University of South Carolina Libraries
CHAPTER XXIII. At the Verge of the Aperture, The footfall of the Black 8elgneur, hear the guard house of the dungeons, was measured, yet noiseless, as he stepped on the soft earth, alongside the stone walk, now toward the pass ago In the direction ef the wheel-room, then back into the Httle square. That his thoughta. however, moved not In accord with that deliberate stride, tho brows Impatiently knit, and tho quick tlanoea he continued to cast over his shoulder, bore teetlmony. ?topping at length near tho Tour Bernard, he looked fixedly down at the town, wrapped In a stillness that should have reassured htm. Never tho less ho appeared not satisfied; and had stepped out Into the court again, whan some sound ho heard, or fancied, seat him quickly to an embrasure in the wall From thla opening?for* merly for cannon in defense of the raniaa, aad the poolain, or planking for tho hoisting of goods?he loaned far out, his glance instinctively turning toward the barracks, some distance) to tho right and far below. Aa ho stood thus, that which had first attracted bis attention?tho sound of a voice giving orders? was repeated: at the | -name time where had boon only dark? ness now shone many windows while to the left, near tho entrance ho had passed after leaving tho stable, lights bsgan to dance lino fireflies. At these slime of activity and tho sounds breaking tho general quietude, an exclamation fell from his Upt; then, pausing only a moment to Heben and Observe, ho sprang toward tho guard? house. Crossing tho threshold, de? fined by a faint glimmer from a dis? tant corner, ha made bis way past sev? eral motionless formt. Into a low peas ago beyond. Hero he called out Impa? tiently^ but from thoee depths, load? ing down Into tho dungeons where bin comrades had gone, bo answer was re? turned His voice, hollow, mocking, as**mod stifled in a tomb; more loud? ly ha shouted; walked farther In, when aa ladistlnct reoponeo wss followed hv s pin point of HrM md. er? long, by Um bearer of a little lamp. Sancboa. The others r At the head of a dark stairway Into which he would In? advertently have plunged, had he gono farther, the Black Seigneur confronted the man. as ha approached. "They will soon be here," said the eld servant, springing up the steps and walking after his master, who had al? ready turned back toward tho guard? room. "Jacques?curse him!"?put? ting out bis light in obedience to a gesture from tho other?'Tumbled with tho keys; pretended he couldn't And the right onest 80 It took long or to open tho doors," "The prisoners?** **1 left our men working at the last dungeon to come on ahead?to let you know you might soon expect them/* "Boon." Ironically, "may bo too lata." "You mean?f "The hue and cry is out! I have long been expecting it: I do not un? derstand why it didn't come before; unless a mountebank, locked up, waa considered safe enough for tho night?" ?Then some one knew??" **8ome one?" A bitter laugh was quickly suppressed on the young man's llpe "lisrk? Listen!" "Sounds below! the soldlsrs!" ex? claimed Benches, and started toward the window to look out. only to fall quickly back. "What la it r With his band on the other's shoulder, the Black Seigneur whispered tho question. "A face! At the window!" "So soon? The hounds are quicker than I thought! Or,** drawing his sword, "it may no only one or two in advance. In that case?-" But no enemy, single or plural, met their vlow, either In front, or at the side of tho guard house; only tho darkneee, void, empty, and the bare rampart wall winding around the head of the Mount like a monster guardian dragon, eeleep at hie poet "Hero Is no one!" "No one! Yet sm I sure I saw?" **A shadow!" answered tho other "And we have not'iln* worse to fight!" Mono one was there. Seigneur," etuhte rnly, "a-d flodt" I blen! ..e s gone!" "Mr* It IgSjM like ,1?" "Hack with you. quick I Is this a time for talk? Call those who can come? If th? y wot Id sa*c ttveir peck*'" "flora they are now." exclaimed Ilm servant, und. as he spoke, thd first Of their men. blowing out tho llah? h? carried, ran mib kly across tho gsjaf I ehambsr an 1 Into the open air. Oth ere hastily followed mill law gather Ins, swelled br ?hoao brought with them from the dungeon*, stood *\ pa mtly before the little stone struc ture **A11 the prisoners aro hero?" -All'" "To tho wheel-house, then!" Rut an they hastened across the square and into the narrow way, the Black Seigneur again spoke to the nan just ahead: "The hunchback f" "V'e left him below, locked up In the Devil s Cage!" ,,rrh* Devil's Cage! Quelle bonno plalPanterie! Although," looking back, ?It may cost us dear!" And Indeed, behind the sound of pur? . suit came nearer; the clatter of sol- ' filers' feet grow louder, until, reaching the little square and the guardhouse, all