Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?frjfrgHgMgHi, ,?. .fr? ft ? ?>? ? ? ? >!? ? frU. ,|, ?,i, ................ ?4 ?? 4nK* # ? ? ? ? ? ? 'I' ? O From JV 2[K 3< Ccpyri??>t. 1899, by Doubleday Copyright, 1902 %\^%t%tt*it* ************** ^M>?*v,**H?>v*v?*^i' ?J1 ft ft 'X* ftft ft ft ft ft ft 'I" ft ft ft ft i CHAPTER IV. JCTjl?DGE BRISCOE smiled grim ?gl i j ly and leaned on his shotgun lj?B?jB *n tne moonlight by the ve .tsSEa randa. He and William Todd liad been, kicking down the elder bnshes .and, returning to the house, found Min? nie alone on the porch. "Safe?" be ?said to his daughter, who turned an -anxious* face upon him. "They'll be ?aie enough now, and in our garden." "Maybe I oughtn't to have let them SO." "Pooh! They're all right That scal? awag's half way to Six Crossroads by this time, isn't he, William?' "He tuck np the fence like a scared rabbit," Mr. Todd responded, looking into his hat to avoid meeting the eyes of the lady, "and I didn't have no call to foller. He knowed how to run, I reckon. Time Mr. Harkless come out the yard again we see him take across the road to the wedge woods, near half a mile up. Somebody else with him then-looked like a kid. Must 'a' cut across the field to join him. They're fur enough toward home by this." "Did Miss Helen shake hands with jon four or five times?" asked Briscoe, .chuckling. "No. Why?' said Minnie. * "Because Harkless did. My hand aches, and I guess William's does tco. He nearly shook our arms off when we told him he'd been a fool. Seemed to do him good. I told him he ought to j hire somebody, to take a shot at him -every morning before breakfast-not that it?s any joking matter," the old gentleman finished thoughtfully. "I should say not," said William with a deep frown and a jerk of his j head toward the rear of the house. *He jokes about it enough. Wouldn't ?ven promise to carry a gun after this. Said he wouldn't know how to use it never shot one off since he was a boy, on the Fourth of July. This is the third time he's be'n shot at this year, but he says the others was at a what'd he call it?" " *A merely complimentary rang?,' " Briscoe supplied. He handed William a cigar and bit the end off another him? self. "Minnie, you better go in the house and read, I expect unless you want to go down to the creek and join those folks." "^MeJ* she exclaimed. "I know when to stay away, I guess. Do go and put that terrible gun up." "No," said Briscoe lighting his cigar deliberately. "It's all safe; there's no question of that; but maybe William and I better go out and take a smoke tn the orchard as long as they stay down at the creek." , In the garden shafts of white light pierced the bordering trees and fell where June roc;:s b*~c*hed the mild night breeze, and here, lairesg?? rum? mer spells, the editor of the i jerald and. the lady who had ran to Lin. at the pasture bars strolled down a r "tb trembling with shadows to where .'.e creek tinkled over the pebbles. Tl: y walked slowly, with an air v.." oeing well accustomed friends ana comrades, and for some reason it did not strike ?either of them as unnatural or extraor? dinary. They came to a bench on the bank, and he made a great fuss dust? ing the seat for her with his black slouch hat Then he regretted the hat -it was a shabby old hat of a Carlow county fashion. lt was a long bench, and he seated himself rather remotely toward the end opposite her, suddenly realizing that he had walked very close to her coming down the narrow garden path. Neither knew that neither had spoken ?ince they left the veranda, and it had taken them a long time to come through the little orchard and the gar? den. She rested her chin on her hand, leaning forward and looking steadily at the creek. Her laughter had quite 3jone; her attitude seemed a little wist? ful and a little sad. He noted that her hair curled over her brow in a way he had not pictured in the lady of his dreams. This was so much prettier. He did not care for tall girls. He had soot cared for them for almost half an hour, lt was so much more beautiful to be dainty and small and piquant. He had no notion that he was sighing in a way that would have put a fur? nace to sha:::e. but he turned bis eyes from her because he feared that if he looked longer he might blurt out some speech about her loveliness. Elis glance rested on the bank, but its diameter included the edge of her white skirt and the tip of a little white, high heeled slipper that peeped out from beneath, and he had to look away from that too, to keep from telling her thai he meant to advocate a ?aw compelling all wemen ?o wear crisp while gowns and white kid slippers on moonlight nights. She picked a long spear of grass from the turf before her, twisted it absently in her fingers, then turned to him slowly. Ker lips parted as if to speak. Then she turned away again. The action was so odd, somehow, as she did it, so adorable, and tho pre? served silence was such a bond be? tween them, that for his life he could not have helped moving half way up the bench toward her. "What is it?" he asked, and he spoke ia a whisper such as he might have used at the bedside of a dying friend. He would not have laughed if he had kncwE he did so. She twisted the spear DOTH TA>*RKIffGTOJV _,_ ?