THF SUMTER WATCH KAN, Established April, 1850?
Consolidated AH?. 2, 1881.1
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thon Aims't^at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's
THK TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane, 12?6
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1891.
New Series-Vol. Xl. So. 1(5.
fe.
N. GK OSTEEN,
; SUMTER, S. C.
TSRMS :
Tin? Dollars per annum-in advance.
AD V SBTI8?MKKT8 .
Jorifemar^, fixfrtinsertion.-.^S$? 00
Svwv subsequent insertion.-?-?r 50
Co?tracts for three months, or longer will
ba-m*de at redacedrrites.
?ill cetnaMmi?ations w bieh subserve private
Bforests will bechargsd for as ? d 7ertisements.
9bHaar?eO aid tributes of respect will be
for?
mm
m DRUG STORE
W. H. r?lLLR?NB ?fc 4D.
Beg to_ announce to the crtgfessro? Somier,
^aad.?o^^Uiatthef^%aed^
227 TSE HOSTAGES BLOCS.
A tSompfete Stock-of
Toiled and
Fancy Articles,
and other gooda, such as are usn*Uy ion nd io
a Orig Store, including
SEGARS AND TOBACCO, QAR
Especi? attention is invited to a fine Hoe of
- PERFUMERY, ] -
embracing some fine imported Extracts.
-Careful attention given ta the com po nod?
ing of prescriptions, and calls promptly at?
tended to at all hours.
An Electric E?ell wDf be foaad at the door
for night ose.
ed xe Ayn SEE US.
W. H. GILLIL A2?D & CO.,
MONAGHAN BLOCK,
^ M A IN. STREET, SUMTER, S. C. .
? AH^kiadaof
MACHINE WORK REPAIRS
?an.be bad io Sumte' at short notice, and in
tbe~v?ry beat cl*83 oi work, at the shop re
ce?t?y opened bj the undersigned on Liberty
Street, near,the C. S. A N. Depot.
Patched, and WI and Sin
!??:\:'Wark a' Specialty.
Prompt attention' jp v?n to work ia the
?Anifty, and first. class workmen sent to at?
tend rfj satue. i
tJ?tatabe shop or address throngh Sumter
A^3* EDGAR SKINNER.
?jpp6??on " to Ciiaiter Ballway Co.
T^fOTlCS is hereby given that lae under
j^p??ppe4'wilt *pp?v to the General Assem
b)>idftbie Sta:?, at its next session for a
charter o? a Raliway Com pa nv, to run from
- a point on the Savannah River, opposite or
new the City cf Angusta, ir. the State of
wmtoectty of Aiken, throngh Orangeborg
and Sumter Counties to the city of Sumter,
in this State. Said Rai! wa j to be known
as The Augusia3 Aiken and Sumter Railway
^* J. G. BAYSHAM,
M. B. WOODWARD.
Auer
rr P?RS?A#fe?J)i ??il SAWS or
this State D?j?ce ia iaereby gi ven that the
Bishop vi! le KAI 1 road Company will apply to
the Legislature of this State at its next ses*
sion for authorii j to extend its Railroad in a
general North or North-westerly direction as
far as the North Co roi i na State line, and also
to extend said Railroad from Atkins, in a
Seora or South-easterly direction as far as
some point oo the North Eastern, or the Cen?
tral Railroad of Sooth Carolin?.
P. L. BRIDGERS,
President B.R R. Co.
Aognstl^^ ; ,, ang.26-v
L *' ?d?STBH,
SUMTER, S. C.,
-THE- . :
Pr&c&al Carpenter Coatractor
AND BUILDER.
WOULD RESPECTFULLY inform the
citizens of Sumter and surrounding
country that he is prepared to furnish plans,
and estimates on brick and wooden buildings
AU work entrusted to him will be done
first class.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
A?4? m*m ~. . o.
j?Ut HiS^L work far tu, by Anns. Pago? Austin,
Qm&^?SS^mX?kT?"?. .???- Uonn, Tok-0?s Ohio.
^ <awnyTaSil!?!Sy'"t -v"u? So,"c "?m over f500.00 &
J 7^"*^ jyB'yaHBp"0"'1'- V?" oin do the work and Hvo
/Ak\^ SSBHHS** hom*, wiirrrvrr von arr. be
fff> WjJSlf'~'atu?j-?*rc rtisiiv -nrain*- ??vun ti to
*U>?.<J?Y. Ali ?FT*. We*pn-r jon how
*g/ *"*fl *t"<:i r-Q-'<-"?1 <n iforr tim?
j V* JUWSS? or all :hc time. Ki? mon'v for xrork
I ^jfl ?ii^^ er>" t";-I!ure ualta'in n imoof tbrta.
. %?4fiBnM?'^-\5W and \Tr>nd?rfu!. r?nifolflr?free.
Htfittct Co^Boy yWPoitbMrtJa?toe
GLENN SPRING-S
MINERAL WATER
A Sate, Pleasan and Effective Remedy for al
diseases of the
IT ACTS ON THE BOWELS,
* CLEANSES THE SYSTEM,
^AND REGULATES THE LIVER,
And i5 a specinc for moft
SLMPSON & SIMPSON,
.?f'} Ji - * Prop??Bfiors,
Gieba Spriogs, S. C.
For sale by all leading Druggists.
THE
RIHST?T?TE.
FOUNDED 1867. - - CHARTERED 1888.
The Twenty-Fourth Collegiate
Year of this school for young
ladies begins THURSDAY, SEP?
TEMBER 10?b, 1891, and closes
JUNE 13th, 1892
For terms, &c, apply for circular.
Mrs. L. A. BROWNE,
i?ss E. E. COOPER,
Joly 1 _Principals.