tumult suddenly ?eased. A mo? mentary si.ence, strang*. ominous, was broken by a diu of voices, as the fiating here and there of torches threw grotesque reflections high against the grim background of black masonry. To those now within the wheel-room, the cause of that abrupt clamor was not difficult to divine; bis Excellency's soldiers had found tbe sentinels over? powered in tbe guardhouse! Would tbe former stop to Investigate; search first those subterranean passages? Al? ready bad tbe prisoners, the weaker o* tbe Black Seigneur's men, filled tbe car, or hung clinging to the rope above; already was the wheel turning ?almost before tbe key had turned in the lock at the entrance. "Seigneur!" "8ancheir "When we left tbe wheel-room, we elosed tbe door." "When we got back, It?" A footfall without Interrupted, fol? lowed by tbe sound of a hand at the door, and other steps drawing near. "Jacques!" An expectant voice spoke; waited; called louder. Then those outside listened; some one ex? claimed, aad hurried footsteps retreat? ed toward the guard-house. As tbey died away. In tbe wheel room the car came up for tbe second time empty, and Inquiringly the men there looked from one to the other; but, even In that moment of danger, not one of them moved, or made sign of Impatience. Some must go; oth? ers remain, and stoically they awaited the word of their leader. "Down wltb all of you! I'll let you cat the line," taking a turn wltb tbe rope around a stanchion near tbe wall, "and then come down myself." The command was unexpected; for the first time thoee that had never questioned their leader's authority, hesitated, and more sharply waa tbe order repeated; whereupon they obeyed; all save one. nil let It out myself." said San ohoc "Oet In!" "Not" waa the obdurate reply, when the Black Seigneur made a algn; bands reached up, seised Benches, and g moment later the car started down. The line strained; aa It played out, now running free about the stanchion, then stopping with Jerks, the man In the wheel-house almost looked to see it part. Tbe h^mnen strand, howler, proved sound; held Its human freight; but another danger pressed near. Scarcely had tbe car begun Its down? ward journey than 'an attack, Indica? tions of whose approach had not been wanting, manifested Itself without. Be? neath a sudden, savage assault, tbe door shook; yet engrossed at tbe line, every muacle strained, tbe man at tbe stanchion heeded not Swiftly, me? chanically he worked, apparently aa unconscious of the clamorous soldiers Without aa of it silent presence within ?some one that bad been concealed In the little store-room adjoining, open? ing into the wheel house, and now peered out; but at once drew back, aa, with a crash, the door fell In. j At first, in tbe comparative dark? ness, with only the sky at the aperture staring them In the face, tbe in rush- ' log blsck figures psused, uncertain; j lights soon were pushed forward, how? ever, and tben could tbey see tbe great wheel going round, unwinding tbe rope; the man at the stanchion. "Tbe prisoners! He's letting them down." "Cut the line!" Some one with a knife rushed for* ward, severed the strand; but at that j moment the car touched the bottoi* Tben did tbe solitary man at the rope for tbe first time awaken to his own situation; with a backward sweep of the arm he struck so fiercely tbe fore? most of those to rush at him that the fellow fell, hitting hard the stone floor. Those nearest stumbled, and drawing his sword, with a thrust of point or blow of hilt, the Black Seigneur, for a moment withstood the first confused on-coming; then extricated himFelf | and leaped to the narrow space behind tbe wheel. Here was he protected be hind by the wall; ut one end, by the masonry Jutting out, while, at the oth- i er, only one or two could attack at the ? same time. But in front, through the j spokes of the broad wheel, they might ' well hope to reach him. i At once the soldiers sprang for ward, when, seizing the wheel, the man behind, with a savage Jerk, set it j In motion. The swords thruRt at him were turned aside, one or two of bll assallanta were caught In the ponder Otll mechanism, and, before those at backing him had recovered from their surprlno. the binde of the Black Belg? gjggjf t Mot In and out; to the right, to 'he left. Thorn* ahead Ml hack up n their comrades, two, however, w? i unable le Withdraw, and sank to the I round before the wheel A third, *lfh his hand to Ms throat and mak? ing strange sound*, Htae? tvd back to bg wall. Momentarily disconcerted, the Oth ? ' - kg ItnU 1 "In the th ud's Dama f' Hr one man?" shouted an authori? tative Voice. "A devil!" " Tin IbC Black Seigneur! I ha<l a gjOOd Hl^hf of Mm." ? ? I *' beat! UM BSarsk aioeb and mire--"* came In mocking tones from behind tho wheel. "Tho mountebank!" "Sacre tonnerre! Hut mountebank, or