing to keep him from his legiti mate owners; but they had no intention cf surrendering him to the first claimant. Besides, what about Beatrice? what would she say? Beatrice, to whom the child seemed as the apple of her eye. Bitterly they blamed themselves for ever having yielded to her request that she might keep the foundling. But what was done was done, and could not now be helped. Horace wrote to Beatrice by the next post. He told her that some persons had called and claimed her boy. The whole thing, he said, was a great puzzle to him and to Herbert. They had deferred their decision for a few days. If possible they would do nothing until her return. Beatrice was alone when she read that let ter. She ternod deadly pale and seemed to ?asn for breath. Then she rang the bell and ordered her things to be packed. At break* fast-she quietly told Lady Clauson that she fonni she must return to Blacktown by the next train. She gave no reason for this ab rupt departure, and her sudden determina tion annoyed Lady Clauson immensely. Sir Maingay said nothing. His daughter had long ago shown him she was entire mistresa of her own actions. "Mark my words," said Lady Clauson as soon as Beatrice had departed; "thatgirl will some day do something which will dis grace the family." "Oh, nonsense, my love," said Sir Maingay, who had now been married long enough to find out that his beautiful wife was not all his fancy had once painted her. Beatrice reached Hazlewood House quite unexpected. The Talberts were out, so the girl ran straight to the nursery. "Where is my boy?" she cried, so vehementl}' that she startled Mrs. Miller who knew nothing of tho purport of the visit paid yesterday. The boy was tboro all safe, and Miss Clauson, without removing her outdoor garments, bugged and caressed her pet until she was told that her uncles bad come in. Sho went to them at once. They greeted her in astonishment. "What have you done about those wretched people ?" she asked quickly. "Tho people who claim my boy, I mean." "My dear, wo have done nothing as yot." "You will not dream of giving him up?" "I hope we shall not bo obliged to." "Listen, Uncle Horace," her cheek flushed as she spoke. "I will give him up to no cue ?no oue at all." "I am sure, my dear Beatrice, you will l>o entirely guided by us," said Horace. "Of course she will," said Herbert; kindly. They must have been sanguine men, as tht set of Miss Clauson s brow did not promise well for her submitting to guidance cf aaj kind. "I sball never give up that boy," sb< said in a firm voice, "until the person wlk claims it gives every proof that it is his. 1 would rather run away with him and hi Ji myself." Horace looked extremely shocked. "My dear Beatrice," ho said, "it grieves us boti to hear you talk so wildly. The child is a ' very nice child, but you speak cf it as if il were of our own flesh and blood." Beatrice did not roply to this; but the up shot was that the Talberts promised to ?ritt to Mr. Bawlings and say that they held hi? recognition of a el?ld not seen for more that two years insufficient proof that it was bii own, and in tho absence cf further evidence declined to entertain bis claim. Alter this Boat rico left them, and for somo timo they mourned over this new and startling phaV cf demons! rati vences displayed by one ol ' their o^ ii kin. Two mornings afterwards Horace opened a letter addressed to him in clerkly writing; He read it and it seemed as if his jaw was about to fall. In silence ho handed theJetter to Herbert. Heribert read it, and his face reflected his brother's emotion. One glance passed L tween them and they knew liait they wcro of ono mind. Horace turned tc Beatrice. "Beatrice," he said in a voice solemn as the grave, and in manner decisivo as the law? of tho Modes and Persians, "that child must bo given up;" She started, but before she could speak she heard Herbert's echo, equally solemn and decisive: "Beatrice, 1 hat child must be g ?ven up-" _ CHAPTER XVI a tajik suarysKOEn. This is a true tony of the loiter which fell like a bombshell between the gentle and peace-loving Talberts: "Blacktown, Dec SI," 18?.?To the Messrs. Horace and Herbert Talbert: Gen tlemen?We have this morning been con sulted by Mr. Bawlings with reference to your refusal to restore to him his child, John Bawlings, whom he lostabout two years age in a mysterious manner, and whom he has recently discovered to be Bving in your house. "The circumstances as explained to us by our olient tend to show that the child was left by some person