North Carolina Newspapers

THE TRIBUNE. W. F. L. D. RUCKER, Editor. MILLER, Manager. Published Every Wednesdaa, at rutherfordton, n. c. $1.00 Per Year ; Cash in Advance. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1901. QUEEN VICTORIA STILL Lives. The latest dispatches in regard to the condition of England's queen, tell us that she is still alive, but the anxious watchers about her bedside and through out her kingdom, look for her dissolution at any moment. Her rule has been long, beneficent and prosperous to the English people. For sixty-four years she has sat upon the greatest throne on earth and has been ruler over a great and mighty people; she has been a sovereign who has pos sessed the love and sympathy of her people, and whose love and sympathy have been given them in return; and to day, as she is fast approaching the end of her earthly reign, ihe grief and sym pathy manifested by her subjects throughout the British kingdom, is the most beautiful and touch- ins tribute a great people could pay their dying queen. The following pathetic picture, which we get from the Charlotte Observer, has been sketched by one of thearniy correspondents, engaged along with the rest of world, in the death watch out side the palace of the good queen It is like this : "On his way to his mother's death-bedside, at a railroad sta tion in London, waiting to be joined by one of his royal sisters, the Prince of Wales paced up and down on a sad, rainy English day A gray haired man of GO, with bowed head and bleeding heart, he won the genuine sympathy of every by-stander, Not coming to his Kingdom in tiie zeal and ar dor and glow of youth, this old man, heir to earth's mightiest throne, has lived long enough to learn how, indeed, 'uneasy lie the head that wears a crown' and that Kings and Queens have At lantean burdens on their backs and inward sorrows that break their hearts." LATER At exactly half past six o'clock on January, 22nd. Queen Victo ria breathed her last while the bishop was praying. Around her bedside was gathered almost eve- ery uecenaanr. oi her Jine. and her death was quiet and peaceful. 1 1 i n i i Beat Out of an Increase of His Pen sion. A Mexican war veteran and prominent editor writes; "Seeing the advertise ment of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholea and Diarrhoea Remedy, I am reminded that as a soldier in Mexico in '47 and '48, I contracted Mexican diarrhoe and this remedy has kept me from getting an increase in my pension, for on every cue wui u, nose oi n restores me. it is unequalled as a quick cure for diarrhoea ani is pleasant and safe to take. For sale by Twitty & Thompson, druggists "We are requested by the officers of the Library Association, to ask all persons having in his possession either of the following books, balonging to the library, to not tail to return them on next Wed nesday afternoon : John Gray, My La dy, To Have and to Hold, Eben Holden, The Master Christian, Monsieur Bean caire, N. C. Sketches. I wish to thank all who rendered me assistance in protecting my property on the night of the fire,, and take this op portunity to do so. J. W. Harris. JEA NUMBER ONE two-horse wagon, fodder cutter, snrry an d an in cubator for sale. Apply to Mrs . S. Cau eield, Rutherfordton, N. C. NOTICE. North Carolina, In Superior Couat Rutherford County. Before the Clerk. McD. Ray Administrator de bonis of James. M. Justice, deceased, vs. M. Levi and others. James R. Justice, James H. Menden hall, Roxy L. Mendenhall and Hattie Meudenhall, defendants in above inti tled action, will take notice that a spe- 1 j: i t , . uun lu-uircKuuig n..s ueen commenced, in the Superior Court of Rutherford coun ty before the Clerk to sell the homestead of James MJ Justice, deceased, to create assets, and that said homestead allotted is situate in Rutherf aid county ; and the said defendants will take notice that they art? required to appear before the OlerKol tlie bupeiior Court for Ruther ford county at his office in Rutherford ton, N. C, on February 16th, 1901, and answer or demur to the petition now on file, or the relief demanded will be grant ed. This December 7th, 1900. M. O. DICKERSON. C. S. C. IY CAPTIVE. By JOSEPH A. ALTSHELEE, Author of "A Soldier o Manhattan," "The Sun of Saratoga," i.tc Copyright, 1900. by Joseph A. Altafceler. (continued from fnurtii page.) "Look at them, " 1 repeated. "I con gratulate you on your company. They drank deeply and replaced their bottles in their pockets, where I was sure they were not destined to remain long. The red fled from the girl s face, but sho said nothing, and giving me the same curious look of mingled triumph and defiance went back to her old place on the log There she sat, staring straight into the fire, as if she were wholly oblivions of me and the otner men around her. The partisans were in great glee. They laughed and cracked rough jokes, and presently, as 1 had expected, pulled out the bottles again and took a long, deep draft, once, twice, thrice. Their faces flushed from the effect of tne strong