outlaw, you shall pay! This way!" And at the unprotected side of the Wheel the commandant sought tc bring the Issue to a conclusion. One blade the Black Seigneur struck down, while his own weapon retorted with more effect, though as it did so, an? other soldier mad * a lunge, and his sword entered the shoulder of the man behind tho wheel. A shout of triumph that * 1 from the lips of the Gov? ernor's trooper was, however, abrupt? ly checked; lurching forward with the stroke, ere he could recover, some? thing heavy?a brass hilt?beat like a hammer on his head and he dropped to his knees. The others pressed closer; but with tho desperation of a man resolved to sell his life dearly, the Black Seigneur bought on; regard? less of cut and thrust, was holding the narrow entrance, when from the rear, somewhere, came the report of a fire? arm. "Back! Stand back!** Those nearest the wheel, not un? willing, perhaps, to desist, urew away; other detonations followed and smoke filled the place, obscuring the -,aze. In tho yellow fog they waited; until first It was swept aside close to the opposite wall by a draft of air from tho aperture of the adjoining store? room, and the commandant, In an ef? fort to see, moved Impatiently for? ward. Ere, however, he could reach the wheel, near tho threshold of tho store-room, he felt his arm suddenly seised. ; "Look, listen!'* The warning cry?a girl's voice? rang through the whevl-room; but the commandant did not at once heed It; at that abrupt touch he had involun? tarily wrested his arm away; ho stared, not in the direction she who had called out pointed, but at her! The white, drawn face, the eyes di? lated? I "You, my Lady! Here?" he stam? mered. But she only made a wild move? ment; again grasped, drew him for* i ward. 1 "Quick, or?** And suddenly was ho . brought to a realization of what she j wished him to see; a figure drawing . Itself along, alowly, painfully, toward the verge? i "Don't you see? Rather than bo taken, he's going to throw himself over!" The excited, admonishing sound of her voice arouaed the commandant. He gave a sharp order and the soldiers sprang forward; laid roughly hold of the prostrate form; drew it back. The Black Seigneur yet struggled, but not for long! A moment, and his eyes turned to the Governor's daughter. | "Ma fol! 1 must needs yield?to your Ladyship! Tat, what matter, since I have done what i came to do!'* Tti? pnro, dartrly clowln*. seom??d to envelope ihe ihrlnking figure whoso j cloak only partly concealed the gay, rich gown beneath; lifted to the briV | llant affrighted brown eyes "Your Ladyship has bright eyes, for??oc;h!" An Ironical laugh burst from his Hps. "But sharper than their swords!" He strove to speak further, when a hand holding a weapon fell heavily. At that a cry escaped the girl's lips. "No, no; you ehall not!" The Black Seigneur lay still. "Ciel! It's fortunate we got him," ruefully the commandant gazed around. "It would have made a pretty tale, If?" he turned to the Governor's daughter, "I have your Ladyship to thank?" he began, and stopped My lady's figure had at that moment relaxed and fallen to the ground! CHAPTER XXIV. The Hall of the Chevaliers. The report of the capture of the Black Scdgneur spread from Mount to town; from rock to shore. Pilgrims j repeated, peasants circulated it; many credited; a few disbelieved. Like shadows had his comrades and the es? caped prisoners vanished, leaving no trace, save one?an over-turned car and severed rope at the foot of the poulain, without the fortifications. And flocking to that point, of greater Inter? est now than shrine or sanctuary, the pilgrims gazed arcund; down the | rocks; up the almost perpendicular planking to what looked like a mere pigeon-hole In the side*of the cliff. 1 Then ominous grumblings escaped; them; some shook their fists at tho black wall; others scoffed at distant sounds of priestly hallelujahs. Had . the "soldiers" that Bay appeared in the town or on the beach, serious trouble would have ensued. For the time, however, they remained discreetly housed, while supplies for pilgrims' needs were, by the commandant's or? ders, so curtailed, many of the Indl gent multitude, urged by pinched stom I achfl, began, ere night, to wend their way from strand to shore. But as they left tho Vicinity '>f the Mount, they turned last 1c>ks of hatred toward tho rock. Hll Excellency, tho Governor, wasted no time considering the humor of the masses; their resentment, or dispk ssure, signing d nothing; his own* complaot ncy left little room for sp< <?? ulatlon on that score. Ho was unde? niably satisfied; even tho- escape <>f the prisoners and tho Iohs of the sol? diers at tho guard-house, or In the wheel-room, was over shadow* d by tho. single capture This contentment, however, ho k?