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THE CHARLOTTE rtEWS, APRIL 4, 1908 Y 4 1 8 ! rl !! 1- 1 Ml T le Girdle A STORY By -- Conyriaht 1908. by JOHN JORDAN DOUGLESS All Rights Reserved. CHAPTER I. A Youthful Orator. In i lie heart of a great Southern plantation, on a hill overlooking the golden waters oil the Pee Dee, guarded by gigantio oa:is, and begirt with rose bushes iiinl honey-suckles, stood some years 'ago a stately white-and-green house. Its broad verandas, massive tlute'l columns and airy rooms fcll iimvked it an ante-bellum mansion. A certain bright April day, quivering in the violet veil of the dawn, sudden ly sent a stream of soft, silvery light through the wide rut. in highway, open, numerous east windows. AYith byway, orchard and leathered songsters milled and pined in a merry matinee. The smell of new-turned earth and 'miming blossom, mingled with the delicate and delightful aroma of long leaf pines, was in Ihe air. Along the Inroad river meadows ragged gray wisp:- of mist rose, and. curling smoke "like toward tho turquoise sky, left for the g;;:e a splendid stretch of dew washed emerald, flecked here and there with snowy sheep. As if to drink the wine of beauty ft'rom the chalice of the. morning, a j 'fall, spare-built, dark-eyed, dark-haired j youth hurried down the mansion steps, j ami entered a road, which led through the plantation to the river. His brisk,! elastic sten betraved a rich fund of; nervous energy, as did also the rather j vestles-i though altogether determined expression of his thin, tanned face. His Indian-like cheek-bones, promi nent nose and square Scotch chin con-ypirt-d to impose an insuperable bar rier to his admission within the charmed circle of "Masculine Beau ties." But in the breadth of his fore head, in Hh beam of his bright eyes, no less than in the ouiet strength of "his firmly moulded mouth, were writ ten mastery and living fire. In fact, Jerome "Watkins" extraordinary char acter had early won for him, in the Pee Dee country, the sobriquet of "Steady Romcy." (And, if it is not too painful to the memory of one rollick ing rustic, it might be delicately added that a neighbor who once unwittingly placed a bare Xo. 10 foot on a yellow jacket's nest, remarked afterwards that "the durned. oeskv little critters ! wuz biamed nigh ez busy as Romey "Watkins.) There was an unwonted seriousness n the youth's face as he continued his course toward the river. He seemed almost obvious cf his surroundings. The brimming melody of the morning failed to arouse the ardor of his spirits. He knit his brows and passed his hand across his forehead in a manner which bespoke a struggle with perplexing problems, or a frantic mental-clutching at the coat-tails of a fleeting idea. The profligate spender of life would have marveled that cue so youthful indeed, he was scarcely one-and-twen-ty should harbor a serious thought. "Nevertheless, it was true; Jerome was troubled. He could draw near enough to a certain coveted goal, only to real ize that, like the pot of goid at the foot of the rainbow in the story-looks, it was just beyond his grasp. Suddenly the tense muscles of his face relaxed. Snatching off his broad brimmed palmetto hat, he sent in spin ning upward. "Whoopee, that'll do 'em!" he cri3d ecstatically. Finally he reached a spot on tin river bank marked by a clump of wil lows and a huge boulder of red sand stone. At no great distance an old negro was industriously plowing a mule. Assuring himself that there was no other auditors, Jerome mount e.d ihe rock and began a speech on the "New South." He vociferously recited facts which, though often crudely expressed, be spoke unusual reach and research for a country youth just entering his ma jority. "Slavery," he declared, speaking of the old regime then twenty odd years past, "had more power to harm the white man than to harm the negro. The former had everything in the gift of a great nation to gain by individual effort, the latter nothing; the former laced a got leu future, the latter an tin- written page. j model of feminine sweetness and "Under slavery, there could have j strength. Dark-blue eyes, with a be come to the white man no great men- j witching, fascinating expression, in tal impetus no incentive to keep pace! stantlv melted