WHEAT! WHEAT! WHEAT!
IT WitfJ^SSaWiKto do worse than at
cot&Pjjfo th'?re cao be no barm in trjing
ivers i Sed indastry.irthe.hope of the
Sooth. Jewill b%eaj|resher an3 bolter at
t^^mmAS?&^^mi?^it^tif?e for HHa
crop, so parties can be certain of having their
wheat prepared not only for their families but
can sell the surplus. First class wheat and oat
seed and General Merchandise for sale at Cane
Savannah Store.
J. SINGLETON MOORE,
Oct. 6-10t. Cane Savannah, S. C.
CHILD BIRTH . .
* *? ' MADE EASY !
" MOTHERS' FRIEKD " is a scientific?
ally prepared Liniment, every ingr??
dient of recognized value and in
constant use by the medical pro?
fession. These ingredients are com- -
bined in a manner hitherto unknown
"MOTHERS'
. FRIEND"
WILL DO all that is claimed for
it AND MORE. It Shortens Labor,
Lessens Pain, Diminishes Danger to
Life of Mother and Child. Book
to " MOTHERS " mailed FREE, con?
taining valuable information and
voluntary testimonials.
Sent by express on receipt of price $1.50 per bottle
BRADFIELD REGULATOR CO., Atlanta, 6a.
SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
For Infants and Children.
? Cartagia promotes Digestion, and
overcomes Flatulency, Constipation, Sour
Stomach, Diarrhoea, and Feverishness.
Inns the child is rendered health j and its
sleep natural. Cas to ri a. contains no
Morphine or other narcotic property.
"Castoriaisso well adapted to children that
1 recommend it as superior to any prescription
known to me." H. A. ARCHER, M. D.,
Ill South Orford St., Brooklyn, N. T.
"I use Castoria in my practice, and find it
specially adapted to affections of children."
ATJTT. ROBERTSON, M. D.,
1067 3d ATC, New York.
"From personal knowledge and observation
I can say that Castoria is an excellent med icine
for children, acting as a laxative and relieving
the pent up-bowels and general system very
much. 3d any mothers have told me of its ex?
cellent effect upon their children."
DR. G. C. OSGOOD,
- Lowell, Xags.
THE CSXTAUB COMPANY, 77 Murray Street, N. Y.
Are Yon Interested?
Are voa suffering with any of the following
symptoms: Loss of, or irregular appetite,
loss of flesh, a feeling of fulness or weight in
the stomach, acidity, flatulence, a dull pain
with a sensation of heaviness ia the head,
giddiness, constipation, derangement of kid?
neys, heart trouble, nervousness, sleepless?
ness, etc. Dr. Holt's Dyspeptic Elixir will
cure you.
W. A. Wright, the Comptroller General of
Georgia, says, three bott res cured him after
having tried almost everything else.
Judge R. F, Izlar, Macon, Ga., says, Holt's
Elixir accomplished what all other remedies
failed to do, a perfect cure.
J. E. Pitullin, Ft. Gair.es, Ga., writes : "I
have no hesitancy in recommending it, as it
cured me of dyspepsia.
For any farther information inquire of
your druggist. For sale by all druggists.
H. A. HOYTT
Successor to
C. I. HOYT & BRO.
Sold and Silver Watches,
FINE DIAMONDS.
Clocks, Jewelry, Spectacles,
MERIDEN BRITANIA SILVERWARE, &c.
REPAIRING A SPECIALTY.
Feb 1_
THE SHON DS NATIONAL BANK,
OF SUMTER.
STATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSI?
TORY, SUMTER, S. C.
Paid up Capital.575,000 00
Surplus Fund. 10,000 00
Transacts a General Banking Business.
* Careful attention given to collections.
SAYINGS DEPARTMENT.:
Deposits of $1 and upwards received. lo?
tetest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per
annum. Payable quarterly, on first days of
January,{April, July and October.
R. M. WALLACE,
Vice President.
L. S. CARSON,
Aug. 7 Cashier.
Till um ? sn
SUMTER, S C.
CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSITORY.
Transacts a general Banking business.
Also hes
A Savings Bank Department,
? Deposits of $1.00 and upwards received.
Iuterest calculated at the rate of 4 per cent,
per annum, payable quarterly.
W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH,
A. WHITE, JB., President.
Cashier.
Aug 21.
DR. E. ALVA
DENTIST.
Office
OVER BROWNS ? PURDY'S STORE.
Entrance on Mainstreet,
Between Browns & Purdy und Durant & Son.
OFFICE HOURS:
9 to 1.30 ; 2 to 5 o'clock.
Sumter, S. C , April 29.
G. W. DICK, D. D. S.
Office over Bogin's New Store,
KUTRANCK ON MAIN STREBT
SUMTER, S. C.
Office Hours.-9 to 1;30 ; 2:30 to 5.
Sept 8_
Dr. T. W. BOOKHART,
DENTAL SURGEON.
Office over Bultman & Bro.'s Shoe Store
ENTRANCE ON MAIN STREET.
SUMTER, S. C.
Office Hours-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5.
April 17-0
Bradycrotine Only a Headache Cure
Ey HOWARD PTL3L
CHAPTER L
A long row of some dozen or so great
stone mills, with roofs tall and steep, or
hipped and gabled, and with walls
whitened with fionr. gaping by open
sheds and half doors upon a sunny stretch
of dusty road, they stand npon the steep,
bluff shore of a river. Upon the road
they are two stories high: upon the river
front they are four, five, or even six. In
some seasons sloops, brigs and barks are
lashed to the river walls loading with
barrels of flour or cornmeal, the shouts
of the stevedores and the creaking ?f
blocks and tackles echoing from stony
wall to stony wall. ' On the decks lounge
a few idle sailors in baggy breeches or
petticoats, club queues down their backs
and cocked hats or Monterey caps upon
their beads; and upon the road in front
of the mill doors stand clustered the
queer old vehicles of the day-farmers'
carts, coopers' carts, great Conestoga
wagons dragged by teams of eight, ten
or twelve mules, and which travel some?
times even as far as Pittsburg.
