Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

?g I From fl i % |?;; C**rri?hU ?899, kr ?cc jt?j; Comrrigbu _ CHAPTER ?. ^HfiN tile rusty hands of office dock marked half ?E$?S3? ^ editor m chief of 3SSgg3 Carlow County Herald bis hand out of his hair, wiped his Sn bis last notice from the White C Put on his coat swept ont the c tittie entry' and left the sanctum the bright June afternoon. Be chose the way to the west st t&S thoughtfully oat of town by Viii ts. hot, deserted Main street thence onward by the country road "Which its proud half mile of old bi fctore buildings, tumbledown fn thons and. thinly painted cottages generated. The sun was in his i 'where the road ran betw, a the si Doer fields, lying waveless, low, \ t?ous in promise; but coming tc wood of hickory and beech and v nut that stood beyond, he might t bis down-bent hat brim up and h J?a head erect Here the shade ?deep and cool on the green tangle tag and iron .weed and long grass toe corners of the snake fence? though the sun beat upon the road t?ose beside. There was no movem -%t tbs crisp young leaves overhe Sigh in the boughs there was a qu Birt of crimson where two robins h ped noiselessly. The late afterno When the air is quite still, had cor yet there rested somewhere on 1 Quiet day a faint, pleasant woo iBnelL It came to the editor of 1 ?Herald as he climbed to the top r Of the fence for a seat, and he du it fong breath to get the elusive od more luxuriously, and then it was go ftltogether. *A habit of delicacies/' he said alor - ^dressing the wide silence complai fcngly. "One taste and they quit" finished, gazing solemnly upon tl fchinmg little town down the road. lt was a place of which its inhab; tots sometimes remarked easily th their city had a population of fro $>909 to 6.000 souls, but it should 1 tasy tn forgive them for such stat meats. Civic pride is a virtue. Tl town lay in the heart of that f erti Stretch of fiat lands in Indiana whet %tts?ern travelers, glancing from c* "windows, shudder and return their ey? te interior upholstery, preferring eve the swaying caparisons of a Pullman 1 the monotony without The landscar. ttt&s on interminably level lines-blea tn winter, a desolate plain of mud au Snow; hot and dusty in summer, mile * tm miles of nat lonesomeness, with nc jil sne cool hill slope away from the sui the persistent tourist who seeks fo feSgfes of man in this sad expanse pei ?Solves a reckless amount of rail fence %t intervals a large barn, and here an? there man himself, incurious, patienl Stow, looking up from the fields apa jtteticaUy as the limited flies by. Nov Ind. then the train passes a villagi jp- built scatteringly about a courthouse with a mill or two humming near th tfteks. This is a county seat and th? feteafeftants and the local papers refei tfr lt confidently as "our city." Such a county seat was Plattville Capital of Carlow county. The socla tdd business energy of the town con ?Centrated on the square, and here ii Summer time the gentlemen were wont te lounge from store to store in theil Shirt sleeves, and in the center ol the square stood the old red brick Courthouse, loosely fenced in a shad; fcrove of maple and elm-"slipp'rj %llumM-called the "courthouse yard.* \yhen the sun grew too hot for the drj Soods box whittlers in front of thc stores around the square and the occu? ltants of the chairs in front of the Pal? ace hotel on the corner they would gc Across and drape themselves over the ?ence and carve their initials on the > top board. From the position of the tom tho editor of the Herald judged that these operations were now in progress, and he was not deeply elated by the knowledge that whatever desul? tory conversation might pass from man te man on the fence would probably be Inspired by bis own convictions ex? pressed editor^,?y in the Herald. He drew a faded tobacco bag and a brier ?pipe from his pocket and. after fyiiag and lighting the pipe, twirled the ?30?2ch macha nica Hy about his finger, th&ok sudcJenry regarding it. patted it ?saressingly. It had been a giddy little bag long ago. gay with embroidery in t&e colors of the editor's university, a&d, although cow it was frayed to the verge ?of tatters, it still bore an air of pristine jauntiness, an air of which its W?er in nowise partook. He looked fW?a it toward the village in the clear distance and sighed softly as he put the pouch back in his pocket and. rest $ng his