their way into his heart Avith the stride of a strenuous civiliza-' since, at one-and-twenty, hearts are tion. The nroclamaf ion which frppd ! eoi.'mn ns'fir!. He eventually found tne slaves struck the shackles from Ihousands of poor white men, bearing the brand of hirelings, giving them an equal chance with the former slave owners." The speaker affirmed that the over shadowing present-day problem of the South did not then present, and never had piesented, difficulty as to former slaves; that tb burden of crime in the Black Belt rested not upon them, but upon a post-bellum with whom education was generation. ! a Ktrinsr nf : beads and religion a fetich; wdio left the farms to infest towns and cities like insects lured by the light of a candle. Yet, the youthful orator be lieved a better and brighter day would eventually find its solution in a proper moral, religious and industrial train ing of the negro race in an education which (aught the black man to recog nize and respect rather than to reck lessly disregard the limitations placed upon him by nature. This speech was brought to sudden close by a loud splash in the water nearby. Jerome quickly glanced around to discover the cause of the commo tion. It was highly important that he should not be overheard by some par lies. Perceiving a great, green-mottled bullfrog seated nearby, he concluded -- of OF THE NEW John Jordan Douglass - I that the commotion had j by a nervous member of tribe. boon that created mucous Nevertheless., he decided to discon ! tinue his speech. i Entering the plot where the old negro was plowing, he cried: What were you throwin at, Uncle Sam?" ' "Fiowin' at?' queried the old negro, giving the mule a peremptory jerk. "I ain't bin frowin' at nuftin'. 'cent at dis debblish an' decebin' mule. Whatev er mean, Marse Romey?" "Oh, nothin' did you hear me speak in'?' asked the youth, dropping with evident relief his oratorical "ings." "Co'se I did, chile, co'se I did, w'en you v:uz er fioppin, erroun' in yo' gwincEon lak er bullfrog wid de brown skeeters (bronchitis) des eiimsin' an' er runnin" down an' er scan'lizin' po' ole hones' niggers." "I haven't been do'n' that. Uncle Sam," replied the young man, a fond light in his dark eyes; "I think too much of you for that: we have a De batin' Society up at the Academv, and a gold medal is to be awarded to the i boy who makes the best speech Com- j mencement night. Your race is to be! me suuject or tne ueoate. l will say that you can be made better by re ligion, and that millions of " "Dai's de truf dat's de Gawd's truf Marse Romey," ejaculated the old man, with a grin which set his teeth a-gieam use wnue seen in a red-meat : watermelon, ues reiv oe iueiouis i " praar-book in one han' an' er water- j The President ol the Debate had ran million un'er de t'er arm, an' you kin : ped for order. The judges of the con ted dis heah nigger clean ter de deb i test, including Mr. MacDonald, had I means ter de pearly gates, Marse j taken their places. When ouiet was Romey," he corrected quickly "Wha! I obtained, the secretary rose "and read wha! wna!" With that the old man re sumed the burden and the mule, leav ing Jerome fairly bent double with laughter. "Don't mention what I've said to a livin' soul, Uncle Sam," said Jerome earnestly when the old negro had re turned to the end of the row, "special ly to Gabe Allen; he's on the other side." "You knows I woan you knows I woan', honey," came the ready though somewhat pride-injured response. He had ever been a stickler for the family fidelity.) "Ole Sam ain't gwine ter gib you erway, dat he ain't." Then, well pleased with his progress, and confident that his secret would be secure even if old Sam knew enough to be communicative Jerome returned home, whistling merrily. The shining mark, toward which he had been stead- ily pressing since the fall opening of the "Pee Dee Academy," seemed near er than ever. It was an honor worth striving for; and, moreover, it meant to the winner a scholarship at "For est College." Now, though at one time accounted the wealthiest planter along, the Pee Dee, certain financial embarrassments had prevented Col. Watkins from giv ing Jerome the advantage of a college education. Above all things (even above the ambrosial cup of artful Cupid) Jerome