-i>t to himself; Instiujst* ed a rigorous Inquiry, and prepared to punish certain offendera. But the principal of these he could not roach; when released from th*> Iron cage, the hunchback, knowing he would i>? called upon lo answer for his part in tho night's work, had made the host use of his short legs to place a long distance between himself and tho Mount. The sentinel that allowed the Black Belgncur to pass through the entrance near the barracks; the watchman en? countered on the stairway, and the sol? dier that had h"."n overpowered in the st?hle, his Kxcellency could, how? ever, lay hands on, and promptly or? dered into custody to await his ofil? ch 1 attention. For this last culprit, tho commandant.?mindful, perhaps, of bolstering his own position?interced? ed; pointing out that the man had to pet the gaj; .Vom his mouth and give the alarm; also, that the mountebank's appearance ami acting had been cal? culated to deceive e\en one of the governor's discernment. Which re? mark h's Excellency had received with sphinx-like, and not altogether reas? suring, gravity; had reserved his ver? dict, and continued, after his own fashion, to collect the details of the uffair The searching process should have led him almost at once to his daugh? ter?a puzzling figure in the maze of events; but the Governor had exhib? ited no haste in approaching that im? portant witness. Only when he hat) marshaled his other testimony and put It in order did the scope of his sifting extend to the girl. And then had his manner been strictly judicial; main? taining an imperturbable mask, he professed not to nofcjce the pallor of her face, the unnatural brightness of her glance. "When you sent for the mountebank to come to your apartments, did you know who be was?" the Governor asked. "No." "When did you find out?" "When you entered the room." "Why did you not give the alarm then?" "Because," she hesitated; her face changed, "he would have killed you, I think?If I had!" "Was that solicitude for me the only reason?" "Why, what other could there be?" "What other, truly? And after he left with the commandant?why did you not, then, inform me?" "You remember you had something Important, from the King, to consider." hastily. "More Important than this?" "He was going to be locked up," was the best reply she could make. "And In the morning set free!" She did not answer. "And yet, you gave the word that enabled us to capture him at the wheel-house! How, by the way, came jtdu there?In the wheel-houseV "I saw him from the abbot's bridge; raard him tell the watchman he bad a message to deliver at your palace, and followed." "Again feeling solicitude for me?" "I did not know?he would dare ?*uch; and what does It matter now?" almost wildly. "You have captured him. Phut him up som T.her* in some ttrrible, deep dungeon, where?" "He Is safe? True; that Is the main consideration." Thereafter had the subject of the Black Seigneur been dropped between them; tbe pilgrimage over, the Mount resumed Its normal aspect, but only for a little while! One day about a week later, a bright cortege whose ap? pearance was in marked contrast to that of the beggarly multitude, labs visitors to the rock, came riding down through the forest to the sea; at the verge of (he sands, stopped for a first distant impression qf the rock. "Noble monunent, 1 salute yon!" Smiling, debonair, the Marquis de Beauvllliers removed his hat "And the noble mistress thereof?* suggested one of hi a train. "She. of course!' he said, still sur? veying a scene different from that final memory he had carried away with him. Then had the rock reared itself in all the glamour of a sunny day; now was the sky overcast, while through a sul? len mist the Mount loomed like a ?badow itself. "A cold place for our gay Elise!" One or two who viewed the sight for the first time looked disappointed; even tha Marquis appeared for the in? stant more sober; but immediately re? gained his lively demeanor. "Wait until you have seen it at its best," he retorted carelessly, and set the pace across the sands. Midway, where once on the sands the men of Brittany had engaged in fierce conflict the ancient abbot's forces, were the new-comers met by an imposing guard; escorted with due honor through the gates, and up th?a narrow street of the town. As he climbed the winding high? way, my lord, the Marquis, bestowed approving nod and smile this way and that; it may be that he already felt a nearer affiliation with these people; for Iiis glance, gracious, condescend? ing in passing, was that of a man armed with the knowledge that he, kinsman of the King, might some day be called upon to govern here. But to these advances, the townspeople re? sponded ill, and the young noble's brow went delicately up, as if a little amused! Mon dleul did not unfriend ly eyes peer from every lurking place around the royal palaces and pleasure grounds near Paris; and had they not encountered them all the way to the sea? People were the same every? where; must he treated like had chil? dren, and, with relays of troops from the capital to the sea. from the strand to the Mount's high top. one could afford to smile nt their petty humors. Above all. when one had more mo? mentous matter for consideration! And my lord lifted his head higher, toward a rampart, where some one had once h'd him au revolr, and where he might yet in fancy see a fluttering ribbon was.? a bright adieu! But today my lady, the Prtnceaa of the Rock, was not there; waited above. w!;!i her father, lo receive him then- In the great Hall of the Chevaliers. 