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.

fmt ?mm iv* *r i%* ? l?i II iMU Oa. CHAPTER XV. Tb? Vol?? from the Group. "No oao from the household It al? lowed through without an order!" Too will, however, let me puf." "Because rou here a pretty facet** The sentinel at the great gate a* pa rai? lag the upper part of the Mount from the town, answered roughly. "Not you* my glrL or?" But aha who Importuned raited the atdea of the ampla linen head-dress and revealed fully her countenance. My Lady!** Half convinced, half tacredulous. the soldier looked; stared; at features, familiar, yet seem? ing different, with the rebellious gold am hair smoothed down severely a bore, the figure garbed in a Norman paasant dress, made for a costume dance when the noblee and court la? dles had visited the Mount. Too do not doubt who I am?" Im? periously regarding him. I% "No, my Ladj; only?" "Thea open the gate!" she com? manded. The man pushed back tha ponder? ous bolts; pressed outward the mass of oak and Iron, and. pussled, sur? prised, watched (ha girl slip through. Of course It wan none of his affair, ray lady's caprice, and if she chose to go masquerading among the people on such a day, when all tha idle vaga boada made pretext to visit the Mount, I her right to do so remained unquee- | ttoued; but. as he closed the heavy door, he shook his head. Think of the riakl Who knew what might happen 1 la the event of her identity being re- ! vealed to certain of those in that I heterogeneous concourse without? ' Cven at the momsnt through an a per tare for observation la the framework to which he *? paired upon adjusting ! the fastenings, he could see approach- j lag a procession of noisy fanatics. The apprehension of the soldier was. however, not shared by the girl, who, glad she had found a means to get away from the chilling atmosphere of her own world, experienced now | only a sense of freedom and relief. In K*r tense mood, the din?the shoutlr ; tu:! unwont? 1 touuJs?v.vro not cal? culated to aiarm; on the contrary, 1 after the oppressive stillness In the great halls snd chambers of the sum? mit, they seemed welcome. Her pulses throbbed and her face still burned with the remembrance of the Inter Made Merry In Heavy or Riotous Fashion. view with ber fsther, as sbe eyed un seelngly the approaching band, led by censer- and banner-bearer*. "Vterge not re esperance?" Caught ap as they swept slong. she found her* ?elf without warning suddenly a part of that human stream. A natural de? sire to get clear from the multitude led her at first to struggle, hut at well contend with the Inevitable Faces fierce, half-crssed. encompassed her; eyes that looked starved, spiritually and physically, gleamed on every elde. Held as In a vise, she soon ceased to resist; suddenly deposited on a ledge, like a shell tossed up from the see, sbe next becsme aware she wss looking up toward s temjKirary altar, gsrlsh with bright colors. "Rtends sur nous- -" Louder rose the voices; more unenntrollable be came the demoanor of th?- people, mid quickly, befor? the unvell'ns of the ssr red relics had completely mad? dened them, s'ie managed to extricate herself from the kneeling or pTgsj trats throng; breathless, she fled the vicinity. Down, down! Into the heart of the village; through tortuous footpaths, where the gaaderlag. not ptctlstlc. ele ment held svay; where. Instead of shrines and altars, hsd been SffOOtod booths and stands before which ven? dors of nondenrrlpt viands or poor trumpery verted their loquacity on the pllsrims "All hot! All hot*" "A Is banjue! A rwatBtsf!M **l?a vie! Two drinks for a Hard!" "Voll.i le plilslr dos dames'" The Mount, In clden times a glori? ous and sacred place for royal pilgrim? ages, where kings came to pray and seek absolution, leemed now more mart than holy spot. But those whom the petty traders sought to entice? sullen-looking peasant!, or poorly clad fishermen and their families?for tho most par: listened indifferently, or With Stupid derision. "Bah!" scoffed one of them, a wom? an dressed in worn-out costume of In? herited holiday finery. "Where think you we can get sous for gewgaws?" "Or full stomachs with empty pockets?" said another. "The foul fiend take your Portugal!!" The nomadic merchant! replied and a rough altercation aeemed impend? ing, when, pushing through the crowd, the girl hurried on. Down, down, sho continued; to the baee of the rock where the sand'! shin? ing surface had attracted and yet held many of the people. Thither they still continued to come?in bands; processions; little streams