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Cocal Hews Items. Mr. and M rs. F. \V. Towles from Martin's Point S. C. sa* v siting ths family of Mr. O. A. Towles at Cork. liorsetradirig was largely indulged in he: e this week. Judge F. Z. Curry was in Macon Monday afternoon. Mr. J. W. Jones, after spending a week at the Gamp-maeting is at the old stand ready for business. We think that bicycle riding should be stopped on the sidewalks along Indian Spring St., as it is just as dangerous and annoying to pedestri ans there as anywhere else. Several new houses have been built atl’epperton. The place keeps grow ing and will soon be quits a town. The new addition to the mill is pro gressing rapidly and will probably be full of machinory and running by the time the now cotton crop is gath ered. Mr. Tobe Thompson is up from Eastman, visiting friends and rela tives in Butts. Mr Guy Dance from Eatonton is in Butts visiting—friends.(?) Mr, M. 8. Barber forinerlyof Butts, bow of Putnam Cos. is visiting the family of Mr O. A. Andrews. Mr. Eugene MoMlchael was down from McDonough Sunday. Mr. Athie Wright and family from Birmingham are visltiug the family of Mr. A. XV. Wright ia East Butts. Mr. J. B. Barker who lives nef r Eastman was in Jackson .this week. The Camp-meeting which closed last Sunday was very largely attend ed. A consevative estimate places the numbers who attended on Vnd Bunday at 4,000 while probably 8,000 were on the grounds !lrd Sunday. Barry Lee Bastor of the East Ma con Bartist Church was in Jackson Monday and cu’l lon the Jacksonian. Little Miss Mildred Sloan of Macon is spending u few days with Miss Helen Smith. Miss Bessie Bea Williams has re turned to her home in Barnesville. Miss Frances Arnold is the guest of her Aunt Mrs F Z. Currv. Miss Exie Hum entertained most delightfully Monday evening. After several interesting games of trail ices and cakes were served. Miss Jane Ham served frappe during the even ing. Among those present were Miss es Sa I lie Ma eFletcher, Francis Arn old, Cleo Carmichael, Ezra Morrison, Jane Standfield, Lollie Bloodworth Mrs. G-. C. Combs, Messrs Frank Smith Carmichael, Lamar Etheridge, Otis Ham, Victor Carmichael. Henry Byron, Hugh Mallet, Clayton Buch anan. Jackson will be well represented at the different colleges of the State at the coming Fall session. Miss Jane Btatidfield will go to Washington Seminary, Misses Annie Kate Wright Grace Jarrell, Ezra Morrison to Bes sie Tift, Miss Lois Biles to Shorter, Mias ('loo Carmichael, Sa 11 io Mae Fletcher, Dovie Bryans to Brenan, Miss Bauline Mallett to Wesleyan, Miss Mervin Jones to Agues Scott. Messrs Jack Dempsey and Bob Har din to Emory and Henry Byron and Otis Ham to Mercer. Tom McKibbon spent Sunday w th bis parents. Quite a number of the younger so ciety set enjoyed a picnic at Indian springs Tuesday, l’ho chaperones were Miss Rloise Pound and Mrs. G. O. Combs. Messrs F. S. Etheridge and C, W. Buchanan have returned from Nort! jj ri.ld Mass. Mrs. Etheridge will \isit her brother in Now Jersey bof ore r< • turning home. M iss Kosa Newton has returned hwtne after n visit to Miss Alice New t*u in Forsyth. L.OST:--Bunch of keys somewhere between Jack son and Stark. Also pair of gold rim eyeglasses. Finder 1 please return to Dr. C. A. Butner; THREE SHORT STORIES FOR LEISURE MOMENTS REARING. The Go-between. [Original.] If the fool killer comes this way he’ll sure enough give me an invite to put my head on the log where I kill toe chickens. I’ve not only made a blun der, but a double blunder, Ju tryin’ to help two people at once. There was Charlie Burnes mopin’ around, pinin’ because had no one to help him run his farm, no companion or nothin’, and there was Susan Mutter with a step mother and unhappy at home. I thought they’d do well to marry, so I butted in and arranged the matter be tween ’em. I had no interest in it; I only consented to be a go-between out o’ the kindness o’ my heart. I’m an old maid myself and wouldn’t marry the best man on earth. I hain’t got no oall to marry. I got my own house and ground all paid for and SSO a month from bond and mortgage be sides. So I’m out o’ the matrimonial question. But I’m not the only one