1'ntH t:.it morning she had not known of tho coming of the Marquis, an impatient suitor, follow? ing the courier and the perfumed mis? sive acquainting her with the noble's near appror.cn. Certainly had Fho shown surprise; but whether she vas pleased o, not, his I-:.';fluency could not tell. He was still uncertain; standin", near the raiso? gallery, in the ancient saile dei chevaliers, from time to time regarded hor furtively! Often had she looked from one of the round windows, commanding a view of the shore and the sands; many times turned away. At first sight of the company on tie. bench, h > Governor had sc*en th< i lii'i face alter and not? ed the Involuntary st irt she bad given. Whereupon, moving toward one of the giant fire-places, had he sought for the sake of diplomacy and the end in view, to turn their conversa? tion into a channel that should have interested her; spoke of plans to be made; preparations for festivities and merrymaking commensurate with the circumstances. But to these sugges? tions of gaieties, the prelude to a stately ceremony, had she hardly listened; paused absently before the blazing logs; once or twice seemed about to say something and stopped. She was silent now, a slender figure beneath that grtr.t canopy of stone designed for the shelter of a score of knights; nervously twining and In? tertwining her fingers, she looked out at the shadows moving between the columns, playing around the bases, or melting in the vaulting. "The7 should be almost here now,** observed his Excellency, again seek? ing to break that spell of constraint, when suddenly she stepped to him. "Mon pere," her voice sounded strained, unnatural, "It was you who wanted this marriage?" "Yes," he had answered in some surprise; "yes." VlO b? CONTINUED) IX THE CRIMINAL COURT. William Eppe Plead Guilty ? Jury Find* Moses Holmes Guilty of As eauk?Fornication Case. In the General Sessions court Moseys Holmes was on Monday morning found guilty of assault and battery, the charge against him being assault and battery of a high and aggravated nture. His sentence had not been pro? nounced Tuesday. William Lpps plead guilty of lar? ceny from the hold, and was sen? tenced to pay B fine of $40 or serve 3 months. Monday afternoon the case of the State vs. Lucy Ardis and Clinton Mc Leod, charged with fornication, living in adulter; was taken up. Mr. L. D. Jennings represented the defend? ants and the Solicitor represented the fcitaie. The case took up all of the after? noon and Tuesday morning. There were a large number of witnesses on both sides. The case of the State vs. Clinton McLeod and Lucy Ardis ended Tues? day about 1 o'clock, when the jury retired and returned in a few min? utes with B verdict of not guilty. Panics in Politics. Springfield Republican. William K. Hearst's declaration for Wilson and Sulzer affords a big point? er on the outlook for election day. Meanwhile further evidence of ihe lead which Woodrow Wilson la get? ting throughout the country is to be found in the unanimity with which both the Republican and the third term orators are agreeing in assuring people that a Democratic victory may be expected to produce panic conditions in business. Men of busi? ness long ago decided, while contem? plating our magnificent crop report, that the time had come for fully di? vorcing politics from business, rec? ognising those great natural laws which determine prosperity or the re? verse for this country. Nevertheless the Boston Post deems it best to fire a shot at the panic argument, and here it is: "Since the civil war three panics have hit the country. The first was in is~;t. under a Republican admin? istration and a high tariff. The sec? ond was In 1893, under a Republican administration and a high tariff. The third was In 1907 under a Republican (moose) administration and a high tariff. When the stand-patters of either party begin to prate of the awful things that are tci happen with the success of Wilson and genuine tariff revision, ask them politely but firmly how it Is that all the panics ?Ince i860 have been in the company of hie.ii prob ctlon." The reminder may be deemed per? tinent b> some, but