arm on his knee and his chin on tlis hand, sat blowing clouds of smoke ?t>Ut of the shade into 11 ! ; . sunshine, ab $e&ny v.v.?t?iTiig fhe ghostly >inflow OJ? fctie white dust cf the road. A ?it?le garter snake crept under the ?eace beneath him and disappeared in the underbrush: a rabbit, progressing K>xi its travels by a series of brilliant Clashes and terror smitten halts, came 'wiri/in a few yards of him, sat up with V3~j\ - ring nose and eyes alight with fitful imaginings and vanished.a flash OT Ruffy brown and white. Shadows SpRw triger: a cricket chirped and heard S?tSwers; there was a woodland stir of bre**ees, and the pair of robins left the fcrrir.rrhes overhead in eager flight, va C&TiQg before the arrival of a DOCK or b&ekbirds hastening thither ere the <? vt acide should 1?? upon them. The blackbirds came, chattered, gossiped. Sjttarreied and beat_each other with DOTH TA. UKI st G TOM |;| ' /SI MeClm Co. j? JJ ?? *r MeCtm-*. TbOKm* /& Co. Jjj ?.*....?..................* their wings above the smoker sitting on the top fence ra iL But be had remembered. A thousand miles to the east it was commencement day, seven years to a day from his own commencement. Five yean ago, on another June aft? ernoon, a yoong -man from the east had alighted on the platform of the station north of Plattville and. entering" the rickety omnibus that lingered there seeking whom it might rattle to deaf? ness, demanded to be driven to the .Herald building, lt did not strike the driver - that the newcomer was pre? cisely a gay young man when he climb? ed into the omnibus, but an hour later, as he stood in the doorway of the edi? fice be had indicated as his destination, depression seemed to have settled into the marrow of his bones. Plattville was instantly alert to the stranger's presence, and interesting con? jectures were hazarded all day long at the back door of Martin's Dry Goods Emporium (this was the club during the day), and at supper the new ar? riva! and his probable purposes were discussed over every table in the town. Upon inquiry he had informed Judd Bennett the driver of the omnibus, that he had come to stay. Naturally such a declaration caused a sensation, as people did not come to Plattville to live except through the inadvertency of being born there. In addition the young man's appearance and attire were re? ported to be extraordinary. Many of the curious, among them most of the marriageable females of the place, took occasion to pass and repass the sign of the Carlow County Herald during the evening. Meanwhile the stranger was seated in the dingy office upstairs with his head bowed low on his arms. Twilight stole through the dirty window panes and faded into darkness. Night filled the room. He did not move. The young man from tile east had bought the Her? ald from an agent-had bought it with? out ever having been within a hundred miles of Plattville. The Herald was an alleged weekly which bad some? times appeared within five days of its declared date of publication and some? times; missed fire altogether. It was a thorn in the side of every patriot of Carlow county, and Carlow people, aft? er supporting the paper loyally and long, had at last given it up and sub? scribed for the Gazette, published in the neighboring county of Anio. The former proprietor of the Herald, a surreptitious gentleman with a goatee, had taken the precaution of leaving Plattville forever on the afternoon pre? ceding his successor's arrivaL The young man from the east had vastly overpaid for his purchase. Moreover, the price he had paid for it was all the money he had in the world. The next morning he went bitterly to work. He hired a compositor from Rouen, a young man named Parker, who set type all night long and helped him pursue advertisements all day. The citizens shook their heads pessi mistically. They had about given up the idea that the Herald could ever amount to anything, and they betrayed an innocent but caustic doubt of abil? ity in any stranger. One day the new editor left a note OL his door: "Will return in fifteen min? utes." Mr. Rodney McCune, a politician from the neighboring county of Gaines, hap pening to be in Plattville on an errand to his henchmen, found the note and wrote beneath the message the scath? ing ^uiry, "Why?" When he discovered this addendum, the editor smiled for the first time since his advent and reported the incident in his next issue, using