Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BUCC rvr- - _. By CYRUS TO Author of "The 5 Iof Country,M **Ti COPYRIGHT. 1905. BY G. ~~He was mad,* mad with love for h< crazed with hopeless passion. The seemed to be no way ont of his mise: 3ut for him to pass his own swo: through his heart, or to throw hims? rom the precipice, or to plunge in whe cruel blue of the enveloping Cari bean-the color of the sea changed his eye with bis temper, like a woman : mood. Yet he was young; he hoped : ? *pite of himself. He prayed-for 1 ?vas not old enough to have lost faith and he piar ned. Besides, he was t< .jrave a soldier to kill himself, and si -vas not yet married. She was n formally betrothed even, although was well known that her father loo] ed favorably upon De Tobar's snit; r V formal announcement had been mac of it as yet So, in spite of his judj -neat he dreamed. The thoughts < youth and love are long, long thought indeed. That morning the yoong captain, ei grossed in his emotions, was not awai of the approach of a messenger unt ifce clank of the man's sword upon ti; stone flags of the plaza caused him 1 lift his head. He was a soldier, an ofi zee of the bodyguard of the vicero: and he bore in his hand a letter seale wita the De tara coat of arms. Ti messenger sainted and handed tb packet to the captain. Yesterday evening bis excellency th vieeroy charged me to deliver this lei tar to you today." "Fadrique,** called Alvarado to servitor, "a flagon of wine for the cat a??er. By your leave, sir," be contii oed, with formal politeness, openin the packet and reading the message: To the Captain Alvarado, Comandante e La Goayra, Greettagr: As one faithful te the fortunes of ou family we would crave your booorabl pressncc at our palace m Santiago to morrow evening. In view of your servie xaS devotion we have done you the hono to appoint you as one of the witnesses t the formal betrothal of our daughter Donna Mercedes, to your friend. Do: Fenpe de Tobar. After that as we hav received appeals for help from the Ori r.oeo country, we propose to lead hi most catholic majesty's imperial troop thither in person to overawe the natives and, reposing full trust in your fidelity and honor, we deign to commit the Donni Mercedes to your safe keeping in op: city of La Guayra until we. return. There fore make your preparations accordingly Given under our ha?d_and seaL _ 5 DE LARA. Viceroy. It had come! The old man, as ? last token of his respect, had nomi jiated him as a witness to the con tract which robbed him forever of hop? r sd happiness. The young man wem white before the keen eye of the mes senger, who. in common with othei officers of the viceroy's court, sus T-ected what was, indeed, concealed from no one save the father and lover. His heart almost stopped its beating % yet summoning his /resolution, lie Te covered himself by an effort thr.t left him trembling, the sweat beading his forehead. "Say to his excellency the viceroy y . ?iat I thank him for the .honor he does Cf;:", ne. ? sh?iil wait upon him tomorrow I and obey his commands.'* CHAPTER X. * .? LVARADO was alone in the f A cabinet of the viceroy, to which I/"Y his rank and the fa*or in which ? * his excellency held him gave Lim access at all times. He had ridden all day over the rough road that winds over the mountains :rom La Guayra to Caracas. The storm which. had rushed down the mountain side all afternoon matched the "tumult in his soul, and the sheets of rain blown upon him by the fierce \.ind| had not cooled the fever of his c citation. The unuseal tempest was one ot the most terrific that had swept over ii ie coast in years.. He had marked ur* he rode a huge ship tar to seaward, i agger in g along under shortened can? vas and laboring tremendously in the heavy* seas. But his thoughts were so centered upon the, situation in which hi* found himself that he had not par? ticularly noticed the vessel, although passing ships were infrequent sights oT the port of La Guayra. Pale, hag? gard and distraught from his mental struggle, he had crossed the pass at the summit of the mountain and de? scended into the fertile valley now adrip with rain and looking almost cold under the gray sky and had pre? sented himself at the palace of the viceroy. He had changed his apparel after his reception, and his old sergeant had polished his breastplate until it fairly blazed with light for though the occa? sion was one of peace he had felt that he could better sustain his part in the military uniform in which he had won his only title to consideration. Con? sequently his appearance in the bril? liantly lighted ball of the palace among ice gay courtiers resplendent in mag? nificent attire, blazing with jewels, threw a somber note over the pro? ceedings. It was as a soldier he had won fame and the consideration of the viceroy; in no other capacity, so far as any man knew, had he the right to enter that assemblage of the rich and well Vam. It was as a soldier he would ? . ?rferm that hardest of all duties which had ever been laid upon him by iais friend and patron, the governor. Pale, stern, composed, he stood an Iran figure of repression. So severe . eas the constraint that he put upon ? m self that he had given no sign of h:3 emotion, even at the ne??