thirsted for the spark ling waters of the Empyrean Spring. But, according to ancient proverb, "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip." CHAPTER II. Braided Cords. Commencement Day had arrived. The seating capacity of the Academy being insufficient, a great bush-arbor had been erected adjoining the front entrance. Rude slabs served for scats; a layer of sawdust for flooring. On every hand rose the "stands" of the inevitable and indispensable lemonade-vendors. Suddenly a reverential "sh-h" rippled over the audience, and Mr. MacDonald, the orator of the day, and President of the bank at Ansonville, a town about five miles distant, arose, cleared his throat, and, adjusting his glasses, I announced as his theme, "Our Commer cial Opportunity." I Jerome was seated with his parents j and two younger brothers near the center of the audience. His attention was instantly rivited. not strange to sav unon the sneaker, but upon a beautiful blonde maiden, who had ueen partially concealed behind the speak-1 er s back Her exouisii.ei.y-ixitiuuu iai face seemed to the himself almost unable to divert his at tention from her. , j The speaker's sturdy logic about the j climatic advantages; tlie water-powei, the mineral resources of the South marched forth slowly and steadily an infantrv of cold facts, well groomed, mailed and armored but Jerome heard not. A strange ecstacy thrilled him. He began to dream indefinite and indefinable dreams. The glittering gold, w hich had for montns exclusively hrIrl bis attention, faded into floating fairy visions He had felt the touch of j LllB lUciaicl-lafii'""- ...... j - - ... I Cl1 1 AT) Thenceforth his i path was to lead besiue love-iu waters, through primroses and pansies, along the crest of hills wound with trailing arbutus and wreathed in golden mist. He was so lost in fancy that he started violently at the hearty ap plause which greeted, the close of the banker's address. "Why, what ails you, Romey?" ex claimed Col. Watkins, glancing quick ly around. "What made you jump so?" "He's been thinking about the de bate; but he'll be all right when the time comes and win the medal, too," interposed the mother, with an encour aging smile. Jerome refrained from tepeech. Though naturally quick to detect and correct mistakes, he was quite willing - the Great I, SOUTH --'- I to accept. the friendly shelter of this 1 one. ' . ; His youngest brother, Walter, how : ever, who had been furtively wateh ; ing him. was not to be so easily satis fied. Before the mother could inter fere, he pointed to ihe rostrum and blurted out in a loud tone: "No, he : ain't either; I seen him lookin' sweet j at that purty gal! I I " The : mother silenced the obstreperous ; youngster with a frown. Nevertheless, j a titter, begun in the Watkins' vicin j ity, went, as usual, the rounds of the . audience. The girl in question, who ! had chanced to be looking toward Jer- chic, blushed crimsom, while his face I went if possible a shade beyond, i Presently, in the confusion and com i mingling of the departing crowd. Jer j ome found himself near her. In a I moment the banker, recognizing the j son of an old patron, had presented I Jerome lo .Miss Maxine MacDonald. i Jerome heard the announcement j that she would visit Marjoric Allen I with a sharp pang of disappointment; and remembered only, as they passed on, that the girl's wonderful blue eyes had looked into his with a sweet, half startled expression, and that a wave of rich color had flooded her fair cheeks. He found it extremely difficult well nigh impossible that afternoon to con fine his thoughts to the query of the coming debate, especially since he frequently saAv Gabriel Allen and the banker's niece together. the query, "Resolved, That the Eman- cipation of the negro has been injuri ous to the South," and announced that the first speaker on the affirmative. Then Gabriel Allen, tall, heavily built and handsome, rose amid a hearty round of applause. His fair, smooth face was flushed with anticipated suc cess; a gleam of victory shone in his eyes. He began in a meli fluent, well modulated tone, to review the causes which led up to the Emancipation of the Negro. Then little by little, with the soft, confidential strides of the tiger, he approached Jerome's speech, till