Newspaper Page Text
14
1
“Is That All You Have Agal nist Me?” Lawson Asked.
Feggy as he fould never love anybody I
else. The point at Issue was, ought he I
to try winning her? Her father, he was
certain would never let him have her,
unless he could bring himself to accept
religion. The parson had been preaching
at him, hot and hard, ever since he came
to man's estate.
Besides there was the matter of the
bull calf. Lawson swora impatiently when
he thought of It. He must have been an
awful young Idiot, to sot on foot that
foolish scheme. But It had not seemed
foolish then—only exquisitely humorous,
to tether a lusty yearling In the pulpit
■whence Parson Gentry was expected to
preach True the pveon had turned the
Joke by making the creature point the
moral of a fine and moving discourse, on
‘•the beasts which perish.” All the same,
Lawson knew there was In his mind a
eedimfni cf irrlta'ion, so gritty It might
provoke an explosion.
Curiously he had no doubt whatever as
to P. ggy herself, although she was a not
ed flirt, who It was well known might
pick and ■a oose amrng the best. There
had been tmit In her eyes, dropp ng before
Skis own, In the fluttering of her soft
har.d, the delicious under-tremor of her
voice, which warmed his hcait. and made
his pulses leap whenever he let himself
recall It.
Paraon Genlry had his own training
track and spent all the fine summer
mornings beside It, meditating on his ser
mons and watching his horses. As Blue
Bonnet, the pride of his heart, pulled up
at tlie end of four miles, figh'lng for her
head "and evidently full of running, he
amlled, ecstatically, and aald to the boy
who rode her:
"My soul! Lnoka like she could lose the
best of ’em to-day—even if she had a
church on her back, and they only the
eteeple—eh, Isham?"
“Hit do dat," Jsham responded. “I ain't
feared er none on 'em, ’ceptin’ 'tis dat
dar Iloxy Ann ober ter Cockes. She de
one Bonnet Is ah* 'nough gut ter beat,
but I bit my gams rooster she kin do
hit."
"Tut, tut. Don't talk of betting,” the
purson said. Isham had alldden down and
atood groking Blue Bonn>ts lean gloe--y
heod Blue Bonnet was a lady of humors
There were tlmra when she permitted
Ish'm's endearnvnis. This was not one
of them. She laid back both ears and nls>—
ped him sharply, at the same Instant
lashing out with her near hind foot at
the parson, who was siooplng to feel her
hocks. The kick took him fair In the
ehort ribs and doubled him up like a
Jumping Jack. Isham turn* and away h‘
bead, grinning. Ha had all the small lioy’s
normal delight In aeelng tha upaetttng of
dlgnltarlea.
"Say, paraon! shan't I swear a bit for
you?" somebody called from the road,
wh ch ran Just outside the track enclos
ure. Faison Gentry looked up, scowling
the ] ast bit. He knew the voice—of all
men in the world he hated to have Law
eon Cocke see hl3 d.scomflture. Lawson
had reined in hio horse, thrown his left
leg sldew.se over the pommel, and sat
facing him. with a set look, new and
strange, if the parson hid been a world
-1 ns: he would have whistled at the sight.
Being what he was, he merely rubbed his
hands and stared a trifle harder.
“I'm here for something-something
particular,'' Lawson began. The parson
rut him short; "I thoyghl so," he said,
nodding energetically. "But you'd as well
go right home. You can’t have her. I've
made tip my mind not to part with her
to anybody."
“How if she makes up her mind—other
wise?" lawson said, low and hard. The
parson sta ed more than ever, thin broke
into a quirk laugh.
"O, I understand! You think her mind's
olready fliade up; that she's too much a
handful for nif," he said. "Well, the fact
is, young man, I don't ever expect to
make her my riding beasi—still I shall,
keep her—"
"I see—you’re talking of Blue Bonnet."
Lawson said. The parson nodded. "Of
course. Haven't you come to try to buy
her? Stecvens, your trainer, told me you
said you in,ant to have her if it took
every dollar you got from the old man’s
esiate —"
"I’ve changed my mind," Lawson said
shortly.
Mi I
Bhe Was a Noted Flirt.
"Theq what do you want?” the parson
blurted out.
“Peggy!” Lawson said laconically.
"What is more, I mean to have her You
have just made up my mind for me."