Upon the farther side of the road from
the mills is the millrace, brimming with
the speeding waters that in the night
time fill the silence with the brawling of
their hurrying rush. Here and there
side streams shoot under the bridges and
lift floodgates and set the huge, groaning
wheels a-turning, and the rude machin?
ery and great millstones to jarring and
turning in answer. *
Such, one hundred years ago, were the
famous old Brandywine flour mills,
which ground more meal during the
Revolution and for the old West India
trade than was ground at any otiwr
place in the country.
CHAPTER fi.
"Uncle," she sn Ul tn a breathless whisper,
"trill he tZic?"'
It was on the evening of the twelfth
of September, in the year seventeen hun?
dred and seventy-seven. The yellow
sunlight streamed in through the win?
dows, and all the room was full ? of the
good smell of supper. The blue china
cups and saucers and plates and dishes,
the pewter spoons, and the iron knives
and two-pronged forks, polished till they
shone like silver, caught the light and
winked and sparkled and twinkled back
again at the broad yellow patches of
light on the floor.
Friend Sparks and his family sat at
supper, but though the smell of it was
so good the knives and forks and spoons
clattered in a listless fashion, and the
family ate and drank without much
heart in the matter.
**I don't know," said Friend Joseph,
laying down his knife and fork and look?
ing around at his daughters, and more
especially at his niece, Mattie Dixon
.*I don't know what it is that sets j-on
girls so agog over a laced hat and epau?
lets and a blue coat and brass buttons.
Here was General Washington and his
army not more than a month in town,
and now, because he has gone and takes
away with him his snipe jack aids-de?
camp and captains and majors, all the
women in Wilmington and Brandywine
are in the vapors." #
Now men are not quick at seeing
things, but the women knew very well
why Mattie Dixon's eyes were red. In?
deed, a gloom had fallen upon them all
ever since a young farmer had ridden
down from Chadd's Ford that morning,
bringing the news of a great battle that
had been fonght up the Brandywine.
Later in the day two farmers* wagons
had passed through the village, bringing
each a load of wounded men lying in the
straw.
But Friend Joseph Sparks did not
notice Mattie's red eyes.
"I do not," said he presently, separat?
ing the don't in his emphasis-"! do not
see what it is about a shedder of blood
that turns a woman's head. 1, for one.
should be sorry to see a daughter or a
niece of mine tied to such an unregener?
ate, soulless son of Anak as one of those
young men who make bloodshed a trade. .
and think that a blue coat and brass but?
tons excuse murder. Now there was a
battle fought yesterday," he continued,
leaning back in his chair and folding his
hands, "and no doubt a many likely
young men killed or maimed for life.
There was that Philip Van Cleiff who
came here so often when"- The worthy
Friend was suddenly interrupted in his
monologue by Mattie Dixon rising so
precipitately as to knock her chair over
backward with a loud clatter upon the
floor, and then hurrying from the room
without a word, feeling in her pocket
for ber handkerchief as she went.
Friend Sparks stared after her with
open eyes. A momentary pause fol?
lowed as the door banged behind thegirL
"How could thou talk so. Joseph?" said
the good mother presently. "Didn't thou
see that it was as much as she could do
to contain ber spirits?" Then she, too.
pushed back her chair and followed her
niece.
"Botheration!" said Friend Sparks,
and then he also pushed back his chair
with a loud scrape upon the floor, and
taking his pipe from the mantel shelf,
filled it with tobacco and lit it with a
coal he chose very carefully from the
embers on the hearth.
His three daughters, Rebecca. Mary
Jane and Susan, said nothing, but %3 he
went out of the door in a swirling cloud
of tobacco smoke they exchanged very
Dieaning glances.
Friend Joseph Sparks wns one riqdrt
well known in the milling circles of his
day; a wealthy man as times went, a
keen bargainer, but as honest as the palin
of your hand. He was the owner of
three of the largest of the Brandywine
mills, and sat in the gallery, as it was
called, in Friends' meeting; for, like all
of the Brandywine millers, he was a
Quaker.
He was a man perhaps too keen and
caustic in bis speech, but with a good
sound heart buried in tie prickly husk.
He alone of all those Quaker millers
dared to grind flour during the dark days
of Valley Forge. Now he leaned over
the front gate of the garden feeling very
uncomfortable at the thought of having
made Mattie cry, looking absently '
the road and puffing caning wreaths
smoke into the breathless air.
The snn had set and the glimmers
gray of twilight had fallen. A ca
came slowly moving down the whi
stretch of road-a farm cart from np
the country. A board was laid acre
it, and on the board sat two men-one
farmer, the other an officer in tho Con
nental army.
Friend Sparks watched them with
sort of dull curiosity. So many of tl
broken army had passed by ones ai
twos through the village that day th
the sharp edge of interest was worn oil
But as tho cart carno up to him
stopped. "Do you know any one li vii
here by name Joseph Sparks?" said tl
officer.
"I am Joseph Sparks," answered tl
miller, opening his gate and coming on
"Who has thee there in the cart, friend
looking into thc straw.
"A friend of 3'ours," said the office
'who was hurt yesterday in the battle
As he spoke the figure raised itse
from the straw where it la)T, and turn;
toward the miller a face white as de?t
the head and jaws bound around with
bloody cloth, and a pair of eyes dull ai
languid.