unknown in a railway carriage, and that it eventually arrived at your house, where, we understand, it has since remained "Mr. Bawlings will call at your house or next Saturday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, with a carriage, and we trust you will, without further opposition, allow the child to depart with him. "In case you still refuse to gl-^e up the child Mr. Bawlings has instructed us to take immediate legal action to obtain possession of his son, and wo are informed that proper "legal proof as to the identity of the boy will be hereafter adduced. "We are, gentlemen, "Tour obedient servants, "Blackett and Wiggexs." Ko wonder that after reading the last para graph, and realizing the fact that the rnqr with tbe terrible name meant to fight for his offspring, Horace ejaculated: "The child must be given up 1" Ko wonder that Herbert in his turn echoed his brother's exclamation. Unimaginative as they were, a dreadful pic ture of the consequences of resistance fixed itself on the mental retina of each. But Beatrice was by far the most agitated of the party. Her cheek grew white; the hand which she mechanically held out f ?r the lotter trembled. Herbert gave her the epis tolary bombshell, and whilst she read it the two brothers gazed at each other in that sadly calm and gravely reflective way at times natural to men whose minds are made up that a particular path of duty must at ail cost be trodden to the end When sucha gaze passes from man to man it strengthens the feet of each to tread the stony course. Beatrice read the letter twice. Without a word she returned it to Herbert; then she walked across the room to the fireplace and stood for some minutes tapping her foot upon the fender. Her back being turned to the Talberts they could not see the supreme emo tion shown by her contracted brow and in every line of her set, white face. Had they seen it they would have been more than sur prised?they would have been shocked. Strong emotion was a thing to be shown by well-bred persons only under the most intense pro-vocation. In this caso it /as uncalled for. Presently the girl turned to them. "You have quite made up your minds to yield to those people's threat?" she asked. There was a curious strained sound in her voice. ' 'We can do nothing else," answered Horace. Herbert nodded a sad assent to his brother's view of the case. "Nothing else!" echoed Beatrice with a touch of scorn in her voice. "What right can these people have to the boy? It is not theirs. Uncle Horace, Uncle Herbert, you can remember how he was -sent here. How beautifully dressed he was?how thoroughly cared for. Can you, can any one for a moment imagine him as belonging to such persons? What are they? Pork butchers, you said." "Purveyors," interpolated Horace, who loved to bo precise. "How is it possible he can bo their child? urged Beatrice. "People in any station of life may ha> children, my dear," said Herbert, uttering the truism ?ke a newly-found proverb of Solomon. "And," said Horace, speaking more to the point, i the broad fact remains that they claim the child and arc prepared to make that claim good before the ~:igistratoiLn Tbe most accomplished jack-of-oil-trades generally breaks down when he interprets law?Horace was no exception. Had he known that Messrs. Blackett and Wiggens could only obtain possession of thoir client's child by a writ of habeas corpus or some such mysterious operation in a civil court he might bave felt more inclined to disregard the threat of "immediate legal action.-' As it was, his ignorance of criminal law inter preted the vague threat as conveying the awful terrors of a magisterial summons. His mistake shows how much better it would be for tbo general public if they consulted solicitors in overy emergency?and how much better for solicitors! "Bofore the magistrates, my dear Beatrice," echoed Herbert, dutifully accepting his brother's version of the law. "Tell them to do so?tell them to provo their right," said Beatrice. Tbo brothers held up their long, shapely hands in horror. "My dear Beatrice," said Horace, with the solemnity of a bishop ro buking a curate,1 'f cr heaven's cake be reason able?we only ask you to be reasonable. How can we possibly appear before the bench and contest this claim? Fancy the talle?the ridi cule! You must see the utter absurdity of your suggestion?the utter impossibility of our compliance." ".My dear Beatrice? said Horace, "for Heaven?