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AN INTERRUPTION By ANNABEL BRINSMADE Preparation* were being matte for a funeral In tbe Margot family. 1 he todj of Hetty Margot, aged eighteen wee to be burled at 11 o'clock, and It wae now 10. A great deal of ay mpat ay wae shown tbe family, for there were ?ery sad clrcumstaoces attending the young girls death, lo fact. It was eon aaaatad n ease of sulctda. About n year before Betty began to ?bow algna of despondency. She had left school and was ready to take a ?octal position among the young people of tbe town In which she lived Ber partly to divert her from her of mind, did what she could as Induce bar to do so Betty did not refuse to go among those of her own age. bat when with them. Instead of being tbe blight, cheery girl of s year before, she was listless. The young aaaa sad maidens who bad grown up with ber endesrored for awhile to -draw bar trees ber lethargy, but. And lag their efforts futile, at last gare uo trying Tbe family physician was. of course, consulted. Be talked with Betty, ask? ed ber a great many questions, pre? scribed n tonic to be taken "three times a day before raesls." bat told her moth? er that be cor.ld find no organic dis? ease. Be thought that change of scene might be bsnsflclsl. but tbe Margots could not afford to tske tbe pstlent swsy. Besides, ahe ssld she didn't csre to go swsy. The doctor suggested that there might be a young man In tbe case, but airs. Margot declared that daughter bad never shown any pref for any of ber male acquaint To this the doctor replied that first lore on the part of s young girt from sixteen to twenty wss spt to as antue very singular forms. lie had treated casee of supposed physics I mal? ady whlcb eventually bad turned out to be simply loreslckness. One of his patients had shown signs of s break? ing down In health simply because nhe could not make up her mind between two suitors and had Anally eloped with a third, to whom her parent had no ob? jection whatever. One morning when the good ladv went Into ber daughter's room with the usual toast and coffee?she would not permit Betty to arise before 11 o'clock?the room was empty. Tbe bed bad not been slept in. The frightened matron rushed from tbe room, calling aar daughter wildly. The household, excepted, responded, and ereu My the whole town was roused. The day peeked with no word from missing girl. She must hsre de-1 parted In the night, for no one had seen her go. Erery village In the neighborhood received telephone mes? sage* describing Betty's personal ap? pearance and Inquiring If she had been ( tarn. All ber relatives fsr snd near ware notified. Not s hopeful word came from any point. | Mrs. Margot, after she became so fsr calmed as to eipreas an opinion on tbe cause of her daughter's departure, said she tadleved that Betty's mind bad been affected through some dis? ease which "that stupid doctor" bad, failed to discover. The people of the town had many and diverse opinions. Mrs. Ciiffln. serosa the street, who bad board Mrs. Margot?an Impatient. ejg?j cftable woman?scold her daughter.' ??erred that the latter had been driven away by cruelty. Some of tbe neigh? bors?old mslds or married women - Vbo bad adopted dogs In lieu of chll dren?ssld that Betty hsd not been properlv brought np and had gone to tbe bad. I ? One day a fresh Impetus was given to theee conjectures by the discovery an s body of a woman In the tfvaV, It was bloated beyond recognition, but It was sbont Hem's height, and the hair waa about the same color as hers. Tin consensus of opinion waa that it was ber remain*; that in a tit of temporary tnssulty she hnd escaped from honte and drowned herself The sight was so awful that the parents were per susded not to look st It An under? taker prepared It for burial, and this brings us to the ?>eglnnlng of our story, which Is also the end. Persons were assembling at the Mar got horns to pay their last respects to 1 tbe desd. The clergyman had arrived. I tbe undertaker was going about with soft tread giving directions in a modu? lated voice, when a young man and woman turned a corner and caught ? elew of the hearse and carrloges standing before the door The lady sank on the man's hoaom with a gasp; but. recovering, the two pursued their wsy to the house of the funeral The clergyman was mentioning aome lovely trslts of the deceased when the chief mourners uttered an exclamation of surprise and made a t*>H for the hall, where sto?