>.? ' McC!ur? Co. %X% \. by McChxre, VhiUip* ScH Co. of grass into a little ball and threw it at a stone in the water before she an? swered: "Do you know, Mr. Harkless, you and I have not 'met' have we? Didn't we forget to be presented to each other?" "I beg your pardon, Miss Sherwood. In the perturbation of comedy I for? got/' "It was melodrama, wasn't it?*' she said. He laughed, but she shook her bead. "Purest comedy," he said gayly, "ex Neither knew thqt neither had spoken. cept your part of it You shouldn't ha vt done it This evening was not arranged in bonor of Visiting ladies.' But you mustn't think me a comedian. Truly, 1 didn't plan it My friend from Sis Crossroads must be given the credit o: devising the scene, though you divined it" "It- was little too picturesque, I tiiink. I know about Six Crossroads Please tell me what you mean to do." "Nothing. What should I?" "You mean tiat you will keep on let? ting them shoot at you until they-until you"- She struck the bench angrih with her hand "There's no summer theater in Si* Crossroads. Tgere's not even a church Why shouldn't they?" he asked grave ly. "During the long and tedious even ings it cheers the poor Crossroadef J soul to drop over here and take a sho? at me. It whiles away dull care fo: him, and be has the additional exercisf of running all the way home." "Ah!" she cried indignantly. "The: told me you always answered ?ike this.' "Well, you see, the Crossroads effort have proved so thoroughly hygienic fo me. As a patriot I have sometimes fel* extreme mortification that such ba< marksmanship should exist in the coun ty, but I console myself with th thought that their best shots are. un happily, in the penitentiary." "There are many left. Can't yon u: derstand that they will organize ag.-:' and come in a bod}*, as they did befo* you broke them up? And then, if thc come on a night when they know yo are wandering out of town" "You have not had the advantage < an intimate study of the most exclu?!? people of the Crossroads. Miss Sh< wood. There are about thirty gent:* men who remain in that neighboring while their relatives sojourn under di cipline. If you had the entree o^< there, you would understand that th' thirty could not gather themselves hr a company and march the seven mile without physical debate in the rank They are not precisely amiable peopl oven among themselves. They won: quarrel and shoot one another to piecr :crr 1 ir?fore they got here." ..":--.t they worked in a compan; ?nee." "Novar for seven miles. Four mil? rcs tl -jir radius. Five would see then ..-1 .*,.,..*** She ?jruck the bench again. "Oh. yo : at me! ! ou make a joke of yon w ;i lifo arid death and laugh at ever* I:lng. Have five years of Plattvil lUght yon to do that?" "I laugh only at taking the i>oc toaders too seriously, i don't lau -. .: your running into tire to he??> a fe ow i.iortai." "i knew there wasn't any risk. ! .-:'-'?V he had to stop to load before 1; shot again." .He did shoot again. If I had knowi on 1> fore tonight, I"- His ton? hanged, and he spoke gravely. "I an .' yo;u" feet in worship of your divin; iianthrony. It's so much finer to ris: .-our life for a stranger than for ; nd. is H man's point of view, isn* "Yon risked yours for a man you had ever seen before." "Qb. no. I s.-iw you .-it the lecture. 1 Sir.-tr? you introduce the Hon. Mr. Ilal loway." "Tben-I don't understand your wish? ing to save in:\" She smiled unwillingly and turned her gray eyes upon him with troubled sun? niness, and under the sweetness of h< r ; regard he set a watch apon his lips, j though he knew it would not avail him long. He had driveled along respect? ably so far, he thought but he had the sentimental longings of years, starved pf expression^ culminating .in his heart, j She continued to look at him wistf u searchingly, gently. Then her eyes ti eled over his big frame, from shoes (a patch of moonlight fell them; they were dusty; he drew tl under the bench with a shudder) to broad shoulders (he shook the stoop of them). She stretched her small wi hands toward him and looked at tt in contrast and broke into the most licious low laughter in the world, this he knew the watch on his lips \ worthless. It was a question of n utes till be should present himself her eyes as a sentimental and susc tibie imbecile. He knew it. He was wild spirits. "Could you realize that one of yt dangers might be a shaking?" ! cried. "Is your seriousness a iost ar Her laughter ceased suddenly, "J no! I understand Thiers said ' French laugh always in order not weep. I