suddenly he sprang upon it and punctured it with the sharp teeth of stinging satire. Jerome's face went white as death. He leaned far over, a startled, mysti fied expression in his dark eyes. Had old Sam betrayed him? If not, by some machiivellian art or instinct, Gabe Al len was making his speech and mak ing it ridiculous before the one to whom, above all others, he wished for some reason to present a fine appear ance. "He will tell you." continued the speaker, "that the negro can, by mor ality and religion, be made a better citizen; but I know and you know and everybody knows that more stealing is done during a negro camp-meeting than at any other time (laughter and great applause), and that the biggest sheuters are the biggest stealers. "Give us the good old ante-bellum days," be concluded, "with the uiggers happier, healthier and less criminal; but the Lord deliver us from a New South with an old sore." He resumed his seat amid thunder ous applause. Then the bank struck up "Dixie." and the crowd went wild. Jerome, gazing out into the swirl ing sea of faces, caught at last the reflected gleam of triumph in Maxine MacDonald's face. He staggered blind ly to his feet in response to the call for the negative. The lights flickered; the audience swam before him. He tried to speak, but his memory sudden ly went hopelessly blank. Dazed and bewildered, he sank into his seat amid painful silence. The speeches follow ing were colorless and inanimate. Ow ing to Jerome's failure, there were no rejoinders. The judges went out for consulta tion and soon returned. There was a moment of tense silence; then Mr. MacDonald, in a few appropriate words, presented the medal to Gabriel Allen. Jerome sat there with bowed head and broken heart. It was the one decided failure the miniature crisis of his life . The fact that he had been defeated unfairly was no recompense; (iLuicm,c um uu. mi mai. When relatives and admiring friends. including Maxine MacDonald, came to congratulate Gabriel, Jerome crept un observed through a merciful side-door, and, staggering weakly out to his father's carriage, leaned for support upon a. wheel. The braided cords of defeat smote his frame. "Oh, God," he cried, "why did I fail, why " There was a sudden rustling move ment in the rear, and he turned quickly to enter the arms of his mother, who had followed him. "My precious boy," she said softly, pressing him to her bosom as she had done in the olden days. "You won't always fail you will yet make your mark; I believe in you. There is in you the making of a man." He started to reply, but at the mo- ment an approaching foot-fall arrested his attention. His father was near at hand, and the boy knew him too well to offer any explanation. The Colonel's motto was "Excelsior." CHAPTER III. A b$ of Southern Chivalry. It is needless to relate that Jerome spent a sleepless night. His brain was in a whirl. Chilling sensations swept over him. Despite every effort to hate her, he could not shake off his strange infatuation for Maxine MacDonald. It held him with an iron grip and yet with a link of gold. Bright and early he crept from his room and sought the spot where he had practiced for the debate. As he was passing the little cabin, a short distance below the house, a familiar voice called out: "Lors-a-massey, is dat you, Marse Romey, gwine a-fishin' in de coo! uv de mawnin'?" "No, not for tuckers," cried the youth, quickening his pace, without looking back at the black face framed in the cabin window. "Fer cat? den. Ma.se Romey?" "Yes, for black cats that scratch then friends," retorted Jerome, turning angrily to confront the negro. "Why did you tell Gabe All-ru about my speech? lost the mcial."' The old negro's count-' nance fell bt ineatu tne suuuen weignt el : urj rise, ami hr? leaned far over with his elbows j upon the narrow window-sill, in an at I litr.de of utter pain. "Fo" Gawd. I ain't tol' him nuflin'. Marse Romey," he exclaimed, broken ly. "Well, come and go with me then: maybe you didn't," said Jerome, relent ing. (The negro instantly obeyed.) "But there's some mystery here." "Dat I didn't, kase I lubs you mos' lak 1 do dem dar niggers," the old man continued, with a toss of his head toward (wo ebony-hued boys sitting in the doorwav. Jerome could not re press