The good Quaker hardly recognized i
the pale, woebegone figure the gay your
Major Van Qlieff, who had visited at tl
house so frequently during the la
month.
He stood staring, agape, holding h
pipe idly in his hand, "ls thee mu<
hurt?" said he at last.
"1 don't know,'' said tho young ma
faintly.
"Can't you lodge him somewhere ti
he gets some doctoring?" asked the o
ricer.
Friend Sparta stood for a lnornei
sunk in troubled thought "Nay," sai
he at last, "? can't bring him into tr
house. If the British should come, {
it's likely they will, it would bring troi
ble that 1 have no right to shoulder,
can lodge him at the mill, and will mal
him as comfortable as 1 can." And ?
it was arranged.
' Friend Joseph followed tho cart dow
the short hill to the mill door, and thei
saw the wounded man carried into th
loft, where .a bed of empty brigs W?
made upon a pile of wheat. Then leai
ing the mill foreman to watch the p;
tient, he went back to the house for hi
coat and hat.
The news of thc coming of thc weane
ed man had already flown through tb
house. Mattie met him at the door, an
as he stood in the dark entry, grippe
him by the wrist with both hand
"Uncle," she said in a breathless whi:
per, "uncle, will he die?"
"I don't kuow," said Friend Sparks i
an answering whisper; "no, I think not.
He could just see her pale face in th
gathering darkness.
"Oh, uncle!" she ?jd, in the sam
gasping whisper. "He asked me t
marry him before he went away. If li
dies my heart will break." And she be
gan to cry convulsively.
Friend Sparks stood quite still fo
awhile. "1 am going for Doctor Shall
cross," said ho at last, and then Matti
let go h^ wrist and he left her. shuttin;
the sitting room door softly behind him
"After all, it is no such great matter,
said the doctor, as he and Friend Spark
walked across the road from the mill t<
the house in the starry darkness, "lt i
a sword stroke upon the side of th
head, but tho brain is not injured. Iii
is only faint from loss of blood. I sewe<
up the cut, and'll come agata to see hin
tomorrow morning. I wonder," h?
added, "that they should have sent hin
here to Wilmington instead of taking
him to Philadelphia along with them."
"Newer mind," said Friend Sparks
"He is here now, and I'D make him a
comfortable as I can."
Mattie Dixon awakened at early dawn
ing the next morning with the dripping
of the rain falling upon the roof-pat
pat! and an unusual son: of men';
voices out in tho road before the house
loud talking and laughter. She jumpec
out of bed and ran to the window, anc
saw upon the other side of the road s
sight that made her heart stand still.
A row of stacked muskets stood undei
the trees among the yellow leaves. Ac
coutrements, haversacks and cartridgt
boxes hung from the crossed bayonets,
and squatting, lolling and sitting upon
the ground were some two score of sol?
diers in tall grenadier hate, with white
leggins upon their legs, and the blaze of
red coats shining from under the cloaks
hung loosely across their shoulder s.
Three or four officers sat upon a bench be?
tween two of the maple trees, and tha
white smoke from a lire rose sluggishly
up through tho half naked brandies.
The British had come.
Without wailing an instant Mattit
slipped on a petticoat over her night?
gown, and in lier bare feet ran down
stairs and burst into her uncle's room.
"Unclef she cried, "the British have
come!"
Joseph Sparks sat np in bed as though
moved by a spring.
"Oh!" cried the girl, wringing her
hands, "the soldiers will find bim aDU
kill him or send him to the hulks."
"Botheration!" said Friend Sparks,
"thou thinks of nothing but the young
man. Go and get dressed. Thou's a
spectacle."
4'lf he wa? only a barrel of flour," said
Friend Joseph, as the family sat at a mel
j ancholy breakfast that morning. "I'd get
him away as easy as goose grease." And
then again they all sat silent in thought.
'Uncle.'" said Mattie suddenly, 'does
thee remember those double barrels that
thee had made to send cornmeal to Ja?
maica in the Nancy schooner before the
war? Could a man get into one of
them?"
'Perhaps so," said the miller, 'if
He stopped suddenly and pushed back
Mis chair 'Why. thou's hit it. girl." he
cried. 'We might barrel him np and
send him off-eh. mother? Why. one of
those West Indian double barrels would
be the very thing.r
'We might st? nd him to sister Jane, in
Chester " said Rebecca Sparks, looking
at her husband
'No. no that would never do." said
the miller 'No man could be cramped
in a barrel five or six hours Remember,
too. that hes wounded. I tell thee what
we can do. We can send him to Cousin
Jane Penny, that's only four miles. We
might say that wc were sending a barrel
1o Chester and they would never know
that it stoppeil on the way-tschk!" said
he suddenly 'Here we are in a rut:
who ? to take the barrel?"
It wa.? a point that they had not
thought of
'Can t John Binney take bini?' said
Rebecca. John Binney was the mill
foreman.
'I don't soe how he could," said Friend
j Sparks, 'they would know that John
j Binney would never go to Chester with
. a barlil of {ji?ur If the lx>ys were only
; home* (by the boys he meant the two
. sons. Reuben and John;, 'they might do
1 it."
1 lu the pause that followed .Mattie SUd
fc?:
denly arose and went to hrr uncie ana
kneele<l beside his chair 'Uncle," said
she in a low voice.
."What Lo it. Mattie?"
'One clay when aunt and thee were
away from home 1 put on the clothes
that Kenben wore when he was a boy.*
She bowed her head, and a long pause
of silence followed The old clock in
the corner said sharply, 'tick, tack."
