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jlSve | Copyright, 1903, by I ''IiOok hcrp, Lib," and Kenner rose and touched Hanks on the arm; "yo'ro as green as a gourd vine when It cornea to somo things. Now, Jest to show you that Bob's got bruins, an' got 'em from his mammy's Bide o' the house. I'll tell you this: Six wagons o' produce an* cotton come here last Sat'day ! from beyond the Tennessee line. I got j the cotton, an' Bob got the produce an' i loaded the wagons with groceries fer j euuugu prone to pay rcr bis advertlsin' I fer n year, I reckon. I'm always anxious to learn, ef 1 ilo lire in the backwoods, an' I nxed the head man o' tho gang bow In tbe thunder be happened i to como so fer, nu' he told me, he did;" that some old woman up thar tuck the : Reporter an' was always a-talkln* ' about Hanks'cheap prices?nine pounds - o' green coffee fer a dollar an' the like; ?an' that they all got headed this way j on that account. Now, I'm goln' to let out some'n' that you may not want to hear, but maybe It will soak through yore hide an' do you some good. Tho feller said wharover he'd meet anybody on tho road an' mention tho Hanks store they ud hold up the'r hands in holy horror an' say: Hanks, the man that sells meat at 20 cents a pound on a credit an' drives pore folks j out o' house an' home to git it? No, i alree, excuse me, please!' The feller said he'd always tell 'em it wasn't that Hanks, but another one that had a conscience an' believed in future torment. 'La, me,' tho feller said, *yore rown win nave to spend a lot fer printers' ink 'fore it gits over tlie black eye that fust Hanks give it.' " 'Hob's taJkin' some about addln' on dry goods," Hanks went on to George In his even tone, without the slightest "-** change of face. "I rbckon it won't be / a bad Idea. He misses a lots o' trade by not bcin' able to fit folks up oil - round. But he's got to go slow; he's too headstrong. He don't know it all yit by a Jugful." "He ort to set around here an' hear you talk, Lib," Kenner laughed. "I've l'arnt a sight by listcnin' to yore I harangues. But you cnyn't 1'arn that boy a thing about makin' money an' turnin' it quick. He could give you polntero in his sleep. Tricky? Geewhlllkins! I 'lowed I was some pumpkins ? in that line when I started out, but Bob -beats the Jews. Talkln' about Jews, tne boys uptown any n feller looked In at Bob'a shebang t'other day an* started out. 'Thought thla was the Jew * store,' he said. T promised my old woman to go thnr the next time I come In town.' 'Hat's vat It la, meln frlent!' aald Bob as quick as a flash. 'Mr. Eppateln has jhust gondt oudt. Vat can I do for you?' An' he whirled In an' sold the feller a big bill, jnbberln' nil the time like a drove o' geese." Then Kenuer walked out to the com'.{ press and Hlllyer went uptown to mall some letters. Hanks took a browu paper parcel from his desk and opened It. It was five or six hard tack crackers and some slices of cheese; he was always eating such things between -meals. "I see the governor's In town," he re- I marked, little puffs of powdered cracker issuing from his lips and falling llko flakes of snow on bis beard. George started; an unpleasant thrill passed over him and his heart sank. "I didn't know It," he said, giving Ilanks a steady stare. . v "Yes, I was at the train when the ' ' " Cranstons driv up to take 'im home with 'em. You cayn't 1'aru folks any sense. I reckon fully a hundred was cPowdlu' around tryin' to git a look at 'lm. An' as the carriage drlv along the street a whole passle o' loafers run after It, makln' a big to-do. They'd 'a' had the brass band out, they say, ef the major's gal hadn't put 'er foot down on it. Mrs. Dugan come over an' told ps he wns expected?she struck us while we Was at the breakfast table. She never had no use fer me--says I don't talk enough to suit 'er. She never would 'a' let us in on the racket this mornln', but