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.

1 The Battte-Crx> By CHARLES NEVILLE BUCK Aether of Tbs Call ol the Cumberland*'* mj C D. AAooVf 5 ?vUOoyrbjht by Charles Neville Buck.) Sie stood there a long while, and ?nall) the saw, where (or a space the ran near the brick house, un? shielded by the woods, a strangling little cortege. At its front rode a stoop shouldered man in whom, even 41 that far distance, she thought she ttcognlred the missionary. Behind hire came a few horsemen riding in two squads, and between the squads crawled a "jolt-wagon" drawn by mules. She knew that the Haveys ?were bringing back to the frontier the enemy s dead, and she shuddered at the eold reality. It may have been three hours later that Good Anse Talbott rode up to the Widow Everson's. When the girl, who had returned long ago from the crest, came out to meet him at the door she found him talking there with Milt McBrtar, who had also ridden up, but from the other direction. "Anse Havey 'lows," the preacher was saying, "that he hes done fotched home ther body oT little Nash Watt, an* thet ther boy was shot tcr death a layln' In ther la'rel a hundred paces from the winder whar Cal Douglas was a standln'!" "I've done already acknowledged thet," declared Milt in a voice into which crept a trace of truculent sul? len ness. The missionary nodded. "I hain't Quite through ylt. Milt." he went on evenly, and the girl who stood lean? ing against the door-frame, caught for an Instant a sparkle of zealot earnest? ness In his weary eyes. "Anse is wlllln' tcr take yore hand on this truce. He's wlllln' ter stand pledge thet ther Haveys keeps faith. But I'm a preacher of the Gawspel of Qod, Milt, and I don't low ter be no go-between without both of you men noes keep faith. " Milt McBrlar stiffened resentfully, and his dark brows drew together un? der his hat brim. "Does ye doubt thet I'll do what I says?" he Inquired In a voice too soft lor sincerity. The missionary did not drop his steady and compelling eyes from the gase direct. It was as if he were read? ing through the pupils of the other aud .serening the dark heart. "I alma ter see thet ye both starts out fair. Milt," he said, still quietly "An' ter thet end I aims ter admonish ye both on ther terms of this meetln' atween ye." For an Instant Milt McRrlar's sem? blance of calm reflectiveness slipped from him and his voice rose raspingly. "Did Anse Havey lea/n ye t?et speech?" Good Anse Talbott shook his head patiently. "No. I told Ahse ther same thing I'm avtellhV you. Neither Anse ner ther four men that fetches ther body will hev any sort of weepon about 'em when they comes acrost thet sttle. Ye've got ter give me yore hand thet none of yore men hain't a coin' ter be armed. I'm a servant of ther Most High God." For an instant Are blazed in the preacher's eyes and his voice mounted with fervor. "For years I've dons sought ter teach his grace an' his hatred of murder ter ther people of these hyar hills. When you two men shakes bauds on this truce I aims ter be ?t?ndln' by with a rifle-gun In my hands, an' ef l sees anything crooked I'm goln' ter use hit." The dark giant stood for a time silent, then he gravely nodded his head "Them terms suits me," ho ?aid briefly. The two men walked down to the fence and separated there, going in opposite directions. A few minutes later Juanlta. still standing fascinatedly in the doorway, was looking out across the shoulder of the missionary. He presided at the threshold with grave eyes, and. even after these peaceful years, there v. something of familiar caress in tin way his brown hund lay on his rifle lock. Then the girl saw a strange and primitive ratlilcation of treaty On either side of the little porch stood * group of solemn men, mostly bearded, mostly costless, and all un armed In front of those, at the right stood Anse Havey, his eyes still the dominant feature of the picture. Over across from him was the talk l and older chieftain of the other clan They stood there gravely, with a courtesy that cloaked their hatred Out In the road was the "Jolt-wagon." and in Its deep bed the girl could see the canvas that covered Its burd?laV Aa Bad Anse took bis place at th? front of his escort his gaze met tf Juanlta. He did not speak, but tor an Instant she saw his face Imidin, his eyes narrow, and his lips set themselves It was the gl a n< ? Of ou? who has been lashed across rh ? and who cannot strike back, hut win will not soon forget. This time the girl's eyes did no' drop, and certainly they bsM