At last Friend Sparks broke the silence
and he spoke in a voice more gentle than
his usual acrid tone. 'Thou may put
them on again. Mattie." said he.
CHAPTER UL
"Beatuse I am n poor girl and am trying
to save my dear friend.9*
Colonel Gorse had made the connting
i room of the great north mill his head?
quarters. He was lighting his pipe at a
I candle when the glass door opened and
Friend Joseph Sparks came in, his beaver
I upon his head, a corporal escorting him.
! holding the sleeve of the Friend's coat
bet wee? his thumb and finger.
He had come, the Friend 6aid, to ask
for a permit to pass a harrel of flonr
! through the lines
"Take off your hat," said Colonel
Gorse.
"Nay," said the Friend, "it is against
my conscience to take off my hat to any
man."
'Damn your consciencef* said the
colonel. "Take off your hatP
'Nay," said the Friend. 'I cannot
take off my hat."
The orderly, who stood near to the
colonel. leaned over and said something
to him.
'I don't care a damn who he is,"* said
the colonel ra reply to the whispered
word. 'Hesha'n't wear bis hat before
me. Take oft his hat. corporal. "
The Friend made no objections as the
corporal lifted off his hat and tossed it
upon the bench beside the door 'Now
then," said the colonel, "tell me your
business. "
The opening did not seem very pro?
pitious, but Friend Sparks began his
story again. He had a sister in Chester
to whom he had promised a barrel of
flour lt should have gone yesterday
but he had put off sending. His sister
would be looking for it, and he was sorry
that she should not get it. Would the
colonel let him send it through the iine3
by his hired boy that morning.
"Can't your sister buy flour, instead
of sending to Brandywine for it?'
'Why, thou sees, friend," said the
miller, "money has been very scarce
with us of late. My sister's husband is
! on a voyage to the West Indies, and she
looks to me to help her in these matters,
so, if thou'll let me. I'll send that barrel
of flour this morning."
Once more the orderly whispered in
the colonel's ear. Perhaps be told the
chief officer that Joseph Sparks was one
of the richest men in that part of the
country The two held a muttered talk
for a few minutes, and then the colonel
turned abruptly to the Friend with
more respect in his voice than he had
shown before.
'What time did you want to send
that flour?" said he.
'A bout niue o'clock. ** said Friend Jo
seph
'Well." said the colonel "have it
ready by nine o'clock and 1 will let it
go through the lines."
So at nine o'clock a cart half full of
straw stood m front of the door at the
south mill, with a pretty, paie faced boy
standing at the horse's head. The miiler
and his foreman lowered a great double
barrel by a block and tackle from tibe
loft above. Two or three soldiers were
standing in the rani with their cloaks
over their shoulders, idly watching the
operation. They did not see three augur
holes in the top of the barrel. As it
touched the ground Friend Sparks care
lessly threw a bag over the top of it.
. "That 'ere- is the biggest barrel of flour
that ever 1 see," said one of the men. tak?
ing his pipe out of his mouth.
"lt's a double barrel, friend,'* said the
miller, brushing his hands together. "It
is the kind that we used to send to the
West Indies."
"Where be that going?' said the sol?
dier
"To Chester," said the miller briefly.
'Now then. John, eas}'." They turned
the barrel on its side, and rolled it slow?
ly np the plank to the cart.
'You roll it up as if it was full of
glass." said one of the soldiers. 'Let me
help yon."
"Never mind, friend," said the miller.
'We can handle it better without thy
help So-now. John-that's it," and
the barrel was rolled into the cart and
fastened in its place with ropes. The
soldiers did not notice t hat it lay upon
its side, the end nearest the head of the
cart raised a little higher than the other.
As they went by Colonel Gorse's head?
quarters the orderly who had befriended
Friend Joseph stood at the door. A
young, boyish looking lieutenant wrap?
ped in a cloak sat upon a horse near by,
and two troopers and a corporal stood
beside him, the muzzles of their guns
pointed downward, the flintlocks shel?
tered from the drizzly rain under their
overcoats.
"Is this the barrel of flour?* said the
orderly, peering into the cart.
"Aye." said Friend Sparks, 'that is
it."
"It is a plaguy big one," he observed.
'It is easier to send it in such bulk,"
said the miller.
"These men are going to Chester,"
said the orderly, pointing to the young
officer and tho three troopers. "They
will see you safe through."
His words fell upon Friend Sparks like
a thunderbolt. Iiis mind seized upon
everything in one instant of flight. Those j
few words meant either death to the |
wounded man. who would have to stay :
five hours in the barrel-a dreadful death, I
cramped and tortured in the narrow j
space-or else, should the secret of the I
contents be disclosed, imprisonment for
himself ami perhaps for his niece. He \
looked at Mattie, but she kept her head i
turned away and made uo sign.
'Forward!" said the young officer, and j
off they moved, he riding in front and !
the three men marching beside the cart. \
The miller stood looking after them ;
until they had passed beyond the crest of i
the hill.
?*Are you sick, Mr. Sparks?" the order?
ly asked, looking into his face.
"Nay," said the Friend with a start,
'bnt I feel chilly. 1 think 1*11 go home.*'
Mattie had hean! the words as well as
her uncle, and as she rode along, unheed?
ing the rain and rough shaking of the
cart, her thoughts teemed like a hive of
bees, planning and planning as to how
she should leave her precious burden at
Cousin Jane Penny's hou.se. She made
up her mind at once that, should they
pass it by. she would confess to the young
lieutenant. For imprisonment in the
bulks was better than the chance of
death in the long ride to Chester.