the rubric "Why Has the Herald Returned to Life?" as a text for a rousing editorial on hon? esty in politics, a subject of which be already knew something. The political district to which Carlow belonged was governed by a limited number of gen licnien whose wealth was ever on the Increase, and honesty in politics wa? a slaming conception to the "nT.?ds "of the passive and resigned voters, who ralhvd tho editorial over on the street .onvrs and in the stores. The nest week there was another editorial, per o:?:il and local in its application, and [hereby it became evident that the new proprietor of the Herald was a theorist wi; . believed in general that a politi? cian's honor should not be merely of '. :.t middling healthy species known ;> "honor among politicians." and ? '> ^articular that Rodney McCune should not r ceive the nomination of his part} for congress. Now. Mr. McCune vi . - : ?. ;ubted dictator of the distr:<-' : nd \ > followers laughed at the stra' cr's fantastic onset: but the editor w . r - ?-on?ent with tl;?- word ef print. ' ! ,] .-. horse and rodo about the COT . I try and (to his oven surprise) proved .u he an adaptable young man who en- j ; joyed exercise with a pitchfork to tue ! j fanner's profit while the farmer ta.k- j i ed. Me talked little himself, but after ' I . listening an hour or so he would drop a ? ! word from the saddle as be left and j i the::, by some surprising wizardry, the j farmer, thinking over th<' interview; ; j decided there was some s< ase in what j j Ihat young fellow said :>'.<! grew euri- I j DUS to s. e what the young fellow had j . further to say in the Herald. Politics is the one subject that LO S to the vitals of every rural American, and a Hoosier will talk politics after he is dead. Everybody read the-campaign edi? torials and found them interesting, al though there was DO one who did not perceive the utter absurdity of a young stranger dropping into Carlow and involving himself in a party fight against the boss of the district It was entirely a party fight for by grace of the last gerrymander the nomination carried with it the certainty of elec? tion. A week before the convention there came a provincial earthquake. The news passed from man to man in awe struck whispers-McCune had with? drawn his name, making the shallow? est of excuses to his cohorts. Nothing was known of the real reason for his disordered retreat beyond the fact that he had been in Plattville on the morn? ing before his withdrawal and had is? sued from a visit to the Herald office in a state of palsy. Mr. Parker, the Rouen printer, had been present at the close of the interview, but he held his peace at the command of his employer. He had been called into the sanctum and had found McCune, white and shaking, leaning on the desk. "Parker," said the editor, exhibiting a bundle of papers he held in his band, "I want you to witness a verbal con Mr. Rodney McCune found the note. tract between Mr. McCune and myself. These papers are an affidavit and copies of some records of a street car company which obtained a charter while Mr. McCune was in the legisla? ture. They were sent to me by a man I do not know, an anonymous friend of Mr. McCune-in fact, a friend he seems to have lost On consideration of our not printing these papers Mr. McCune agrees to retire from politics for good. You understand, if he ever lifts his head again politically we pub? lish them, and the courts will do the rest Now, in case anything should happen to me" "Something will happen to you all right!" broke out McCune. "You can bank on that you black" "Come," the editor interrupted not unpleasantly. "Why should there be anything personal in ail this? I don't recognize you as my private enemy not at all-and I think you are getting off rather easily, aren't you? You keep out of politics and everything will be comfortable. You ought never to have been in it you see. Ifs a mistake not to go square, because in the long run somebody is sure to give you away, like the fellow who sent me these. You promise to hold to a strictly pri? vate life?" "^TToTTre a traitor to the party,** groan? ed the other; "but you only wait" The editor smiled sadly. "Wait noth mg! Don't threaten, man. Go home to your wife. I'll give you three to one she'll be glad you are out of it" "I'll give you three to one," said Mc? Cune, "that the White Caps will get you if you stay in Carlow. You want to