spirits, and the loudness and roughness of their talk increased. Crowder, the leader, was the loudest and roughest of them alL "That was a fine song you sang to that fellow there when you set him a-napping tor us to eaten, Miss How ard, " he said presently, "and we like music, too. don't we boys?" "Yes, yes I" they roared, all together "'And won't you kindly sing that song or anotner as good tor us, miss Howard?" he continued. She made no answer, staring straight S the red embers, her cheeks pale. "I say, Miss Howard, don't yon hear?" exclaimed Crowder roughly. "Yes, I hear," she replied, "but I'm sorry I can't oblige you. I can t sing any more. " "If you can sing for that d d rebel there, " continued Crowder, "I should think you could sing for us, who are good and loyal English like yourself. " She was silent again. "Didn't we rescue yon?" he con tinued. "Aren't we your saviors? Don t you owe us gratitude?" Still unanswered, he swore an oatn fend said to his comrades: "Here's gratitude for yon, lads. Well, if she won't sing for us, we can sing for her. . How do you like this, my lady? It's called 'I'll Owre the Muir to Mag gy, ' ana it goes very well witn tne song that you sang. " Then he sang the old song, which, like the girl's, was Scotch: "And I'll owre the muir to Slaegy Her wit and sweetness call me There to my fair I'll sfiow my mind. Whatever may befall me. If she loves mirth, I'll learn to sing. Or, likes the Nine to follow, I'll lay my lugs in Pindus' spring And invocate Apollo. "If she admire a martial mind, I'll sheath my limbs in armor; If to the softer dance inclined, With gayest airs I'll charm her; If she love grandeur day and night, I'll plot my nation's glory. Find favor in my prince's sight And shine in future story. "Beauty can work wonders with ease Where wit is corresponding. And bravest raen know best to please With complaisance abounding. My bonnio Maggy love can turn Me to what shape she pleases If in her breast that flame shall burn Which in my bosom blazes." His voice was not unmusical, and he bad some idea of rhythm and measure. His comrades joined him, and they roared out a chorus which must have penetrated to the farthest edge of the wood. "I'll not only sing for you, Miss Howard, " said Crowder, "but I'll dance for you too." It was plain enough that the man was drunk and was relapsing into his natural condition of savagery. I hoped that he would fall into the fire, but he did not. His drunken head swayed from sido to 6ide, but he kept step to the beat of the song. One of the men drew his empty bot tle and beat upon its side with his knife blade. It made a lively tinkle that sounded like music, and the others, seeing his success, imitated him. Crow der had not only a vocal but an instru mental chorus as well. His zeal in creased, and he danced like an Indian at a scalp dance, while the men roared out the song and beat their bottles with enthusiasm. "Again I congratulate you on your company, your glorious band of res cuers, Miss Howard," I called out to her. I know sue heard me. but she did not reply. Her lips were set firmly, but her cheeks were growing paler and paler, and she seemed to be white to the hair. I tugged at my bonds, but I could not move them. The song stopped for a moment, and Crowder, looking around for further amusement, spied ma "A good song, boys, and good fun," he cried, "but here's better fun. Let's hang the prisoner and see him squirm." ine otners, as drunk as their leader, shouted their approval, but the girl sprang up. "You shall not do thatl" she cried. "And why not, miss?" asked Crow der. "He is our prisoner. " "Because 1 will not permit it I" she cried. They roared with laughter. "H you do, " she said, "I will report your act to Colonel Tarleton. This man is an important prisoner. He can guide Tarleton to Morgan, and he will do it to save his life. He must be taken safely to the British camp. Tarleton will re ward you well." "All right, if you say so, Miss How ard," he said. "Anything to oblige, especially one as handsome as you are. And we won't hang him tonight. Maybe we will do it in the morning anyhow, but that's no reason why we should stop the fun now. A soldier's life is hard, and he ought to make merry while he can." He took a large flask from his haver sack and shared it with his men Thun they began to sing and dance again, all iiiviiii au wuu urlHK. T A. was an orgy of savages. The fire had died down and ceased to blaze; umjr iub rea eniDers glowed in the Hart. ness, I could feel the blackness of the night which rolled up and encircled ua more cioseiy. The girl was as immova ble as a statue. Her tawny hair shone m the dim light, and I could see that her face was still white, but that was alL One of the men fell down presently from sheer exhaustion. "Let him lie, " said Crowder. "He'll sleep as well there as anywhere. " The man never mqyed lu$bggan tQ snore, and asecondTone yieldfefTtoexer tion and whisky and, stretching himself out on the ground, went to instant sleep. Crowder himself was the third and was followed