*| the newcomers Oh. Betty!" exclaimed loth father sad mother In a breath Tho olawqules were discontinued B i s< mt of the appearance of the n Jert for which they were held, and a great relief, a great Joy. reigned In their stead. Thla was Betty s exphm i don "Oeorge met me when I was ? srhoolgl-l. and wo loved Then that horrid Kate Baxter rnme I?etWOOB im. and for a long while I wits afntld she'd get hlrn away from ine But one da> he wrote me that she had !h?cii telllny lies ais?ut gen tad l concluded In go and gl* e her a ph- ,.f tuv min I I ho result was that Oaafga and I th tugbl we'tl Utter lie innriel So here wo sre The d ?? tor's diagnosis of the i*gag Wss. "The Insanltv of Juvenil ? love " Whet It th? Antwort It happened during the construction, of one of Kansas City's skyscrapers The noon whifttle blew, and a plasterer working on the tloor above that ui which he had left his street clothes wauted some change from his pocket book and ordered his teude" to go anal get it. The tender paused. "Look by ah. Mistah .lim." be objected, "If some body has already stole y??* money an 1 comes back hyah an" tells you dat it s goue yo' is gwine to say I tuk it." Although struck by the seeming jus? tice of the objection, the plasterer was Impatient. "What's the matter with you?" he ejaculated. "Nobody has atolen my mouey. You go aheud. and If the money It gone 1 won't blame you." The tender departed, to return In a few miinm-s and stand Just Inside the door. "Well." said the plasterer point? edly. The tender shuffled his feet, wide eyed and Innocent "It's Jes* like 1 tole yo'. boss, Jes' like I tole yo*. Some- I body done robbed yo'. Dey wuzn' a cent In dem clothes."?Kansas City Star. A Quaint Oriental Story. A recent English traveler in Balu? chistan had from s holy man In that country a story about Moses which does not appear In the Scriptures, yet which baa Ha pertinence to this mat? ter of politicians proposing to do away with all the evils of the human lot. aaya the Century Magazine. The patri? arch waa sitting in his house very sad. and the Lord aald to him. "Prophet Moses, why srt thou cast down?" ??Alas," said he. "I see so many people sorrowful. Some are unclothed, and some are hungry. I pray thee make all happy and contented." The Lord prom? ised It should be so. But soon Moses waa again disconsolate, and once more the Lord asked the cause. "Lord." cried tbe prophet, "the upper story of my house has fallen down, and nobody will com? to mend It; they are all too ! busy enjoylug themselves." "But what am I to do?" "Lord, make the people as they were before!" Music Among the Negritos. The music and dauclng of the Negri? tos are especially interesting. Many of them know how to make and to play both the bamboo nose flute and a kind of Jewsharp made from bamboo. Some of them use crude stringed instrument* fashioned from single Joints ot bam boo. the striugs bel?g cut from the out? er layer of wood, to which their ends remain attached, and being raised up by means of bridges. The distribution of the several kiuds of musical instru? ments above mentioned is more or less local, but the bronze tomtom or "gun sa" Is in universal use. although some Negritos play It with a dramatic!;, i while others beat it with their hands j Many of their dances are pantomimic Their singing is often weird lu the ex? treme. It would be idle to describe it Only phonographic records could do it partial Justice. ? Natioual Geographic Magazine. Anecdote of Sheridan. Wheu Richard Brlnsley Sheridan was in distress in early life one of his recourses was that of writing for tbe fugitive publications of the day. in which he was materially assisted by his wife, and many yean after his entrance into the sphere of politics he was beard to say that "if he had stuck to law he believed he should have done as much us his frleud Tom Ers- . klne; but," coutinued he, "1 had no time for such studies. "Mrs. Sheridan and myself were often obliged to keep writing for our dally leg or shoulder of mutton; other? wise we should have had no dinner." | One of his friends, with whom he cou- i versed thus, wittily replied. "Then 1 perceive it whs a Joint concern." Paraguay's "Spider Lace." Missionaries in Paraguay more than 200 years ugo taught the native In dlans to make lace by band. Since that day the art has greatly developed, and In certain of the towus laeemaking is the chief occupation Almost all the | women, many children and not a fan 1 men are engaged in this industry. A I curious fact with reference to the Par aguayan laces is that the designs were borrowed from the strange webs woven by the semitropical spiders that abound iu that couutry. Accordingly thai laje is by the natives called nan- j duti. which means "spider web."