no hin of relentlrg or plea for forgiveness Bjgd a* that moment Um in ad ol tin Haveys turned from sci unJ began sneaking._ "T I ot your message. Milt,'* he said "an1 1 reckon you got my answer, I've brought back Little Ngah." ' I'm ob'eeged ter ye." The McBriar paused, then volunteer*d: HKI the? boy had took counsel of me, this thing wouldn't never hcv happened." * Bad Anas HaTai stood locking at the other, then ho nodded. "Milt," he carelessly announced at the end of bis scrutiny, while the ghost of an ironical smile glinted in his eyes, though it left his lips vc. "I've pot several hosses an' mules down thar in my bam that we found hitched out in thar timber whan Nash an' his Mandl took to the la'rel" A - in ho reused and studied the faces of the McBriar men before luv went on. "One of 'em Is your own roan nuiro, Milt. One of 'em b'lohgs ter Baa thar, and one is Bob's thar."' lie pointed out each man ai he spoke Ye eaa gel 'em any Uma ye send down lor Vtn " The girl caught her br ath and, de? spite her dislike, acknowledged the cool insolence with which Anse had answered Milt's plea of innocence. Milt replied only with a BCOWl, so Anse contemplatively continued, as though to himself: "Hit's ri^ht'smart pity for a feller1 to go out shootin' in the night-time "I Gives Ye My Hand, Milt McBriar." an' to take a kinsman's horse?with-' out takin' his counsel. It might lead j to some misunderstandln'." A baleful glare flashed deep In the I eyes of the taller man, and from the henchmen at his back came an uneasy shuffle of brogans. But the \oice cf Good Anse Talbott relieved the tension. "Stlddy, thar, men," he quietly cau? tioned. "Ye didn't hardly meet ter talk 'bout hosscs. I'll lead them nags back myself, Milt." Then Anse Havey stepped forward and held out his hand. "I gives ye my hand, Milt McBriar," ho said, "that ther truce goes on." "An' I gives ye mine," rejoliied the other. After a perfunctory shako the two turned together and went down the steps. The girl saw both squads lift ir.g tho covered burden from thu wag? on and carr>iug it uround tho road, where the other wagon waited. Sho believed that the feud was ended, hut it is doubtful If either cf the prinei ; pals whoso hands had joined parted with great trust in tho Integrity Of tho other's intentions-. It is certain i that one of them at least was already making plans tor the future, not at all in accordance with that compact ot ( 1 peace. CHAPTER VIII. As days grew Into weeks Bad Anse Havey heard nothing of the establish' 1 ing of a schcol at the head ct Tribula? tion, though all tho gossip of tho coun? tryside which Bight interest a dicta- j tor filtered through the valleys to his house. He smiled a little over tho copy of IMutarch'B "Lives.' which was the com? panion of his leisure, moments, and hold his counsel. While ha thought or Juanita nerself with a rca mc which sprang from hurt piido, ho Colt lot aar, as a menace to hll powor, only ooatempt. But Juanlta 'a resolve had In no wlfl I weakened. She had s en thai her original ideas had ail been chactlc and born f ignorance, so she occupli d hoT self, like a good and patient general, in pulling all tho pins out of h r little war map and drafting a ct apletoly uov/ plan Of Campaign. With Good Anse Talbott she rode ut> dwindling watercoursca to the hovels of th? "branch water folks" and across bills wheresoever the crj of ilcknesi or distress called him, and since hie Introduction was an open sesame, she found welcomes where She W< :.t And so:>n this Rgure, that walked I with an almost lyric grace, yot wi b a bo.vish strength nnd Hthcness, became ( familiar along the roads and trails ins?? ad or ashing, "Who nought thai he?" Mountaineers nodded nnd said "Tl" f.':j her." and some womo;; added: ??God bb as ihei i :.i'd. " sh?' had ht a im i many gloomy cabins that ropelb ! th< brightness o' the summer sun. and she Ikm' bei \ more hfce sunlbthl than anything Ihm had ever come it "otigh their nurrow I doors before*. J Baa : owttmes re le over to th fabln r PI I h Mi v ! ! I r ?? I I ii* I la I m\? .? back with hol Ii ; ?:. : I ?u> oi two. iho ' turrlii girl auu iu mountain girl wandered together in the woods, and Dawn'i diffidence gave i way and her adoration grew. Twice I Juan Ha found another visitor at the' McNash cabin?Bad Anse Havey. Ho recognized her only with a haughty nod, like thai of an Indian chief, and ?he gave him In return a Blight Incli? nation Of her head, accompanied by a glance cf starry contempt in her violet eyes. Vet, In the attitude