a smile at the ludicrous but inno cent comparison in which the old negro classed him with Bill and Ben. When they reached the desired spot, Jerome rovenled his purpose. They accordingly climbed down to the river edge of the great rock, screened from land-view by a thick cluster of reeds, and began their search. At first it seemed destined to prove fruitless: there was no evidence of espionage. Finally Jerome turned to leave. He had almost cleared the rock, when he noticed that a fragment, where it was seamed and cracked., had been recently broken off. Stooping to examine this more closely, he caught from below at. the left base of the reeds a swift flash of something white. Bending over, he was startled to behold that it was an envelope thus inscribed, "Miss Maxine MacDonald " The town and state were so blurred by a recent rain that he could not decipher them. Jerome hastily picked y up the envelope and thrust it in his pocket, saying nothing to old Sam, who was now some distance away. Suddenly the sound of voices and the rythmic plash of paddles broke on the air. Thev came nearer and nearer. Then, as a boat rounded a bend in the river and swept in sight, Jerome re treated behind the reeds, and motioned to the negro to remain ouiet. In a few moments the voices could be idainly distinguished. "That is the place yonder where the big rock juts out into, the water. I was fishing. Maybe I lost it there!" "At any rate," continued the speaker, "it contained a photograph and a prophecy that came true that I'd win the Debater's medal." "So I see that a prophet is honored in bis own country," "And. by the, way," continued the feminine voice, "I was so sorry for the young man who failed; he has such a fine face; he must be intelligent." "w.irprdi ' he has, A noor way of stowing it," exclaimed her companion in -. tone of irritation. By this time the keel of the boat had grated on the rock, and, throwing the anchor-chain around a projecting staub, Gabriel Allen for it was he leaped ashore. "I'll be back in a mo ment," he called to his companion. "I hope you will find it," she re filled, as she nlavfully ran her fingers th the water on either side of the boat. : Suddenly, before Jerome could inter fere, old Sam rushed forward and con fronted Gabriel, crying, with all the family pride of the ante-bellum attache ringing in his voice: "Git off'n dis heah olantashun; git oft'u de Knn'el's hm rite heah whar you dun stol' Marse Romey's speech. i Whatcher doiu' on dis side of de rib " "Shut up, you black scoundrel, or I'll make you shut up!" cried Gabriel purple with passion. He clenched his list and glared savagely at the old negro. "Dat I woan dat I woan on de Kun'el's " "Then take that, you kinky headed imp!" Gabriel leaped forward to strike the old neg"o terrific blow in the face, but in a twinkling Jerome Wat kins rushed between, catching the full force of the blow on the chest. A mo ment later he had rebounded, and, despite every effort at resistance, forced Gabriel slowly backward till he stood on the very brink of the river. There Jerome held him firmly as a vise. "You should remember." he gasped with suppressed anger, "to re spect the presence of a woman and age, even in a nigger, As to your stealin' my speech " "You lie!" cried Gabriel, struggling vainly to break the grasp of his as sailant. "Hush!" thundered Jerome, stifling a strong impulse to strike; "you shall not speak thus before her go your way." "And go it quickly," he added, releasing him. "Great talk for my father's hire lings," sneered Gabriel, as he turned away. (It was a reference to the mortgage which Dr. Allen held on Riverwood.) Jerome's eyes flashed and his temnles swelled with rage. Only by dint of desperate effort he con trolled himself. "Go!" he gasped, "or I'll thrash you within an inch of your life. Go! I say." And Gabriel stood not on the order of his going, but quickly entered the boat, where Maxine sat, pale and ill at ease Before the boat could be pushed off, however, Jerome stepped forward and gracefully tossed the letter into Max ine's lap. "That's for you, Miss Mac Donald," he said in a voice still tremu lous with passion. . "Thanks," she replied, with a smile which sent his heart to his mouth. He watched them till they disap peared behind the "Big