“Are you drunk or crazy? You must
be one or the other. Why, my girl knows
nothing whatever about you,” the parson
began angrily. Lawson held up his hand.
“She knows me enough to love me—as I
iove her,” he said. "Now, sir, I’ve no need
to say anything of myself—you know ali
about me (pitch better than I do—as one
gentleman to another, I want to ask if I
may court and marry her?”
“No! No!! No!!” the parson shouted In
shrill crescendo, then dropping his voice
to its cbmmoti rich key: "I take it you
are serious, Mr. Cocke—therefore let me
say I appreciate the honor you have done
my daughter. But even if I knew that
she loved you, I could never bring myself
lo countenance your suit. I am not only a
father, but also, I hope, a Christian. The
scriptures, which are the ruie and law of
conduct, expressly say. ’Be not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers.’ ”
“Is that all you have against me?"
Lawson asked, his tone a challenge.
“ That Is all—and everything,” the par
son said gravely. Lawson laughed grimi
ly:
“You are trying to throw away a
mighty fine chance for missionary work."
he said. "Peggy might convert me. It
seems to me, indeed, she could make of
men almost anything she chose."
Parson Gentry melted Instantly:
"That so, Lawson?” he said genially.
"My dear boy, only let me see you a
happy Christian, and there is no other
man alive that I would so gladly trust
with my girl. It will indeed lie a happy
and very special providence if love of her
can lead you to Christ. Ido not flatter
you in saying that your conversion would
mean more for the Master's cause and
kingdom than that of any ten others
among our young men. You are their
leader in everything—”
“Stop!” Lawson said. “Parson, try to
put yourself in my place. It comes nat
ural to you to be religious—”
“Ah, my son! You are wrong there,"
the parson said, smiling. “Once I was
even as you are—held in the gall of bitter
ness, the bonds of iniquity. Until I was 25,
although I never drank more than I could
comfortably carry, sport of every sort was
my delight. I fought cocks, gamed, threw
dice, made and rode matches—”
“What? you?" Lawson cried. The par
son bowed hie head.
“Even me," he said. "Now, you must
see that the Power which plucked me, a
brand from the burning, can, if only you
will let it, s certainly pluck you.”
For almost a minute Inwson looked at
tin* parson; his lips opening find Closing
as though uncertain whether to speak. At
last he said:
“Mr. Gentry, may I ask a question of—
the man you were before you became a
I minister?”
I The iwrson smiled indulgently. "Ask
( what you choose,” lie said. “I will an
swer truthfully, if I answer at all.”
“Then—tell me this," Lawson said:
“Do you really care nothing for—the
things you gave up? I mean, don't you
ever hanker after forbidden things—yearn
to be free—even riotous?”
“ ‘Tho carnal mind Is at enmity to God,
the parson quoted softly. Then he added
reverently: “God gives us now hearts,
but it takes His grace, and very much of
It, to keep them pure and ateadfiet. The
old Adam dies hard in every one of us.
We keep him under only by help of a
strength beyond our own.”
“You wouldn't care for horses If there
were no racu tracks?” Lawson said, ters
tatively.
"Yhs, I would,” the parson said sharp
ly. "A good horse, in full action, Is to
me the finest sight in the world. I love
n good hors*. Just for Itself. I do not
mind eoiifeslnr: to von, though, that
when one of mine wins* I have quite the
same thrill of delight that came of win-
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, JULY 8, 1900.
■ DON’T HURRY! J#
I Take time to see that^ f /
I the
LI sS G
a cor ISs?P?i™ RACT
ping on anything, back In the old sinful
days. That Is to say. I am human, and
a man. A man I must continue, 'until
this mortal shall have put on immortal
ity.'—"
"Say, parson?” Law eon broke In Irrele
vantly: “Is it true, what I’ve been hear
ing?—that If Blue Bonnet wins the Fourth
of July stake, you Intend to bulk! anew
church with the purse?”
“Quite true! Why do you ask?” the
parson said: "You must know that all I
win, goes to help spread the Gospel."
"Because I want to give you a chance
of doing something more for your faith.”
Lawson said: “We both kuow that to win,
you've got to beat my mare, Roxane. It's
the same as a match—none of the other
three really count. Now, since owners,
or owners’ friends must ride, why should
not we two ride against each other, and
if I win- you agree to give me Peggy,
without conditions; if you, I agree to do
my very best to get religion?”