* approach WEER fNSEND BRADY, L?herners/* "For Love Grip of Honor/* Eic. DILLINGH?M COMPANY of Donna Mercedes, and ~ the" hand which signed his name beneath her father's as the principal witness was as steady as if it held merely the sword in some deadly combat He endured passively the affectionate greetings of the happy De Tobar, who was intoxi? cated at the Assurance afforded by the betrothal of the coming realization of all his hopes. He sustained with firm? ness the confidence of the viceroy and the admissions De Lara made to him in private of his pleasure in the suit? able* and fortunate marriage which was there arranged. He even bore without breaking one long, piteous ap? peal which had been shot at him from the black eyes of the unhappy Mer? cedes. To her ' he seemed preternaturally cold and indifferent. He was so strong, so brave, so successful. She had count? ed upon some interposition from him, but the snow capped Andes were no colder than he appeared, their granite sides no more rigid and unsympathetic. | It was with a feeling almost of anger and resentment at last that she had signed the betrothal contract But the restraint on the man was more than he could bear. Pleading in? disposition, he early begged leave to withdraw from the festivities which succeeded the completion of the be? trothal ceremony and the Retirement of the ladies. At the suggestion of the viceroy, who said he desired to consult with Mm later in the evening, he went into the deserted ca binet of ; thelatter. "The palace was built in the'form of a quadrangle around an open patio.' A balcony ran along the second story, passing the viceroy's cabinet, beyond which was his bedroom and beyond that the apartments of bis daughter. The rain bad ceased and the storm had spent itself. It was a calm and beau? tiful night The moon, shining with tropic splendor through the open win? dow, dispensed with the necessity of lights. There was no one In the cabi? net when he entered, and he felt at last able to give way to his emotion. Mercedes, though she was not mar? ried, was now lost to him beyond re? course. After the women withdrew from the hall with Donna Mercedes there was no restraint put upon the young nobles, and from the other side of the patio came the sound of uproari? ous revelry and feasting, his friends and comrades with generous cheer f e ? licitating the happy bridegroom that j was to be. Alvarado was alone, un? disturbed, forgotten, and likely to re? main so. He put his head upon his hands and groaned in anguish, i "Why should it not have been I?" he murmured. "Ts he stronger, braver, a better soldier? Does he love her more? Riches? Can I not acquire them? Fame? Have I not a large measure? Birth? Ab. that is it! My father! My mother! If I could only know! How she looked at me! What piteous ap? peal in her eyes! What reproach when I stood passive, cased in iron, with a breaking heart! Mercedes! Merce? des !" In his anguish he called the name aloud. So absorbed and preoccupied in his grief had he been that he was not aware of a figure softly moving ? along the balcony in the shadow. He ! did not hear a footfall coming through the open window that gave into the j room. He did not realize that he had an auditor to his words, a witness to his grief, until a touch soft as a snow? flake fell upon his fair head and a voice for which he languished whis? pered in his ear: "You called me. I am come." "Senorita Mercedes!" he cried, lift? ing his head and gazing upon her in startled surprise. "How came you here?" he added brusquely, catching her hands with a fierce grasp in the intensity of his emotion as he spoke. "Is this my greeting?" she answer? ed, surprised in turn that he had not instantly swept her to his heart. She strove to draw herself' away, and when he perceived her intent he opened his hands and allowed her arms-to fall by her side. "I have been mistaken," she went on piteously. "I am not wanted." She turned away and stood full in the silver bar of the moonlight stream- j ing through the casement. Her white | face shone in the light against the dark background of the huge empty room -that face with its aureole of soft, dark