speedily by the others, including the sentinel, who had joined without objection in the orgy. The six men were souud asleep in a slumber heavy with weariness and liquor. A last brand fell over in the coals and blazed up. The girl rose from the log, and by its light I could see that her face had turned from white to red. She walked quickly over to me and said in a voice shaking with excitement and alarm: "Take me away from here, Mr. Mar cell Tako me away at once ! I would rather be with you than these men, these savages, these brutes 1 Nor is your life safe here I" "They wear the British uniform. They must be loyal British soldiers, " I could not keep from saying. "I do not know what they are," she replied, with alarmed insistence, "but let's go. Pray take me at once. " She pulled at my shoulders as if she would have mo rise and go on the in stant. "Untie my wrists, " I said. She tugged at the cords, but could do nothing. They were tied too tight. "Take a knife from that drunken fool's belt," I said, indicating one of the men. "Don't be afraid. He won't tvake." 1 She took the knife from the man's belt and cut my bonds. I rubbed mi wrists together for a few minutes to take out the stiffness and to restore fchc- circulation. Again start without delay. she urged mo to ! "Wait a minute," I said. "We must provide ourselves. " They had taken my arms from me when they bound me, and I recovered them, adding to my supply Crowder's pistol and some ammunition Then 1 turned to the horses. Old Put's great dark eyes flamed with approval and gladness. He had stood at his halter's length, watching the orgy and my rescue with attention and understanding. " We'll bid farewell to these beastB now, old comrade," I said in a whisper, patting his nose. He was too cautious to whinny a re ply. The brown hack was near him, but I saw another among those belonging to the guerrillas which I fancied much more than ha I hastily changed Miss Howard's saddle to his back, assisted her to mount and sprang upon Old Put. I turned the heads of our horses to ward the northwest, but as the woods before us were dense and interlaced with wiry bushes and creeping vines we dared not attempt more than a walk The horses stamped and neighed as we left them. The girl's mount stepped on a large, dry branch, which broke with a crack like a pistol 6hot. Nor did ill luck stop at that. The abandoned horses, frightened by the report, neighed and stamped again, creating a great up roar. The sentinel, who was the least drunk of the party, sprang to his feet. He was yet half dazed with sleep and liquor, but he saw tho dim figures of a man and a woman riding away from the little encampment, and he knew that, according to the plans of Captain Crow der, it was not what should be. He fired a hasty pistol shot in our direction, the bullet clipping the dry twigs above our heads, and then shouted to his comrades to awake, giving emphasis to his cries with many sturdy kicks. "Look out for your head!" I shouted to Miss Howard. "An untoward botigh might prove fatal. And be sure you atSy with raa " "I'll not leave you," she Eaid, "Now, Old Put." I said, "lead us out of this. " He curved his long neck in the dark ness and looked ahead with sharp brown eyes. I let the reins fall loose, and he wound about among the trees with a judgment that was never at fault The other horse kept close at his side. Be hind us we could hear the cries of the awakened men as they leaped upon their horses and rode after us, shouting to us to stop. Two or three more pistol shot3 were fired, but the air received them. If the men could see at all, it was but dimly, though they could follow us by the hoof beats of our horses and the tearing of the vines and slapping of the bushes as we passed. They made such a prodigious cursing and swearing that we were never in any doubt as to where they were. I had a mind for a moment to send toward them a pistol ball which would stop their fuss, but I concluded that tho more noise they made the bet ter it would be for us, as it gave us ex act warning of their approach. They did not seem to be gaining upon us, which was a satisfaction for the present Out on the plain they would see us more distinctly, but 1 believed that our horses could leave them there. I sawxi beam of light shining through the latticework of the boughs and then another and another and knew that we would soon be in the open. The -girl's horse stumbled, and she uttered a little cry of dismay, but in a moment the horse was steady on his feet again, and we went on. The beams grew more numerous and fused into a broad shield of mconlight. Two minutes more and we would be out of the wood and into the cleared ground, with the fields rac ing behind us. But the light had its evil for us. Against its broad silver disk we were silhouetted like the man in the moon, and the popping of pistols told us that we had become good targets. One bul let passed so close to my head that I thought it must have cut a lock of hair in its passage, and I took it as a warn ing to hurry. "Haste, Miss