* snle be r?eiso-<t-'>!e. "' "Yes, Beatrice, I am sure you must scd it," said Herbert. If Miss Clausen was rmsguided enough not to see tbe absurdity and impossibility of t?a? cour>? she wished her uncles to take. I am suresbe stands olcs?in her darkness. Horace and Herbert hailed before the county jusii.-es, charged by a purveyor of pork named Bawlings with unlawfully detaining tut said purveyor's son and heb*, would havi maxie net only tbe hair of Oakb;u-r, but r.'sc tbe hair of a portion of Biacktcwn stand on end. Think how tbe families of posiriun would have laughed 1 Th:uk how annoyed and bitter the wiseacres who were sure the child was "somebody" would lmvo feit when the lowly parentage was reycaieJ ! And even if Mr. Bawlings failed to substantiate lus claim tbero w< uld 1*3 scandal. People would ask why the Talberts were so anxious to keen possession of this little stranger. Beatrice's strange fancy f?r the bey v. euld not 1*5 a suf ficient explanation. The Talberts knew the world and its pettiness and wicked tongue. Cn-e V.f- y bad brayed it in deferen: e lo ? whim et* Beatrice's, but tbo matter was riov far too .serious to take a gir'.'s bini into ac count. They saw that one course only v. as open to them. When Mr. Bawling--,' carriage came to their doer little Harry mu tforth \vii.h l>o placed in it. But Mifis Clausen still continued unreason able. She even returned to the attack. ' ' not .'-oc it at ail," she fiaid. "I c this man laid claim to one of your fields you v. cul l not give it up." "A field does not arrive unropce? c?ly in tho middle of tbo night,"' said Ib mu c? not \ humorously, but as one who states a simple j faci.. "Take a Votier simile, my dear," said ITer- j beit. "Supposo you picked up a sovereign ! in the street and a man caino up and swore j it was bis. Although you might havoov-vy j reason to doubt bis assertion you won!J, I j nni sure, gi" cit upino~ner to avoid uasecmiy j dispaio." "I don't think I should," said Beatrice, \ defiantly. "Ub, yes, my dear, you would,'' arid Her- j ace, gravely. "? am suro cf it," added Herbert. Beatrice did not pursue Herbert's mgenious argureent further. "Nothing?rio entreaty ? cimino will make you chango your minds?' she asked The brothers shook their heads sadly. It was painful to them to refuse her request, but their grave eyes looked into the distance and saw all the horrors ? hieb they ? imagined a contest with Mr. Bawlings would arouse. Beatrice knew that any further appeal would bo waste of breath. "I must go and think," sho said, wearily, as she turned away from the arbiters cf theboy'3 fate. "I may say," said Horace, with a ..light biu?h cu bis check, "that wo both regret tho necessity of this surrender. As a rule we aro not fend cf children, but your little friend has been very good, and had it been possible we would willingly have given him house room until his future wa3 assured.0' Beatrice took his hand and pressed it. 'Thank you,"she said, gratefully. Then she passed through the doer which Herbert held open, an act of politeness which not even the relationship of uncle and niece or tho pro? verbial contempt bred by familiarity at lowed tho Talberts to forget. Tho brothers resumed their Ecats, and for a while silence reigned. Tho truth is thej felt angry and annoyed, perhaps even self, reproachful Impossible as it was that Mr. Bawlings' claims could be contested, both Horace and Herbert felt a sense of sham natural to any Englishman who finds himself compelled to yield by a mere threat- The wish to fight everything out to tho bitter end made England what it is. Perhaps, after all, when they came to think of it, the Talberts were fonder cf the child ?b^n they cared to own. At any rate, after a long brown study, Herbert, at least, showed signs of wavering. "I suppose," he asked, as one socking for information, "it would bo out of tho question for us to do as Beatrice wishes?" Horace was equal to the occasion. "Quite out of question," he answered sternly. "We should be placed in a ridiculous position and become the jest of tho county." They shuddered visibly at the thought and so far as the Talberts were concerned the boy's fate was settled. To become the jest of the county is too terrible 1 Country wit, as we all know, is so delicate, yet so sharp and pointed! With minds ill at ease they sought dis traction in their housekeeping. Although as a rule the "Tabbies" were just, if cheese paring, in their management?not unreason able, if exacting, in their requirements, to day they drove the cook and poor Whit taker almost frantic, and set both wondering 1 Hrhate ver the