hi the world to be considered. Mebbe what’d kill me might cure others. Thinkin’ that a-way, I told Chariie about Susan and Susan about Charlie. I praised Charlie to Susan, and this, together wMh the hard time site was havin’ at hotne, made her powerful anxious to git him. But somehow cr ’nother she got the idea that if lie seen her he wouldn’t have her, so she told me f could tell him if he’d take in* - entirely on my recommend it ’u 1 lie a t). Charlie he thought if she seen what on ungainly feller he was she wouldn’t have him neither, so lie consented. I didn’t see no harm in this, for Susan was pretty as a poach, and Charlie was as line a-lookin’ fel-; l#r ever foiiered a plow. The lnwriiln’ o’ the weddin’ I helped Susan to git on a white muslin dress, and when the other fixiu's was all on she looked lovely. The clock struck the hour for the weddin’, the house was chuck full o’ the neighbors—l fur nished the cake and things—and up drive* CliarHe iu ilia two horse wag on, with a suit o’ new store clothes ou, lookin’ line and manly. I met him at the door and tuk him in to the'set tln' room, vrirere Susan was a-standin’ waitin’. Susan blushed a little, and I seen a mighty pleased look come over Charlie’s face. But there wasn’t no time to git acquainted, for the parson stepped in, and before they kuowed It they was married. Then, after the snack set in the dinin’ room, Charlie tuk his wife out to the wagon and driv’ off. followed by the usual shower o’ rice and okl slippers. Reckon you’ll say there wn’u’t nothin’ foolish about this, ami I don’t know as there would ’a’ been if tt could a been done without a go-between. Y’see there’s a natural course sieh things have to run, .list like measles. A wrong treatment o’ measles is apt to drive ’em in. In Charlie’s and Susan’s case the courtin' and the gittlu’ used to workin’ In matrimonial harness was throwed ou to ’em all to onct. If the courtin’ had been done in its proper time, the new harness wouldn’t ’a’ been so hard to get used to. As it was they both of ’em kicked the traces. It wasn’t three days after the wed din’ when Susan she come to me all afire, and she says, says she, “Miss Shaw, what’d you go tie me up to slch a man as that for?’’ “What’s the trou ble?” says I. “He never speaks to me at breakfast bo rnore’n if I’d come in for hired help.” I don’t know nothin' ’bout men,” says I. “but 1 hearn tell that they have all sort; o' ways about ’em that dau’t mean nothin’. If he don’t want to talk at breakfast, wait till dinner. Xobbe he'll have souiepin to say by that time that's wo'th heatin’.” Well, the went away only half paci fies!, and pretty soon in comes Charlie, and fit' wuMs to know what I had agio hint to marry him to a woman who talked all Vi*> time at breakfast—just the time o’ day he felt chipper and liked talkin’ himself—and wouldtht give him n chance to got iu > word. I tele him I was a woman myself and knowed that there was times a woman had to talk and times she had to cry, and If he wanted to git one different from this he’d have to git her ir.ule to order. For months they was a-runnin’ to me complainin' because I sot ’em into a fix, and I got mighty tired of it I made up my mind sumpin had to be done to stop it. One evenin' I got out my mar* and driv over to Charlie’s farm. Charlie was a-sitiu’ on the porch smokin' liis cob pipe, aid Susan was inside doin’ the suppec dishes. 1 set still In the buggy, with the whip in my hand, for 1 knowed I was a-gotu' to do, and I thought It ’ud bo prudent to be ready to move suddeut. "CharlieT I soys, says I. “I eome over to *x your pardiug for tyin' y’ up with a gal that’s got one o’ the wontf tpufttgs Lever hearu of.’’ THE RAID ON MINERVA ISLAND. I [Original.] “Boat, ahoy! Any harbor on that Island?” “Yes. but you can’t go irr there.” “Why not?” “That’s Minerva island. Occupied and managed by women. They don’t allow any men there. Got guns mounted to protect the channel.” “Old girls or young ones?” “Mostly young ones.” That was enough for the yachtsmen. A council was held, and it was deter mined to make a conquest of Minerva island or die In the attempt. There were Lynn Pomeroy, Truby Miller, Reid Scarborough and Henry Rud dock. They had all been graduated the preceding June In the same class at college, and Pomeroy, the wealthy one of the lot, had invited the rest for a summer cruise on his yacht, the Vul can. Ten minutes after the council broke up they sailed between two points of land up toward the harbor. They had not gone far before a boat put off from shore manned by six girls in white, with blue sailor collars and bine tam-o’-shanter hats with white bands. They came alongside the yacht, and one in the stern politely requested the party to beep off. Pom eroy bowed nearly to the deck and declared that he had come to make an inspection of Minerva island and write up an a -count of it for the bene fit of the women of America who were interested in it. He was informed that this would not be permitted. Then, with a warning to proeed no further, the boat was pulled away. The yacht sailed en up the channel between two forts. Suddenly a dozen girls in each fort sprang to the guns, and two shots were fired simultane ously. One cut away the yacht’s bow sprit; tiie other put a hole amidships. This lookcxl serious. The wreckage forward occasioned a loss of control, and the yacht drifted down stern fore most. As soon as possible the anchor was dropped, and the Vulcan remain ed hors do combat half a mile below (he forts. Net having gnus aboard, an offensive move was impracticable. Soon after dark ITenry Ruddock, a scapegrace of the first order and the crack liar of his class in college, bid adieu to his shipmates and, plunging Into the water, struck out for the shore. He got within a few yards of it when he gave a cry for help. A bout put out from a landing, ami, following his cries, he was rescued. Taken ashore and revived, he was asked to explain. “Those men on the yacht.” he gasped, “are a set of devils. Just because I ad vocated letting you young ladies alone they pitched me overboard, knowing I couldn't swim a stroke.” “The wretches!” exclaimed the girls at once. “How I got as far as I did I don’t know. Permit me to thank you young ladies for my life.” The last words were spoken jn a tremulous voice, and the girls simultaneously exclaimed: “Poor fellow!” Nothing was heard aboard the yacht of the man who had been “thrown overboard.” Ha was treated kindly by the owners and defenders of Minerva Island and at once started a violent love affair (concealed, of course) with the captain of the battery. The next evening Truby Miller was pulled in the dingey under cover of the darkness past the forts up to the main dock near where were the principal buildings of the community. He. too, was “pitched overboard” and, reaching the dock, asked the first woman he met to ttike him at once before the governor of the island. The governor scowled, and Mil ler told his story. He had swum ashore to inform the ladies that the men on the yacht were intending to tow the yacht past the forts at midnight with i the dingey. He had protested, but without avail, and had then resolved to spoil the game. The governor informed him that a searchlight was in position and would j In? used if the night was so dark that it would lie needed, but since the moon I woy’-i rjscjat.lO. o’clock it would prob- T hadn’t hardly got the words oat o’ my mouth before Susan she comes to the door wipin' a plate with v dish cloth and fire in her eye. "Wliat’s that y* say?" she says, mighty hot “I says,” says I, "I've come over a-purpose to tell you, Susan, that I’m mighty sorry for what I done, persuadin’ you to marry the wo’st man in the world to git on with. He’s the eonsarudest”— reached down for the iron scraper beside the steps, but he was too late. Susan shied the plate she wus wipin’ at me, and It wont within an huh of my nose. I give the mar' a cut'with the whip and got out, follered by most o’ the movables in the house, Charlie and Susan both a firin’ at me. I.aws a-merev, what’s this: "It's a giri. We’ve named her Arabella Marie after the dear woman who brought us together.” LOfIENE C. ADAMS. An Unrevealed Mystery [Original.] Few United States army people re member the mystery which occurred at Fort C. many years ago, a mystery which has never to this day and doubt less never will be