Bend," then, calling old Sam, he went slowly home ward with conflicting emotions stir ring in the great deep of his soul. CHAPTER IV. The Picnic. For many years it had been custo mary to hold at Murray's Mill, on a tributary of the Pee Dee. an annual picnic. To this well-watered and well- shaded spot the folk of the neighbor hood, old and young, were wont to as semble to listen to open-air speeches and to make bounteous noonday "spreads." So accordingly every ve hicle which entered the great oak grove contained, Fomewhere, a brim ming basket, or mayhap a small clay-bank-colored trunk securely strapped on behind. Hither, in the early morning of a de lightful June day, rode Jerome Wat kins.. The birds chirped sweetly in every 'leafy avenue; soft, silvery rip ples lay, upon the pond, where a thou- r sand .water-lines drooped their glisten ing heads. . In truth, everything ac corded with the youth's suit-its. He was to see Maxine this day to bo near iv-'vto listen to the dreamy juei- ctiy ct u ! voice. Eagerly he watched every incoming buggy and carriage. Many times he turned away a disappointed face. "Surely, she will come," he said aloud, "if only Gabe Allen wouldn't monopo lize her time. He always has the ad vantage." The words wort; scarcely out of his' mouth when, as if to confirm them, a shining, new top-buggy dashed up; and, haughtily throwing the lines to a nearby negro, Gabriel leaped out to assist Maxine to alight. Though Je rome had expected them to come to gether, rather than in the family car riage, his heart sank at the sight. He had tried to make an engagement with. Maxine for the occasion. A dark frown gathered on Gabriel's brow when he saw Jerome, but Maxine smiled pleasantly in recognition. Ga briel's sharp eyes noted her ill-con cealed delight. Following this, nothing worth relating occurred till the hour for the address was ?t hand. Then people began to express anxiety about the non-appearance of the speaker. Several minutes passed, and still he had not come. Finally it became evi dent that he would not arrive in time. Some of the leading planters soon be gan to arrive to cast about for a sub stitute (for "Tar Heels" even those who snore raucously through a sermon hav? a decided wakefulness for "stump-speeches.") Suddenly one or two voices shouted: "Allen! Allen! Gabriel Allen!" There was no re sponse; then the call became clamor ous and imperative. This was what Gabriel had been waiting for. With a pompous stride he mounted the ros trum. The medal, dangling at the end of his watch-chain, caught midway a straggling ray of light and threw a golden gleam far out into the impromp tu audience; in his eyes there lurked a greenish gleam. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he stud, "I thank you for your kindness, but I can not make you a speech. I shall, how ever, take the liberty of introducing to you that peerless, silver-tongued orator of the Pee Dee, Mr. Jerome Wat kins." It was a cruel, heartless thrust one worthy of Gabriel Allen meriting only the rebuke of silence which it re ceived. Col. Watkins, who was stand ing nearby, bit fiercely at his short, gray moustache, and, involuntarily, his hand telL to his hip, as it had done in the palmy, chivalric days of the old regime: but, with an effort, he controlled himself. Maxine MacDon ald's eyes flashed, her face went crim son, and she used her fan vigorourly for a moment. Jerome, upon whom all eyes were now centered, swallowed hard; his thin face waxed white as death. Then his dark eyes glowed; his strong mouth hardened like gran ite; and, with resolution written in every stride, he mounted the platform amid thunderous applause. In a quavering,, hesitating voice he thanked Gabriel Allen for the honor of the introduction and the audience for the evidences of pleasure at his ap pearance. Then, as he continued, his voice became clear and strong, silvery and full of passion, till the audience swayed to and fro beneath its hypnotic power like reeds before the cross-currents of a summer gale. Gabriel Al len shrank into the remotest corner of the crowd: Maxine MacDonald's face shone with unconscious joy. The youthful speaker, to the infinite sur prise of all, strongly summed up the advantages of the New South, but de clared that the "new" was the out