e in the world. It had not rained for six weeks, and South Carolina
panted.

[Illustration: "THE ENTERPRISE OF THE SUMMERVILLE MERCHANT."]

There was a larger crowd than usual at the little station to see the
Columbia excursionists come in. The enterprise of the Summerville
merchant who placarded the pine-trees of this forest village with
legends to the effect that his ice-cream would be found "Opp. the
depot," was well rewarded that scorching night. The streets thronged--if
Summerville streets can ever be said to throng--with warm and thirsty
loungers of both sexes and of every color. South Carolinians though they
were, they objected to the heat of that day.

[Illustration: "IN THE GROUP AT THE STATION STOOD A WHITE BOY."]

In the group at the station stood a white boy, about ten years old,--a
neatly dressed, well-behaved little fellow, with an expression of
crushing and delightful responsibility. He wandered back and forth
restlessly and proudly from the track to a tree in the square, where an
old horse and wagon were fastened with unnecessary security. The boy
tested the halter, and patted the horse continually.

It was a very important thing to drive two miles in the dark for one's
father and bring him home from the nine o'clock express. Add to this
situation the excitement of an excursion, and Donny de Mone felt that
life lacked nothing more to the position and the dignity of manhood.
Besides, Donny was very fond of his father, and had not seen him for two
weeks.

[Illustration: "THE BOY TESTED THE HALTER, AND PATTED THE HORSE."]

Now, there was one curious thing about this crowd which would have been
noticeable to a stranger, but had not as yet attracted the attention of
the residents. This was the extraordinary number of animals that
seemed to be waiting for this train. One would have thought that half
the dogs in the neighborhood had relatives coming from Columbia.

[Illustration: "STRAY GOATS AND MULES GAZED EXPECTANTLY."]

Stray goats and mules gazed expectantly up and down the track. Cats had
followed their owners from the houses and betrayed their devotion by
subdued squeals from under their masters' regardless heels. A
brindle-brown pig wriggled its way among the crowd, grunting with
persistent uneasiness; while a couple of wandering cows, unmolested by
the strangely restless dogs, passed and repassed the railroad crossing,
bellowing monotonously. The horses at the station exhibited curious
discom