“Impossible! Impossible! Who ever
heard of such a thing?” the parson said
hut Lawson saw his eye sparkle and a
quick flush leap Into his cheek. The par
son was essentially a Christian militant.
Back in the old days he might hove led a
rapturous crusade. Lawson pressed un
dismayed.
"Why is it impossible? Unusual I grant
—but so it is unusual to see a minister’s
colors on the track, and race-track money
on the missionary plate. I thought you
ministers held nothing too hard, If it
meant saving a soul from death ”
“I do not,” the parson said, quickly.
Lawson ran but.
“It won’t be exactly easy for me.
Everybody knows me for an unbeliever
—as my father was before me. Every
body will be sure to say I am a rank
hypocrite—pretending to care for find
ing and saving my soul only that I may
get Peggy.”
"Do you mean—would you make the
conditions public?" the parson cried.
Lawson nodded.
“They would have to be,” he said.
"Neither of us can afford to play except
with cards above the table. Excuse the
phrase, parson—but you understand
It "
“Yes, I understand,” the parson said,
smilingly, then with a keen look: “You
must love my girl, Lawson. I cannot
let you say you love her better than I
love my God. Ypu shall ride for a sweet
heart, I for a soul. I may be misjudged
by my fellows —the searcher of all hearts
will know that I seek only his glory."
The Foudth of July was a stake for
4-year-olds and upward, four miles end
repeat. The repeat generally eliminated
everything not aged, even in that good
time, when horses were bred not mere
ly to run, but to stay. The grass coun
try was full of blue blood. Aaons and
grandsons of Sir Archy, of Dtomed, of
the great Eclipse, had come early over
the mountains, had thriven on lush
blue gross and running limestone water,
and had left behind a lustry progeny.
On top of that, there had been direct
English importations, of more than one
prepotent Derby-winning strain. Then a
good few of the pioneers xdho had the
luck to he friends with Mr. Jefferson,
and Mr. Madison, through the good of
fices of those gentlemen, when they came
to be Presidents, had brought In a sprin
kle of pure-bred Barb and Arab mares.
The elder Cocke, Lawson's father, had
been among the bringers-in. Lawson’s
pride, Roxane, was great-grandaughter
to one of the Arab mares, and like her
ancestress, of pure cream white, with
silver-white mane and tall, and ivory
hoofs. She stood barely an inch over fif
teen hands at the withers, had a deep,
roomy chest, tremendous barrel and
short, close-sinewed back, dropping Into
comparatively light quarters. They were
but masses of muscle, clean and firm,
enwrapping small bones as hard and com
pact as flint. The ivory hoofs were allve
looking, and of a faint spread from coro
net to toe.
All her claim to beauty lay In head and
neck. The neck, neither long nor short,
carried the line of the withers in the fin
est imaginable taper, out to a head that
in spite of its broad basin face, had a
muzzle slender enough to drink from a
quart pot. Nostrils, pink as a drawn
cloud, and very fully opened, gave prom
ise of breath and stay, to match the fire
of the eyes. They were somewhat deep
ly sunken, yet held in their dark depths
all the desert's mystery and savage
strength.
Blue Bonnet was taller and something
stouter, a very dark silver roan, fully
sixteen hands at the crest. A slghtlier
brute never trod four good hoofs. The
most hypercritical could pick no flaw In
her—she had shoulders so perfect, quar
ters so powerful, legs so flat, so firm, so
clean of hair. Her neck arched deli
cately, and she stepped with a proud,
mincing gait, as though she disdained
the earth she trod. It has been said
she was a creature of moods. Occasion
ally, but only occasionally, they were
angelic.
She was in one of her worst tempers
when she came out to run for the stake.
Perhaps the excitement of the course
was contagious. Certainly no assem
blage there had ever before 'been
wrought to such edged Interest as this
present throng. Everybody knew the
side wager, and gasped or gaped over
Its conditions. A few choice spirits
chuckled in sardonic appreciation of the
situation. The most part charitably set
1t down that both Dawson Cocke end
Parson Gentry were madder than March
hares.