haven't lived here five ye? I should laugh, too, if I were you." "^Look at the moon," he respond "We Plattvillians own that with i best of metropolitans, and, for my p? I see more of it here. You do not ; prec?ate us. We have large landscaj in the heart of the city, and what ot! capital has advantages like that? N< winter the railway station is to hav< new stove for the waiting room. He; en itself is one of our suburbs-it is close that all one has to do is to ? You insist upon my being French, j see, and I know you are fond of n< sense. How did you b appen to i 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' at t bottom of a page of Fisbee's notes?" "Was it? How were you sure it v< I?" "In Carlow county!" "He might have written it himself. "Fisbee has never in his life re anything lighter than cuneiform : scripticns." "Miss Briscoe" "She doesn't read Lewis Carroll, a it was not her hand. What made y write it on Fisbee's manuscript?" "He was here this afternoon, teased him a little about your headi: in the Herald-Business and the Ci die. the Altar and the Grave,' isn't 3 -and he said it had always troubl him, but your predecessor had used and you thought it good. So do L I asked me if I could think of anythh that you might like better and put place of it and I wrote 'The Time H Come,' because it was the only thh I could, think >of that was as approp: ate and as fetching as your headiim He was perfectly dear about it I was so serious. He said he feared wouldn't be acceptable. I didn't noti ' that the paper he handed me to wri on was part of his notes; nor did he. think. Afterward he put it back in h pocket It wasn't a message.'" "I'm not so sure he did not notic He is very wise. Do you know, I hai the impression that the old fello wanted me to meet you." "How dear and good of him!" SI spoke earnestly, and her face was su ! fused with a warm light. There WJ no doubt about her meaning what si said. "It was," John answered unsteadil; "He knew how great was my need c ! a few minutes' companionablenes with-with" "No." she interrputed. "I meant de? and good to me. I think he was thin! ! ing of me. It was for my sake b I wanted us to meet" It might have been hard to convine ! a woman if she had overheard thi speech that Miss Sherwood's humilit j was not the calculated affectation of j coquette. Sometimes a man's unsus picion is wiser, and Harkless kne-v j that she was net flirting with him. I j addition, he was not a fatuous man ? he did not extend the implication o her words nearly so far as she wouii have had him. "But I had met you," said he, "lon; ago." "What!" she cried, and her eye danced. "You actually remember?" "Yes. Do you?" he answered. " stood in Jones' field and heard yoi singing, and I remembered. It was ; long time since I had heard you sing: "I was a ruffler of Flanders And fought for a florin's hire. You were the dame of my captain And sang to my heart's desire. "But that is the balladist's notion The truth is that you were a lady a the court of Clovis, and I was a heath en captive. 1 heard you sing a Chris tian hymn and asked for baptism." She did not seem overpleasod witl his fancy, for, the surprise fading fron her face. "Oh, that was the way yoi: remembered," she said. "Perhaps it was not that way alone. You won't despise me for being mawk? ish tonight?" he asked. "I haven't hat! the chance for so long." The night air wrapped them warmly, and the balm of the little breezes thai stirred the foliage around them was i the smell of damask roses from the j garden. The creek splashed over the pebbles at their feet, and a drowsy bird, half wakened by the moon, croon? ed languorously in the sycamores. The girl looked out at the sparkling water through downcast lashes. "Is it be? cause it is so transient that beauty is pathetic." she said, "because we can never come hack to it in quite the saine way? I am a sentimental girl. If you are horn so it is never entirely Teased out of you, is it? Besides, to? night is all a dream. It isn't real, you know. You couldn't be mawkish." Her tone was gentle as a caress, and I ft made bim tingle to his finger tips. I "How do you know?" he asked, j "I just know. Do you think I'm i very bold and forward?" she sn id dreamily. "It was your song I wanted to bc sentimental about. I am like ono 'who ? through long days of toil'-only that j doesn't quite apply-'and nights devoid of ease.' but I can't claim that one I doesn't sleep well here; it is Plattville's ? specialty-like one who [ "Stiil heard in his soul the music Of wonderful melodies." "Yes," she answered, "to come here and to dp what you have done and to .ive t.iis isolated "village life that n bc so desperately dry and dull fo man of your sort, and yet to have kind of heart that makes wonde melodies sing In itself-oh," she cr "I say that is fine!" "You do not understand," he rett ed sadly, wishing before her to be mercifully just to himself. "I