that, trickling in, mingled with and augmented the rabble. An encamp? ment for the hour?until the "petite" tide should break k up, and drive It piecemeal to the shore or up the ilde! of the Mount?It spread out and almost around the foundation! of the great rock. Only the shadows It avoided?the chilling outline! of pin? nacle! and towers; the cold Impress of tho saint, holding close to the sun? lit strand and basking in iti warmth. Some, following the example of their sea-faring fellows, dug half-heartedly In the aand! In the hope of eking out the meager evening meal with a course, itiIt-flavored; others, abandon? ing themselves to lighter employment, made merry in heavy or riotous fash? ion, but the effect of theie holiday j efforts wai only depressing and in? congruous. "Won't you join?" Some dne's arm , abruptly seised my lady. "No, no!" Unceremoniously he still would have drawn her into tbe ring, but with a sudden swift movement, ihe escaped ' from hii graip. j "My child!" The voice was that of ? wolflih false friar who, seeing her , pass quickly near by, broke off In threat, solicitation and appeal for sous, 1 to intercept her. "Aren't you in a hur-1 ry, my child?" I "It may be," she answered steadily, 1 with no effort to conceal her aversion , at sight of the gleaming eyes and teeth. "Too much so, to ipeak with you. who are no friar!" "What mem you?" His expression, ingratiating before, had darkened, and from hii mean eyes shot a malignant look; ihe met it with fearleii dis? dain. "That you make pretext of this holy day to rob the people?as if , they are not poor enough!" i "Ban you with bell, book and can? dle! Tour tongue Is too sharp, my , girl!" he snarled, but did not linger long, flnd'rrr the nothing plane*, ifcfl contemptuous mien, or the truth of her words, little to his liking. That he profited not by the last, however, was soon evident, as with amulets and talismans for a bargain, again he moved among the crowd, conjuring by a full calendar of saints, real and imaginary, and professing to excom? municate. In an execrable confusion of monkiih gibberish, where the peo? ple could not, or would not comply with hii demand!. "So they are?poor enough!" Lean? ing on a atick, an aged fishwife who hid drawn near and overheard part of the dialogue between the thrifty rogue and the girl, now shook her withered head. "Yet still to be cozened! Never too poor to be cotened!" ihe repeated in shrill falsetto tonei. "And why," iharply my lady turned to the crone, "why are they 10 poor? The land! are rich?the soil fertile." "Why?" more shrilly. "You must come from some far-off place not to know. Why? Don't you, also, have to pay metayige to some great lord? And banallte here, and banalite there, until?H "But surely, if you applied to your great lord, your Governor; if you told him?" "If we told him!" Brokenly the woman laughed. "Yes; yes; of course; If?" "I don't understand," said the Gov? ernor's diughter coldly. Muttering and chuckling, the wom? an did not seem to hear; had started to hobble on, when abruptly the girl itopped her. "Where do you live?" "There!" A clawllko finger point? ed. "On the old Seigneur's lunda?a little dlatanoe from the woods?" "The old Seigneur? You knew him?" "Knew him! Who better?" Tho whitened head wagged. "And the Black Seigneur? Wasn't he left, as a child, with me, when the old Seigneur went to America? And," pursing her thin Hps, "didn't I care for him, and bring him up as one of my own?" "Hut I thought?I heard that he, the Black Helgneur, when a boy, lived In the woods." "That." answored the old creature, "was after. After the years he lived with us and shared our sll! Not that w?? begrudged DO, no! Nor be! For once when I sent word, pleading our 101 d, lull WO WOfg starving, ho for gtVI 1 mean. rernember? d mo all I hud dOM and," In ;i wheedling volco, t "sent money money?" "He did"" Swiftly the tflrl reached fOf her own purge, only to dltCOVtr she bod forgotten to bring one, "Hut Of course," in a tOM of disappoint' i Mont at gor ov? might, "ho couldn't j ttry well forgo! o? dentil one who, had so generously befriended Mm." "There are Ihn I DOW among Ms friend.-; ho nusi needs de>scrt," inn crone cockled, wagging her bead. a shadow crossed In* girl's brow. 1 "Mum needs''" ihe repeated. "Aye, forsooth! 