They were somewhat equally matched
In 6pite of the years between. The par
son was Just rising 40; he had marled
early, and Peggy was not yet 18.™ He
was spare and wiry, too. riding at 180 In
hoots and breeches nnd his own well
known red shirt. Lawson. was five
pounds the heavier, but had waived con-
sidoration of the overweight. Both were
horsemen torn, with a deal of making
added, and well able to get out of a
mount eve'rything that was In I*.
Tcggy had stayed at home. She had
no mind to be the focus of staring eyes
that day. But Just before Isham left
for the race course his young mistress
conferred with him mysteriously apart.
Her last word was “Remember,” to
which Isham answered by grinning all
over his face, pulling bis woolly foretop
and saying: “La—awdy! Miss reggy. I
couldn’t fergit dat ef I tried.”
The race ought to have been a big
lA'ting eVent, but out of respect for
the parson's scruples such wagers a*
were made were kept strictly under
cover. The purse Itself, a gold-fringed,
gold-bcdiseued blue silk pouch, holding
sl,ono in gold coin, swung high and fair
In the sunlight above the finish line.
Opinion divided very equally as to
where Is would fetch up—ln the build
ing of a church or the riot of a tavern.
The wiseacres, of course, backed their
Judgment In whispers. It was the great
undtsorlminating mass which murmured
against the silence of the wagering. It
had come out for a holiday and wanted
to lay modest sums with at least a
thrilling conviction that it was following
the lead of someone who knew.
It was bruited that Blue Bonnet was on
edge—ready io run for even the stake of
a eoul. Ortatnly eh* looked a pattern of
fire and fettle in her preliminary, as she
went past the grand stand, with Isham on
her back, her chin drawn almost upon her
cheat, prancing and curveting like mad,
yet readily obeying the rein. After ler
came soberly pacing Bendigo, grands,an to
Pot-8-os, a good, substantial bay. with full
black points; next Mops, a washy sorrel,
though reasonably well bred, and after
him. Blacklock, a spanking Highflyer
chestnut, who could go like the wr.nd.
though even his owner admitted he could
hardly stay’ the route. At the very end,
Roxane. her silver mane tied with blood
red ribbons, her tail streaming plume
wise and glistening in the sun. She held
her head low under a free, almost a loose
rein. Shanlty, Lawson’s black body ser
vant. rode her, as he did in nearly all her
exercise gallops.
She moved a little heavily. Commonly
she was quick as a cat. The wiseacres
shook the head and agreed Instantly that
she was overtrained—she could never win
the Fourth of July in such company. But
Isham hanging half out of saddle to look
back at her made a face and murmured:
"Humph! You metty sateful M 139 Roxy-
Ann! Maybe you foolin’ ell dese people,
but you ain’t done fooled me. Presently
youse gwine wake up. an’ ra’ar an’ charge,
an’ split de win’—but Bonnet’ll be right
dar wid ye—’ceptin’ de passon he take an’
tuhn wile.”
As they rode down to the start. Lawson
shouted to the parson, “I’m going to beat
you—no master who has the best horse.”
“I am going to beat you—God being my
helper," the parson called back. “I think
I have the best horse—l know I have the
best cause."
Exactly three minutes later the drum
tapped and the five horses went away
aligned like a file of cavalry. For at
least 100 yards they held In rank. Then
Blacklock shot clear by an open length
and stretched away for the first turn with
a defiant snort. Blue Bonnet fought to
go after him. The parson took a double
wrap on her. Blacklock was he knew
merely an incident. Roxane lay well back
—there he must keep his eye.
The first mile eround was so slow
Blacklock increased his lead to a doz o n
lengths. Blue Bonnet began to foam.
Her rider let out a wrap. Instantly she
rushed to collar the chestnut. In the
next mile she caught and passed him.
though still he ran strong and free. Mops
came for a second to her throatlatch then
dropped back, tailing so steadily as to
show he was out of |/ie race. Bendigo
ran a consistent third. Roxane was ab
solutely last.
Yet In tho last half mile she woke up.
passed the other three as though they
were anchored, and dashed under the
gtrlrg. beaten by a short head. It was
a marvelous performance, amazing even
io those who knew the white mare best.
She ran so true, so easily, with such even
swiftness, the best-*rained eye got no
r gilt perception of her speed. Even Blue
Bonnet's partisans rubbed bands in de
light, saying: “IVs a race for blood now
—and only two In it.”