hair, the face of a saint, pale yet j not passionless, of the heaven heaven A ?oft touch fell upon his head ly, yet with just enough of earthly j feeling in her eyes to attest that she was a very woman after all. "Go not" he cried, catching her again and drawing her back. Gone were his resolutions, shattered j was his determination, broken was his j resistance. She was here before him; at all hazards he would detain h They were alone almost for the fi] time in their lives. It was night; t balmy wind blew softly; the moonlig enveloped them. Such an opportuni would never come again. "I heard you," she murmured, rwa lng toward him. "I heard. You seem to be-suffering. I do not know win something drew me on. You whisper -you were speaking-I-listened, came nearer. Was your heart break!] too? Despise me!" She put her face in her hands. It w a confession she made. A wave shame swept over her. "Despise you? Ah, God help me, love you!" And this time he gathered her in t arms and drew her back into the dee er shadow. "And you were so cold," she whi pered. "I looked at you. I bogged y< with all my soul before I signed. Y< did nothing, nothing! Is there no help "Dost love me?" "With all my soul," she answered. "Poor" "Nay" "Obscure" "Nay" "Lowly-perhaps ignobly born" ..Nay, love, these are mere words me. Rich or poor, high or low, noble ? ignoble, thou only hast my heart, beats and throbs only for thee. I hai thought upon thee, dreamed upon the loved thee. I cannot marry Don F lipe. I, too, have the pride of the I Laras. My father shall find it. I sig ed that contract under duress. Ye would do nothing. Oh, Alvarado, Alv; rad?, wilt thou stand by and let me I takin into the arms of another? Bi no; I shall die before that happens." "Donna Mercedes," cried the unha] py young man, "I love thee, I adoi thee, I worship thee with all my hea; and soul! Were it not a coward's a? I would have plunged my dagger in1 my breast ere I witnessed that tx trothal tonight" "Thou shouldst first have sheathed in mine," she whispered. "But could* find no better use for thy weapon tha that?" "Would you have me kill Don F< liper "No, no, but defend me with i There are hidden recesses in the mom tains. Your soldiers worship you. Tak me away, away into the undlscovere countries to the southward. A cor tinent is before you. We will find new Mexico, carve out a new Per with your sword, though I want nott lng but to be with you, alone with yot my soldier, my lover, my king!" "But your plighted word?" ** Tis nothing. Hy heart was plight ed to you. That is enough. Let us gc We may never have the chance again,' she urged, clinging to him. A fearful struggle was going on ii Alvarado's breast What she propose; was the very thing he would-have at tempted were the circumstances othe than they were. But his patron, hi: friend, his military duty, his honor a: a soldier-the sweat beaded his fore head again. He had made up his minc at the betrothal to give her up. H< had abandoned hope; he had put asid< possibilities, for he could see none. Bu here she was in his arms, a living breathing, vital, passionate figure, he] heart beating against bis own, plead ing with him to take her away. Hen was love with all its witchery, with al its magic, with all its power, attacking the defenses of his heart, and the worn an whom he adored as his very life with all the passion in his being, was urging, imploring, begging him to taki her away. He was weakening, waver ing, and the woman who watched hin realized it and added fuel to the flame "The love I bear your father!' he gasped. "Should it bind where mine breaks' I am his daughter." "And Don Felipe is my personal friend." "And my betrothed, but I hesitate not" "My oath as a soldier" "And mine as a woman." "Gratitude-duty" "Oh, Alvarado, you love me not!" she cried. "These are the strongest I have dreamed a dream. Lend me your dagger. There shall be no awakening. Without you I cannot bear" As she spoke she plucked the dagger from the belt of the young soldier, lifted the point gleaming in the moon? light and raised it to her heart He caught it instantly. "No. no!" he cried. "Give back the weapon." The poniard fell from her hand. "Thou hast taken me; I thank thee," she murmured, thinking the battle won as he swept her once more in his arms. This time he bent his head to her up? turned face and pressed kiss after kiss upon the trembling lips. It was the first time, and they abandoned themselves to their transports with all the fire of their long restrained pas? sion. "And is this the honor of Captain Alvarado." cried a stern voice as the viceroy entered the room-"my officer in whom I trusted? Death and fury! Donna Mercedes, what do you here?" "The fault is mine," said