7IIa comrades?ta? ken prisoners near tho island of Casque? His Excellency will hang them till they're dead?dead, like some I've seen dangling from the branches In the wood. He, the Black Seigneur, may wish to save them; but ' what can he do?" "What, indeed?" The girl regarded the Mount almost bitterly. "It is Im? pregnable." "Way there!" At that moment, a ileep, string voice from a little group of people, moving toward them, inter? rupted. i CHAPTER XVI. The Mountebank and the People. I In the center walked a man, dressed as a mountebank, who bent forward, laden with various properties?a bag that contained a miscellany of spuri? ous medicines and drugs, to be sold from a I tand, and various dolls for a small puppet theater he carried on his 1 back. It was not for the Governor's daughter, or the old woman, however, his call had been intended. "Way there!" he repeated to those in front of him. , But they, yet seeking to detain* called out: "Give the piece here!" Like a person not lightly turned from his purpose, he, strolling-player i as well as charlatan, pointed to the ' Mount, and, unceremoniously thrust-1 lng one person to this side and anoth? er to that, stubbornly pushed on. As , long as they were in sight the girl - watched, but when with shouts and ! laughter they had vanished, swal? lowed by the shifting host, once more 1 she turned to the crone. That per- ] son, however, had walked on toward ' the shore, and indecisively the Gov? ernor's daughter gazed after. The woman's name she had not inquired, but could find out later; that would not be difficult, she felt sure. I Soon, with no definite thought of where she was going, she began to re? trace her steps, no longer experienc? ing that earlier over-sensitive percep? tion for details, but seeing the picture as a whole?a vague Impression of faoes; In the background, the Mount? its golden saint ever threatening to strike!?until she drew closer; when abruptly the uplifted blade, a doml- j nant note, above color and movement, vanished, and she looked about to j And herself in the shadow of one of the rock's bulwarks. Near by, a scat? tering approach of pilgrims from the Bands narrowed into a compact stream directed toward a lower gate, and, re? membering her experience above, she would have avoided the general cur? rent; but no choice remained. At the portals she was Jostled sharply; no respecters of persons, these men made her once more feel what it was to be one of the great commonalty; an atom , In the rank and file! At length reach? ing the tower's little square, many of them stopped, and she was suffered to U?f0 the atone steps swinging fchurpiy upShe h;.d not gone fsr, however, when looking down, she was held by a spectacle not without novelty to her. In the shadow of the Tower of the King stood the mountebank she had seen but a short time before on the sands. Now facing the people before his little show-house, which he had set up In a convenient corner, he was calling attention to the entertainment j he proposed giving, by a loud beating on a drum. j Rub-a-dub dub! "Don't crowd too close!" Ruh-a-dub-dub! "Keep order and you will see?" "Some trumpery miracle mystery!" called out a jeering voice. "Or the martyrdom of some saint!" crifid another. j "I don't know anything about any saint," answered the man, "unless,"? I rub-a-dub-dub I?"you mean my lord's lady!" And truly the piece, as they were to discover, was quite banc a of that ! antique religious flavor to which they j objected and which still pervaded j many of the puppet plays of the day. The Petit Masquo of the Wicked Peas? ant and the Good Noble, it was called; j and odd designation that at once inter? ested the Lady Elise, bending over the : stone balustrade the better to see. It ! Interested, also, those official guardi? ans of the peace, a number of soldiers j and a few officers from the garrison i standing near, who unmindful of the | girl, divided their attention between J the pasteboard center of Interest and the people gathered around It. Circumspectly the little play j opened; a scene in which my lord, in a waistcoat somewhat frayed for one of his station, commands the lazy peas? ant to beet the marsh with a stick that the croaking of the frogs may not disturb at night the rest of his noble spouse, seemed designed principally to show that obedience, submission and unquestioning fealty were the great lord's due. On the one hand, f was the patrician born to rule; on the 1 other, the peasant, to serve; and no | task, however onerous, but should be gladly welcomed In behalf of the mns- | ter, or his equally Illustrious lady The dialogue, showing tho disinclination of the bad peasant for this simple em? ployment ami the good lord's noble so? licitude for the nerves of his high? born spouse, was both nimble i n I wit? ty especially ti:ot>o bits punctuated |>y a i ' '\ srtd the sentiment: "Thus i !i bud p ai ants dt serve to tare!" and culminating In an excellent cllmas to the les on a tattoo on the pensAnt's j head thai s<?u him simultaneously, ami felicitously, down with the cur? tain "What think you of It?" At my lady's elboa one of the ofllej rs turned to i companion. NAmus di hut ~" Arul his glance turne?! dubiously lownrd the people. Certainly they did nol now show prop? er Appreciation either for the literary merits or the little piece or the pre? cepts i' promulgated In fairly sound ing verse. "The mountebank!" From the crowd a number of discontented voices rose. "Come out, Monsieur Mountebank!" "Yes, Monsieur Mountebank, come out; come out!" With fast-beating heart the Lady Elise gazed; as in a dream had she listened?not to the lines of the pup? pet play; but to a voice?strangely fa? miliar, yet different?ironical; scoff? ing; laughing! She drew her breath quickly; once more studied the head, in its white, close-fitting clown's cov? ering; the heavy, painted face, with red, gaping mouth. Then, the next moment, as he bowed himself back? "Down With the Devil!" apparently unmindful of a missile some one threw and which struck his little theater?the half-closed, dull eyes met hers; passed, without slrn or expression!?and she gave a nerv? ous little laugh. What a fancy! "Act second!" the tinkling of a t?*ll prefaced the announcement, and once more was the curtain drawn, this time revealing a marsh and the bad peasant at work, reluctantly beating the water to the Song of the Stick. "Beat! beat! At his lordship's command; For if there's a croak, For you'll be the stroke, From no gentle hand." A merry little tune, it threaded the act; it was soon interrupted, however, during a scene where a comical-look? ing devil on a broomstick, useful both for transportation and persuasion, came for something which he called the peasant's soul. Again the had peasant protested; would cheat even the devil of his due, but hir aatanlc Majesty would not be set aside. "You may rob your master," he said, In effect; "defraud him of banalite, bardage and those other few taxes necessary to hts dignity and position; but you can't defraud Mc!" Where? upon he proceeded to wrest what he wanted from the bad peasant by force ?and the aid of the broomstick!?ac? companying the rat-a-tat with a well rhymed homily on what would certain? ly happen to every peasant who sought to deprive his lord of feudal rights. At this point a growing rest lveness on the part of the a'Hence found resentful expression. "That for your devil's stick!" #,To the devil with the devil!" "Down with the devil!" The cry, once started, was not easy to atop; men in liquor and ripe for mischief repeated it; in vain the mountebank pleaded: "My poor dolls! My poor theater!" Unceremoniously they tumbled it and him over; a few, who had seen nothing out of the or? dinary in the little play took his part; words were exchanged for blows, with many fighting for the sake of fighting, when into the center of this, the real stage, appeared soldiers. "What does it mean?" Impressive in gold adornment and conscious au? thority, the commandant himself came down the steps. "Who dares make riot on a day consecrated to the lioly relics? But you shall pay!" as the soldiers separated the belligerents. "Take those men into custody and? who is this fellow?" turning to the mountebank, a mournful figure above the wreckage of his theater and poor puppets scattered, haphazard, like vic? tims of some untoward disaster. "It was his play that started the trouble," said one of the officers. "Diable!" the commandant frowned "What have you to say for yourself?" "I," began the mountebank, "1?" he repeated, when courage and words alike seemed to fail him. The commandant made a gesture. "Up with him! To the top of the Mount!" "No, no!" At once the fellow's voice cnme back to him. "Don't take me there, into the terrible Mount! Don't lock me up!" "Don't lock him up!" related some one In the erowd, moved apparently by the sight of bis distress. "It wasn't his fault!" "No; it wasn't his fault!" said oth? ers "Eh?" Wheeling sharply, the com niandant gated; itt tho lowering faces that dared question his authority; then Bl hii own soldiers On tho beach he might not have fell so se? cure, hut her?', where tw? v '.I arm? d, could d< f? nd o pass at d a mob batter their h<: ds in vain stninsl w:?ils, he could well afford n coi lident front. "Up with you!" he cried Btern? ly and gave the mountebank a con* temptuous thrust. For the firs! time the man's apathy ??