"The powers of light and darkness are
contending here,” ihe parson said to a
remonstrant pious friend. Lawson over
heard, and laughed quietly.
“The powers are oddly horsed, parson,”
he said, “I reckon as you see things,
light rides the color of darkness, and
darkness the color of light."
Mops distanced, Blacklock withdrawn,
left but three contenders In the second
heat. B’ue Bonnet came out for It read
ier than ever. She spoiled three good
starts, indeed, by her eagerness to be out
in front. When at last they were sent
away toge’hcr, she was n> ither to hold
nor to bind. Leaping, plunging, bucking,
sho look the rail, held it, and settled into
a sweeping run. Her feet flew invisibly
with the rytljrn and precision of some
mighty mach'ne, ll r low head nodded
slightly at each bound, foam flakes gath
ered and flew from the bit—by time the
third mile began sho was white from
counter to tail. Her rider’s heart leaped.
He had feared only for her temner. So
long as she kept the lead, Ve knew ho was
safe. He dared not look back. Shouts
from the stand as he passed it this time
let him know that Blue Bonnet looked a
winner all over. But he caught the unfail
ing rataplan of these ether hoofs behind.
From the first they had not varied by
the least fraction of a second. He knew,
and dreaded the s:ay of the desert. He
must win now, if he was to win at all.
Into the last quarter Blue Bonnet led
gallantly, though her laboring breath and
glaring eyeballs said she was almost
spent. Tire parson, hanging in his stirrups,
leaned far over her neck, soothing, en
couraging with hand and voice. Now and
again he gave her the spur sharply. He
knew it was idle to go to the whip. The
gftierous h ood in her veins would do its
b st without. Eas’ng her, lift ng her, urg
ing her ever forward, he brought her, still
leading, wi hin 60 yards of the spring.
He could see the nodding blue purse
alove. catch the shimmer of the gold
fringe, and hear across the wild hubbub
of the crowd, the rapid hammering of
his own exul'ant heart. In that minute
he learned, some deeps of his own mind
which years of introvwrr'on wou’d scar e
!y have made clear to him. He did truly
desire to save a soul from death, but he
desired it with ail the natural man’s lust
of triumph.
Still the heart beats rang in his ears.
Suddenly the hoof boats behind quick
er ed. He saw a white h ad with fiery eyes
and pink, flaring nostrils flash past—saw
a plume-like tail flaunted almost in Blue
Bonnet’s eyes. And as he saw It. there
came hack to him Isham's whispered pe
tition before the start: "Ef dat dar Roxy-
Arai crowds yer, marsa, you ands cuss
Bonnet, one li'll tennv cuss. She—she's
ueter dat. She know whut hit means—an’
dee oon’t nobody else in dis worl’ heart
hit.”
It was out of the question—still he felt
himself tempted. Roxane and Lawson sav
ed him. With one long, steady lift lnw
son sent hts mount first across the finish
line. Then, os the crowd went wild, he
sprang down, before she was still, flung
his arms about her neck, and cried: "Get
your breath, old girl! You need it all, and
more, before we are through.”
The sun was almost down. Niglit
would come before the run off, but no
soul thought of leaving the course. All
waited for it in throbbing, feverish im
patience. It was dewy dusk, w hen the two
mares went out to try the final Issue.
Both had recovered wonderfully. Blue
Bonnet, if no longer on edge, ran true
and strong. This time Roxane rated easi
ly at her quarter. The two riders might
have exchanged coniideneee, hut neither
had a thought for anything save winning.
After the first mile the racers ran
stride for stride. They swung to thb
turns and swept the stretches like a dou
ble team. Now one. now the other drew’ a
little away, only to drop back in company
before she had run fifty yards. Blue Bon-
Cures Dandruff, Falling Hair,
Brittle Hair and all Scalp
Troubles, such as Itching, Eczema,
Eruptions, etc. Purely Vegetable,
harmless and reliable.
CURE GUARANTEED
even aft'r all other remedies have failed,
or money ref undid.
A TEXAS DOCTOR WRITES.
Savoy, Tex., May 2C, 1899.
"Coke Dandruff Cure” has Hone me more good than
any preparation 1 have aver U ied.