About two miles from the town there
is a little brawling stream, then known
by the Swedish name of Skillpot, or Stony
brook. At the edge of the woods, close
to the stream, was a company of troop?
ers, who had been stationed to watch the
high road for stragglers from the Amer?
ican anny They had built a rude shel
tel of fence rai!s and brushwood beside
the road.
As the company came by, one of the
sentinels on guard stopped them, and the
young lieutenant showed the passes for
the cart and its burden.
"Look'ee, Jack,*" said the soldier, call?
ing to the others. "Here is a chap with
the biggest barrel of flour that ever 1
see. Tell them to fetch the pan and
we'll fill it."
For a moment Mattie's head spun
dizzily; then she cried out in a shrill
voice: " You sha'n't touch the flour. The
barrel is not }'onrs. You sha'n't touch it. '"
"Zounds!" said the man. "Wiry
6ha'n't we touch it. Can't you spare a
little pinch of flour out of such a big
barrel as that?"
"No," cried Mattie passionately. "You
6haVt have it!"
"Let the man have a little, " urged the
lieutenant
"No. lie sha'n't have itP she cried more
and more vehemently
Two or three of the others had come
forward now, and one stood by with a
hatchet iu his hand.
"By the Lord HarryP said the man
who had just spoken, "we shall have
some, 1 tell 'eel Here, Dick," to the other
sentry, "hold the boy. Now give me
the ax till I knock in the head."
"Let me goT* screamed Mattie, strug?
gling with the fellow who had caught
her by the anns and held them behind
b*r back.
"What is the matter there?" said a
harsh voice, and Mattie, turning her
beaut, saw an elderly officer wrapped in
a cloak standing by the fence beside the
roa<L
'They want to rob me," cried she in a
gapping voice, "and they sha'n't do it!
They shan't do it!"'
"What's the matter, my men?" the of?
ficer asked, coming forward. One of the
soldiers explained, and the officer turned
to Mattie with some surprise. "And
will you nor give the poor man a little
of your flour?" said he.
"No," Mattie, "I cannot,"
"But why?" said the officer.
Mattie hesitated a moment, and then
a sudden determination came upon her.
"1 will tell you," said she; "but .1 can?
not tell them."
"Very well," said the officer; "tell me,
then." And he led her a little apart to
the side of the road. The ;*oor girl hes?
itated for a moment or two; look vd to
the right anti the left like a hare in the
toils, then catching him by the arm and
raising herself upon tiptoe she breathed
into bis ear, "Because 1 am a poor girl
and am trying to sive my dear friend,
who is a wounded soldier of the ? mer
ican anny, and is in yonder barrel*."
The officer glared at ber silently for a
little while; beyond that he neithei
changed countenance or made a start
Mattie waited breathlessly to hear
what he would sr?y.
Suddenly he turned to the others.
'Who gave the order to pass this boy
throngh to Chester?" said he.
"Colonel Crorse." answered the young
lieutenant.
Once more the officer hesitated for a
moment. "Very well," said he at last
'then let him go."
Mattie gave him one eloquent look of
gratitude, and then, without waiting a
moment, ran to her cart and clapping
the reins rode off as fast as the sober old
horse could draw its load.
CHAPTER IV.
" You're drunk," xtrld he. "No, 1 ain't,"
ma i tl Mattie.
As they climbed the steep hill beyond
the brawling stream the young officer
reined bark his horse beside the cart.
'What was the reason you wouldn't
give the men some flour?" he said.
"Because 1 would get whipped," said
Mattie, looking up at him with her dark
eyes. "Mister Sparks is a quiet man,''
she added, "but," with a grimace, "when
he whips he whips hard."
The young officer laughed aloud. "Ami
that was your wonderful secret, was it?"
said he.
"Yes," said Mattie; "I did not want
the soldiers to know it for fear they'd
laugh at me." Then suddenly. "There
isa farm house a mile up the road yonder,
and Mr. Sparks told me to stop there for
a letter if you'd wait till Mrs. Penny
wrote it"
"No." said the young officer. "We
make no stops till we get to Chester."
"Very well." said Mattie with a show
of indifference, "just as yon please. It
wouldn't take over fifteen minutes, ami
she can mull a crock of the best hard
cider to be had in the state of Delaware."
The young soldier rode on for awhile
in silwec. He had been marching in the j
rain with tho three men since daylight j
that morning. He had had nothing to j
eat but a piece of bread and moat, and ;
nothing to drink but a cup of lakewann i
tea. which he had swallowed in Wil- j
mington. The thought of the mulled
cider and the wann re.st for a fow min?
utes was alluring.
"Where is tho house?" said ho sud- I
den ly.
"Ob, half a milo orso along the road,"
aid Mattie, "lt don't matter if yon j
won't stop. It was only a letter that I '
was to take if I had gone to Chester
yesterday."
T'.ie young officer reined back his horse .
to wnere toe troopers were piouum- t
hind, and a few words passed betwe
them. '..Very well," said he, riding f;.
ward to the cart again, "we'll stop f
fifteen minutes, if it won't take you a
longer.**
Mattie's heart began to beat as thouj
to smother her; she felt lier eyes gre
misty with tears. "Very well," said st
after awhile, when she could trust ht
self to speak, "just as you choose."
How Mattie ever got the soldiers in
the kitchen of the farm house and h
cousin into the back entry without t
good old dame betraying her she nev
could tell.
Perhaps it was because Friend Peni
was nearsighted; perhaps it was beear]
she was bewildered by the coming of t
soldiers that she did not recognize M<
tie at first.