look out for yourself, I tell you, my smart boy." "Good day, Mr. McCune," was the answer. "Let me have your note of withdrawal before you leave town this afternoon." The young man paused a moment then extended his hand as he said: "Shake hands, .won't you? I-I haven't meant to be too hard on you. ? hope things will seem easier and gay? er to you before long, and if-if any? thing should turn up that I can do for you in a private way I'll be very glad you know. Goodby." The sound of the Herald's victory went over the state. The paper came out regularly. The townsfolk bought it and the farmers drove in for it Old subscribers came back. Old advertis? ers renewed. The Herald*began to sell in Arno, and Gaines county people sub? scribed. Carlow folk held up their heads when journalism was mentioned. Presently the Herald announced a news connection with Rouen, and with that and the aid of "patent insides" began an era of three issues a week, appear? ing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur? days. The Plattville brass band sere? naded the editor. During the second month of the new regime of the Herald the working force of the paper received an addition. One night the editor found pome barroom loafers tormenting a patriarchal old man who had a magnificent head and a grand white beard. Ile had been thrown out of a saloon, and he was ' drunk with the drunkenness o? three ? weeks' steady pouring-. He propped himself against a wall and reproved his tormentors in Latin. "I'm walking your way. Mr. Fisbee." remarked the journalist, hooking his arm into the old man's. "Suppose we leave our friends hen1 and *_r" heine." Mr. Fisbee was the ono Inhabitant of tlie tow n f""iss.-ssi?u: an unknown past and a glamour of romance was thrown about him by the gossips, who agreed that there was n dark, portentous se- , cret in i:is life, an opinion i?"? too well confirmed by the old man's appearance, ilis fine eyes bad a habit of wandering io the horizon, and his expression was mild, vague and >:ui. lost in dreams. A; iii'- first glance ene guessed lian bis dreams would never bc practicable io their application, and some such im pression of him was probably wbrt caused the editor of the Hera ki to nick .iain*' ..iii. iu Uitt imu uimd. "the Wi. Xnigbt.*' Mr. Fisbee. coining to Plattville rr nobody knew where, bad taught iu high school tor ten years, but Le pro^ quite unable to refrain from leetur; to the dunifounded pupils ou arel ology, neglecting more and more 1 ordinary courses of instruction, gre ing year by year more forgetful a absent lost in bis few books and own reflections, until at last he t been discharged for incompetency. 1 dazed old man bad no money and way to make any. One day he dropf In at the hotel bar. where Wilkera the professional drunkard, favored h with his society. The old man und stood. He knew it was the beginni of the end. He sold his boote in ore to continue his credit at the Pal* bar. and once or twice, unable to p ceed to his own dwelling, spent 1 night in a lumber yard, piloted thitl by the hardier veteran Wilkerson. The morning after the editor to bim hoare Fisbee appeared a t the H? aid office in a new hat and a dece suit of black. He had received his s ary in advance, his books h?:d been i purchased and he had become the ; portorial staff of the Carlow Coun Herald; also he was to write vario treatises for the paper. Fer the fi] few evenings when he started hoi from the office his chief walked wi him, chatting cheerfulry, until th' had passed the Palace bar. But F bee's redemption was complete. The-editor of the Herald kept stea ily at his work, and as time went < the bitterness his predecessor's swind had left in him passed away. But t loneliness and a sense of defeat gre and deepened. When the vistas of tl world had opened to his first youth I had not thought to spend his life such a place as Plattville, but he foui himself doing it, and it was no gre; happiness to him that the Hon. Kedj Halloway of Arno, whom the Herald opposition to McCune had sent Washington, came to depend on his i fluence for renomination, nor did tl realization that the editor of the Ca low County Herald had come to 1 McCune's successor as political diet tor produce a perceptibly enlivening e feet upon the young man. The yea: drifted very slowly, and to him it seer ed that they went by while he stood f J aside and could not ev ec. see the; move. He did not