of tho moun? taineers to the nan, rho saw such hero-worship as might have been ac-i corded to some democratic young I monarch welkins freely among Iiis subjects. Once Fletch said: "Ma'am, how's yore school a-comin' on? Air yo git* tin' things started ter euit yo?" Juanita flushed. "Not yet." she answered. "I'm try ir," c> r;et acquainted first. When 1 f'-) start, 1 hope to make up for lost time." ' i reckon thel r.rhcol will be a'right good thing over thar; don't yo low yo. Anse?" i letch's good-nature l density had not recognized the hos? tility between hi3 two guests. Ans? laughed quietly. "I reckon/' he said, "so long as tho lady Just keefps on sayin' 'r.ot yet* thar won't be no harm done. I den't quar? rel with dreams." The lady flushed, and a hot retort rose to her Ii] B, but she or.ly smiled. "I'm biding my time, Fletcb," she assured him. "T.Iy dream will come( true." But for this dream's fulfillment she must have land. There must be dormi? tories for boys and girls, and play? grounds whore muscles anc? brains, own slow from heavy harness, could bo quickened, She fancied herself listening to tho laughter of children who had net before learned to laugh. But as she made inquiries of land? holders who:.: a price might tempt to sell, she was met everywhere vith a reserve which puzzled her until a bare? footed and slouching farmer gave her a quo to Its cause. This man rubbed his brown toe in the du: t and spoke in a lowered voice. "I don't mind tollin' ye thet I'd be plumb wlllln' ter sell out an' move.'' His eyes shone greedily i?s ho added: "Per a fair figger, but I moughtn't livo ter move ef I sold out." "What do you mean?" she asked, much puzzled. "Wall, I w ouldn't hardly like ter hev this travel back ter Bad Anse, but I've dono been admonished not ter make no trades with strangers." "Oh!" she exclaimed in a low voice, and her face flushed wrathfully. "Whom does your land belong to?" she demanded after a moment's silence. "Are you a bendman to Bad Anse Ha vcy? Isn't your property your own?" He looked away and rummaged in his pockets for a few crumbs of leaf tobacco, then he commented with the dreary philosophy of hopelessness: "Hit's a Gcd's blessed truth thet a feller hyarabouts is plumb lucky es long as his life's his own." So, she told herself, Bad Anse had begun his war with boycott! She could not even buy a foothold on which tc begin her fight. Back there in the Philadelphia banks lay enough money, ehe bitterly reflected, to buy tho coun? try at an inflated price, to bribe its courts, to hire assassins and snuff on human lives, vet, since the edict of one man carried the force of terror, she could not purchase a few acres to toach little children and care for the sick. At least it was a confession that, for all his fine pretense of scent, the i.. :i recognized and feared the poten? tiality cf her efforts. As the bright greens of June were scorched Int) tho dustier hues of July and tl)0 little spears of corn grew taller, Bhe b >gon io feel conscious of a certain drawing back, even of those who haJ boon her warm admirers, an;', to notice scowls on strange faces as they eyed her. Bomewhera a poison squad was at work. Of that she felt sure, and her y a fl ? hi i as she thought of Its au? thorship. Each day brought her new warnings offered under the semblanco of kindness and friendship. "Folks hereabouts liked her power? ful well, but hit warn t hardly likely thet Bad Anse, ner Milt McBrtar, woul' suffer her to go forward with her pr Jccks. They'd dene been hold in' off 'cause she war a woman, an' she'd hi tier quit of her own behest." S i they were willing to let her sur? render with the honors of war! Her lips tightened. In answer to detailed questioning her Informant would shake his head vaguely and Buspect that "hit warn't rightly uone of his business nohow; ho just 'lowed hit w; :? a kindly act ter give her timely warni:.'