And now at last Mattie had her in t
entry back of the dining room,
"Oooftin Mary," said sba, "dont s;
anything-dont make a noise-I 'a
Mattie-hu8hr
"Matriel ! ! P cried the old lad
The girl clapped her band over h
mouth. "Hoshr she said again. "Dor
make a noise-I can't stay-I must |
back to the kitchen-thpre's a man
the barrel in the cart-send some ha:
cider to the kitchen right away and th<
get him our,-I've told them that I w
to stop for a letter-make believe to wri
one."
All this she said pantingly and broke
ly, and then she was gone.
"Where's the mulled ciderr said tl
young lieutenant.
"It's coming," said Mattia **I to
the old lady to fetch it right away."
The corporal had lit his pipe, and w
standing looking out of the windo^
streaked and blurred with rain. "Hallo
he cried suddenly. "Hi, there! Sto
What's that man doing with the nor,
and cart?"
Mattie Icoked out of the window ar
saw John Grimes, the hired man, lea<
ing the horst; and cart toward the she
behind the house. "Oh! he's only goir
to take the horse out of the rain," si
said; "let him alone. Here comes tl
cider."
Friend Penny brought it in with tren
bling hands and set it down upon the t;
ble. "Now, ma'am," said Mattie, "ye
go and fetch me the iron. I'll sizzle ti
cider up. Oh, I am a master hand ?
making cider!" she rattled on; "1*11 sho*
you how to brew a mull of cider that'
make you/ wig stand on end. Man
and many a glass I have brewed for ol
Joey Sparks, and it had to be just so c
he'd leather me." She hardly kne\
what she was saying, but she chatte
wildly on as she heated the iron in th
fire, dipping it into the cider until i
steamed again, sweetening the fragran
brown liquor with sugar and spicing i
with cloves and allspice. "Now, then
taste that, captain,*' she said, handing i
to the foung officer witfc a flourish.
She heard a sound of shuffling fee
without, as though of men carrying
heavy weight, arid then a thump a
though of that burden set u^on th
floor.
' What is that?" said t??e lieutenant
stopping his hand as he raised the cup t
his lips.
"I dont know," said Mattie. -'Nott
ing, I guess. Did you know that thi
house was haunted?"
"No, of course I didn't How shouL
I know it?"
"True for you, captain! Of cours
you didn't know it was hann ted; but i
is, and I'll tell you the story if you'd tiki
to hear it" Without waiting for an an
swer she rattled on, partly improvising ?
string of nonsense, partly adhering t<
the thread of an old legend of the neifc'D
borhood-a story of a murdered peddler
and of how evc*ry year at the same hon:
that the murder was done all -the sound;
of the tragedy were enacted over again
She was telling of bow a woman passin:
through the kitchen had seen thepeddlei
at the table when her cousin came int<
the room with the l>ogus letter in hoi
hand Mattie read in her eyes that thi
work was done, and therewith the stor)
came to an abrupt end. She put hei
hand to her throat. Then "1 forget th?
rest of the story!" she cried wildly.
The young officer looked keenly at -her.
"You're drunk!" said he.
"No, 1 ain't," said Mattie, in a shril'
voice. "I am as sober as you are,"
"Is h*e safe?" she whispered as sh*
pasf?ed her cousin in the entry.
"Yes," said Jane Penny in an answer?
ing whisper; and then, "Dont g4ve way.
Mattie."
"Dont speak to mer gasped the pooi
?I
"Halloo.*" said the corporal when they
came out into the rain, "they've stood
the barrel on end!"
And so they had, but it was not the
same -barrel that Mattie had brought
with her from the Brandywine mills.
She saw that at a flash, and then re?
membered that her uncle had sent a
double barrel one time to Friend Penny
to p??ok smoked hams in for the winter.
That long, dreadful ride to Chester al?
ways remained in her memory like some
horrid nightmare. She had a dim recol?
lection of staring straight before her, of
what seemed to her the unending road,
the fine rain dashing in her face and a
bitter tightness in her throat. But at
last it was ended, and she lay upon the
bed in her aunt's spare room sobbing
and crying as though her heart would
break.
Perhaps no woman before or since
that time lias carried her lover in a flour
barrel and then exchanged him for
smoked hams.
*#**##
Major Van Cleifr made even' effort to
find the name and address of the old
captain of troopers that suffered Mattie
to pass along the road that day. but it
was not until he had been married a
twelvemonth that ho was successful.
Then he sent him on behalf of his wife a
gold snuffbox set with diamonds. It
was in the shape of half a miniature
flour barrel.-Northwestern Miller.
The Rich mod Terminal R. R. Com?
pany has succeeded in making financia!
arrangements, and the future prosperity
of the company is assured. John C
and Pat Calhoun were the means of
making the arrangements and their
prestige as financiers is greater than
ever.
A deputation of the rich merchants
of M.-.scow went to St. Petersburg for
permission to form a society for the re?
lief of the starving. The minister of
the inferior refused to give it *o them,
and threatened to arrest anyone visit?
ing the famine district for the purpose
of extending private relief.
The statement of the election ex?
penses of J. Sloat Fassett was filed
with the Se cretary of State on Novem?
ber 12th. Fissett's cauvass cost him
?8,-150, as follows: To State commit?
tee, ?5,000; traveling expenses, hotel
hills, self and others, estimated at.
?750 ; printing, posters, postage and
clerical help, estimated at ?1 200.
successful Exhibition ci tte
Mason Cotton Harvester
at tho Augusta Ix
position
AUGUSTA, November 1*2 -Special :
The Mason cotton hatvestrr, whi^h bas
been anxiously looked ror here for sev?
eral days, arrived to-day and was exhib?
ited ID operation in a field of cotton in
the Expo.Mtieu grounds this afternoon*
in the presence ef a very large crowd of
interchted spectators.