revealed. Those un der whose notice it took place are now either on the retired list or dead. Yet here and there dozing over a newspa per at some army or navy club a white headed old man may be found who can give the circumstances. One day away back in the last cen tury guests were assembling at the quarters of Colonel Athern. command ing Fort C., to celebrate the wedding of the colonel’s niece, Miss Roxana Bonfield, with Lieutenant Reginald Al len. Allen had secured a leave or had been sent a-way on some duty—it was claimed that he was purposely absent —and was to have returned for a bach elor farewell dinner he was to give on the evening before the wedding. There were no malls or telegraphs handy at that time by which he eoald send any word, and when he did not appear for the dinner It was supposed he had been unavoidably detained. But when the garrison clock struck 12 the next day, the hour appointed for the cere mony, and he did not appear there was a hum of surprise. Allen never did appear again at Fort C. The lady he was to have married bore the slight put upon her so well, never uttering a word of blame, that she received the sympathy of every one. Not a person at the fort wlk> afterward met Lieutenant Allen—lie offered no explanation of his conduct— but gave him a dead cut. He remained to the army only a year af-ter the day he was to have been married, when, finding himself tabooed wherever he appeared among army people, he re signed and disappeared. Five years after her disappointment Miss Bonfield.engaged herself to Cap tain Gregg. The engagement occurred just before Gregg was ordered tc an other post. Certain young wags with more love of saying mean things than delicacy debated among themselves if Crags would behave as ’.lien had be haved. But Gregg, after being en gaged for six months, during all of which time he was absent from his fiancee, returned in ample time for the wedding. There is no record that any disagree ment ever occurred between Captain am! Airs. Gregg. During, the first few months of their marriage Gregg ap peared as a devoted and happy hus band. Then one day when he went on duty he gave evidence of having re ceived a shock. To inquiries as to his health he replied that he was never better. Nevertheless lie had a hunted look and lost flesh till Ids uniform hung about him in deep creases. While the loving devotion he had shown hls wife did not continue, he was perfect ly respectful and attentive to her. What surprised every one was that she did not treat him or appear to worry about him as a sick man. She seemed rather indifferent than otherwise. Then people whispered to one another that she had never recovered from having lost ly;r tir,st Uivty , ably not Se needed: She thanked him, however, for his noble conduct and or dered hira treated well till he could be sent away. No attempt was made to pass the forts, and the next day a man was seen from the shore to cut the dingey’s painter and pull away from the yacht, followed by shots. It was Scarbor ough, who Came ashore with another cock and bull story about the men on the yacht and their intention to steal ashore in a body and put the denizens of the island to the sword. The crew ori the yacht now consisted of rom eroy who was obliged to fire revolvers with both hands to make an appear ance of men instead of a man. Then Pomeroy deserted, and the four men agreed to protect the women against those who remained in the yacht, and not one should get ashore if it required all their four lives to prevent it. The yacht was now lying at anchor with out a soul aboard. Several days passed. The yachtsmen averred that the deserted appearance of the yacht indicated some underhand cutthroat scheme was to be perpetrat or'. On the evening of the fourth day the men asked for a boat to recon noiter. It was given them, and they left the dock, never to be seen on it again. The next morning the yacht was nowhere to he seen, and four of the girls failed to answer to roll call— namely, the captain of the battery, one tutor and two seniors. The governor called the community together in the chapel and pointed out th*e wisdom of their course in keeping aloof from treacherous man. But