W. J. DOSS. M. D.
For Sale by nil Druggists nnd Barbers. Trea
tise on tmir nud Scalp Troubles free on request.
A. It. RKRUIEIirO., - C hicago.
Beware of Imitations.
The only hair preparation admitted to
the Baris Exposition.
For sale by Llppman Bros., Columbia
Drug Cos. and Knight's Pharmacy, Savan
nah, Ca.
net no longer champed a foaming bit.
Box arc’s while flanks were stained with
red. and reeked a little. Both were emul
ously full of running. They held their
heads low, mouths slightly open, ears
combatively laid back, ready to savage
at the least slacking of reins.
“It is certain we can beat anything else
in the county, even if we can't beat each
other,” Lawson called out, as they swung
into the first quarter of the last mile.
"I have not given, up. We won't spilt
the purse,” the parson called back; “Blue
Bonnet is just really coming to herself!”
O ho! Hear that Roxane!” Lawson said,
touching the white mare lightly on the
neck. Then he gave a peculiar whistling
chirp. Roxane answered it by forging half
a length ahead. Blue Bonnet responded
gamely to the spurt, but could not quite
catch the flying leader. They came to the
quarter pole, locked, and ran that way
all through the next stretch. At the half
mile post, Lawson turned slightly, and
said over his shoulder:
“You have fought a good fight, parson!
I’m almost persuaded to let you win.”
The parson set his teeth and drove his
spurs up to the rowels. Blue Bonnet
swerved visibly. As dusk deepened a fresh
wind blew down the course, cool and wel
come to the hushed, waiting crowd, doubly
welcome to the tired racers, fighting this
desperate duel of breath and stay. They
tore forard in the teeth of it, tense, pant
ing, laboring, with eyes aflame. The last
quarter post flashed past. As they came
to the eighth a blanket might have cover
ed them. Again Lawson whistled, ahriil
and keen. This time Roxane staggered
and rolled in her gait as she tried to leap
ahead l . Blue Bonnet held her seemingly
safe—there would be a dead heat—unless—
Parson Gentry set his teeth. If the
man in him ached for triumph, the
minister truly yearned for power unto
salvation over this superlative sinner.
Lawson Cocke would be no lukewarm
Christian. He would love God as he
loved a woman, with all his heart, and
mind, and soul, and strength. The par
son knew Isham had spoken truth. He
had watched the boy often, lie almost
prone upon Blue Bonnet’s neck, and
seem to drop winged words in her ear.
He had never caught the words—until
to-day he had not known what they
were. He did know that the mare al
ways answered them, electrically—if she
would answer them now, she must come
first.
Quicker than light ail this flashed
upon him. Behind was the thought!
What could it matter? The parson had
never sworn since the day of his con
version. Profanity seemed to him, a
sin peculiarly purposeless and abhor
rent. In this volcanic stress he leaped
to the belief that some swearing might
not be profane. Blue Bonnet understood
certain words, only as a signal to do her
desperate best. Might he not use them
in quite the same way?
Roxane led by a head—he felt Blue Bon
net’s heart laboring heavily. The finish
was barely fifty yards away. Lanterns
gleamed either side of it. The dark
massed throefg'was breathless, silent, yet
its unconscious stirrings made a soft,
confused sussurrus. The parson shivered
faintly—intuitively It seemed he caught
the reins a thought tighter, stretched fur
ther forward, and hissed iu Blue Bonnet’s
ear:
“D—n you! Double d—n you! Go on!"
After that he knew nothing until a
great sobbing shout struck him, and
eager, joyous hands pulled him from the
saddle and set him high upon men's shoul
ders to bear him triumphantly about the
course. The bearers were young fellows,
all, und Lawson Cocke's chosen friends.
As they marched they chanted exuber
antly, the parson's praises. He was a
gentleman, a scholar, a good fellow, a
sport. They would come to hear him
next Sunday—and every Sunday when the
church of the Purse was built. And they
would help build and furnsh it—he might
depend on that.
“You beat me by a neck, parson. How
in the world did you do it?” Lawson
said, offering his hand to the victor. The
parson wrung it hard. He wanted to say,
“The Lord was on my side," but some
how the words stuck in his throat.
“Come and ride with Peggy to church,
Sunday,” he said, almost apologetically.