?Ex- j change Cruel. ? "I made these biscuits myself. Pa fid," said Mrs. Copperfield, with hon est pride. "They look very nice, Dora." replied David, picking one of them up and maklug an effort to split it. "And they are still hot. How long ago did you - ah!-cast them?" Not Unlucky. ?Arry-I've brought yer u ring. Ar riet. Ain't It a beutttjrl 'Arrlet?Why. It's a opal. 'Arry. and opals is awful unlucky, so they yes. 'Arry ? You eeeda*t worry yerself over that a little bit. cos it ain't a real un.? London Kx areas Lott of Ut Like That. Daele John?Willie, if yon could have ><>ur tray, Who WOUld you rather ls? than anybody ettal Small Willie)? Jnht ma, If I eould always have my wsy -4 Ihlcago News. ( o-.t'-ntment. Oaajtentmenl is the sweat Mtlafnr lion ?if knowing that you have more of tbh world's l,'???mN tii mi you ran poa albiy us., puck Be of good courage. Thai Is Um inn!" tiling Thorenu PR It All Came Out Right * ? ? I i By CLARISSA MACKIE 0 j-i "There goes Eunice Kock well." re? marked Mrs. Porter from her chair be? hind the honeysuckle vine. "1 wonder wheu she and Noah are going to get married T* "The laud kuows!" ejaculated her sister Fanny, craning her neck to watch the girl slowly passing the house. "They've been engaged tive years now. aud she's had a kitchen shower given her and a linen shower. Seem s as if the tinware would get rusty if they wait much longer." "What alls Noah anyway?" inquired Mrs. Porter, rocking comfortably to and fro. "He's doing well and making money in the store. Can't be she's putting him off on account of her Aunt Susan." "I Bhould say not, when she knows Susan Is Just dying to break up and go to live with Anna and her husband. You know SuHun told us the other day MILLIE'S SLIM WAIST WAS XNCIKOLED BT MOAH'H AHM. that she hud u mind to break up any- 1 way and go to Anna's. She's tired of waiting for Eunice to get married." "It would be Just like Susan Hock well to do it. too." said Mrs. Porter. "1 wonder what would become of Eunice then'.'" I "Susan said her niece could be mar- i ried from Anna's house Just as well as here." I "J don't believe BuillCe would go to . Anna's." "Perhaps she'd have to; but. just tbe ' same. If Noah Kand was my son I'd Just give him a piece of my mind. The ideu of keeping a girl waiting five | years!" Mrs. Porter watched Eunice J Kock well's slender, erect form until it , disappeared through the doorway of j Noah Kand's grocery store. "She's gone to Noah's, I wonder what for?" | added Mrs. Porter. Noah Knud asked himself tbe same 1 question when he saw Eunice enter the j store. This was the tlrst time she had . ever visited the store since their en gagemenl dee years ago. and he thought at ouce that something must have happened to Aunt Susan Kock well, with whom Eunice made her home "Howdy do. Eunice':" asked Noah, blushing up to the roots of his light hair. "Anything the matter with Aunt Susan?" "She's (piite well." said Eunice, with a queer strained note in her voice. "1 just Stopped in to say that she's going to the city to live with Anna." She did not look tit Noah. Her brown eyes were Studying the packages of cereals piled on the shelves. **Good Lord!" Noah was startled. "When Is she going?" he asked blankly. "Tomorrow morning. I'm on my way to tell Horner to have the stage stop for the 9:24." Eunice still stared at the cereals. Surely, she thought, surely Noah would ask her why Aunt Susan was going, or else he would say some thing about their being married at once. Eunice had Stepped forth from her deep reserve and given him an opening. Would he take (he oppor? tunity? "She hasn't, she Isn't breaking up?" asked Noah feebly. He knew there was something that he ought to say. that should have been said years ago; but, as he had done before, he put it off until his next visit. Time enough then. He sin ply couldn't asR Eunice to name their d arrlage day When his er rand boy \va> sitting In the rear room with one eye on the store. ??She's not breaking up just now," gald Eunice coolly. "1 shall attend to that after ^1 i! hns gone 1 must be going HOW. There's plenty to do." ? I'll see \ til tomorrow night, En nice.