consider the life t led an exciting one, but the other cit zens of Carlow did when he undertoc a war against the White Caps, den zens of Six Crossroads, steven mik west of Plattvilie. The natives wei much more afraid of the White Cac than be was. They knew more abov them and understood them better tha he did. There was no thought ol' the peopl of the Crossroads in his mi nd as he ss on the snake fence staring at the littl smoky shadow dance on the white roa in the June sunshine. On the contrary he was occupied with the realizatio that there had been a man in his clas at college whose ambition: needed n restraint, his promise was so great-i the strong belief of the university, a bi lief he could not help knowing-an that seven years to a day from bis con mencement this man was sitting on ; fence rail in Indiana, Down the pike a buggy came creas ing toward him, gray with dust, ol< and frayed like the fat shaggy gra: mare that drew it her unchecked, de spondent head lowering before her while ber incongruous tall waved in cessantly, like the banner of a storming party. The editor did not hear th< flop of the mare's hoofs nor the soun< of the wheels, so deep was his rev erie, till the vehicle was nearly oppo site him. The red faced and perspir ing driver drew rein, and the journal ist looked up and waved a long white hand- to him in greeting. "Howdy' do. Mr. Harkless?" called the man in the buggy. "Soakin' in thc weather?'* He spoke in shouts, though neither was hard of hearing. "Yes, just soaking," answered Hark less. "It's such a gypsy day. How is Mr. Bowlder?" "I'm givin* good satisfaction, thank you, and all at home. She1 a in town." "Give Mrs. Bowlder' my regards," said the journalist, comprehending the symbolism. "How is Hartley?" The farmer's honest face shaded over for a second. "He's be'n steady ever sence the night you brought him home, sis weeks straight I'm kind of both? ered about tomorrow-he wants to come In for show day. and seems if I hadn't any caji to say no. I reckon he'll have to take his chance-and us too. Seems more like we'd have to lei: him. long as we got him not to come in last night for Kedge Halloway's lecture at the courthouse. Say, how'd that lecture strike you? You give Kedge a mighty fine send-off to the audience in your in? troduction, but I noticed 3*ou spoke of him as *a thinker.' without sayin' what kind. I didn't know you was as cau? tious a man as that! Of course I know Kedge is honest" Harkless sighed. "Oh. he's the best we've got. Bowlder." "Yes, I presume so. but"- Mr. Bowl? der broke off suddenly as his eyes opened in surprise, and he exclaimed: .'Law. Fd never of expected to see you settin' here'today! Why ain't you out at Judge Briseoe's?" This speech seem? ed to be intended with some humor, for Bowlder accompanied it with the loud laughter of sylvan timidity risking a Joke. flt) BE CONTINUED.] S?MT?'t of Living:. If we can only come l ack to nature together every year and consider the i flowers and the birds ard confess our j faults and our 11.?stakes male!- the si- j j lent stars and N-ar ila- river murmur- 1 ing in absolution we sk ill die young; j I even though we liv?- long, and we shaiJ 1 ? have a treasure of ne m erics which ! i will he like the twin flower, a double j blossom on & single si eui. and carry j with us into the unseen word some- , thing which wi;! mak? it worth while to Le Immortal.- Henry Van Dyke. CASTOR I? for Infants and Children. Dil Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of [Colds] Sit should be borne in, mind that trey cold weakens the lunga, low? er* the vitality and prepare* th* system for the more serious dis l eases, among which are th* two greatest destroyers of human lila, pneumonia and consumption. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy hat won its great popularity by lt? prompt cures of this most common ailment. It aids expectoration, re? lieves the lungs and opens the secretions, effecting a speedy and permanent cure. It counteract* any tendency toward pneumonia, j Price 25c, Large Size 5?c THE FIRST DOLLAR SIVEOlS .THE BEST. The Sumter Banking and Mercan? tile Company, of Sumter, S. C., wil) open a saving department and receive deposits of one dollar and over OD which 5 per cent, per annum will bf allowed, payable^uarterly. The way to have a bank account ls to start, and you will find it eas? enough to keep it growing. ^Save your pennies and Dickies