Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / July 7, 1907, edition 1 / Page 15
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You Can Share P ep end on. BEN TOM MOMTM 4 HERMIT OF THE BALSAMS ' (Continued From Page Twelve) v own reHectlona. Presently I observed a .dull red etaln &t my feet encased In the gaiters of .my companion, , ''Would It ecare you, Talcott 1" asked Abe, "If I were (to tell you that Che red stain you are- observing-, marks the spot where & tragedy was enacted In , days gone by?" "Not In the least," I replied, shud dering in spite of my reassuring words, for I was anxious to draw out the interestng character who sat by my side. "Well," drawled the man, "when I bougtuMhis shack of a house people said It was bad luck to any one who owned the place, since it had 'been the scene of a bitter feud between some mountalnteers " I was glad to find that a talkative ness was taking the place of the for mer reticence. , "Well," continued Abe, "I did not take the advice of those wlho had con ' stltuted themselves counselors and ad visers, for as a young man, I purchas ed this Sod-forsaken spot for a hunt ing lodge. Many gay occasions have passed beneath this roof and man A sardonic laugh was the only com pletion of the sentence. - Again I thought I heard footsteps overhead I stirred uneasily. : "It is an old place," explained Abe, ' noticing my discomfiture, "the boards creak-" y r Settling easily dn my chair, I felt disgusted at, toy apprehensions, smil ing at nine strange appearance I pre- sented in the swallow-tails. Gaining1 more courage I besought -Abe that he would continue the narrative concern ing the dull red spot at my feet Ac- cordlngly my companion launched out to tell the story of hatred and malice, whtoh had resulted : in btoodshed. 1 watched the narrator closely as he opened his vivid account of one of those mountain feuds of which we ' read, The deep-set and glittering eyes bloodshot though they were (held me spellbound and I sympathized with th guest of the, VAnclent' Mariner," ,aa never before, '"Yes," I concluded, "this man has dashed brilliant talents to the ground, "but what was the in fluence that had wrecked a career?' ., 'In this very house." I heard Abe - talking as in a dream, "there occurred tragedy in the winter of 8 3 at the " Dsed Christmas time. Old man Hstings and Wis wile Hived 1n ' this , house at that time, and were dispens ing hospitality ; to their sons and daughters and their corresponding ''in laws." Corn Juice and apple brandy flowed freely, firing the "passion and .kindling smouldering feelings of bitter ness, which were only awaiting ., a slight provocation to fan them into a mighty conflagration. Now, John and Eva Hastings had formed a matrlmo- nlat alliance ' with flhe 'Chester clan, who live on the other side of the Bal sams John. Hastings had married . Jane Chester, end his slater was the wife of Luke Chester, a brother of : 'John's wife. Between John Hastings and Lhke Chester bad feelings had arisen the green-eyed ; monster had ooroe between the brothere-in.law. John claimed that old man Hastings had shown partiality to his sister Eva, and her husband Luke Chester, since 1100 in cash had been . given the couple by the wife's father. Old Has tings had really only made a loan of the money, with the understanding thnt his son-in-law should repay the oorrowea sum.oi money Jby. working at the stilt Hastings was a moonshiner of desperate character. ; John . knew nothing of the arrangement,; conse quently the f 100 assumed greater pro - The development of Denton, N. C, offers the very safest and most profitable field of investment. Located in the heart of America's richest timber and farming land, ::it forms the centre of . the Piedmont' section of North Carolma The recent completion of the Carolina Valley" Railway puts Denton in communication with the mar ' kets of the world. . .This road now joins the Southern Railway and will soon make connections with the Seaboard Air Line, the Atlantic Coast Line and the Norfolk and f ,Western. This means certain advances in land values. teal EsttaHe Ho w BmIqs lnvestmenlt World Town lots like those now, offered at Denton are as rare as they are gilt-edged.1 Immediate action on your part means the securing of choicest residence and busi ness lots from $37.50 to $IT5. .Terms are within reach of every; wage earner, $1 down and $1 a week, 5 per cent, off for cash. The majority of lots sold so far have been jpurchased by persons living in the immediate vicinity of Denton who know a good thing when they see it. Other purchasers include citizens from New Yerk to Ala bama who know a good thin g when they hear of it. - .. Riglhilt Now is Hhie Rig'ht Buaying' Time T' This immediate present is the logical moment to get in on the ground floor of Denton, N. C. To delay means to lose the best opportunities. Buy and then wait. Later will be all right for selling at' big profits. Five stores, five wood-working factories, a $25,000 bank and many homes is the record for the past few weeks. Watch Denton grow and benefit by its rapid development. Full information with map and price-list on request. Tke Hub H. B. VARNER, President, portions