she come through our yard to mnke a short cut through a hole in the fence to Alexander's. She said Mrs. Cranston was in tor givln* the governor a big blowout an' lnvttin' all the upper ten, bnt her daughter set on that too. Mrs. Dugan 'lowed jt was beca'se Lydla was afenred ef he ketched sight 0' some o' the other gals in Che town he might transfer his attentions. i dunno?I'm Jest tellln' you what that old hag said." Buckley did not encourage the old man to continue talking. He dipped hi* IM11 in the inlr nu if in reanme work, and Hanks sauntered awaj. The Ink dried on the pen in George Buckley's tense fingers. Finding himself alone, he turned around and for several minutes snt staring vacantly in front of him. His face was pale, his brows drawn together. "Oh, my God, how am I going to face this?" he said suddenly "I have been a-blind, stupid idiot. She has simply been treating me ns she has out of pity. She'll marrjT that man; she'll do It. It's the way of the world?her world. Oh, God, give me the manhood to meet it!" Suddenly Hillyer loomed up in the outer doorway and came into the office. He bid heard nothing that had fallen from the lips of his clerk, but he saw bis gloomy face. "Somebody's told -jjl y WILL N. HARBEN, Author of "Abner Don* ieir "The . . Land of the lUTP s^y'-rV. 6 North Walk Mystery," Etc. HARFER ? BROTHERS . but changed 11b mind and sat down, his countenance very grave. Therb was one subject lie had never broached to George Buckley?a subject that the joi.iiK urn11 ituu liinuc 111111 rod was not to come up between (liotn, and yet? "George," was the result of the old man's sudden Impulse, and lie stood near Buckley's elbow, "I axed the Almighty for a sign that I was on tho right road to peace o' mind an* got it. I want tp say to you now, my boy, that in every prayer I send up from this minute on I'm goln' to plead with 'im to give you all you want In this life. Do you understand? All?everything!" George turned; the tensity of his features had given place to an Inexpressible softness, into which a delineate llush was rising. lie laid his hand on the old man's shoulder and smiled. "I'm getting already more than f deserve, Mr. lllllyer," he said. "Don't bother about nie." "I've told you what my prayer Is to be, George; we'll see if a God as good as ourn is won't grant It." "A fellow can stand a great many disappointments, Mr. Hillycr, when he has as good a friend as I have in you." The old man's lower lip was quivering helplessly. "It's awful?simply awful," be said, "to want to help folks you love an' cayn't, an' have to stand by with bands an' feet tied. An', George, that fellow they're all makin' so much over today is a low ring politician without any honor or a soul bigger'n a gnat's. lie heads the proces slon, with his white shirt full o' diamond studs, shiny broadcloth nu' silk hat, an' weak women fawnjon 'lm an' think he's God Almighty, but I-tell you he's as empty as a bottle o' wind. He's goin' to make a speech to the children at Sunday school, an' the programme Is for 'em to decorate the altar with flowers. I hain't n-goln', George. That hnln't what God's house Is fer, an' ef I went I'd set thar with a heart full o' rebellion." ' George stared at his friend with an expression on his face the old man had never seen before. It contained a frank admission of his helpless captivity to Lydla Cranston's charms, and yet It reflected tense manliness?manliness bound, bowed and beaten. "lie has been courting her over a year, Mr. lllllyer," Itpckley said. nnrio uia oreani. "So I've heard, Georgo." "She writes to him?she mentioned that to me once. She showed me some presents he had sent her?flowers from his own hothouse and other things. He's followed her everywhere; she accepts these attentions. Iler family all favor the match." "She's jest a woman, George? Jost a woman, after all?'and they are all plno blank alike except in the sight