." CHAPTER IX. One afternoon, while old Milt Me Briar was sitting en the porch of his houso, a horseman rode up and "light? ed." The horseman was net of ph as ant expression, but he know his mis? sion and was sure of his welcome. " 'Evenln*, Buke," welcomed the Mc Briar chief, and as the visitor suni; Into a chair with a nod, he laco li -ally announced: "I've done found out who kilt Nas Ii Watt." Old Milt never showed surprise. II was hi^ pride that his features had banish* d all ri gister of emol ion. No. he merely leaned over and knock* . the ash from his pipe against tin n i li::v "Wall," he commanded'curtly, "1< t'i hev yore tale." "They pickt ?1 out a man for thor jol thel hain't i>< * n mixed up in no feu: llghtln' In retofore," pursued the othei with n ?,-.i!!l I ealmr.frBB. "He's a V ? t. r ihei nobody wouldn't suspect; hin beiu peaceable uu' mostly boucr. Uai he shoots Ma squirrels through th< head every time ho throws up hie guu; Thet war ther Lim) of man tliey wanted." Milt McBriar shifted his position a little. He seemed bored. "Who war this feller?" The bearer of tidings was reserving his climax and n fused 10 be hurried. "I reckon ye'll be rircht smart as? tonished when I name;-; his n.;me, but thar hain't no chanst of beln' mistook. I've done run ther thing down." "I hain't puver astonished," retort? ed McBriar. "Who war he?" Very cautiously the second man looked around a* I then bent over and whispered a name. There v. as a short pause, after which the chief comment cd: "Wall. 1 reckon 1 don't need ter tell yer what tor do now.'' "I reckon I k?ows." confessed Luke with a somewhat surly expression. DuL .Milt McBriar was paying no attention. His face, was darkening. "1 wish I could afford ter git the real man!" he exclaimed abruptly. "1 wish I durst hev Anse Havey kilt." "Wall"--this time it was the un? derling who speke casually?"I reek en I mought as well die fer a sheep as a lamb. Shell I kill Anse Havey fer ye?" The chieftain looked at him during a l(;ng pause, then slowly shook his head. "No, Luke," he said quietly. "I hain't quite ready ter die myself yit. I reckon if I bed ye ter kill Bad Anse .thet's 'bout what'd happen. lest git ther lamb this trip an' let ther old ram live a spell." So, one unspeakably sultry morning, a few days after that informal session, Good Anse Talhott arrived at the Widow Everscn's house. As Juanita i Holland appeared at the door to greet i him he came at once to the point. "Flctch MeNaeh hes done been kilt," ho said. "'Bout twilight last j night, es he was a-eomin' in from ther i barn somebody shot one shoot from I ther la'rel. I reckon hit'd be right smart comfort ter his woman an' little Dawn ef ye could ride over thar an' help 'tend ter tlier buryin'. Kin ye start now?" Go! Juanita would go if it were necessary, to run a gantlet of all the combined forces of the Havoys and McEriars. Her heart ached for the widow and the boys, but for Dawn the ache was as deeply poignant as it . could have been for a little sister of her own. So with set face and hot In? dignation Juanita mounted for the journey. At last they reached the McNash ' cabin and found gathered about it a score cf figures with sullen and scowl? ing faces. j From the barn came the screech of saw and rat-tat of hammer, where those whose knack ran into carpentry ; were fashioning the box which was to 1 serve in lieu of a casket. I There was no lire now, and tho cabin was very dark. In a deeply shadowed corner lay Fletch McNash, made visible by the white sheet that covered him. Juanita had come in silently, and for a moment thought that no one else was there. The younger children had been sent away, and the neigh? bors remained outside with rough sense of consideration. There, in a squat chair near tho cold hearth, sat Mrs. McNash, her back turned to the room. She was leaning forward and gazing ahead j with unseeing eyes. Dawn was kneel "Are You a Bondsman to Bad Anse Havey?" ing at her side with both arms about her mother's drooping shoulders. Juanita bent and impulsively kissed the withered face, but tho woman only stirred a little, like a half-wakened sleeper, ami looked stolidly up. Alter a while she spoke in the lifeless, far? away tone of utter lethargy. "Et ye'd like ter see bin. Jest lift up ther Bheet. He's a-layin' tier. Then once mare she sank back Into tie- coma cf her staring at the hearth with its dead ashes. Then the door opened, letting in two men, and in them Juanita rec< gni 1 .leb McNash and Bad Anse Havey At their coming Dawn looked Up, drawing away from the embrace cl the older girl, and retreated silently to a corner, as though arhamed < I having been discovered in tears. For a few moments there was silence in the room, complete except for the rap of Jeb'a pipe when he knocked out i ,; ashes against tho chimtu y. Bad Arne stood with folded am ti tho dim light and gave no si^n that! had recognized the presence of the "turrln" won The boy jerked his-head toward tho ; hearth and seid in a strained, hard voice: "Set ye a cheer, Anse," and after that no one spoke. Jabs thin but muscular chest rose and fell to the Bwell of heavy breathing and hie , face was wrapped black