Alvarado, stepping between the woman he loved and her infuriated father. "I found Donna Mercedes in the cabinet when I came in. She strove to fly. I de? tained her-by force. I poured into her ear a tale of my guilty passion. Mme Is the fault She repulsed me. She drove me off." '"The dagger at your feet?" "She snatched it from me and swore to bury it in her heart unless I left her. I alone am guilty." "Thou villain! Thou false friend!" shouted the viceroy, whipping out his sword. He was beside himself with fury, but there was a characteristic touch of magnanimity about his next action. So handsome, so splendid, so noble, in spite of his degrading con? fession, did the young man look that he gave him a chance. "Draw your sword, Captain Alva? rado, for as I live I shall run you ibrouch"' _ Alvarado's hand wont to his l>elt; he unclasped it and threw it aside. "There lies my sword. I am dishon? ored," he cried. "Strike and end it all!" .'Not so!" screamed Mercedes, who had heard as if in a daze. "He hath not told the truth. He hath lied for me. I alono am 'guilty. ? heard him praying here in the still night, and I came in, not he. I threw myself into his arms. I begged him to take me i away. He spoke of his love and j friendship for you, for Don Felipe, his I honor, his duty. I did indeed seize the | dagger, but because though he loved j me he would still be trae. On my j head be the shaine. Honor this gen- j tleman. my father, as I-love him." She flung herself at her father's feet and caught his hand. "I love him!" she sobbed. "I love him!" "Is this true, Captain Alvarado?" "Would she had not said so," an? swered the young man gloomily. "Is it true?" "I cannot deny it, my lord, and yet I am the guilty one. I was on the point of yielding. Had you not come in we should have gone away." "Yet you had refused?" "I-I-hesitated." "Refused my daughter! And you, shameless girl, you forced yourself up? on him-threw yourself into his arms?" "Yes. I loved him. Didst never love in thine own day, my father? Didst never feel that life itself were as noth? ing compared to what beats and throbs here?" "But Don Felipe?" "He is a gallant gentleman. I leve him not. Oh. sir" "Press your daughter no further, Don Alvaro. She is beside herself," gasped out Alvarado hoarsely. "'Tis all my fault. I loved her so deeply that she caught the 'feeling in her own heart When I am gone she will forget me. You have raised me from obscurity; you have loaded me with honor; you have given me every opportunity. I will be true. I will be faithful to you. 'Twill be death, but I hope it may come quickly. Misjudge me not sweet lady. Happiness smiles not upon my passion; sadness marks me for her own. I pray 'twill be but for a little .space. Give me some work to do that 'h this the honor of Captain Alvarado}1 I may kill sorrow by losing my life, my lord. And thou. Donna Mercedes, forget me and be happy with Don Felipe." '"Never, never!" cried the girl. She role to her feet and caine nearer to him. Her father stood by as if stunned. She laid her arms around Al? varado's neck. She looked into her lov? er's eyes. "You love me and I love you. What matters anything else?" "Oh, my lord, my lord," cried Al? varado, staring at the viceroy, "kill me, I pray, and end it all!" "Thou must first kill me!" cried Mer? cedes, extending her arms across' her lover's breast. "Donna Mercedes," said her father, "thou Last put such shame upon the name and fame of De Lara as it hath never borne in 500 years. Thou hast been betrothed to an honorable gentle? man, lt is my will that the compact be carried out" "Oh, my God, my God," cried the un happy girl, sinking into a chair, "wilt thou permit such things to be?" "And, Alvarado," went on the old man, riot heeding his daughter's pite? ous prayer. "I know not thy parentage nor to what station thou wert born, but I have marked you from that day when, after Panama, they brought you a baby into my house. I have watch? ed you with pride and joy. Whatever responsibility I have placed before you, you have met it. Whatever demand that hard circumstances have made upon you, you have overcome it. For every test there counts a victory- You have done the state and me great serv? ice, none greater than tonight. With such a temptation before thee, that few men that I have come in contact with in my long life could have resist? ed, you have thrown it aside. You and your honor have been tried and not found wanting. Whatever you may have been, I know you now to be the finest thing on earth, a Spanish gentle? man! Nay, with such evidence of your character I could, were it possible, have set aside the claims of birth and station" "Oh, my father, my father!" inter? rupted the girl