of the different men who dote on "em." George Buckley's face hardened as if under a sudden reflection. "In all your hopes for me, Mr. Ilillyer," lie said, "don't forget that I am the son of a Georgia convict. Remember that, and don't he too ambitious for me. I was stupid and blind to allow myself to?to become her?friend under the circumstances. I ought simply never to have entered that house. But?now listen, and let's never allow this to come up again. No matter what I suffer now Hunks sauntered away. or am to suffer in the future, I shall never, never be sorry I knew her. You say women are all alike. I can never agree with you, but even if she becomes his wife, and Is proud in a wny to bear his name, there will still be something, sir, behind?something that I have almost seen and grasped?something, Mr. Illllyer, that came up in her eyes once, only once, and then darted away as If frightened at the fear of the world's opinion. But, my God, Mr. Hillyer, for one second it was mine, and I have lived on It ever since and shall take its wonderful warmth to my ] OllW' -/ . I ' * ~**?rDR. I. DEr Crown and Bridge Work a "Oh. Georgo, you scare me!" gnspei the merchant. "I didn't know yoi could"? "Let's drop the subject forever,' Buckley broke In suddenly. "You'vi roulldcd In me; I have in you. Got I knows you have hope; I have nonebouc at all!" CHAPTER XIV. f?| STRONG man Is to bo pitied I /\ 1 who deliberately sliuns being I I thrown into contrast with a ' ' rival more fortunate in the eg timation of the world. George was like a sensitive, high spirited dwarl trying to avoid seeing tall men. Tht whole town was going to henr the governor's address the next Sunday; th? whole town was talking of his admiration for the belle of the place. For the remainder of the w^eek Goorge was uncertain what he should do, but when the eventful morning arrived he went to a livery stable, engaged a horse and buggy and drove out to ills mother's. He might have chosen better, for tlio sordid surroundings of the farmhouse, which had never seemed like home to him in the highest sense, only made him feel more depressed. "The Lord know^ I'm astonished to see you," Mrs. Bucklev said n? ?iir> camo to the door wiping her fat hands on her apron. "Why, all the settlement, It seems to me, has gone in town to see the governor, but somehow I didn't care to go. I'm too old to ride ten miles in a joltin' wagon to see jest a man. ilovr do-you come on?" "I feel all right," George replied. "I didn't care to hear the speech." "You say you didn't?" Mrs. Buckley's heavy brows ran together. She stood for n moment eying her son with | sympathetic fixity. Sho had heard the J rumor of the governor's attentions to Lydia Cranston. They were now in the sitting room, and he stood warming himself before the Are. "Oh, George," she suddenly got out, "I wish you'd let me talk to you an' not git mad." "Mad?' Why, mother," he exclaimed, "how could I get mad at you?" The old woman sat down in her low chair in the chimney corner. "You are my boy," she said, a tremor in her gentle voice, "an' some things hurt?cut me to the quick. Oh, George, I wish you would sort o' be content with common folks like we all are. You are as good, every bit nn' grain, as that Virginia gal, but somehow she's situated different. Now, fer instance, they say she's got a chance, an' a good one, to marry the governor." , that, mother?" "Oh, it nearly kills me to have folks think you?you want to get some'n' an' cay n't," replied the old woman plaintively. "An', George, as things go In this world, Lydla Cranston will have j to take that offer. Sho eayn't git around it. Gals kin have the'r choice, an'?mind you, I don't know a thingshe may, down in her heart, like you the best on account o' you bein' youn- j ger an' better lookin', but folks In her | walk o' life. I reckon hnvo tr? oni-to* look to the future. Her folks will ! make her, ef she draws