in a scowl j that made his eyes smolder and his lips snarl. Juanita had dropped back to one of the beds with Dawn's tace ' buried in tn r lap. Then, as if roe.sing from a long dream, Mrs. McNash looked up, and lv,r the first time appeared to realize I that her son and his companion had entered the place. The dead blankness left her pupils, and into them leaped a hateful lire. Her voice came in shrill and high-1 pitched questioning: "Wall, Jeb, hev j yo ret him yit?" 1 The hey only shook his head and glowered at the wall, while his moth? er's voice rose almost to a scream. "Hain't ye a goin* ter do nothin'? Thar lays yore pjp what nuver harmed no man, shot down cold-blooded. Don't ye hear him acallin' on yer ter settle his blood score? Air ye sheered? Ther spirit of him thet fathered ye's a pleadin' with ye?an* ye sets still in ?yore cheer!" , Juanita felt the slender figure in her embrace shudder at the lashing iuvec-; five that fell from the mother's lips. She saw the boy's face whiten; saw i him rise and turn to Bad Anse Havey, | half in ferocitv, half in pleading "Maw's right, Anse," he doggedly declared. "I kain't tarry hyar no longer. He b'longs ter me. I've got ter go out an' kill him. Thar hain't but one thing a-stoppin' me now," he added helplessly. "I don't know who did it; I hain't got no notion." I He stood before the clan chief, and j the latter rose and laid one hand on the shoulder which had begun to trem ! ble. ' Man and boy looked at each other, eye to eye, then the elder of the 1 two began to speak. "Jeb. I don't want ye to think I don't Tcol for ye, but ye don't know who the feller i3. an' ye can't hardly go shcotin* permireuous. Ye've got j to bide your time." "But," interrupted the bey tensely, ' "you knows. You knows everything hyarabouts. In heaven's name, Anse. I hain't askin' nothin' out of ye but jest one word. Jest epeak one name, thet's all I needs." The mother had dropped back into ! her stupor again, and her son stood there, his broganed feet wide apart I ami his whole body rigid and tense with passion. Anse Havey once more shook his head. "No, Jeb," he said quietly; *T don't know?not yet. The McBriars acted on suspicion?an' they killed the wrong man. Ye ain't seekin' to do likewise, be ye? Ye ain't quite twenty one, Jeb, an' I'm the head of the fam- j ily. I reckon ye'd better take counsel of me, boy. I ain't bent on deludin' I yo. an' ye can trust me. Ye've got to give me your hand, Jeb. that until j ye're plumb, everlastingly sartain who got your pa, yo won't raise your gun against any man." The boy sank, down into his chair and 'KAved his head in his hands, while his finger-nails bit into his tem 1 pies. Even Juanita Holland had felt the effect of Havey's wonderfully quieting voice. Finally Jeb McNash raided his face. "An' will ye give me yore hand.. Anse Havey, thet if ye finds hit out afore I do, ye'U tell mo thet man'3 j name?" "I ain't never turned my back on a kinsman yet, Jeb," said Anse grave? ly. 1 The boy nodded his acquiescence I and hurriedly left fhe room. Juanita ntly lifted Dawn's head trom her lap and went forward to the hearth. She had listened in silence, out? raged at this callous talk and this private usurpation of powers of life and death. Now it seemed to her that to remain talent longer was al? most to become an accomplice. Something in her grew rigid. She saw the bent and lethargic ligure of the bereaved wife and the stark, sheet? ed body of the feud's last victim. Be? fore her stood the man more than anyone else responsible for such con? ditions. ".Mr. H'vey.'' she said, as her voice grew coldly purposeful with the ring ol chalk age, "I have been told that you did not mean to let me stay here; that you did not intend to give these i poor children the chance to grow 1 straight ant decent." J She paused, bicause so much was j struggling indignantly for utterances ! that she found composure very diili i cult. And as she paused she heard i him inquire in an ironically quiet i voice: "Who told ye that?" (TO BE CONTINUED.) Evidently Built to Last. What is believed to be the oldest In? habited residence in the world is a mansion in Germany that was built in 700. In the Police Court. I Win. McDaniels and Willie Wil? liams; disorderly and t ursine, as to McDaniels, and drunk and cursing as to Williams, bonds of S1"? each for? feited. j Amaiidu ?pperson, disorderly eon itluct, continued. Moses Bcreven, dlsord* rly; bond ??i [$10 forfeited. J Pete Metropole, l*eU Funaton nnd (An^el PBhert, Rumbling, bond* of $!" leach forfeited. j John Krasnoff, Itichard (;?