< nu d to deserl hint, his arm shot ba< k like ligl tiling, hut almost .it once fell to his tshh\ while an expression, apologetically abject, as if to atone for thai momentary fierce Impulse, over? spread his dull visage, "Oh, I'll mo," ho said in acc< nts servile. And pro ceeded hurriedly to gather up the re mains of his theatre and dolls. "I'm Willing to go." I TO BE CONTINUED) SUBMIT BOM) ISSUE TO PEOPLE. State to Float Million Dollar Issue lo Relieve Congested Conditions at Hospital for Insane. Columbia, Sept. 30.?The qualified electors of South Carolina will vote in the general election on the Issuance of $1,000,000 in bonds to relieve the congested conditions at the State hospltfi.l for tho insane. The resolu? tion of the last general assembly pro? vides for the election 8o that funds may be secured to carry out the work that has been started at "State Park." The property of the old asylum plant will be placed at a security for the bonds. hTe aeyKim commission has upon tho authority of the general assembly borrowed several hundred thousand dollars from tho sinking fund com? mission and this fund must be re? turned. Unless the bond Issue carries then an extra appropriation will have to be made by the next general as? sembly to refund the loan to the sink ing fund commission. The notices for the election on the bonds have been sent out by Secretary of State MeCown to the state election I managers and tickets will be provid? ed. CARROLL TO TAKE STUM I*. Columbia Negro Asked to Assist In Democratic Campaign. Columbia, Sept. 30.?Richard Car? roll, colored, has received from Con? gressman Burleson, head of speakers bureau of the Democratic national committee a request that he devote a portion of his time between now and the general election in making ad? dresses to people of his race on be? half of the Democratic nominee. Carroll has Just returned from Ohio whero he made several speech? es for Woodrow Wilson. He said this afternoon that he would prob? ably accept the Invitation to make several speeches for Wilson and would first go to New York and would probably make severd speech? es throughout the West. Bull Moose Ticket, Columbia, Sept. 30.?That tho "Hull Mooiie" party or the Progres? sive Republicans will place, a full ticket in the field In this State In the general eh ctlon for all State offices, and that electors will be named WSJ the Information gathered here today. The story goes that those Inclined to support the policies of Theodore Uooseveit will gather In Columbia next F iday when the organization will bo framed up and the various candidates from governor down nam? ed. The leader of the Bull Moose tight In South Carolina Is O. Sherwood ' Dunn of Alken. Ho is in New York and, it is said, conferring with the national leaders with reference to the light in South Carolina. In this con? nection it might be stated that the Republican vote In South Carolina In the general election in 1008 was something like 4.000. Many of those Republicans have never left the camp of President Taft. No Intimation has been given as to who will be the candidates for the various offices. It has been known for some time that Roosevelt had his eyes on South Crollna because of the charges of fraud in connection with the recent Democratic primary elec? tion. There will not be a split in the Democratic ranks in this State and tho Bull If OOser will have little chance. Make Road Exhibit. Columbia, Sept. 3 >.?The State de? partment of agriculture will send a comprehensive road exhibit to the an? nual meeting of the American Road Congress and affiliated organizations to be held at Atlantic City during the week of September 30th. The exhibit will be one of the most complete ever prepared in this State and will be re? turned t?> Columbia In time f-?r the State fair. The exhibit will be in ( bargt? of an expert road man. A large map of South Carolina, 14x11 feet has been painted and the unions highways will he marked on this map by the charts of the roads in the State that have been surveyed by Commissioner Watson. Several thousand COpteS Of the good Tools books recently Issued by the depart? ment win be distributed among ttu delegates attending the convention. Tho map of South Carolina will also give some Interesting corn statistics showing thai this state bail-* the I world for record corn productions County Superintendent o( Educa? Don J. Herbert Haynsworth Mond?n paid a visit to the school at State burg a'hero he met with the teachers, trustees and patrons to discuss prob bans connected n'lth the running of the school through the coming ses? sion. a tiKi .