growth and transformation of the "old;" that all the better elements of the old had been carefully conserved in the new, becoming its very salt of savour; that the blood of the fathers in the veins of the sons was the elixir of life to the New South. Once he hesitated, as if about to cease, but the crowd shouted, "Go on! Go cn!" When he finally stopped, he was not suffered to descend to the ground, but was borne off on the shoulders of en thusiastic admirers. His triumph was complete. Gabriel his own Allen had been beaten at game. Later, when Maxine came to offer her congratulations. Jerome found courage to ask her to go rowing with him, and she broke an all-day engage ment with Gabriel to accept the invita tion. As the boat drifted idly here and there among the clustering pond-lilies, Jerome confided to her his cherished dreams. But when he came to the Debate his voice sank. That was the precipice the pit into. which his re cent triumph had scarcely thrown more than a ray of light. "Don't despair," she said. "You have great talent; you will succeed if " "If you will love me, Miss Maxine!" he broke in with a sudden influx of courage. 4 light of tenderness glow ed in his dark eyes like silvery moon beams in murky waters. "Why, what do you mean?" she asked. "You are so sudden so startling.-" Her fair cheeks colored crim son as clustering cherries. "I mean what I say, Maxine." ho breathed softly. "I love you I love you the moment I laid eyes on you Commencement day I loved you. You helped me fail then, now help me to succeed. Will you can you return my love?" The question quivered with a flood of passion. He bent over as if to receive her answer in his arms, but something in her face checked him. "One of your talent should have a college education," she said, with a pathetic little effort to change the sub ject, "you shouldn't " "Must one go to college to learn to love, Maxine?" he broke in hoarsely. The boat was drifting now; in a mo ment it entered a little eddy and whirled slowly toward the shore. you love ni' Maxine' he nleaded. " by, I I PCVt tat," bought of ;e faltered, -Of YOU "We ! short s that Known do not tonesty in his si-iht." e !uca-.-mbi- asking me tl have known each other rue!) 1 while; and Murjori:? love.; " "Well, what differe.ice doe make?' he inienupted. -j have Marjorie for ye-.u s, an d vol f native i cruelty love her." rather th, low tones. There was n uKfet-ling "I !i:ve l -i on at first. ; "But you said ih:-. a tion was yvv g;v;it : lion. Education i.:, the Great; you must have in our Southland csteen cc!io'?e ur, and Clrdh- i it. Too i it but a .! YOU I futiT-e." re ;nany foci's could bauble, not mar Jei onie wither w iiiVen vnvt" ieH ithin if I lov splendid the fountain of nope !ir.: heart, .st me off?" he said dead white despai; sil time. !".L!ionai!y you are "The n ye l c; bit in mv t erly, w his face "No. t ire. ; for in superior ."' Then 1 si::! utool-stroiig !ik I min t 11.- f n i- e." no said witn a out the mouth, "if irougu tiierns and hie. (To b Continued Monday.) SCHOOL CHILDRE MENACRD BY GRIP EPIDEMIC. The prevalence of La Grippe and the alarming increase .of the disease amono: -school children has perceptibly reduced the attendance at both public and I'rivate schools. Many parents labor under the delu sion that by simply keeping their chil dren at borne thev are amply safe guarding them against the disease. While there is no question that the child's greatest danger lies in the personal methods of infection, (lie fact remains that many of the worst cases of La Grippe and Pneumonia in adults as' well as children, arc the direct re cults of neglected colds. If every mother would learn to re gard the first signs of a cold and cough in her children with the proper amount of seriousness, much sickness and mis ery would be avoided. Nothing is more accentable to the little snffercr and more effective in breaking up coughs and colds than Piso's Cure. It goes right to the orig in of the trouble, removes irritation, restores normal condition s and strengthens the delicate membrane of throat and 1-mgs to resist further at tacks. Because of its positive efficacy in the treatment of all throat and lung dis eases, together with its agreeable taste and freedom from harmful in gredients ( Piso's Cure is t'e