*' slid \ i h in a relieved lone, al uner was ll|K>lOgotlc - I !unice's quiet replj Id Noah ? 11 or tier's no ompllsheu c I hurried home, wii h though Iii*- "> "tluodhy," ??(Joodb; " I ler erratiil Ktllll e ItlM I. ail her gentle nature stirred to Its depths. Slu* was frightened at the white hot nngei that ttHed her heart. Sit?* fell that site h;iied Noah Rand foi I placing hier in Mich a position. All j Little River was looking on and com menting on their needlessly long en gugement. Besides, garrulous Aunt Susan only added fuel to the naming tongues of gossip by her open dissatis? faction at the delayed marriage. It was not until after Aunt Susan had rocked away in the ramshackle ?tage " 'i her big trunk, balancing her stout form on the other side of the j vehicle, that Eunice sat down in the disordered sitting room and asked her self what was to he done about Noah ; Rand. I A brief summary of her wooing and engagement brought her to the eonelu- | ?ion that neither she uor her lover ; really eared for each other or there i would have been an eagerness ou one j side or the other to make a home Just j for themselves. As for herself, Noah Rand had been her first admirer, and she deluded herself with the belief that she loved him. Theirs was one i of those long periods of "keeping com j pany," as it is known In Little River, followed at last by an engagement, which was proclaimed by a small moonstone ring ou Eunice's slim brown finger. Every Wednesday evening Noah called to see Eunice, and every j Sunday afternoon he took her for a I drive iu his buggy, and afterwatd ho remained to tea and spent the evening, j If Noah's actions were any indlca j tion of his feeling for Eunice the girl i now concluded that he had come to care as little for her as she did for him. She arose aTter awhile and went about her duties with bitter reseut ment in her heart. All day icug s.'ie brooded over the trouble, and as the hour grew near for Noah's r.ppoa ranee her thoughts l>ore fruit, in that she put on a vhlte dress and ran across the road to see Millie Wasson. "Let him knock and knock again." smiled Eunice triumphantly as she stole through the orchard toward the Wasson house. The apple trees were bending under their rosy burden of blossoms, and she paused to let a fra? grant branch brush her cheek. Then her heart stood still at the dark shadow which almost touched her In its swift pace, "Oh!" she cried sharply, and the shadow paused and put out a warm j hand that closed around her arm : She stood motionless. "Who is itV" asked the voice of Bob Waeeon, Millie's brother. "You needn't j answer. I know. I couldn't help but j know, Eunice." he said in u queer i voice, and his hand did not relax its I hold. To Eunice's terror he drew her j closer until his arms infolded her gently. "Oh. Rob-Rob Wasson. let me go! You have no right." half sobbed Eu? nice, with a sudden realization that to be in Rob's arms was tue most bliss fill sensation in the world. "If you were free. Eunice, would you. could you?oh, of course. 1 know I'm acting like a mean cur. but I've loved you and wanted you ever since 1 came home and first saw you grown up. But Noah has always had a first mortgage, only he's been so tarnation long about foreclosing that I've been falling deep er und deeper all the time." "Oh. Bob!" sobbed Eunice in accents Which she intended to 1k? reproachful, but only succeeded in making tender. "Eunice." he cried sharply, "this Is no time for quibbling. Before you run the risk of making both yourself and Noah unhappy for life tell me. do you love anybody else?me?*' He pressed her cheek to his and was thrilled be? cause she ditl not resist. "1 thought 1 had heart disease." qua? vered Eunice. "1 need to feel so funny around my heart. You remember that night when you sang at tbe concert? You sang 'Because I Love Ycti.' and? and" "I was singing to von. dear/' whis? pered Roi? tenderly. The scented tipple boughs brushed their young heads and scattered a drift of petals down upon them. A whip poorwill was throbbing Iiis strange song from the old fencepost. Footsteps swished through the long grass and stopped close beside them, and they lifted startled, guilty faces to see. standing near by and quite un? aware of their presence. Millie Wasson and Noah Rand. Strange to relate. Millie's slim waist was' encircled by Noah's arm. and his fair