hack. Qporge, I?I hope you don't feel bad about It" j "Mother, I'm nil right." lie sat down before the fire. lie looked out through j the small pnned window upon a wide ; stretch of cotton land where he had tolled through his boyhood. To the | left, Inside the garden fence, was the ' log smokehouse, the barn and stables; to the right, the yard where the chick- j ens and ducks were scratching the: earth for food. The old woman said ; nothing?there was nothing she could say, for his reply had not reassured her. "Why do you think anything Is wrong with me?" he suddenly asked. "Has anybody"? j "You cayn't keep folks' mouths shot," Mrs. Buckley said. "You've got moro friends 'an any boy In all this mountain country, but even a body's best friends will git joalous when he begins to rise iu the world. Most of 'em thought you was llyln' too high, (leorgo, all along?In vlsltin' the best in Hurley?an' they are tickled to be able to circulate the report that she's goin' to marry the governor of tho state. You see, they kin say that an' not seem to bo tnlkin' agin you, but they aro cliucklin' all the same." % "I can't help their talking nor their thinking." Bucklev said, with a slch. "But I believe I'd put a bold fuce on It nn' laugh at the Idea o* marryin' anybody right now. Then I'd sorter slack off from goin' to the Crnustons'. George, I kin stand anything better, It seems to me, than havin* 'em all think you are miserable over it, an' when the wedding takes place"? "Then you count on it as a certninty, do you?" Ills face clouded over, and, In spite of his self control, his voice rang harshly. She stared at him pltyiugly. "Thar's no use talkln' about it," she said softly. "George, you hain't ready to admit it, an' that's the wust sign of all. You Jest onyn't see it like other folks, an' thar's Jest one reason fer that? you cayn't stand to think it possible." He voiced no denial. What was the use? The old woman, crude as she was, had known him from the first pulsation of the life that,was now raging like a mad torrent within blm. In his mind's eye he had a glimpse of the village church, packed to the doors with an eager, expectant crowd. Ho saw the flowers on the altar. There was a profoundljush. The Crupstou carriage ;V i V 1. ilAIR,-^ ITIST.^ ?I Office Bank Buildins TTr>i^n. S f j had driven up. The governor of tin u state was assisting two ladies to alight All eyes were on the party of four ai >? ^they came In and moved unconcernedly n to the Cranston pew. I.ydla and tin guest of honor were walking together She was being admired, envied George Buckley liowed his head: JM reti light from the fire ton. licil'flK powerful neck and shoulders; he sinking into the deepest ooze of de I spall*. ; "Mind you, I'm not sayin' one word i nglti the gal," Mrs. Buckley broke iutc his reflections abruptly. "In fact. I , like 'er. 1 can't tell you how much I ' do like 'er. Folks may swear they hate kings an' queens beca'se they J stand above 'em, but they'll feel honored by the notice o' royal folks. That | limy be one reason I like Lydiu Crnn1 eton. I don't know, I'm only human, but I Jest feel like she's of a different order. Do you know the time you introduced me to 'er? Well, a woman knows u woman, no matter how different they've been raised, an' I seed that she was surprised to?to see that I was ? well, Jest like I am, but 1 tuk a i strong llkin' to 'er fer the way she | acted." "The way she acted?" George Buckley spoke under his breath, but the woman heard. "Yes; 1 could tell she was doin' 'er level best to make me feel easy, an' It made me like 'er. Then the next time"? "The next time?" George was really surprised. "Did you meet her again?" Mrs. Buckley was silent; her eyes had fallen. She bad said more than she intended. "Did you say you met her again, I mother?again?" j Mrs. Buckley looked up resolutely. "I I never intended to mention that," she , said, "an' I don't