ideal remedy for men., women and children. There is no cough or cold, however advanced, that will not speedily re spond lo its curative influences. The biggest, best and most pleasing or an tne cartoon comedy plays is billed for the Academy next Thursday matinee and night. It is needless to state that the this coming attraction is Brown," the master' effort king of cartoonists, R. F. perhaps name of "Buster of that Ouicault, whose clever drawings in th politan journals have won metro- unprece- dented praise from the fun-loving pub lie. "Buster" this season is impersonat ed by Master Jimmie Rosen, the cleverest lilliputian actor on the American stage. This little actor is a Russian by birth-Kaving first seen the light in St. Petersburg. He was brought to this country early in life and adopted the stage while still a child. He was the star of the Royal Lilliputains and the hit of "A Son of Rest" with Nat M. WTills. He speaks seven languages and is an accom plished musical scholar. For the cm-rent season this play has been equipped with an entirely new scenic outfit, new and elaborate "Won't A Sure Cure for the Common His of MtanKind. c4. 'well known Atlanta manufacturer gf Agricultural 1 Implements says : " i nave usea noziej s Lcmoa ciijrir ior io or 12 years m my family, for the Stomach, Liver and Kidneys, and I find it Is Um best medicine I have ever nsed. It is also a sure specific for pain in back or under the shoulders. I have recommended it in numerous :.jtses to my workmen when sick and unable to work, and it has always given perfect satisfaction. II. D. Terreu,, Pres. Atlanta Plow Co., Atlant. Ga. 50c. and $1.00 per Eotib at Drug "One Dose Convinces." One Hose Convinces. M&m I DRESSERL'S I i SUCCESSOR TO U C Cl TCMCTl SUCCESSOR TO Charlotte Marble & Granite Works MONUMENTAL AND BUILDING WORK IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, CEMETERY AND .YARD CURBS. Yard, West Side Southern R. R. Between Passenger Depot and Cemetery Gate. J. L. WITHERSPOON, Foreman. JESSE C. DRESSER, Prop. 'Phone 1697. &" Jimmie Rocen as Buster Brown, Mati nee and Night, Thursday, April 9. costumes and popular songs that are the latest and most pleasing through out. The east which includes A I. Grady, Mattie Lockett, John Dove, Leo IJayes, Harry M. Price, Leonard Delmore, Fannie Thatcher, Minnie Lee, Frances Francis, Fred Wilson and others of equal note and promi- nonce. The play is one of which in two pretty scenes, portrays the lawn of "Buster's" heme and the other on the beach at the seasr. :"o. Among mentioned Molly from "Rose Bud." Y'.m Be My of catchy nee. re numerous The Bobby military foa- the singing hits mav "Come Down Susie." ' Mayo," "Old Bill Oliver," "Buster Brown."' "Won't Baby Boy," and other. merit and tuneful o::ee"U The special features a and pleasing headed by Burns Brigade, a Seokh lure in full Highland costume. This specialty is composed exclusively of young ladies., who drill in a man ner that would make the oldest II. Ir regular sit up' and lake notice. The spectacular effects are excell ent and electrical illuminations more than ordinarily brilliant. The story of "Buster Brown" is too well known to need repetition, but a svnonsis mav be interesting. j "Buster" is informed that his grand ma has come to spen.l a few weeks with them and bis father gently inti mates that there will be something in the reward line doing for "Bus ter" if he succeeds in bringing grandma's visit to a speedy close. The precosious youngster sets about his task with ready vim and what ho and his dog, "Tige,"' do to grandma's hsppiness and comfort io good and plenty. They play every imaginable sort of prank on her " and evoke paroxysisms of laughter at every turn. They make life miserable for her in many ways and finally she takes her departure much to ihe older Brown's satisfaction. Much in the novelty line has been added lo the play and the general interest of the production has been much en hanced. You feel the life-giving current. A gentle warmth fills the nerves and blood. It's a pleasure to take Hollis ter's Rocky Mountain Tea. ',)T cents, Tea or Tablets. R. II. Jordan & Co. ESEJIHI Stores. ff$
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 4, 1908, edition 1
7
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