masters were going to got to.n In the meantime Beatrice hod ca? ri ed ber white face to her own room. She locked the ioor, threw herself upon a couch, where for a long time sho sat with her i?nds pressed against her brows. She did not w^p, nor was her look that of one resigning he/eeJf U> fete and getting ready to yield to the inevit able. It was rather that of one searching for and exploring every path which might possibly cilera way of escape from a diffi culty. But it seemed as if every path she trod mentally resolved itself into a cul de sac, for the girl heaved a hopeless sigh and the tears at last began to force themselves through her half closed lashes. Sho rose, rang the bell, and gave orders for the boy to be brought to her. He soon ran into tho room with tho cry of delight with which he always greeted her. Miss Clauson took tho little follow on her lap, clasped him to her heart, stroked and curled his pretty, ruffled bright hair, called him by a thousand endearing names and strange diminutives, kissed him on his lips, his eyes, his neck, his dimpled arms and fat legs, and generally went through tho well-known ceremony of child worship. It was clear that no-legal menace, howevor dire, would make he* ac quiesce in the tame surrender of her pet con templated by her uncles. Not one of her many and rather wild ejaculations so much as hinted at tho possibility of an impending separation. La no sense were her caresses, somo cf which wore tearful ones, intended as a farewell. By and by, with a face oven paler than before, Beatrice took tho child by the hand and went down stairs. She paused for a second beforo the closed door of tho room in which she had left hor uncles. "I can see no other way. It must be dene," she muttered Then, like ono full of a solemn purpose, sho entered the room. Whatever she may have been about to do, tho empty room seemed to give her a welcome respite. Sho gave a breath of relief. Nevertheless, it seemed that the respite was to be but short, for, after waiting a few minutes and finding neither Horace nor Herbert appear, she turned as if to go in search of them. But at that moment her mood changed once more, or an alternative course at last presented itself. A tinge of color leaped back to her cheek. With quick stops she led the bey away, and having consigned him to Mrs. Millers care, again sought her own room, and again sat for a long time in deep thought. "It is but a slender chance," she whispered, "but it can be tried. To-day Thursday, and no step3 can be taken until Saturday. After this ehe wrote a note toSylvanas Mordle, asking Mm if he could coma to tho house and eco her either that afternoon or early tho next morning. Sho sent tho note down to tho villog? and then went in. search of her uncles. They looked at her rather timidly, perhaps conscience stricken. They fancied she had come to renew her argument and offer up fresh entreaties. It may be they feared that in such an event thoy would be forced to yield, in spite of the consequences such an a :t of weakness rr.u-t entail. But Beatrice did not reopen the altack. Sho quietly asked if she might havo tho ciothos worn by tho boy when ho nrtt disturbed the seclusion o? Hazlewood House; which clothe?,it may be remembered, wcro carefully stowed away by Horace in tho big safe. As there appeared tobe no harm in tho gratifying of tins re quest tho safo vrai unlocked, and a neat brown paper parcel indorsed in Horace's long, slim caligraphy given to tho girl. " Ycu will not answer the solicitor's letter. I hopo,'' sho sail - "No ; it needs no answer. The delivery of the boy will bp answer enough." In the afternoon Sylvanus trotted upon his tricycle. Kis face was radiant from the combined effects of tho sharp, fresh air, the exorcise, and the delight at having receive i such a summons from Miss Clauson. To-day ho was league* above his lugubrious name. He clapped his hands together, net so much for thopurposo of promoting circulation a on acccunto:* the cheerful sound of the detona tions inado by tho meeting pulnzs. Ho wished old Whittakcr a happy new year in a way which clearly implied that happy years wore the rule, sad ones tho exception. Whittakei returned tho greeting with duo respect, and ventured to cypress his approval of Mr. Mor die's Christmas Day sermon. Thou Mordle said something wide h made even Whittaker laugh. Miss Clam-on heard tho cu rate's brisk, crisp voico mug boi'oro he '.ras shown into tho drawing room. Ho greeted her pleasantly, and learned that her uncles were cut. As