to the eyes of the Jealous son, than the entire fortune of Pler pont Morgan appears to its owners. The wife of John Hastings : was as close fisted as you make them, had she not goaded her husband to madness, the quarrel which 'followed might have been averted. , On that Christmas eve in '83 John Hastings had come to his father's house initent upan raising a row. Into each of the young homes, a little child had come, John's kid was a strap ping boy, while Eva furnished a grahddaughter (for her rough moon shiner father. Oh that memorable ev ening of '83, after a bountiful re past had been served, old Hastings and his wife eat around ' the hearth with the family group. John,, always looking for grievances, imagined his father took more notice of Eva's daughter, than of his own boy for some time the morose son sat In moody silence. In the meantime the wee gir on its grandsire's knee prat tled, and cooed In baby fashion " here Abe Cowles paused in his narrative "to enquire if the story of the Hastings family 'was-becoming wearisome. "Not in the least. Mr. Cowles," said I, for these (family fuds of the mountaineers' had always been inter esting to me on account of the strength of feeling these people pos sess. Please proceed with, the facits concerning the tragedy," I therefore requested. "Well, finally John's baby toddled to his grandfather's knee, pulling at his trousers, endeavoring to climb besMe his cousin who held sway with the old man that nighft. Thus the chubby little fellow was. unnoticed as he sought to gain the notice of the rough moun taineer. - ' - . . " 'I ain't a-gwlrie to stand this treat ment no more,', said John, Jumping from his chair and glaring furiously at Ws parent. Then old Mrs. Hastings came over to her son, placing her hand on his shoulder and endeavoring to soothe the fierce passions her only thanks being a muttered curse. Old Hastings gave his granddaughter to his wife, requesting John to explain himself. The son ranked up a long list of old grievances, the climax being the $X00. ,----v. w. v" 'Guess the money belonged Ho me,' retorted the Irate father, snatching up a ,; revolver that lay ott the' mantle above the hearth.: John's hand Imme diately sought his ; hip (pocket, and there was a glitter of steel. The son's aim was true, and so was the father's. Both men toppled to the floor with a heavy thud at the first shot. The stain at your Xeet mark (the spot where the two men fell, and'no matter how often the planks are scoured, nothing will erase the mark dyed Indelibly into the floor,".- , - - , I shivered as I drew away from the uncanny stain that marked the resukt of a, family f ued in the Balsams. "Well, father and son were burled in the graveyard back of the house, where several other members of the family were interred-". - . M'UghJH groaned L ot relishing the thought of being in such close prox imity wkth the murdered Hastings.; "They don't talk much: any more," added Abe, as he yawned, running his fingers through the tangled masses of hair,;: 4)M:fAi:m S-f - This exciting recital (had caused tne to ? forget tny horse, ; which had been left to face the power of the angry el ements. I alluded to Khe plight of the poor beast, to Abe. ' . -;!W must see how the poor creature is faring," said my host. " The storm bad spent Its furyly this time, though a. few belated raindrops pattered against the window an In a desultory wy. Jeptha came into Cn room perceiving that some project was on hand. On ascertaining that "Mas' Abe' was determined to venture out into (the blackness, the faithful crea ture promptly overruled her employ er's plans. . "I'se a-gw)ne teh go mysel'," In sisted the negress. Seizing a lantern, she bade me follow. Gum Drop begged to be a member of the party, but was forbidden the pleasure. "Look atter Mas' Abe," commanded Jeptha, and Gum Drop dropped on the floor at the feet of the singular man, with the air of a pet watch dog. With Jeptha for guide, I started on my tour up the mountain, (hoping that my horse had sustained nb bad effects from Its exposure during (the violence of the storm. Further up the swollen stream, we crossed a footlog, striking a trail that had been frequently trav eled by the old negress, who moved as nimbly as a eqjiirrel over the per ilous rooky paith; sometimes I was warned of the besetting dangers of the steep ascent which the dim light of the lantern but faintly revealed. The road gained at last, where I had tied my horse, I walked swlfltly towards the tree to which the animal "had ..been fastened, Jeptha following at my heels. No welcoming neigh greeted me, and on going closer, imagine my hor ror on finding the creature, stretched dead on the ground between the shafts of the buggy, the harness broken by the fall. Evidently the lightning had done its work, for the bark from' the tree was skinned off. I remember the deafening crash of thunder that re sounded so angrily after I had com menced my descent It was men that the victim was sacrificed to the howl ingrelentless storm .had I remained five minutes longer beneath that tree it would have been over with me, and Esteele wouM have never seim "ne alive. There was nothing for my guide and me to do, but