know us I ort to now, | belli', as it seems, she never told you I about it. But It was when she was over at Shirley Springs last week. One morula' she come here to see me, an', George, as God is my judge, I never spent a happier hour In all my life. I don't know how It was, but she jest had a way o' makln' me feel good. Ef she ever thought she was better'n common folks, nobody could 'a' told it. 1 was plecin' u scrap quilt, an' she set down an' set to \vork on it. I never seed the like. Her little, slim, white lingers jest moved like llghtnin'. An' talk! She could think o' more cheerful things to siiy than anybody I ever seed. It was that way till nlgli 12, an' then she left. George?s'he kissed me!" - Jluckloy was^ staring an? uy&^mftLU -""H one Kisseu you. mother? God blesa her!" And lie rose and put bis arms about tbe old woman's neck. His eyes were glistening. "Yes, she did twice, out at the gate. I never intended to tell you about that, fer I?I didn't think It was exactly tbe sort o* tiling to?to make you take yore mind off'n 'er, but she did it, an' to my dyln' day I'll always tbluk well of 'er an' stand up fer 'er. Tliey may make 'er marry that man or some other in tlie'r circle, but fer about one hour mo an' her was on the level God's been tryln' fer centuries to bring folks up to. Yes; slie may not be strong enough to go her way with all them ropes tied to 'er, but ef she's ever a mother she'll be a good un?with a soul an' heart. 1 like 'er, George, an' I don't blame you fer acceptin' her friendship. Ef I was a man I would, ef that was all the crumb she ever drappcd my way. Lovln' a woman like that's Jest ambition, an' ambition's right an' upliftln'." Mrs. Buckley was looking at her sou, but lie had turned his face away. He stood still, liis features working, his strong breast heaving tumultuously. "The Truitts are a-hnvin' a world of trouble with JelT," said Mrs. Buckley irrelevantly. "Somebody set tire to tlie'r barn last night. They managed y YYS* "Sht fitsscil you, mother T God bless licr!" to put it out, but Jeff got nnotbor ! Wlilto Cn;> I of tor o' warnln' to skip out. It li:? S n fski:Il nn' bones on it. " ?????????? ^ (Continaed on 6th page.) j ?' i Humor and Philosophy By DUNCAN N. SMITH 4 H Copyright, 1SW4. by Duncan M. Smith. PERT PARAGRAPHS. e Never impeach a man's veracity. Yoi might need his testimony yoursel s some day. 7 ? 3 As a usual thing, the less a mni . knows about politics the louder he yell . i/or his candidate. ipyr-. ^ ^ Not satisfied with being born to trou< ble, man sometimes puts on his wat paint and goes hunting for It. A bride worries a lot more about bet wedding dress than she does about the manner of wnn she Is getting. There are lots of people who would be able to raise the wind If hot nit could do it. You hardly call It n miracle when you go into an orchard and find a few peaches picking cherries. A successful fisherman has a detachable conscience that he can leave at home when he goes fishing. We excuse nil kinds of pranks In a good looking girl If they are directed against some other man. Dreaming. X Idly lie And watch tho sky Where ficecy clouds go sailing by. The went wind The wild bco hums. And far away a partridge drums. j Across my eyes The cool shade lies; i A breath of perfume comes and dies. The hours slip by, Jt'thoMJ'Blvfpenuou* iur, *. ? Because, ah, me, There is no tree bee. No bird, no cloud, no wind, no tree. I'm dozing hero With pipe and beer And haven't seen a tree this year. But, oh, this time It's not a crime; It fits so nicely in the rhyme. Useless. "You know the law In England forbids a man marrying Ills motlier-ln- ; law." "We have plenty of rubbish on our , statute books, but no one over here j was so fur gone as to propose such an | unnecessary regulation." Suspicious. "What is the prisoner's reputation for truth and veracity?" "I don't know, except that I have frequently seen him go