tho Talberts always took their out-of-door exercise of an afternoon, this news was no surprise to him. Who shall say that Sylvain:* did rot timi hl.i call by their we.l-known clock-work hab its? A tete-a-teto i- often pleasant, although tho two heads harbor no thoughts cavo those of friendship. "You want me," caid Sylvanus. "Behold me. Here I am." ' I want you to do rae a favor, fo I ven tured to wriio to you." Boat ?00*3 words were conventional, but there was something in her manner which mudo the quick-witted curate wonder. "Command me?:"u anything?everyi hing ?all." Ho spcice even inoro qyickiy and emphatically than'was Lus wont. In his heart tho good fc?k?w faucfed b:s rad was needed for something concerning CarruChers, whom he persisted lu believing Beatrice loved. Nevertheless, ho would w??ugly have dc.no all ho could to help tol^ppincss the man who had taken every vestige of hope from him. ButWhe favor resolved itself into this: Would Mr. Morolo accompany Miss Clauson to-morrow morning to be-d o wn ? She had a private errand which took her to a part of tho city of which sho knew liti lo or nothing; Sylvanus felt and expressed himself greatly honored. At what timo should he cail for bcr? Would sho walk or drive? Beatrice I looked at hira and spoke very slowly and as if with an effort. j "I wish no one?not even my* nncles?to j know of this excursion," she sard. -'"Would j you meet me at the cross roads at 10 o'clock j to-morrow morning? If I trespass on your ! time or good nature please say so." 'Trespass! By no means. Ten o'clock. I shall bo waiting for you." Nevertheless Sylvanus was surprised, even troubled. To have refused to do Hiss Clan son a service, whatever it might be, was cf course out of the question, but befrjfi, open as the day in all his comings and goings he had a dislike to any proceedings which savored of the mysterious. ''Errand of charity, of course?" he said, making the questioning assertion not for curiosity but as a salve to his conscience. "It is an errand of no evil," said Beatrice gravely. Her words satisfied Sylvanus as the words of a fair woman always satisfy the conscience of a mam The amount of convic tion carried by beauty is truly wonderfuL fTO BS COIfTIK?ED ] What Our Editors Say. Greenville News. We have do means of knowing what was dooe in Chicago on yesterday, the day the struggle between the street car company and its striking laborers was expected to culminate in bloodshed. But we feel safe in saying now that if there was a fight, none of the socialists who howled so loudly on Sunday of their purpose to burn the property and shed the blood of the, rich were in it. If knives and pistols were used, the men who called for them on Sunday were not in their vicinity, and if any socialist leader was hurt we know it was an ac cident. Barking dogs never bite, and the orator who windily roars for blood always finds his own carcass too valua ble to the cause to be lightly exposed to ball, bayonet or club. Cruelty to Convicts. News and Courier. The number of convicts on the Savan nah Valley Railroad at the time of tbe inspection was 1C3. Of this number^ were at work. Sixteen of tbe convicts died between January 19 and June 18. Ten of the number died between May 9 and June 18, a little more than a month. In this brief period of time nearly one-tenth of the whole number of leased convicts died. At that rate every one of tbe hundred convicts would have been set free, by death, in less than a year. Why was the mortality so terrible ? It is stated distinctly that the deaths were due to natural causes, and that there were no indications of ill-treat ment or cruelty. We cannot doubt that, as stated,congestion, heart disease, hemorrhage, pneumonia and enteric complaints were the immediate causes of the appalling morUli^l^Tuc wSat is behind it ? It is..-stated in tbe reports that the supply-of fresh vegetables was insO??cient ; that the blankets of the convicts needed washing; that there was a scarcity of straw. There were some sign? of scurvy among the hands. It is admitted, moreover, that the con victs worked more than the ten hours a day permitted by law. According to the statement-of tbe lessee himself, the men are out by 4 30 A. MM and do not return until 8 P. M. We are informed, also, that the convicts rarely leave their camp later than 3 o'clock in the morn ing, and rarely return to it before 9 o'clock at night : that tbey take their breakfast before they go out, and their supper after they return. According to this statement the