The machine gathered a? the rate of
300 pounds an hour, or o OOO pounds
for an ordinary working dsy. The
bushes have beeD killed by host abd
the cotton hr.s b en open io the bolls
about two mouths, bur. despite these
drawbacks the cotton which was picked
was ginned without being passed
through a cleaner, and produced a good
clean sample.
Mr Patrick Waist, the president of
the Exposition and the editor of tho
Augusta Chronicle, was preset t durhig
the trial of the machine and said: * I
consider it a most wonderful machin'.
lt picks the cotton ur;dcr most adverse
circumsta"ces without injuring the
plants and unripe bolls and it gathers
enough to make it an implement of
great value/'*
The machine will be exhibit* ? 3gain
to-morrow and will probably reciaiu
here until the Exposition closes.
SECOND DAY'S TRIAL.
At noon yesterday the Mason Cot?
ton Harvester was again exhibited in
Operation in a field of Cotton in the
Exposition grounds. The capacity
of tire machine yesterday reached 350
pounds an hour which was 50 pounds
more than on the first day's tria1.
The cotton gathered was ginned just
as it came from the machine and
made a sample which was classed :*s
mulling cotton. Among those who
witnessed the machine in operation
yesterday were Mr. J. J. Doughty,
the president of the Augusta Cotb n
Exchange, and a number of gej t'emen
engaged in the cotton tiade. lt was
admitted on all sides that the pi inc iple
upon which this machine operates is
net*only highly ingenious, but is the
principle and pei haps the only (?tie by
which thc cotton will v vei be success?
fully removed from the bushes by
machinery.
It has been a long time coming,
but lhere is very little doubt now
that next year machine-picked cotton
will enter ver}* largely into the fac?
tors which regulate the profits to
the planter on his crop. The Masen
Cotton Hat yester is a S:>uth . Carolina
invention, and is manufactured at
Sumter, S. C. Arrangements are
now being made for enlarging the
plant of the company and for manu?
facturing the machi tu s cn a large
scale next year.
The machine is placed in Machinery
Hall, and its mode of operation will
be explained to those interested by
Mr. E. M. Anderson, the gentleman
in charge.-Augusta Chronicle, Nor.
14.
Cotton Returns.
Estimates of ?ie Department of Agriad"
adture for November
Cotton returns of the Department of
Agriculture at Washington for Novem?
ber are not favorable for high rr-te of
yield. Lateness of the crop, externes
of temperature, excess of rainfall folhw
ed by drought, causing enfeebled vi?
tality and loss of foliage ?nd fruit, have
been unfavorable for large crops. On
the northern border of the belt kiiliog
froj-ts occurred on tee "29'b. in some
places as early as thc 23 1. West cf the
Mississippi there has been some im?
provement during the past month;. The
season has been very favorable Tor pick?
ing. The quality is almost everywhere
reported high and the fibre is of good
color and unusually free from trash -
The yield as averaged from couoty esti?
mates average 179 pounds per acre, dis?
tributed by States as follows*.
Virgiuia, 151; North Carolina, 178;
South Carolina. 160; Florida, 120;
Alabama. 165; Mississippi, 100 ; Louis?
iana, 200 ; Texas, 195 ; Arkansas, 210;
Tennessee, 170.
As killing frosts Im'e net yet been
general in the Southern and Western
sections cf the belt it is possible with
favorable weather following that current
expectations may be shghtiy expected.
The a vet age yield of cotton per acre
in the Suuih this year is reported at
1S7 pounds. At Scents that is $15 76
an acre. Probably $16 an acre is a
law estimate of the average cost of cul?
tivation, '.?!;ich leaves a net loss of 24
cents an acre. No other explanation of
wt y money is scarce in the Seutb is
needed, especially as probably twe've of
the sixteen dollars spent for cultivation
go to the North or West. To plant
less cotton and pick out tvore and keep
more of our money this .-ide of the Po?
tomac is the wide gauge remedy which
sufrsests itself -Greenville Xeios.
Ohio claims about 1.100 square miles
of Indiana territory, and Indiana to get
even, claims a bi? hunk of Illinois,
which iucludes Chicago and the World's
Fair.
There wiil be six contested seats in
the next House of ll pres^ntative?,
three by Republicans and three by
Democrats.
Purifies the blood, incresses the circulation,
expels poisonous humors ?cd ingles ci? ?he
system. What more do yon want a medi?
cine to perforai? De Witt's S?rs:! parilla ij
reliable. W. H. Gi?iland & Co.
.- m ii - -?
Buc?i?en'g Arnica Sal vs.
Thc B?it Salve in the wort4 for Cuts, Bruises
Sores. Ulcers. >.-!t Khe::;?). Fever Sores, Tetter,
Chapped Kan da Chilblains, Ciras aad ali
Skin Irruptions, and positively cures Piies, or
no pay required It ?s ^utirartec ? to .sive per?
fect satisfaction, or money rsf.jn-iod. Priro
25cents per box. For sale by J. F. W. Do
Lorme. o
De Witt's L'ttle Early Risers never gripe
or cruse nausea. M i M bat-su re, assist rather
tba a.-force. Best little pill tor a-i?k headache,
chronic constipation, dyspepsia. W. ii. G?h
land ? Co.
Very popular, very small, very rood. De
Witt's Lille Early Ri?ers, the pill for con.
stipation, feitiytxsness, sick headache. W. 11
GilliUnd & Ci.
LADIES
Needing atente,or children vho want build?
ing un, should take
m:<nv*\ S'I?O.? BATTERS.
TM* ] 1 to ta'-e. i*nr*? Haterio. Tu?t
?0?U.OU, iii !^-?_ilOS? u.-_.i. COi_i