Lawson shook his head.
“I don’t dare—yet,” ho said.
The break was more eloquent than
words. Again the parson wrung his
hand. It was thick dark now, the moon
coming up, and whip-poor-wills calling
all about, but somehow he hated the
thought of going home.
After a sleepless night the parson got
up at dawn with a white, determined face.
Although it was Sunday he did not wait
even for family prayer, but rode straight
to the Cocke homestead. Lawson was Just
stirring, and on the way to the stable, in
tent upon seeing how Roxane fared. The
parson slopped him at the lawn gate.
"Lawson,” he burst out, “I’m a miserable
backslider, but I can't let myself be a
thief. The purse—l won it by the devil’s
help. I—l want you to take its-it really
belongs to you—to take it quietly you
know—you won't mind helping me out by
that much. I hope. I shall build the
church just the same, you understand—
but I shall do It out of my own pocket.”
Lawson sprang forward and caught both
the parson’s hands, smiling jubilantly,
though his eyes were not quite clear.
There was an odd lump inTiis throat, too,
as he said: “Not another word, parson. I
have pretty good ears for all that goes on
in a race. I didn’t mind losing the purse
half as much as—losing my faith in your
faith. Now you have inade everything
right again. 'We'll agree that each shall
save his slake. But lam convinced re
ligion is a vital matter—nothing less could
have brought you to me—”
“And I am convinced that an honest man
and a gentleman is not very far off the
kingdom of God,” the parson broke in;
“but Lawson, at least you,’ll ease my mind
by taking that purse. When I have made
restitution, and confessed my fault to my
brethren, I shall dare to ask my Master's
forgiveness.”
“Hold hard, parson,” Lawson said; “bet
ter keep quiet. I understand—but I
doubt if tho brethren would. The wrong
you did, if it was a wrong, has righted it
self." As to the purse—why, hurry up
your church. I hope to marry Peggy the
day it is dedicated.”
The church stands to this good day—a
quaint, squat, steepleless red brick struc
ture In the heart of the peaceful grass
country. A. Lawson Cocke Is among Us
ruling elders, and on tho wall behind the
pulpit there are marble tablets to the
memory of an earlier Lawson Cocke,
who found Christ within its wails, and his
beloved wife, Peggy, born Gentry.
AIR PATHS.
Wasps Act ns Though They Left a
Permanent Track in their ’Flight,
The pathless air has for long been a
favorite figure with those gentlemen the
poets, yet certain winged creatures act as
though they left a permanent track In
their flight through it. Wasps congregated
In the garret of a big plantation house.
The garret had four windows, and was
smoothly floored (hough innocent of plas
ter, or any walls! but roof and gables.
There were of course plenty of cracks
through which energetic wasps could
crawl. But the wasps, both black and
red, fell In a way of flying in and out
by means of a broken pane In an upper
window sash. The break was about two
inches wide, by five in length. Inside
they flew to (he pane, crawled a minute
nround It, poised a minute on the edge of
the break, then sailed away. Coming home
Jaden either with spiders to pen their
nests, or with wood-pulp for nest buildifig.’
they also alighted upon the outer surface
of the glass, crawled to the hole, then
crawled Inside it, nnd after a preliminary
buzzing flew away, each to his nest. The
broken pone was some thirty feet above
ground, and had an outlook free of either
shadow or entanglement.
One spring, in ihe hlght of wasp-indus
try. all the garret windows were opened,
ind left so for a week. For the first three
( BAR-BEN Is the greatest I'
H br.ln, Di.ke, tti* Dlood pure
The trade supplied by Peter Van Schaack & Sons, “Tho Old Salamander Drug- House *
who especially r&oommend this great remedy. *
TORTURE!
BESIDES tlie danger# and dis
figurements of Blood Dis
eases, the Burning and Itch
ing Skin Eruptions are among
the moat acute tortures. The
strongest systems soon collapse
under such agonies.
Pn TANARUS) (Idppman’s Great
# i # £ # Remedy) is a safe
and certain cure for
•very Skin Disease, whether tor
taring, disfiguring, humiliating,
itching, burning, bleeding, scaly,
pimply or iotcliy —in fact, from
pimples to the most distressing
ecxemas—and eyery humor of the
blood, whether simple, scrofulous
or hereditary.