turn our faces to wards Abe's home, where I hoped to be able 4o lay aside the startling ex periences of jhe day. ,; When I again 'entered the rough structure of Abe Cowles', I felt dased. The woman in the portrait seemed to be coming towards me. It was with difficulty that I repressed an exclama tion, of surprised amasement. By he dim glare of the firelight I observed the dull red stain it grew redder and redder, until it fairly glared. It had actually changed colors, being now of fine most brilliant -hue even of the color of blood, fresh spilt,"- . These impressions were so real,. I could not ascribe them to the unac customed draught of liquor Abe had regaled me with before supper, nor could I term them optical delusions. Abeat in a chair snoring heavily, his head sunk on his breast, while Gum Drop slept at the feet Of her friend wrapt in an untroubled child's slumber. But the lady on the wall grew more and more real. She was no longer to me the creation of an artist's brush, but a live, breathing woman. The incarnation of my "Lady Gra cious," as I had termed her, "was - a gradual process- first one feature and then another would become animat ed; drooping of the eyelid attract ed me first, soon" the -' arched brows were slowly raised, and & smile played about the well-formed mouth. By and by "the bosom heaved, the rose flut tering egaiiu my - lady's throbbing' heart. As the beautiful creature was raising a Jeweled hand Imploringly to wards me. ere she left the ' embossed frame against the wall, Jeptha's sub stantial form appeared at the door, In viting me to my room upstairs. 1 felt a' ttddenqtiahnmimbnr my-llmbs, When I found thai I was to spend- the night vln the tipper half-story of the house whee the "hyat" night be en La throned. Following my guide I could not refrain from castUig a lingering glance at the lady she was coming on behind me. However, Jeptha cruel ly Insulted the timid creature by un bolting the door that led upstairs and quickly securing it from our sdde the lady had been Imprisoned below, with out so much as an apology. "Here be's ydh room." said the ne gress; opening a door to more com fortable quarters than I had expect ed, "now I sleeps in tuthah room," ex plained Jeptha, preparing to leave me for the night, "so don' yoh git skeert if yoh should heah me amovli' bout a bit I sometimes walks in my sleep" I assured Jeptha that I would soon be lost in my dreams, and nothing would disturb me. Before leaving me for the night Jeptha gave me a key to my door, explaining that I might rest better, and adding that she an' Mas' Abe mosgta'ally locked up for the night. The events of the afternoon, my harrow escape from the Jaws of death, the fatal disaster to my horse, the exciting story told by Abe con cerning the Hastings family, and fin ally the strange effects which the por trait had caused, .all seemed to be whizzing through my brain with light ning velocity. I felt there was some thing uncanny about my surround ings, and f or a long time I stayed awake after I had retired. Finally na ture (triumphed, and I dozed off, for getting to (turn the lock in my door. Several times during the night I awoke with a Btart, but always went to sleep again. Once, as I lay awake for a few minutes, I imagined I heard a muffled footstep on the creaky stairs someone was fumbling with the bolt. Then for some seconds everything was perfectly quiet, the stillness of the night broken anon by a measured tread up and down the stairs ever up and down with spooky distinctness. In his room on the first floor Abe was snoring away, unmolest ed by sound or noise of any descrip tion. From the room across the nar row little hall I could distinguish the heavy breathing of Jeptha, who seem ed at peace with the world but, still that .weird footfall smote my troub bled ear.. Again I fell asleep, only, to dream of the lady la the picture, who seemed to be to some distress of mind I saw her extend her Jeweled hand imploringly, but in my slumbers 1 felt powerless to act. r- . I tried to open , my eyes was I dreaming that an icy hand was press ed against my throbbing brow? For sn indefinite ; length of time X tay thus, unable o move.. Finally "my eyelids raised towering above me was a toll woman- robed in white, ; holding a cocked revolver close to my heart! I sprang out of bed, uttering a Wood curdling shriek, which the apparition echoed as it vanished away, I knew oot "Wher. h.r; s ..j.