a guard of illiterate, red headed, snaggle toothed men was hired to protect the harbor. S. HUNTER HALSEY. Miss Beckham left Monday for her home in Concord. M#. H. Franklin of Barnewila was the ftresc of Dr. and Mrs. R. A. Frank lin, Saturday and Sunday, Mies Pearl Pearson returned Wed nesday to her home in Roanoke Ala, Misses Ezra Morrison and Sallie t Mae Fletcher w:ll spend next week with Miss Frances Arnold in Hamp ton. Robert Hardin isjfuest at the home of Col. aodMrs. T. J, Dempsey. Mrs. G. C. Combs of Atlanta is the guest of Miss Cleo Carmichael. Miss Ada Sam’s visitors Misses Fitzpatrick and Lyons ' to their homes in Fitzpatrick and At lanta respectively. Miss Kate Pye is visiting her sister Mrs. F. Z. Curry. Miss Exie Ham entertained the younger set of girls at Trail, Saturday morning, for Miss Lollie Bloodworth the guest of Miss Jane Stanfield. At the elese of the games a delicious sal ad course was served. Those invited were: Misses Ezra Morrison, Lollie Bloodworeh of Forsyth, Ina McMich ael,Lucy Moore, Miss Gosset, Mrs. G. C. Combs. Mias Cleo Carmichael entertained a few of her friends informally Mon day morning for her guest Mrs. G. C. Combs of Atlanta. Miss Kendrick of Atlantasis the guest of Miss Laura Harmon. Thornton Buchanan is spending a f 9 w days at home. Mr. G. T. Fosset is in the city. Mr. Walter Voazy of Gainesville spent Monday with his sister Mrs. M. E. Gunn. Miss Mattisu Ham entertained in formally Tuesday evening at bid dom inoes her guests including Misses Bessie Ham, Pearl Pearson, Tallie Jolly, Messrs Add Nutt, Harold Mal let, George Mallet. Mr. W. H. Robinson and family of White C.ty Florida will arrive today to spend some time with the family of D. J. Thaxtonon West Third St. Gregg finally gor*a year's leave ana went abroad—without his wife. At the end the year he returned in foir condition, but with something of the hunted look left. Iu six months he was sent to a re treat. where he died a few years later. Mi*. Gregg was now a woman of twenty-eight. She had no children and did not look her age. The unfbr tuna*e ending3 of her love affairs bad net Beemed to cast any cloud over her. She was not at all depressed. She ap V peared simply as any other young wo man whose husband had died and left her a widow. Her widowhood was short. Ia eighteen months after Gregg’s death she became the wife of Major Thurston. Thurston’s sister, an army woman, begged him not to marry Mrs. Gregg. But when the brother asked for rea sons he got nothing except what has been told thus far in this story—tluft is, that the woman had been treated shamefully by her first fiance and that her husband had died of some brain or nervous trouble. The major de clined to act the part of the first and saw no reason why he should fear the fate of the second. The sister still protected; but, without a reason, he de clined to change his course. He mar ried Mrs. Gregg and ten weeks later committed suicide. Thurston is not the first man who has made a mistake by not heeding a woman’s warning because no good of sufficient reason accompanied it. Women have been known to be right in condemning a man from the shape of his nose. However-, there was no< the slightest proof that Mrs. Thurston had any direct or indirect influence on her husband’s suicide. What surprised every one was that this climax to her unfortunate matrimonial affairs seemed to have no more effect upon her than either of the other cases. She seemed perfectly passive under each and al! of them. Nevertheless she did not marry again, though it was reported that several men at different times were attentive to her. It was supposed that on learning her marital record they desisted. Mrs. Gregg-Thurston died when she was past fifty. No explanation was ever given of the blight that fell on her lovers, but there was a story told by the physician who brought her into the world that her mother a few months before the child’s birth had been frightened by a snake. May no't Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes' character of Elsie Venner, whose mother suffered a similar fright, the child inheriting serpentine traits, ex plain the mystery of Roxana Bonfield? OGDEN LANCASTER*