bead w as bent above her dark one in an unmistnkable attitude <>f tender? ness. He had never spoken thus bold ly to Eunice Rockwell. "It's no use. Millie, dear," he was saying. "I baked Eunice to marry me. and I'm not going to throw her over, but I don't see that she cares especially for me. and. although she Is the sweet est girl. I can't help loving you best." he groaned dismally, "Throw her over!" ejaculated the en? ergetic Millie "If you ever mention such a thing. Noah Rand. I'll never speak to you again. Rut 1 don't know. This is very dishonorable, you see. Noah. You go right home and never tempt me ngnln. You belong to Eunice Rockwell, whether she can-s for you or no*, and I feel the meanest girl In the w orld " "Looks n lot as if Eunice cared for Noah doli'l It. Pussy?' Rob's quiet voice broke like ;? bombshell behind the two, and they turned to see Eunice In his arms. "Wh a t!" gasped Noah. "Oh. how funny!" laughed Millie hap plly. "Pon'l you see. Noah, you blind old bat? No wonder neither of you wanted to gel married. You're both In love w ith other people," "I ^ue^s it's all coming out right In the end." grinned Boh Wnsson. ?'Just like them old fairy stories we used to hear lell about." added N ? ib as n<> wandered uway baud in hand it ii Millie. ttzr^jr"' ?TBUi'.j >liM**ssrj?**^-{ OPEN SATURDAY, FEB. 1st NEW FANCY GROCERY Phone 677 No. 115 S. Main St. We have a new and complete line of fresh, best quality far-.cy groceries. From the bep;innin^ we wi'l en? deavor to ?ive courteous and careful attention to all orders, and our delivery service will be quick and reliable. Phone us your orders or call in person -we will appreciate all fa? vors tendered us. CAROLINA GROCERY CO., H. G. Hill, Prop. Atlantic Coa^l Line The Standard Railroad of the South Ramifies the "Nation's Gar den Spot" Through the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida j FOUR FAMOUS TRAINS "NEW YORK AND FLORIDA SPECIAL" (January to April) , "FLORIDA AND WEST INDIAN LIMIT? ED," "PALMETTO LIMITED" AND "COAST LINE FLORIDA MAIL." Din ing Cars? a la carte service. All year round through car service from New York t both Port Tampa and Knights Key, connecting wit steamships to and from Havana. For beautifully illustrated booklets and copy of U "Purple Folder," address, T. C. WHITE, W. J. CRAIG, General Passenger Agent. Pam. Traf lie II Wilmington. N. C. Carolina Special High Class Electrically Lighted Train Between CHARLESTON AND CINCINNATI via Southern Railway PREMIER CARRIER OE THE SOUTH. In connecting with C. N. <?. and T. 1*. Pall way Consisting of Com biued Baggage tad Knotting far. First class Coach, Pullman Drawing Boom Sleeping C;ir. Pullman observation Sleeping Car and Dining Car Service. ."?olld between Charleston and Cincinnati on the following conven? ient schedules i WESTBOUND NO. 27 Lv Charleston.9.00 AM Lv Summervllle.9.38 AM Lv Orangeburg.11.17 AM Lv Columbia.1.00 PM Lv Spartanburg... ?4.15 PM Ar \sheville.7.30 PM A t.cinnati. 9.55AM EASTBOUND NO. 28 Lv Cincinnati.6-30 PM Lv Asheville . 10 25 AM Ar Spartanburg .1.40 PM Ar Columbia.4.35 PM Ar Orangeburg .6.15 PM Ar Suromerville .8.00 PM Ar Charleston.8.05 PM Connecting at Cincinnati with through trains for Chicago, Cleve? land, Detroit, Seattle, St. Louis. Kansas City. Denver. San Francisco, and Points West and Northwest. For further information call Southern Knilway Tacket Oflfoe. E. Ii COAPMAN, V. P. and G. IL W. E. McGEE, A. LI. P. A. Columbia, S. C. S. H. HARD WICK H. F. CARY, P. T. M. G. P. A. W. II. CAFFE* , S. H. McLEAN, D. P. A. D. P. a. Charleston, S. C. Columbia. S. C. ATLANTIC COAST LINE SSSm TOUR TO Panama -Jamaica- Cuba and Florida Via the Over-Sea Railroed Over the Florida Keys - IS OFFERED AT A COM AR ATI V ELY SMALL COST The cruise will be on the New Steamship B VANG EU NE of the P. a 1?. S S. Co. (length 3?'>4 ft. with ?6? staterooms.) Sail? ing from Key West January T, IIIS. Other sailings Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and is, Match l and is. April 1 and ir?. For full information! the approximate coet of the trip from any point desired and for ichedulee and reservations on trains and on the ship, addreet the undersigned, who will accompany the party. c u milY TRAFFIC AGENT. ATLANTIC COAST UWE aVIIaVaatai k V I. Ifi, ,ULL1 H.i\an.i? ft., , . 1 ; to Midsummer Pra4o61 VTIIIl, !1 ? U.MI. R. b. WILL C'NLY COST A f^VI? PP\] , POSTAL CARD WORTH v;i>il. Vil..> < ro GET THI DAK 1 ICULARS