-i -i Jeptha was by my slder instantly. "Ton mils' been a-drBamlnV fd the old colored-woman as she lighted a candle. v;t .,; '- ; . "Dreams nothing!" t exclaimed, re lating my gruesome experiences, giv ing an account of the footsteps on the stairs, and my narrow escape from death, ii ... - v -, "O yoh has been a-dreamto'." laugh ed Jeptha. "Ton dead hom done come back an' made yoh rid hint too fas'. Then l hearn Mas' Abe a-teJUn .'bout them Hastlngses ; , , l'Yoa can't change 'my opinions," I replied stolidly, inquiring why my host had not come to my rescue when I had screamed in my agonized tr- Or. . r. ... .' , -r-:-i"ri-tf-'.fcl.,-'-io. Jj.. i "La, Mas; Talcofct, answered Jep tha, between yawns, "Alas' AH bo' Lexington North Garoljna. But the old woman's mouth snapped shut ere she had told me what appal ing scenes Mas' Abe "was ueter." I did not have the courage to pry into the history of this hermit of the Balsams, therefore his singular Jlfe remained a dosed book. As Jeptha made her exit, she drop ped a sandom hint that there was a key In "de dooh," the use of the same was immediately called Into service, all precautions being observed to prevent another visitation from the mysterious woman. To make the door more secure I even rolled my bed be fore the door, and lighting the lamp r sat up in bed with eyes stretched wide open, determined not to be kill ed by the hand of an unknown assas sin, without at least making some ef fort to preserve life. Nor did I woo Morpheus until the dawn came smiling over the Balsams, although there had been no further disturbance to thwart the slumbers that tired nature re quired. ' ' (CONCLUDED NEXT SUNDAY). JUDGE R. O. PURJDY TO RETIRE. He Closes His Last Term of Court at Gaffney, Whereupon the Local Bar Expresses llegret Because of lilt Resignation Interested Stranger Was W. II. Mills' father Car of Tin Ore Shipped to New York. Special to The Observer. Gaffney, . C, July e. The Court of Common Pleas was engaged yester day morning in the trial of Rlppey vs. the Southern Railway for damages sustained by him while engaged in working for the defendant at Blacks burg. At the close of the plaintiffs testimony the usual motion was made for a non-suit which was granted. This makes the third non-suit which THE MARGUERITE SHOP Mid-Summer Noveltios in Millinery. Special prices next week on all Skirts. New things in Belts, Collars and all sort of attractive . ' Neckwear. Full line of Hair Goods in fancy pieces and Switches. ' . Orders taken for unusual shades of hair. ' New models in all bf bur special Corsets. V " ; v, . . - " v.'-'4 "V r" VA vV': THE MARGUERITE SHOP mb am y9 the Southern has obtained at this term of court Judge Purdy will leave for his home to-day. Before the adjournment of court to-day the following resolutions, which had been passed by the Bar Ajssoctarfiton, were read by J. B. Bell, of the local bar. Remarks were made by various mem bers of the bar which were fittingly responded to by Judge Purdy, who seemed much affected by the manifes tations of regard expressed by the resolutions and remarks of the law yers. "Whereas, Hon. R. O. Purdy, the presiding Judge, has resigned the of fice of circuit judge, which resignation becomes effective September 1, 1907; and whereas, this Is the last term of thin court over which Judge Purdy will preside; therefore. Be it RuAolted, 1. That the Bar Associa tion of Cherokee county deeply regrets Uie fact that Judge Purdy's retire ment t-tni the bench and wish for hint em-cess in his future field of la-r-T. ?. That (by his ability, uniform courtesy, dllligence and attention to the duties of his office, he has great y mlrared himself not alone to the inr mt.fr t the bar. but to the court a-ni cf-unt) offlclals. and t-y all with wbor.i bf has come in contact t. That a copy of these resolutions berrn-tnd to Judge Purdy, and that they bj tiwcrlbed upon the minutii of tiie court. J. E. WEBSTER, President. W. S. HALL, JR., Secretary. During the trial of William H. Mills, a small unassuming stranger, ap parently about 66 or 60 years of age, was noticed well up to the front dur ing the trial of the case and seemed to be deeply interested in the testi mony and arguments of counsel. No one knew who this stranger was. but it now transpires that he was the father of the defendant, and that he resides In Oeorgla, and came to South Carolina to be present at hla sons trial. When your correspondent asked for an explanation of the fact that Mills' mother is now living ai Mrs. Busbee, he was informed that Mills and Mrs. Busbee were married many years ago and that he went West some time after his marriage and for a time he corresponded wlr'i his wife; but later his letters ceaaed, snd after a long time the present Mrs. Busbee, thinking that Mills was dead, married Mr. Busbee. Although nothing has been said re cently l i the papers about the r.oss tin mine. It Is not to he understood that uptrrtlons have ceased, becaise such is rot the case. Captain Rw hus a co of ore ready for shipment nor, and has another oar in sight. Mr. Jj. C. Ross will ioave , Gaftawy auout Wednesday so as to be In New Y-.k nher. the car arrives. Wer h li considered that a car of tin ore U w..id fiom 112.000 to 115.000. I; will occcur.' fo the fact that Mr. Rj will be on he i,d to give the tnir.? h's pe-vot,al attention. . . . . Get a sample of Dr. Shoop't "Health" Coffee" at our store. It real coffee dls-, turbs your stomach, your heart or Kid neys, then try this clever-'coftee imita tion. Dr. Shoos has closely matched Old Java and Mocha coffee in flavor and taste, yet It has not a single grata of real coffee In it. Dr. 8heop's Healtlt Coffee Imitation Is made from pure toast ed grains or cereal , with Malt Nuts, eto. Made .In a minute. No tedious wait, you will surely like it Sold by Miller Van Ness Co. M ,
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 7, 1907, edition 1
15
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