Howard!" I said. "We want to be beyond pistol shot in the cleared ground, for the light will help them there." She was riding well, and her expres sion was firm and courageous. We shook the reins against the necks of our horses, and taking the chances of bush and vine sped into the open as a volley of pistol shots whistled after us. I uttered a shout half of pleasure, half of defiance, to our pursuers and bade Old Put show them what it was for a real horse to run his best. I had confidence, too, in the horse that the girl rode, for be was long limbed. He looked like a strong animal, and he cer tainly had a. clean, fast gait that kept him alongside of Old Put. I regarded our escape as assured, and the girl seemed to take a like view of the case. Relief showed in her eyes "Miss Howard," I said cheerfully and egotistically, "I congratulate you on the improvement in your company. ' ."At any rate jou are. still, a rebel. with" a rope around your necli. " "I seem to have been preferred to the British behind us, who do not have ropes around their necks, but deserve them. Remember that I ride with you at your own invitation. " "Then you consider me still your prisoner?' ' "Oh, I am yours; but, whether one or the other, 1 am to be guide. " The men behind us were silent, and we were sure of gaining upon them. I could see their figures rising out of the plain in the misty gray light, gigantic and distorted in shape, and tho thud, thud of their horses' hoofs, as regular as the ticking of a clock, came to our ears. "Which way do we go?" asked the girL "To Morgan, of course." "Then I shall soon be with my father and friends again. " "Why do you think so?" "Because Tarleton will certainly take Morgan, and of course I shall be re taken." She looked at me with much of the old sparkle and defiance and the abso- I lute faith in British valor that British defeats seemed unable to shake. I was annoyed, and my patriotic pride was hurt. " You seem to take it for granted that Tarleton will win if he should overtake Moreau. " "I da" "Yet you have heard the news from King's Mountain?" "A chance, an accident." 'Tho same chance, the same accident. may .happen again, " I could not say her nay, for were we not retreating steadily before the ad vance of Tarleton, a retreat that seemed to all to be the part of wisdom, for again let it be said that we were fewer in numbers, far inferior in equipment, and more than half of our little army were raw troops, farmers ! The exhila ration of the flight and escape disap peared for the time, and a heavy depres sion took its placo. CHAPTER VL ES A STATU OF SIKGE. Old Put stretched his neck, and the regular, steady beat of his flying hoofs was musio to a man who loves a good horse. But the new horse, too, length ened his stride and kept by my side. 1 judged that he was a good comrade for Old Put. The plain, grassy and undu lating, rolled away before us, and 1 could not see its end. Our pursuers hung on, and I distrust ed their silence. It betokened resolu tion, a determination to follow us mile after mile, to hang to the chase like hounds after a deer. I judged that among Crowder's motives chagrin at having made such a fool of himself and a desire to repair the error were the strongest The men did not spread out fan shape, but followed us in a close group I was still sure that we were gaining, though very slowly, and they seemed to think so, too, for pres ently they fired two or three shots, as if they hoped to frighten us with spent balls. The girl's horse swayed a bit to one side, and 1 thought he had stum bled again, but sho said he was merely startled by the pistol shots, and, pulling him back into the true course, we gal loped on. We crossed a swell of the earth, and far out on the plain 1 saw the dim out lines of a small house, or rather log cabin, rising from the earth. The girl's horso threw up his head and uttered a neigh, or rather a cry or a great sigh, for it was almost like that of a human being, and staggered from side to side, his pace Hinkiug quickly from a sure gallop to a shaky trot Tho horse's great eyes were distended with pain and fear, and blood and foam were on his lips. A dark red clot of blood appeared upon his side, and 1 knew then that one of the bullets which I thought would fall short had struck him and the wound was mortal. Without my hand pulling upon his rein Old Put stopped and looked at the other horse with eyes of pity and sor row, for he knew what was going to happen he knew he was going to lose one who had been proving himself a worthy running mate and comrade I leapetl from Old Put's back and snatched the girl from the saddle just as her horse reeled and fell and gave up his honest life with one great groan. I half lifted, half pushed, the girl upon Old Put's back, where sho sat se curely despite the man's saddle. Once she protested, but 1 roughly bade her be silent and obey me and we would es cape yet Then she said no more. "See the house yonder?" 