it is not neces? sary for a majority of the American people. Very Anci?;nt Form of Respect. The 11 >\ as n mark of respect is a onstoni used I j nearly all nations, and one that had its origin In ancieut times. point tc Remember. it was the ballet master who spoke. Tl;e occasion was the rehearsal in London of the Y'alpurgls scene In Quonod'S "Faust " He chldodl "Loi Sles, loldles, take fc* 'andfl off yor lps, > er not dancing i n 'Ampatoad Vat h; yet dnticln' In 'el'.." Notice of Election. STATE OF ^<?l III i \Koll\A. County i ? Munter. Notice hi here?y given thai the den era I Bloctlon for Preeldt ntial and Vice-Presidential Blee ton ami Rep? resentative in Congress will be held at the voting precincts Iix? ?1 by law in I the County of Sumter, s. on Tues I day November 5, 1912, said day be? ing Tuesday following the brat Mon? day, as prescribed by the .-ta.c i onstl tutlon. The Qjua?ftcatlona for suffrage are as follows: Residence in State for two years, in the County one year, in the polling precinct in which the elector offers to vote, four months, ami the payment six months before any election <>f any poll tax then ?lue and payable. Pro? vided. Thai ministers in charge of an organized church and teachers of public schools shall be entitled to Vote after six month's residence in the htate, otherwise qualified. Registration?Payment of all taxes, including poll tax, assessed and col? lectible during the previous year. The production of a certificate or the re? ceipt of the officer authorized to col? lect such taxes shall be conclusive proof of the payment thereof. Before the hour fixed for opening the polls Managers and Clerks must take and subscribe to the Constitu I tlonal oath. The Chairman of the I Board of Managers can administer I the oath to the other Managers and to the Clerk; a Notary Public must {administer the oath to Chairman. jThe Managers elect their Chairman and Clerk. Polls at each voting place must be opened at 7 o'clock a, m., and closed at 4 o'clock p. m., except in the City of Charleston, where they shall be opened at 7 a. m. and closed at 6 p. m. The Managers have the power to fill a vacancy; and if none of the Managers attend, the citizens can ap? point, from among the qualified vot? ers, the Managers, who, after being sworn, can conduct the election. At the close of the election, the Managers and Clerk must proceed publicly to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots therein, and con? tinue without adjournment until the same is completed, and make a state? ment of the result for each office, and sign the same. Within three day* thereafter, the Chairman of the. Board, or some one designated by the Board, must deliver to the Commis? sioner* of Election the poll list, the bo.rca containing the ballots and writ? ten statements of the result of the election Managers of Election?The follow? ing Managers of Election have been appointed to hold the election at the various precincts in the said County: Precinct 1. Sumter Court House. Ward 1?Edgar Skinner, W. W. James. L. W, Jenkins. I Precinct 2, Sumter C^ourt House, Ward 2.?F. O. Jennings, EL M. Spann, M. H. Fields. Precinct 3, Sumter Court House, Ward 3.?W. C. Ivy, F. D. Blodgett. W. S. Reynolds. Precinct 4. Sumter Court H< use. Ward 4.?G. E. Richardson. Wil iam Hodge, R. F. Kennedy. I Stateburg Precinct?James M. Al? len. W. M. Sanders. W. S. Thompson. Rafting ('reek Precinct?R. M. James. James M. Reames, W. J. Young. Providence Precinct?Harry Jones. Sam Moore, A. P. Vinson, Jr. Oswego Precinct?1>. M. Olive-, J. 1. Lesesne. R. M. Edens. Shlloh Precinct?J. K. McElveen, H. H. Player, Walter M. Green. Concord Precinct?A. W. Newman. T. B. Branson, Scott Seymour. Privateer Station Precinct?T W. PrltChard, Martin Rivers. T. K. Hodge. Wedgefleld Prednct?J. B. Crouch, W. B. Troublefleld, Seriven Moore. Bloomhlll Precinct \v. J. Ardi*. H. M. Coulter, C. P. Weeks The Hanagere <t each prectnef named above are requested to dele? gate one of their number to secure the boxes and blanks for the election, which win be delivered by w. j. Din kins al the Magistrate's office, Butnter, S. C, on Friday, Saturday and Mon day before the election. MARION DORN, W. P. SMITH. W. J. DIN KINS. Commissioners of Federal Bloctlon for sumter County, s. c. Poor Rich. Sometimes poverty consists in just feeding the poor. Half the millionaires in the country don't know how much they are worth. -Atlantic Constituilon. The Modern Aescp. A dop. who was accustomed to ever eat. held a piece of meat in big moutl as he crossed a pladd stream bj means of a plgnk. Looking in. h? ?a* what he took to be another do| Carrying another piece of meat. Snap I ping greedily to gel this as well, hi I let go the meat that he had ittd lost ! it In the stream Aa a result his indV ' gestion felt much better all the resl of the day ?Life.