joyously. "And have given you Donna Mer? cedes to wife." "Your excellency" "But 'tis too late. The betrothal has been made, the contract signed. My word is passed. In solemn attestation before our holy church I have prom? ised to give my daughter to Don Fe? lipe de Tobnr. Nothing can be urged against the match" "But love," Interjected Mercedes. "That is wanting." "It seems so," returned the viceroy. "And yet where duty and honor de? mand, love is nothing. Donna Mer? cedes, thou hast broken my heart That a Spanish gentlewoman should have shown herself so bold! I could punish thee, but thou art mine all. I am an old man. Perhaps there is some excuse in love. I will say no more. I will e'en forgive thee, but I must have your words, both of you, that there shall be no more of this; that no other word of affection for the other shall pass either lip forever, and that you will be forever silent about .fh<^ over? fa f\f th1'? night." "Speak thou first, Captain Alvarado." said the girl. "You have loved me." cried tho young man, turning toward Donna Mercedes, "and you have trusted me." bowing to the old man. ."Hore are two appeals. God help me, I cannot hesitate. Thou shalt have my word. Would this were the last from ray lips." "And he could promise; he could say it!" wailed the broken hearted woman. "Oh, my father, he loves me not! I have been blind! I promise thee on the honor of a De Lara! I have leaned up? on a broken reed." "Never," cried the old man, "hath he loved thee so truly and so grandly as at this moment." "It may be, it may be," sobbed the girl, reeling as she spoke. "Take me away. 'Tis more than I can bear." Then she sank prostrate, senseless, between the two men who loved her. [TO BE CONTINUED.] BRICE LAW STANDS. Supreme Court Decides That the Act Is Constitutional and Dispensaries Should Be Clased in Counties Vot? ing Them Out: Columbia, January 13.-The cases involving the constitutionality of the Brice law argued before the Supreme Court last Monday were decided yes? terday and the court decrees that the law is constitutional with one excep? tion, and that may be eliminated with? out affecting the law itself. Th excep? tion, is the "rider" which was put on the Brice bill by the dispensary peo? ple, the clause wihch provides that counties voting out the dispensary shall have no participation in the sur? plus school fund accumulated from dispensary profits. After citing the cases the decision is as follows: In each of these cases brought in the original jurisdiction of this court the question is raised as to the con? stitutionality of the act commonjy known as the Brice act, approved February 25, 1904. amending Section 7 of the general dispensary law, ap? proved March 6, IS S 6. After careful consideration this court is of the opinion that said act is not unconstitutional on any of the grounds alleged except in so far as said Brice act declares that "any county voting out a dispensary shall not thereafter receive any part of the surplus that may remain o? the dis? pensary school funds after the defic? iencies in the various county school funds have been made up as pro sided by law." While the court con? siders this provisions unconstitutional, the court is of the opinion that ii is separable from the remainder of the act and that said act stands as con? stitutional with this provision treated as stricken out. This conclusion renders it necessary to set aside the temporary injunction granted in the first above entitled cases restraining the closing of*the dispensaries therein mentioned, and also that the temporary injunction granted in the remaining three above entitled cases restraining the comp? troller genera! from drawing his of? ficial warrant for the several sun arising from the surplus of the dis? pensary fund as therein mentioned be dissolved and the comptroller gen? eral left free to disburse said fund as it would have been disbursed before the enactment of the said Brice act, and it is so adjudged. The reason for these conclusions will be stated in an opinion hereafter to be filed. i". J. Pope. C. J-. Eugene B. Gary. A. J, Ira B. Jones, A. J.. C. A. Woods. A. J. The action of the court means that the dispensaries must be and must remain closed in Greenville. Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, Union, Pickens, Newberry, Cherokee. Horry. Oconee, Darlington, Marion, York, Lancaster. Edgefield and Salu? da counties. Greenwodd and Marl boro have never had dispensaries Williamsburg voted the dispensary out, but the election was illegal and the result was so declared. Thus 19 out of 41 counties have al? ready declared against the dispensary system and in 20 others there has been no election. Two counties have stood by the dispensary, Florence and Fairfield. Those counties which now have dis? pensaries must contribute of their fund to the counties in which there are not dispensaries unless an entirely new system be enacted. Greatly in Demand. ?Nothing is more in demand than a medicine which meets modern re? quirements for a blood and system cleanser, such as Dr. King's New Life Pills. They are just what you need to cure stomach and liver troubles. Try them. At all druggists, 25c, guaran GOOD NEWS IN DARLINGTON. Talk About Reorganizing the Inde? pendent Cotton Oil Company. Darlington, January 17.-Talk ot the probable reorganization of the d?? funt independent Colton Oil Compa? ny by the creditors is causing a good deal of interest here and in the other towns in which the company'.-- plants are located. Nothing definite can be learned from those supposed to oe in a position to know the wishes or the intentions of the creditors in regard to the filial disposition of the former company's properties. The affairs of the concern are in the hands of the courts and it will no doubt take con? siderable time and work to get things straightened out. The eight oil mills which were in operation at the time of the smash are now idle with the ex? ception of the Manning mill. Through an order of the court this mill was leased to Mr. C. R. Sprott. who is operating it with success. The other mills are at Knigstree. Timmonsville, .Marion, Cheraw, Wadesboro. Darling? ton and Hamer. The ginneries are also now idle, although they were operated during this season. It is said that the large creditors are discussing pians for the reorgani? zation and are positive that the mills can be operated as a good profit. The smaller creditors are also said to look upon the undertaking with favor. It is claimed that the sale of the valua? ble properties would not be profitable. LYNCHING IN 1905. Smallest Number of Summary Execu? tions Reported in Any Year Since 1885. The Chicago Tribune published on January 1 its annual record of the crimes committed in the United States during the past year. The following is a summary of the record: The record of embezzlements, for? geries, defaulting and bank wreckings in 1905 shows a large increase over that of 1904, and is much the largest that has been made up since 1897. Its total is $9,613,172. The lynchings reported for 1905 are but 66, the smallest number since 1885. Of these lynchings 65 occurred in the South and one in the North. Of the otal number 61 were negroes and 5 whites. The number of legal executions in 1905 was 133, as com? pared with 116 in 1904. The number of homicides and deaths by violence of every kind in 1905, as reporteo! by telegraph, shows a considerable increase over 1904, be? ing 9,212, as compared with 3,4S2 in the latter year. One of the most lamentable fea? tures of the year's record of violence' is the proof that self murder in this country is* steadily increasing. The number for 1905 is 9,982, as com? pared with 9,240 in 1904. The proportion of suicides as be? tween men and women remains about the same. About twice as many men commit suicide as women every year. The numbers in 1905 were 6.536 men -:md 3,426 women. Physicians, as us? ual, head the list among professional men. The record of railroad disasters for the year shows a total of S.I-?2 killed and 15.934 injured. In addition to those killed and injured on the steam roads. 464 have been killed and 2.622 injured on the electric and elevated toads. There is more catarrh in this section of the eountiy than at. other diseases put together, and until the iast few years was supposed to be incurable. For a great many years doctors pro? nounced it a local disease and pre? scribed local remedies, and by con? stantly failing to cure with local treat? ment, pronuonced it incurable. Science has proven catarrh to be a constitu? tional disease and therefore re? quires treatment. Hall's, Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, Ohio, is the only constitution? al cure on the market. It is taken in? ternally in doses from 10 drops to a teaspoonful. It acts directly on the blood and mucous surfaces of the sys? tem. They offer one hundred dollars for any case it fails to cure. Send for circulars and testimonials. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. Sold by Druggists, 75c. , Take Hall's Family Pills for consti? pation. 1 18-lm Chamberlain's Cough Remedy The Children's Favorite -CURES Coughs, Colds, Croup and ; Whooping Cough. This remedy ls famous for its cares over 1 a large part o t the civilized world. It can ! ; always oe depended upon It contains no % opium or other harmful drag and may be ? given as contently to a baby as to an adult 9 Price 25 Large Size, 50 cte. 3