and you will soor dave dollars. Call and get particulars as to in erest, deposits, etc. Deposits, subject to check solicited. SUMTER BANKING AND MERCAN? TILE COMPANY, Sumter, S. C. Mar 21-tf PATENTS Promptly obtained orno fee. Write for our CONFIDENTSAl* LETTER before applying for patent : ltia worth money. We oKab PATENTS THAT PAY? and help inventors to success. Send model, photo or sketch, and-we send IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT Oil PAT? ENTABILITY* 20 years' practice. Regis? ter ed Patent Lawyers. Write or come to ns at 505.507, 7th St. WASHINGTON, D. C. DSWIFM EXPERIENCE TRADE MARKS DESIGNS COPYRIGHTS AC Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention ia probably patentable. Communica? tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patenta sent free. Oiliest airency for securing patenta. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific American. A handsomely illustrated weekly. ]>r<rest cir jnlation of any scientific Journal. 'J >rms, S3 a rear: four months, $L Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN & Co.36,?,fMi"'- New W YE Laust M Most Complete Etfi?oeiit South Geo. S. Hacker & Son -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASK, BLIN0Ss Moulding & Building Material. office and Wardrooms, Kioe. opposite C? non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. .5^* Pnro!qA>f> oi:r c?->.ke. which we ?ruaras: superior to aoy sold Sou ch, and thorner ?ave HOP.PV. Window and Fancy Glass a Speeiaitj October 16 - o M, M "Ia m 1 ] THE "S05S" COTTON PRESS! SIMPLEST. STRONGEST. BEST THE MURRAY GINNING SYSTEM Gins. Feeders. Condensers. Etc. GIBBES MACHINERY CO. Columbia, S. C. DeLORriE'S PHARMACY, 23 South Main St. Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunday, 9 a. m. to l p. m. Having consolidated my two stores, I will be pleased to see all my customers at the above stand, where I am better pre? pared than ever to serve them. Your prescriptions will be called for and delivered. Phone 45. Full line of Drugs, Garden Seed and Cigars. Your patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. MONEY PICKED UP ! ! BY Writing Life Instance In The Penn Mutual Insurance Go. 1BERAL contracts to live agents ' in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JR. General Agent, Sumter, S. C. $100,000.00 Capital. TUE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Sumter, S. C. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of this Bank to $100,000.00, depositors now have as security for their deposits : Capital, - * - $100,000 00 Stockholders' Individual Lia? bility, - - - \00,000 O? Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, ... 25,000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY NATIONLA BANK IK CITY OF SUMTER. Largest Capital of any Bank in this section of South Carolina. Strongest Bank in Eastern part of this State. Interest allowed on deposits to a limited amount. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A. J. CHINA, President. NEILL O'DONNELL, Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, R. D. LEE, G. A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. BICKER. R. L. EL MUNDS, Cashier. R. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. MoC&llnm, D. J. Winn, Jr. Oliver L. Yates. THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, St. C. City and County Depository. Capital stock paid in, $75,000 00 Undivided surpms, 16,000 00 Individual liability of stockhold? ers in excess of their stock, 75,000 00 Transacts a general banking business; also has a Saving Bank Department. De? posits of $1 and upward received. Interc? ast allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. W. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, President R. L MANNING, W. F. RHAME, vice-President. Cashier. Jan. 31._ THE-SUMTER SAYINGS BANU HORACE HARBY, President. L C. STRAUSS. vice-President. GEO. L. RICF-ER, Cashier. Capital Stock, $25,000 Liabilitv of Stockholders, 25.coo S! ip?^I mm ^^^^^^^^^ \ Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford sd those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Bank, lu'portant papers can be drawn ap and %ned iu a private ronin set a*-:de for use 5f our clients and any information de ?red will be cheerfully furnished by the nanagement. Savings deposited hore draw interest at ho rate of 4 per cent p. r anii?ir.. $1.00 viii open an account and secure a bank >ook.