1 said "We will reach that and beat them off Maybe we will find allies there. This should be a patriot region. " I rev;eti oue arm on Old Put's shoul- j der. The girl was on the horse's back, I and 1, partly supported by him, ran by I his side. It is a trick that the borderers will tell you is common and useful ei'.cngh Old Put gave me great assist ; ance, for ho understood, and as we flew along my feet at times seemed not to touch the ground. Our pursuers reached the crest of the swell and raised a shout of triumph as they saw the dead horse in the path and the single horse running on, carrying one of the fugitives and half carrying the other. 1 took one quick look backward and calculated that we would reach the hut in time. Our pursuers evidently did not think so, for they fired no more shots The girl was silent, her hands folded upon the pommel of my saddle and her face all White again. She left the di rection of everything to ma The cabin continued to rise from the plain, the corners, the eaves and the roof appearing until it stood before us distinct and near at hand. "Now, Put, old comrade, greatest of horses, " I cried, "we are nearing the goal I Show them how much strength and speed you have kept in reserve for this last effort I Show them what you can do when you try your best I" He replied by deed, and 1 fairly swung through the air as we raced straight to the cabin I expected some tousled head to appear, roused by the thunder of- so many hoofs, but none carna The cabin remained silent and 1UUC fence around either it or the housa Old Put dashed straight for the door, as if he knew what was wanted of him, Which, in fact he did. and stopped five feet in front of it so abruptly that the girl would have shot over his head had I not held her. She sprang to the ground. I slipped the bridle off Old Put's head, gave him fi"slap and cried: "Go!" Tio iroiinnpH nrnnnd the bouse and disappeared, his hoof beats dying away b the darkness. Then I shoved the doo open and rushed in, dragging the girl after ma I slammed back the door and looked for the bar that is commonly used as a fastening in such frontier houses. There it was, and I sboved it into its place. Nothing but a battering ram could break in that door now I "Safe for tho time!" I cried. "I defy them to take us in this fort!" Then I looked around me. The girl, half fainting, had staggered against the wall and was leaning thera It was a house of but a single room. On a wide brick hearth a fire was still burning, or rather smoldering, yet it threw out enough light to disclose the contents of the room. No human being was thera Everything of value except the heavy furniture, which was of the rudest de scription and worth not much more than raw lumber, had been removed, and the whole appearance of the place indicated that its occupants had taken o Aavt-nra It TOS taSV eUOUSU to guess the causa Some poor family, frightened by the converging oi m armies upcu this region, and with good reason, too, for no other state was har ried in this war as was ours of South Carolina, had gathered up their portabh goods and fled to safer quarters and per haps not an hour before our arrival, as the fire still burning proved. "They might have made things a lit tle more comfortable for us," I said cheerfully, for my spirits had gone up with a leap, "but it's good as it is, and we haven't any right to complain. Mr South Carolina farmer, whoever you are and wherever you are, wo thank you." The girl smiled faintly and walked mechanically to the fire, where she sat down on a rude stool and spread out her fingers before the coals as if she were in her home. "Take a little of this, " I said, for 1 saw that sho was half dazed. There was yet a little whisky left in my Cask, aud I handed it to her. She obeyed me like a child and drank it. Then 1 turned my attention to the single window, which was closed with a heavy but ill fitting shutter, some wandering moonbeams finding a way through the cracks. Peeping out, 1 could see the guerrillas dismounted be yond pistol shot and holding a confer ence. "They are talking, but let 'em talk, my dear, "I eaid to the girl. "They can 't get us in this cabin What a neat, stout little placo it is!" I really began to have a friendly feel ing toward her. We had been through so many dangers together, and besides she was my prisoner. It is much easier for tho conqueror to be generous to tho conquered than for tho conquered to be generous to the conqueror. She did not rei'ly either to my words or my manner. Her cheeks, which had been so white before, were faintly flushed with pink, but 1 could not tell whether it was the fire or not She seemed to me to be in a state of collapse, natural to a girl, even the strongest and bravest, after so much. "Now set the table for us, "I said "We must eat a littlo after our long, hard ride, for we will need our strength. See if you can't find a candle in that cupboard And, here, take my bundle and get out the food. " 1 handed her the wallet of bread and meat which I had snatched from Old Put's back almost with the same mo tion with which I had swept off his bridla