PR j Purifies the blood,
# f , i , builds np the weak
and debilitated,
gives Strength to weakened
nerves, expels diseases, and in
sures health and happiness where
sickness and despair once shut
Out the light of life.
Sold by all Druggists. T fx a
bottle; six bottles, $5. v
LIPPMAN BROTHERS.
m. t Solo Proprietor*,
Un-MAN E&OCS, SAVANNAH, UA.
Scotch and Irish Whiskies,
I
We are agents for the most celebrated Scotch and
Irish whiskies, imported direct from the distilleries of
Scotland and Ireland.
These Scotch whiskies are the blend of the finest
Highland whiskey matured many years in wood before
bottled. The expert Analyist describes this Scotch whis
key as the perfection of Highland whiskey, and is special
O. V. H., selected Old Yatted Highland whiskey from
Glasgow, Scotland. The latest novelty in Scotch whiskey
is distilled by Rutherford of Leith, Scotland, and is called
Scotch Cherry Whiskey, and very palatable indeed. We
are also agets for the famous old Irish whiskey, imported
bv us from Wheeler, Belfast. Ireland.
LIPPMAN BROS.,
i Agents for Scotch and Irish Distilleries.
days, though the whole tower half of the
window was open, the wasps continued to
fly in through the broken pane. Thus they
found themselves trapped—the lower sash
fitted close, and phut them in. Yet they
did not fly out again, but crawled round
and round, buzzing furiously, and stinging
each other when they encountered. Thus
at least a dozen of them met death. Those
inside when the lower sash was raised
fared somewhat better. They flew to what
they thought was the usual place, but
alter two or three hours of bewildered
crawling, dropped from the sill, and flew
off, evidently recognizing the feel of the
outer air. They camp in, as they had
gone out, so escaped further trouble. The
oddest thing of ail was that next year’s
wasps, did not notice the broken pane,
though It stood, exactly ns of okt. In
stead they chose to go in and out through
the cracks and crannies, under the eaves.
The dirt-daub r wasp had always pre
ferred this route, even when they came
to the gairet with mud balls for their
nests. But they did not love the place as
the other wasps did—the plantation peo
ple thought it was because nobody cared
how many nests they built there.
The daubers are not merely good ma
sons, but perfect communists. Often two
or thr e hovered in wait, with mortar
ready to close a cell which another was
stocking with eggs and spiders,
stupefied, but not killed. As soon as the
egg-layer flew out the walling-up began.
Sweet bees also liaunted that particular
portico. The sweet bee looks like a pocket
edition, gf the humble bee, but does not
sting, snd digs his nest in sound, soft
wood. The portico railing, of season'd
pop ar, suited him exactly. The rail ran
horizontally. He began upon the under
side, chipped out a holo as big as your
finger, ran It s ratght up for a little more
than an inch, then channelled galler
ies, e th, r way to ho and his eggs and hon
ey. Sometimes, also, he carried in round
bits cut from the petals of roses. It took
him several hours to cut one wi:h his
sclsfor-'aws, and sometlm s after all he
dropped It, Just as he came home. He had
the wasp’s way of alighting near, and
crawling Inside his own door. When the
door was stopped with a wooden plug he
b' gan pt cnlly to gnaw It out, but when
it was plugged with wax mixed with r s
n, he gave it up and began to cut anew
rest In another rail. He was a strict mo
nogamist and evidently di l not raise latge
families, for although thpre was no set
ting rid of his sort, lhere were never more
than two or three pairs about any season
B. veral other nests were seen in various
place* on ihe plantation, and all had this
In common, they began underneath and
ran upward so rain could not possibly get
into them.
h. I m i s
125 Conoress Si. West.
. We handle the Yale
& Towne Manufactur
ing Company’s line of
Builders’ Hardware.
See these goods and
get prices before plac
ing your order else
where.
OPIUM
Morphine and Cocaine habits cured pain
lessly In 10 to 20 day*. Tho only guaran
teed painless cure. No cure no pay.
Address, DR. J. H. HEFLIN,
Locust Grove, Ga-
J. D. WEED * CO
•AY AN II All, OA
Leather Belting, Steam Packing & Hose.
Agents for NEW YORK RUBBER
BIELtINC! AND PACKING COM PAN