ci here because I couldn't make a liv anywuere else. And the 'wondei melodies'-I have only known you evening-and the melodies"- He i to his feet and took a few steps tow the garden. "Come," he said, "let take you back. Let us go before 1 He finished with a helpless laugh. She stood by the bench, one h: resting on it. She stood all in tremulant shadow. She moved ? step toward him, and a single 1< sliver of light pierced the sycamc and fell upon her head. He gasped. "What was it about the melodie she said "Nothing. I don't know how to th? you for this evening that you have <; en me. I-I suppose you are leaving morrow. No one ever stays here. I" "What about the melodies?" He gave it up. "The moon makes p pie insane!" he cried. "If that is true, then you need not more afraid than I, because 'people' plural. What were you saying about "I had heard them-in my hes When I heard your voice tonight knew that it was you who sang th there, had been singing them for me ways." "So!" she cried gayly. "All that i bate about a pretty speech!" Th sinking before him in a courtesy. "I i beholden to you." she said. "Do y think no man ever made a little fl tery for me before tonight?" At the edge of the orchard, wh< they could keep an unseen watch on t garden and the bank of the creek. Jud Briscoe and Mr. Todd were ensconc under a:a apple tree, the former si armed with his shotgun. When t young people got up from their ben? the two men rose hastily, then saunt ed slowly toward them. When th met, Harkless shook each of them ci dially by the hand without seeming know it "We ?vere coming to look for yoi explained the judge. "William w afraid to go home alone-thought sot one might take him for Mr. HarkU and shoot him before he got into tow Can you come out with Wil letts in t morning, Harkless," he went on, "ai go with the young ladies to see ti parade? And Minnie wants you to stf to dinner and go to the show with the in the afternoon." Harkless seized his hand and shook and then laughed heartily as he accep ed the invitation. At the gate Miss Sherwood extend? her hand to him and said politel; while mockery shone from her eye "Good night Mr. Harkless. I do n< leave tomorrow. I am very glad to ha\ met you." "We are going to keep her all sun mer, if we can." said Minnie, wea vin her arm about her friend's wais "You'll come in the morning?" "Good night Miss Sherwood," he n turned hilariously. "It has been sue a pleasure to meet you. Thank you s much for saving my life. It was ver good of you. indeed. Yes; in^tbe mon ing. Good night good nignt" K shook hands with all of them, indue ing Mr. Todd, who was going with hin He laughed all the way home, and Wi] liam walked at his side in amazement. The Herald building was a decrepi frame structure on Main street I had once been a small warehouse am was now sadly in need of paint. Close ly adjoining it in a large, blank lookiiij yard, stood a low brick cottage, ove which the second story of the o'.d ware house leaned in an effect of tipsy af fection that had reminded Harkless when he first saw it, of an old Sunda: school book woodcut of an inebria ter parent under convoy of a devoted child The title to these two buildings a nc the blank yard had been included ir the purchase of the Herald, and tht cottage was the editor's home. There was a light burning upstair* in the Herald office. From the sired a broad, tumbledown stairway ran ur. on the outside of the building to thc second floor, and at Ihe stairway rail? ing John turned and shook his com? panion warmly by the hand. "Good night William," he said. "It was plucky of you to join in that muss tonight. I shan't forget it." "I jest happened to come along," re? plied the other awkwardly. Then, with a portentous yawn, he asked. "Ain't ye gom' to bed?'* "No; Parker wouldn't allow it" "Well," observed William, with an? other yawn, which threatened to ex? pose the veritable soul of him, "I d'know how ye stand it. It's closte on ll o'clock. Good night." John went up the steps, singing aloud "For tonight we'll merry, merry be. For tonight we'll merry, merry be." and stopped on the sagging platform at the top of the stairs and gave the moon good night with a wave of the hand and friendly laughter. At this it suddenly struck him that he was twen? ty-nine years of age and that he had laughed a great deal that evening; laughed and* laughed over things not j in the least humorous, like an excited ? schoolboy making a first formal call; that he had shaken hands with Miss I?riscoe when he left her as if he should never see her again; that he had taken Miss Sherwood's hand twice in one very temporary parting; that he had I shaken the judge's hand five times aud j William's four. ? "Idiot!" he cried. "What has hap? pened to me?" Then he shook his fist ! at the moon and went in to work, he thought. fTO BK CONTINUED.] - Th?