post with a fishing pole." Where It Was Safe. "Sluggers says there Is one more fight in him." "I guess he will let It stay there, too, until he finds a man smaller than himself." Lucky Horse. For horses with a blooded strain We measure out the hay and grr&ln, But man. declared almost divine. Fills to the neck on food and wine. Can Pick From the Crowd. "She Is worth n million In her own name." "Then she can take her own time about selecting another name." Raise Something. "I am afraid I can't raise tho rent this month." "What'll the landlord do about it?" "Raise Cain, I presume." Getting Qualified. "It is a shame that so many children leave school at the age of ten." lnueca it is, ror they can't possibly all of them be detectives." Proof Lacking. Oh, care perhaps will kill a cat. If It Is given a show. So dead it won't know where It's at? But not the cats you know. Nothing to Think With. "Can a man think well on an empty stomach?" "No, but better than with an empty head." Took Exception. "When you are In Turkey you must do as the Turks do." "Can't I take a bath on the sly?" Very Likely. "If a man marries his father's widow what relation is he to himself?" "lie is his own slave." My Hair ** I had a very severe sickness that took off all my hair. I purchased a bottle of Ayer's Hair Vigor and it brought all my bair u back again." t W. D. Quinn, Marseilles, 111. n One thing is certain,? a Ayer's Hair Vigor makes the hair grow. This is because it is a hair food. It feeds the hair and the hair grows, that's all there is to it. It stops falling of the hair, too, and always restores color to gray hair. $1.00 a bottle. Alt tfraftltia. If your druggist cannot .supply you, send ns ono dollar anil wo will express you a Pottle. l!o suro and pivo ttia name of your nearest expressoflico. Address, J. ('. AVER CO.. I/iwell, Mass. Wood's Seeds. ; S Crimson Clover 1 Sown at the last working > 9 of the Corn or Cotion Crop, fi r.iU i?e pluv.evl under the following E April or Mily in time to plant corn R or oth'T c- >(.-- iVio :.(? reason. r Crimson ?. am winter learhiw r.i - 1 0 - t "i?vj III ierM till :*.i . V.? /pj.cation R of stable nv.!?? : ! . \.uuderm fn*.ly inert?- *?i?*l onalB ity ?:f cor; ' > r p- 'illicit H follow it. i- . "<(>'fti<|id B winter am .<v a- fine 1 early grt . n . ... . .1 i;ay B crop. I'.vtu 11 .5. is cut oil', S the actior. of t.n-. v. ffl improve the 1 ! '.r> ? m rked <ie? Write for prl .c f r.t 'M'ial ci *? I il culnr tcIHijc uzwl : .linjfci;, 1 T.W.Woo?! h Sons, SeecJrnen, P RICHMOlu - V'.I'INIA. 9 Wood's Dcscr.ptSvc r.-t; i-tHy I al>uut Aug ist 1st. , >.. ; i and VegteilC" v" . ? ; .) ?v. . tif W ? * . V ' I Some Reasons I Why You Should Insist on Having [| ' EUREKA HARNESS OIL [! i Uncciualed by any other. li ij r cutlers hard leather .soft. I it Especially prepared. I] Keeps out water. )j A" excellent preservative. Reduces cost of yotw harness. | Never burns the leather; its | Efficiency is increased. Secures best service. Stitches kept from breaking. Oil |s sold in all Localities Manufacture.! I>jr , Standard Oil t'ompnnj . I SCAIFE & HAMBLIN, I -VATTtRfEYSAT LAW,^ I I Foster Building. Union, S. O. J. CLOUQH WALLACE. ATORNEY AT LAW. Kooiu 12 up stairs Foster Building. S. MEANS BEATY, ATTORNEY- AT-LAW. No. 3, Law Uange. STOPAND READ You will always find a full line of FLOUR, SUGAR, COFFEE, MEAT, LARI), CANNED AND BOTTLED r.imlW PDCCH vcrcTunrc uvvi/l!) 1 IVl/vJll T 1/Uli 1 iVI)l<Crv) and everything to be found in an up-to-date family Grocery at my Store. Tobaccos and Cigars a specialty. Bring your laundry to me. J. T. SEXTON, Main Street. Union, S. C. CONTRACTORS' ? ^BUILDERS'^ NULL SUPPLIES. ommummi IMM, tnwi ? Oki? mi nS, W fitOB. W, * . I sqfitU t* M. ," MS1RD IRON VORISI SUPPl Y CO. tTWHi ?4 Barbecue. I will serve a first class barbecue at Jonesville on County campaign day. A i first class cook will prepare the cue. - 19-tf.p. Oljvbb Eavks.