convicts walk and work about eighteen hours a day. The railroad is a considerable distance from the camp. The convicts walk in shack les to the railroad and back again ; and the shackles, as we understand it, are kept on while they are at work. The shackles consist of an iron band around the body and a band at each ankle, with a heavy connecting chain. Thus shackled, with insufficient food, and working about eighteen hours a day, is it surprising that one-tenth of the convicts should have died in about six weeks, and from -'natural causes?" It is too plain that these poor people were brought into so low a physical condition by excessive labor, with the occasional accompaniment of ill-treatment, that they succumbed at once, when attacked by maladies which persons in good health would have successfully resisted. That, in our view, is the whole truth about it. The excuse is that Mr. Carroll, the regular overseer, was absent when Jackson whipped Porter nearly uuto death and injured Smiley and others so seriously. Jackson will have to answer for himself, and we cannot urge the Governor too earnestly to exhaust every means within his reach to ensure his ar rest and trial. But what of Mr, Car roll, the regular overseer? The con victs, it is stated, regard Mr. Carroll as their frieud, and speak in high terms of his kindness. Poor people! What else could they say? Is it strange that they should lie, if necessary, to propit iate Mr. Carroll when they know that, if thoy venture to tell any uupleasant truths, it is in his power to treat them as Porter was treated ! Why, Mr. Carroll confesses that he works the con victs for a greater number of hours than tbc law permits. Is there any evidence of kindness in that, or in the shackling, or iu the insufficiency of food ? Tbe re sponsibility, we say, lies upon the les sees and their officers, and they eaouot shift it so as to put the whole blame up on Jackson, who is a fugitive from jus tice. Perhaps when he is brought to book, wo shall kuow more about it. We must say at once, that there is, iu our opinion, but one way to prevent the ill-treatment of convicts, aud that is by breaking up altogether the system of leasing convicts for employment at places distant frooi the Penitentiary. There is no other cure. It may very well happen that some lessees will treat the convicts kindly, but it is certain that the whole of these lessees and the whole of their overseers and agents will not be considerate and humane. Tbe temptation is too groat to resist. A fixed sum is required to be paid for tbe j convicts, and it is to the interest of the ; lessees to get as much work as possible | out of them, and to bring the cost of ! feeding and guarding them to the lowest ? * I practicable point, lbere is, as have j said. but. one remedy, and that is to . prohibit absolufe?g Ike leasing of con- j victs. Tbey who allow this horrible j system.this worse than Siberian system, j to continue will bo responsible for every ' death that occurs. j ?8 l?. Eig?t ? y, Sumter Districi Reporter. The great quest ion that is. agitatbg the public of South Carolinais, whether, or not it is right to tax the. people to. afford free tuition in the State : Univer-. sity, where no higher grade, cf educa tion is actually given, than is given, in. the four Colleges of the four leading de?, nominations of Christian? in the State. ?Furmau University, Erskihe, New? berry and Wofford Colleges, and ma? be adde<i Davidson, supported in part by the Presbyterians of this State* I? it right to require the peopje to pay such a large amount to furnish free Mil lion to a few young men, for the Jnoet part the sons of well-to-do parents, while: the great mass of our people. have. n?? the privilege of primary tuition,, except of the most limited kind, both as to.fche, Quality of the teachings and the length of tim? the schools are opened ? Is it right to take these thousands of d?llari from the common free schools of the masses, and give them to the "higher, education" of. the few ? ?s it right to. require the large mass of the people represented in the four leading Church-, es, to give free tuition to these young . men at Columbia, while they ?r? in dur ty bound to sustain their own institu tions?institutions that H?ve done sopii good work when this Columbia school was not ? Is it right to discriminato against the denominational Colleges,, which really represent the great mass of the people, by forciog them into, competition with a College made free iu tutition by the money of the people who represent these denominational Colleges ? No, it is not right. And when the people know their cause thpf will overwhelming voice cry,.. Ko. We advocate high education, but not at. the sacrifice of the primary. Weadvocate high education, but let those who seek it pay for it. The Vanderb?t Troubl?