\ r \< im \ i:mi;nt. TIic Work of the Ladle* llullding s<? caety in ilie ISrection of the Sfow Methodist Church?Paper Itcud to Society by Mrs. L. H. Dultunt. How often in our short span of lifo do auspicious events occur, and what more effective way can there be, of realizing the flight of its passing years, than by the return of their anniver? saries, and how quickly they seem to come. our first Mile Stone was, when our litt:*- laud of loyal and enthusiastic women organized a Church Ruilding Society. Working together in love and harmony, with a high and holy object in view and that object the up-building of God's temple; has it seemed strange that success has crowned our efforts? With nothing tangible in sight, we plodded on through the years, adding gradually to our fund. Like tho mod? est violet, have our efforts been made, without ostentation or display, but permeating through the Society, like the llower's perfume, wae our zeal and determination to accom? plish our end. The Second Stone was paseed, when ground was broken and the first spoonful of dirt was lifted by Master William Thompson, a baby whose mother performed the same I service for the Church which had to go to make place for this one. 1 And now we have arrived at the Third Mile Stone, a glorious (pooh? the laying of the corner stone of our magnificent building. It has been assigned to me the task of reviewing and making history of our work, it may be for future gener? ations to read a hundred years hence. When perhaps another stone will be la'd by other hands than ours for another temple to replace the one which we have loved and helped to build. Our Society was formed in 1904, and during the eight years, but; three Presidents have served us, all very creditably, Mrs. C. L. Stubbs. Mrs. C. T. Mason and Mrs. J. M. Knight, the incumbent, who bids fair to hold the office as long as she will consent to dos so. Mrs. Harry Hood served for one year as Secretary and sinc% then Mrs. C. B. stub 1)8 has filled the posi? tion with so much fidelity, accuracy and zeal, that we could not possibly conduct the finances without her. She even traces every missing check apron, so the dollars and cents are in capable hands. Is it not always due to the efficiency and zeal of its offi? cial hoard that makes progress in any society ? In looking over some data we find our second Anniversary was held at the home of Mrs. W. S. Reynolds, where we were most graciously enter? tained. Our first year's receipts wer*? $500.00, but with $1,150.00 as our second year's work, we thought we were indeed prospering, and so it was. Our work wag pleasure, for it was so diversified with Readings. Fairs, Musicales, Lectures and dinners that every one was a social success as. well as a financial one. Today we are to witness the laying of the corner stone and to bring our offerings?a miniture check apron, the symbol of our first efforts and success, the enrollment of names and this lit? tle history of our work. We come also with the sum of $7.000 to offer upon the alter as our share in its huilding and we are still working with renewed interest tintil we have reached the pinnacle which is almost in sight. To none was promised the privilege of seeing our work finished, but God has Indeed been good and merciful and gracious to spare so many. Death has claimed but three of our charter members, and they were patriarchs* full of years and of honor?Miss Julia DeoChampa, Mrs. B. Hood and Mrs. A. J. China. Our Church will Indeed be a tit ting home for Methodism as well is an ornament to our city. We long to hear again the sweet tones of the old bell, which so many have heard in their childhood days, rin^ out agam its joyous sound and ealling us to come and worship w Ith it In its new home. It will tell us also that our goal has been reached, our work h* finished. Hut is this all'' 1 kMM hriek and atone and stained wtndowi make a Church? Let IH like the wise men who brought their gifts ol gold, frank* Incense and myrrh to their now born King, bring our gift< of consecrated love, of loyalty and good will to our fellow man A helping hand to those in need, ;? kindly welcome t?> the stranger within ftur gates, and th# mantle of charlt) to cover all. Let us live each da) to la) a foundation for I future usefulnem and good and our church and homo will be an sarthl) I Paradise. I H B. IHirant I _ Deputy Emeriti Kpper?*on was In Shlloh Monda) on ih- look-out for the two men, C, It. Voung *nd afaca Moms, ? ho are o*anted foi ? grave {offense alleged to hav< been commit i. d by them '.?st I 'rid y.