The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-10-23
night I went into the store to sort

some things out, as I always did Sat
urday nights. Through the week
Job used to get everything mixed ur
Letters in my tea-boxes, candles in
the letter-box, eggs where they
oughtn't to be, and all the places
askew. It was a warm autumn
night, and Captain Kincaid's vessel
was in port, and he had plenty ot
custom. Job served the people while
I tidied up. I found half the last
mail in a sugar box, and clothes pins
in the coffee canister, and I just
dumped them out.
"Gather up your letters, Job," said
I. "What possesses you, old man?''
And he laughed and piled 'em up
And l made vow to myself that I'd
keep the sugar-box full after that, 30
that he shouldn't use it for The mail.
had twenty-four pounds of sugar
known as offee,crushed," because it
was prepared especially to use in
coffee. That was the finest sugar
Anchor Hill folks often bought,
though I had little cut and powder
cd by me, in case Mrs Rawdon, or
Mrs. Dr.. Speer, or the minister's lady
should send in; and l took the pa
| per up and tilted it over the japan
ned box, pouring it in nice smooth
stream, when who should come run
ming into the shop but Milly More.
She was not dressed carefully, and
her eyes were red with crying.
She asked for some tea, and while
Job was weighing it out she whisper
ed to me:
"Ohl Aunty Gunter, have you
looked to-day2 Isn't there q letter
from Will? he said he couldn't die.
I don't feel as if he could. Mightn't
he write, after all ? Do look"
my Pet" says I, ''it's year ago
that Golden Dove went down. It
isn't likely. And he don't let those
live that want to always. 1t isn't
likely, dear, but I'll look"
I took the letters in my hand one
by one. Many of them would make
hearts glad before the shutters were
up that night; but none for Milly !!
1t couldn't be expected, of course.
I told her SO but I took her into
my little back: parlor, and made her
sit down.
I talked as good as I could to her;
but what good does talking do?
ooh, Aunty," says she, I know it
seems as if l was a fool. but I walk
ed up hopeing this morning. I don't
believe be is gone I can't, I can't"
"When baby died-the only one we
over had-thought I should never
believe it," said l. "But I had Job;
and you have youur mother and sis
ter, Milly."
At that she burst into tears, and
put her head down on my knee.
II must tell you" said she. "They
want me to marry Captain Kincald.
He's courting me. He fell in love
with me the night he brought the
news to Mrs. Captain Rawdon; I was
there sewing, and I heard it all.
Oh, how cruel to fall in love with a
poor girl at such timel Aud he
asks me to be his wife. And mother
and Fanny shall always have home,
he says. And you know how poor
we are. And how can I, how can I,
when my heart is in the sea with
Willie ?"
"Captain Kincaid!" !" I said, and I
couldn't say any more; she took my
breath away. She was nice, pretty
girl; but the Captain was rich, ele-
CANT, and stylish. An old family he
came Of too. 1t was an honor for
Milly More.
"Not just yet" said L. after a
whilo. Perhaps you'll feel better.
He's old, 1 know, but he's o splendid
man."
"You tool' said she. "You tool
Nobody understands. 1t isn't as if l
had made up mind, like all the rest.
Will will always be a living man to
my mind. I don't think any one ever
loved but me. Nobody understands
nobody"
I kissed her, and coaxed her, and
said no word about her changing her
mind; but for all that I kept thinking
of it in a kind of maze.
"Captain 'Kincaid! such q gentle
man as that Old as he was, could be
fail to see the honor ?"
But when I told Job, says he.
"Jerusalcm! young, pretty girl
like Millyl Why don't he 60 after
some widder or an oldish gal?
Milly is too young for him. Poor
Will! Whas pity! They just suit
ed zach olher."
I couldn't help it, though. Mrs.
Captain Kincaid would have things
that Milly More could never dream
of; silk dresses and velvet cloaks,
iewelry and stuffed chairs in her best
rooms, silver ice-pitcher if she
chose, like Frs. Captain Rawdon.
She might have a carriage, too, and
a pair Of ponies. And [ liked Milly,
and wouldn't have envied her luck
one bit; and I didn't wonder at Mrs.
More and Fanny.
Once having given me her conf
dence, Milly didn't stop; and Mrs.
More came over to talk about it too,
until at last fairly up and sided with
the old lady.
"MilIy,' says !, evil is gone, and
you aren't his widow, to wear weeds
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