Sho took it, drew the rough pine table to the center of the room and spread the food upon it. Then, sure enough, she found in the cupboard a piece of old tallcw caudle, which she lighted anil stuck in the middle of the table. These simple household duties seemed to revive her. Her eyes bright ened, her color camo back, and her first thought was half to defend, half to apologize, for her previous collapsa "I was tired merely, " sho said. "1 did not lose couraga Don't think that I'm an English girl." "I never said you lost courage, " I re plied. "1 think that you have borne yourself bravely, almost as well as an American girl would have dono in the same situation. " "Show me the one who would have done better," she said, with a snap of the eya But that was manifestly impossible at the time, and 1 made no such at tempt "The table is ready, and we wait only for the army to take a scat and enjoy itself, " sho said in a light tona "Come and take a look at our ene mies first, "1 said, noticing how her strength and courage had come back and how well they became her. Sho put her eyes to one of the cracks and looked out. Crowder and his men, unconsciously imitating us, had begun to make themselves comfortable, first by building a great bonfire and then by sit ting around it and keeping themselves warm They had tethered their horses near, and from their position they could watch the house very well and detect ue if we came forth. "Why do they follow ns eo persistent ly?" the girl asked. "For a variety of reasons," 1 replied. "I might mention for one that they are anxious to tako ma You know you told them that I was the bearer of very im portant news which I would tell under proper pressure to Tarleton, " "But that was net trua" "They do not know that it was not." "I wish they were real British sol diers, " she eaid. "I do not believe that any of them ever saw England. I b lieve they are American Tories, maybe American rebels in British uniforms. " I did not care to argue with her, such is the strength of prejudice founded on teaching and training, especially Erit ish prejudice and most especially the prejudice of British women. "Why did you take off his bridle?" she asked as she turned away from the window. I had hung up Old nail in the wall. Put's bridle on a "In order that I may have it when I want to put it on him again, which won't be long. I hope," I replied. "Why, the horse iseone!" sho c,m I laughed, laughed in her face, which turned red, and then, seeing that it was was a woman who prided herself on her intelligence and quickness of mind and I with good cause, too, so I had ben tn believe, and yet after passing a davTmH part of a night in Old Put's presence she knew bo little about him! "Why do you laugh?" she asked red ly and angrily, g. ..I1 langh ' yonr ignorance," I said. Jhefact jthat you know 6o littleof qw comraae,ln many respects The shrewd est and ablest of us three, as he is cer tainly the swiftest and the strongest. That horse has not left us. I merely took his bridle off in order that he might not be troubled with it, that he might eat better, for no doubt he will find somewhere around here, even in winter, a bit of grazing on some shelter ed and sunny southern slopa He will take care of himself and come back to us when we need him." ' "But suppose the guerrillas take him?" "I wish 1 was as sure that they would not take us, " I said. Then I led the way to the tabla 1 drew up the stool for the lady and an old pine box that I found in a corner for myself. A little water was left in the canteen. She drank part of it and said: "Here's to the health of King George!" "Yes," I said as I drank the re mainder of tho water, "this is to the health of King George George Wash ington! I'm glad to see that your con version has begun, " She frowned at me, but we had an amicable dinner over the scraps never theless. I stopped at intervals to watch the progress of the partisans outside. They had not yet made any movement against us, and all sat or lay around the fire. I counted them six and 1 knew that all were there, as choice a lot of scoundrels as one could find on tho soil of the 13 colonies. I turned my eyes awav from tho crev ice to look at the girL The rest and the bite of food had made a wonderful im provement. She was a true English rose, I could see that a roso of Devon or Warwick or Kent, or whatever is fair est among their roses, a girl with yel low hair that shone like fresh gold in tho sun, tinted with red in the firelight, and a brow of white and cheeks of the warm pink that is the heart of the pink rose. Oh. well, as 1 said twice before, everybody kis.v. s that the most beauti ful women are the most dangerous, and 1 womltrod it thase Saxon maidens of old Enlaud were ever an exception. For a moment 1 i ok a feeling of warmth and kinship to old England, but then thisEngkimi. which is so kind to herself and so appreciative of her own nierit3, has never been anything but an enemy to us. "What are you thinking of, Mr. Marcel?" she said suddenly as she looked up. "Why are