>!?ine j Willie <iii'?>en. and Mandcrson, gambling, bonds "i 125 each forfeit* led. EUIjL for rural credits. South Carolina Member Presents Measure to Permit Farm Loans by National Lanks. Washington, Dec. 6.?One of the most notable of the 2,000 bills Intro? duced in the house of representatives today was that presented by Con? gressman Aiktn of South Carolina to est at lish a system by which national banks may make loans <?n farm lands in the aid of agriculture. When late tonight the last bill and resolution introduced in the house to? day was tiled by the journal clerks staff, the total was found to exceed 2,000, Including about 1,500 private pensh n bills. All ,day the documents poured in until they overflowed the hill 1 asket and covered the clerk's desk. There wore many national defense I ills, setting ferth mainly the per? sonal views of representatives. Ad? ministration preparedness measures will come Liter, their Introduction awaiting tin organisation "fthe mili? tary anc' naval affairs committees. HEATING THE RAILROADS. Complaint Made That Drummers Tako Advantage of Sending Baggage. Atlanta, Dec. 6.?Charging that it annually carries thousands of pounds of baggage for persons who buy tick? ets, then make their trips in automo? biles and return the tickets for re? demption, the Central of Georgai rail? way, on behalf of itself and other rail? roads, has petitioned the State rail? road commission to fix a rate for car? ry ing such baggage. The petition alleges that in some in feancos traveling salesmen, with sev? eral hundred pounds of baggage, have purchased tickets, paid for the excess over 150 pounds at the rate of 20 cents per 100 pounds, took an auto? mobile to their destination and later sent in the ticket for redemption. In many cases it is alleged automobile tourists ship baggage within the 150 pound limit and therefore pay noth? ing for the service. The commission is requested to work out and put into effect a reason? able rate for baggage not accompan? ied by the owner. Ml LE ATTACKS LAWYERS. Causes Consternation When He Ap Itears on Second Floor. Bishopville, Dec. 6.?The Hon. ThcK. G. McLeod, former lieutenant ! governor, who is a very able lawyer, I had Saturday ago a new client, one that made him and his partner, the Hon. R? B. Dennis, and their steno? grapher, Miss Lena Bradley, leave : their main office and make for the j cloak room, where they locked them? selves up until their unwelcome client had disappeared. Messrs. McLeod and Dennis, T. H. jTatum and Dr. C. W. Harris occupy I offices on the second floor over the j Central Drug Company's store. on j Main street. Saturday Mr. R. L. j Hearon, who conducts a sales stable ; for the firm of R. L. & J. M. Hearon, I on Church street. w as trying to "break" a young mule, which be? came unruly, kicked a negro over, made down Church street, and on down Main street, until he arrived in front of the Central Drug Company's place of business, when he was head? ed off by a crowd. The mule then made to the sidewalk, dashed up the 'steps to the second floor and on back to Messrs. McLeod & Dennis' of flce, and came, near jumping out a window. After he got a little quiet Mr. Hearon got a large rope, about [fifty feet long, and tied the mule 'hard and fast and stretched it dor/n jthe steps to the sidewalk below, [where a crowd caught it and pulled him down, step by Step, until be trenched the sidewalk again, ail with? out being hurt in the least. POSTMASTER XOT NAMED. Lover Has Made No Decision as to* j Recommendation for Place, lie I *** Washington, Dec. 7.?"You will please say lor me through your paper/' Congressman Lever stated to? day, "that there need not be any nc \a salty for so much agitation in Co lumbia right now over the question ?f tlie appointment of a postmaster for tiiat city. I have been literally swamped with work since I came hi re a month or two ago and expect to ho ? sonu Lime to coine. I have not jreall) given tins appointment serious Ii. ughi yet and with my regular duties hero pressing me every hour I will not make any announcement for some time to come. "As the term of the present post? master, Mr. Muggins, will not expire for more than a month there need be no agitation over this matter, at least f ?i- ;i while yet.**-?Special in State. Greenwood Rogers, one of the ne? groes sent up from Laurens county several months ago en the charge of arson, was en<> of the throe negroai who escaped from the State Farr ncai tiagood on last Friday night.