* Restait. Friend-What was ihc result of the ! consultation ^ of doctors? Invalid i (glancing at the receipted bill)-It left me in a very poor condition. for ehltdren; tafe, sure? JJo opiates It ?hould be borne in mind that every cold weakens the lunga, low? ers the vitality and prepare? the system for the more serious dis? eases, among which are the two greatest destroyers of human life, pneumonia and consumption. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy has won its great popularity by ita 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? ?ny tendency toward pneumonia. S Price 25c Large Sizs 50c, | clops tixe coo?h ?md Heals lt?si?fl THE FIRST DOLUR .THE BEST. 18 The Sumter Banking and Mercan tile Company, of Sumter. S. C., xvii; open a saving department and r?ceivi deposits of one dollar and over o? which 5 per cent, per annum will b? allowed, payable-quarterly. The way to have a bank acooun ts to start, and yuu will lind it eas} enough to keep it growing. Save you: pennies and Hickies and you will SOOT lave dollars. Call and get particulars as to in erest, deposits, etc. Deposits, subject to check solicited SUMTER BANKING AND MERCAIS TILE COMPANY, Sumter, S. C. Mar 21-tf PATENTS Promptly obtained or no fee. Write for our CONFIDENT!AL LETTER before applying for patent : it is worth money. We obtain PATENTS THAT PAY, and help inventors to success Send model, photo or sketch, and we send IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT ON PAT? ENTABILITY. 20 years'practice. Regis? tered Patent Lawyers, write or come to ns at 605-507, 7th. St. WASHINGTON, 0. C. DSWIFM 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE TRADE MARKS DESIGNS CCPYR?GHTS &C. Anvone sending a sketch and description may oulckly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica? tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patents sent free. OM est aeency for securi^? patent?. Patents taken through Munn Sc Co. receive ipecial notice, without charge, in the Scientific Huaica?. A handsomely illustrait weekly. I Tsrest cir iulatiOii of anv scientific journal. T-rms, fS a vear : four months, *L Sold by all newsdealers. FOITOSOMMAI Cures Golds; Prevents Pneumonia t ai 1st leif Geo. S. Hacker & Sor; W?wm - K A h CF f, CT?RERS OF DOORS. S?SH3 BONOS, Moulding & Bnildinj Materia], office and Wirero->:us. K;:J*?, ,.| po9)*e i non Street, C?* A REESTOW, S. C. ?33- PnrrViHt:^ our ra^ke. which we cruararr si:pv?r.(.r re nv? iic?d 3>??-:. and tnereby save stoney. Window and Fancy Glass a SiDsc?ali: 0'.-fnh?r I? ^ THE M BOSS" COTTON PRESS ! S.'MPLEST. STRONGEST. BEST THE MURRAY GINNING SYSTEM Gins, Feeders. Condensers. Eic. GIBBES MACHINERY CO. Columbia, S. C. DeLORHE'S PHARMACY, < 23 South Main St. Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunday, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. Having consolidated my two stores, I will be pleased to see all my customers at the above A 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 UPI! BY Writing Life Insurance In The ? Peon Mutual Insurance Os. 1BEBAL contracts to live agents in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY MOSES, JU General ?gent, Sumter, S. 8. < $100,000.00 Capital. ? ?8E FIRST NATIONAL BANK i of Sumter, S. C. THE Comptroller of the Currency hav- - ing approved the increase of the Capital k of this Bank to $100,000.00, depositors now have as security for th6ir deposits : Capital, - - $100,000 00 Stockholders' Individnal Lia? bility, - - - mooo 00 Surplus and Undivided Prof its, - - - 25,000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225,000 00 ONLY NAT10NLA BANK IN CITY OF SUMTE?. A 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. 4 H. D. BARNETT, R. D. LEE, T| S. A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. BICKER. R. L. Er MUNDS, Cashier. E. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. McCsllum, D. J. Winn, Jr. Oliver L. Yates. fOIErSlIBMTC?RS * Hakes Kidneys and Bladder Right THE B?NOrS?MTERr SUMTER, S. C. City and County Depository. Capital stock paid in, $75,000 00 ^ Undivided surplus, 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. Inter ??t allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per ; annum, payable semi-annually. % W. F. B. HAYNSWORTE, President. R. I. MAYING, W. F. RHAME, . Vice-President. Cashier. Jan. 31. mwm sills UK HORACE HARBY. President. I. C. STRAUSS. Vice-president. { GEO. L. RICF.ER, Cashier. Capital Stock, 825,000 Liabilitv of Stockholders, 2^,000 ! zr--ri jj 1 i 4r % \ $ Every Facility For the transaction of business is afford? ed those who deposit their money with The Sumter Savings Bank? Important papers can be drawn np and signed in a private room set a-ide for use of our clients and any information de? sired will be cheerfully furnished by the management. Savings deposited here draw interest at the rate of 4 per c^nt per annum. Si.00 will open an account and secure a bank book. We promDcly obtain V. S. and Foreign