you so serious?" "I am astonished that you shonld Rd dress me as Mr. Marcel and not as a rebel, with a rope around his neck." She patted the floor meditatively with her foot and looked away from me and at tho fire. "It was a mistake duo to forgc tful ness," she said, with an air of resent ment "I will not do it again. " "I would not forget epithets when you speak of us, " I said. " You will get out of practice, and then you will bo unlike tho remainder of your country men and countrywomen. " "Do you want another quarrel?" she asked pointedly "I should think that we had enough to do to carry on our quarrel with those men outsida" She went to the window and took a long look. "They are still by tho fire," she said, "and I see your horse too. He is dining like tho rest of us. " "Where?" 1 cried, for I was some what surprised at the early reappear ance of Old Put. "There's another crack here. Use it, " sho said "Don't you see him grazing over there to the left in that field, sur rounaea by a tumble uown lence, er rather the rails of what used to be a fence?" In truth, it was Old Put, about 60 yards to the left of the cavalrymen and grazing witn supreme norse content., as if no enemy were within 50 miles of him. It was a southern slope on which he stood, and I suppose some blades of grass had retained their freshness and tenderness despite the wintry winds. It was these that Old Put sought, with the assiduous attention to detail and keen eye for grist characteristic of him. There was a tine, full moon, shed ding a silver gray light over the earth Old Put was clothed in its radiance, and we could see him as distinctly as if he stood at the window the long, taper ing head ; the velvety nose, which slid hero and there over the grass in search of tho tender steius ; the sinewy neck and the long, powerful body, marked often, it is true, by wear and war, but in tne prime and zenith of its strength. My saddle was still upon his back, but that was a trifle to which he had long since grown accustomed in his life with a cavalryman. How rash of him, I thought, to come so near the British! The old doubt which I had of Old Put when he allow ed himself .o be deceived by the girl came back to me. Perhaps he was real ly growmg old, falling into his dotaga Surely Dothmg else could account for his taking such a risk ! 1 would have shouted to him to ko awav had thought he could hear me, but I knew my voice could not reach him, and in suspense ant. anxiety I merely watched that old horse as he t-cntinued to graze almost within the light of his enemy ' campfire. (TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.) NOTICE. North Carolina, Rutherford Coun ty, Golden Valley Township. George Schnell vs. V Notice of Summons. Thomas C. Koese. ) Tho defendant above named will take notice that a summons in the above en titled actiou was issued against said de fendant on the 19th day of December, 1900, by C. M. Hunt, as justices of the peace ot Rutherford county, N. C, for tho sum of 56.72, due said plaintiff by account, which summons is returnable before said justice at his office in said county, and in Golden Valley township, on the 10th day of February, 1901, when and where the defendant is required to appear and answer or demur to the com plaint, or the relief demanded will be granted. This 19th day of Dec. 1900. C. M. HUNT, J. P. Sho - Nough! Robt. B. Quinn's Is the place to have your wagons and buggies repaired.. Ironing new wogons and buggies a specialty. Joe Marks will give you the best job of horse shoeing in town. W.H. MESTE THE -CHEAPEST STORE On Earth! Trices cut to a cash basis. Gall and get his prices. A complete stock. New goods arriving every day. Bring me your produce and get cash for it. Old Man Glower still on hand. The Bean HarnessShop Opposite Court House. Harness, Saddles, Bridles of All Kinds Always on Hand at Lowest Prices. Will Not 1x5 Undersold. Horse Collars, a specialty. All work guaranteed. Kepairing promptly and neatly done. John P. Scan. G. Eskridqs Before you have any Blacksmith ing done. He does all kinds of repair work. All work executed on short notice and in fust-class style. Horse and mule shoeing a spesialty. I have a good one horse wagon for sale. The best is always the cheapest. You had Letter C- Eskridge. THE BOOK STORE. The place to buy BOOKS, STATIONERY SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ETC. A. L. GRAYSON City Barber Shop, W. II. GIBSON, Prop. For white people onlv. The m. M. only hrst-class shop in town. Call and see me opposite tho shoe store. Also Wholesale and Retail dealer m all kinds of tobaccos. J-'G. & L. G. REID, DENTISTS. Marion and llutherfordton. All work guaranteed. Our reasonable. prices WM. F. RUCKER, Attorney & Counseller at Law, Rutherfordton, N. C. Prompt attention given to all business intrusted to him. OfSce in brick build ing on corner above the court house. NOTICE. AppUcaHonwillbe made to the lslature 1901 for a charter for a railroad from Rutherfordton to AhevinTr the organization of a Company to be KRtherfardtaE Chimne?