** Sumter District Reporter. ? . Io the late reorganization of tb? Theological Department of Vaoderbilt University Dr.-A. M. Sbipfc was not re-elected. Dr. Shipp, in a pamphlet of _? 24 pages, charges that great in} ?stice was done him while he held official rela tion to the University, and that this In?, justice culminated in bis being retired from the Institution. The onus of th'e blame he lays on Bishop McTyiere, the President of *ihe Board of Trustees. He charges that Bishop McTyiere was ?, jj partisan against him, and that te was. i guilty of nepotism in securing places M for his sons-in-law. Bishop -^^^fatt^^a^ President of the Board of TrusB plies in a short article, in vM avers he bai been partial toj|fl the University three years longer than the Board was willing to retain h?m;. that his final retirement from the Uni versity was on account of his inefficiency; that the Board desired to improve and. enlarge the Theological Department for which Dr. Shipp was inadequate ; that the interests to be served were too Im portant to be, made secondary io ?tiy individual accommodation. We ex* eeedingly regret this difficulty. Carolina Spartan. . There has been considerable, trouble, in the military branch of the State. University. A stndent by the name ef Schirmer had reported two boys for cer tain conduct and caused their expulsion. The others thought be did not act ri^bt' and they would have nothing to do with* him Schirm er attended to his duties, studying with great diligence and was. promoted over the others. They re belled and said they would not bow down to this man nor . do obeisance to him. They could not take bim out and sell him to the ?shmaelit?s, for they were oil in Edgefietd County, getting ready to scoop in Governor Thompson at the right time about that appoint ment. They were afraid to take him out to the battery and drown him for. such things do not have pleasant mem ories. So they just swelled around in their brass buttons and strutted about in their white pants and stood as straight and stiff as their commanding officer, when he is in full panoply. A crisis, had certainly arrived. The peculiar/ civilization of brass buttons, 'eyes rignt ' ~ and 'toes out' was at stake. The old State was quaking in her military boots, and high cut cuffs. Just in the nick ot time, Gen. Hagood and two or three other members of the Board of Visitor^ suggested an armstice, until a full meeting of the Board could be held. All parties agreed to this, and now the\ work of the Citadel is going on in the usual way. The Strikers. Sparlanburg Herald. The street car owners of Chicago are having trouble with their employees./ Some days ago they discharged several, conductors. The whole organized force rebelled. They not only refuse to work, but they refuse to allow the cars to be. run, placing barricades of every kind on', the track. The whole polic? fcrce is. called out to protect the property. The, most incendiary harangues are being, delivered, in which arson and the.mur der of capitalists is openly advocated. They want the matter arbitrated. .The. Car Company claims that there is noth ing to arbitrate, and that they have a right to discharge whom, they please,, and they are right. No concessions, whatever should be made to rioters in, arms. The only way t? treat with thotn is with the bayonet and grape *hpi^ There can never be quiet and order m the Northern cities until mobs are taught that they arc outlaws, and that resistance to the authorities is treason which merits death. Spartanburg Herald. There is talk in Columbia of starting'" another daily newspaper. Wh'iflT Col-* uiii'oia wants with another daily, witn such a paper as fhe Register, is a thing hard to bo understood. She fails to af ford even that paper a" decent adverT** ing patronage. It would be far better for^ Columbia to come to the support of the licqisltr * to afford it the means of com peting with its more powerful rivals,' -f and Columbia can rest assured that the 1 Iyigist?r will re.-pond, and will take a]' position in journalism of which they will be proud. F'?r its size it is already ou e of the best dailies iu he South. iu tcresting in its news, and high toned* and iucorrupfible in its rxiuci^l?s.* - .? ;?..