The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-09-13
cate. Both dearly love to tax over all

! gate. Both dearly love to talk over all
that's going on, and whether this Or
that village swain is paying especial
attention to any one rosy checked lass.
and, if so, whats likely to come ont"
Both mean we'll by this neighborly in
terest. and especially does Mrs. Sloper,
who always advises piaits for stout
women. with middlin' fullness in the
bust' for thin ones.
One or two men may be at work hay
ing in the broad meadows west Of the
village, through which the slow cur
rent Of q small. river twists and turns,
or others welding hoes on a hillside
field Of corn to the east, but so far as
moving life in the village street goes
there will be none. On either side Of
the Sandgate valley two spurs Of the
Green mountain range, forest clad.
stand guard as if to isolate from all
the world this peaceful dale, whose
dwellers' sole ambition in life may be
summed up in to plow, plant, reap and
go to meeting.
On the north end Of this park-like
highway and beyond the last house it
narrows to an ordinary roadway and
divides. One fork turns to the right,
following up the banks Of winding
stream to an old gristnill with moss
covered wheel and lily dotted pond
above. The other turns to the left,
crosses the narrow Sandgate valley
and bears south past the Page place.
IF it were Sunday, not many years ago
and about II in the morning, q stran-
ger passing the church would have
heard through the open doors and win
dows the exquisitely sweet voice Of
Alice Page, clear as bell and melodi-
GUS as a birds, toying and trilling
through "Corrnation" or some other
easily recog.!-ed hymn, and had that
stranger awaited the close Of service
he or she would have seen among the
congregation fling out one petite and
plump little lady, with doTer-like face,
sparkling blue eyes and kiss inspiring
mouth, who would most likely have
walked demurely along with her big
brother Albert and, turning down a
narrow pathway, follow him across
the meadows, over footbridge that
spans the stream and up to an old
fashioned elm shaded house.
This landmark, known far and wide
as the Page place. is historic. Built in
the time Of King George and one Of
the first three erected in Sandgate, 1t
has withstood the storms og two centu-
ries and seen many generations of
Pages come and 60. Additions have
been made to tan ell on one side,
larger windows and wide veranda in
front Inside it Is much the same, for
the open freplaces remain in parlor
and sitting room, and 4 tall clock OF
solemn tick. stands in the hall where it
stood when Paul Revere took bis IA
NOUS ride
The last owner, Simeon Page, or, as
he was called, Squire Page, Joined
the great majority two years after an
enterprising railroad crept up the
Sandgate valley. He had bitterly op-
posed its entrance into the town, and
it was asserted that chagrin at his de-
feat hastened his death. His widow,
with their two children, Albert and
Alice, and widowed sister, remained
and with the aid Of hired men man
aged the farm. But bushes began to
choke the pastures and meadows, the
outbuildings grew shabby, the house
received no paint, and as the children
grew up and needs increased one by
one the broad fields were sold. 1t had
been the squire's ambition that his on
" sou should become a professional
man. and. carrying out his wishes, Al
berts mother had pinched and saved,
denying herself all luXuries, and given
him a collegiate education. He had
graduated with honors, read law, been
admitted TO the bar and then returned
to Sandgate and opened an Office.
Alice, three years his Junior, had been
sent to q boarding school for two
years, where she devoted most OF her
time to music, then came home again
as mothers helpmate.
But the years Of self denial were at
an end, for one June day that mother
laid down her burden and was placed
beside her husband in the village cem-
etery. Then the two orphans found
themselves joint heirs to en- old time
worn house, few acres Of meadow,
couple hundred dollars Of debts and
nothing else. No, that is not right, for
they both had youth, good health and
habits and good educatioDs.
Albert, who bad rather taken charge
Of matters since his return to Sand
gate, kept the debt situation from
Alice after his mothers death, feeling
she had grief enough to bear without
it, but for all that it troubled him Sc
riously. The income from his practice
was scarcely enough to clothe him and
not likely to increase, for Sandgate
had scant use for lawyer, and what
to do or which way to turn he knew
not. If it were not for Alice and
Aunt Susan he thought it would be
easier, but they must be provided for.
Alice, who had been his companion,
playmate and confdant since the days
Of short dresses, he especially cared
for, and that feeling was mutual.
So devoted brother and sister were
they that it had kept them from form
ing other associations, and when Al
bert had been asked why be did not es-
cort some other young lady to >.e husk-
ing bees, barn dances or church socta-
bles his usual reply was, "Alice is good
enough for Ine, and when she prefers
another beau I may, but not till then"
With Alice, though many Of the VII
! lape svains wooed. she wouldn't. Even