The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-08-12

somewhat out OF place With sucE
high-toned surroundings, but there
was sprinkling of more civilized
costumes difused through the COM
pany which somewhat relieved the
incongruity. 5
"The apparel oft proclain,s the
man." says the poet. Very true;
but the saying did not apply to the
early days Of California. The red
shirt covered many aheart. that was
good and true-I agree to excep-
tions-and the hroadcloth, a most
gentlemanly fabric, was often the
covering Of a mass of corruption
and villainy, or vice versa. The
gambler always dressed like a gen
tleman. The honest man did not
always. But 1 am off the trail.
Tom Gardner's daughter entered
the room, and was introduced to
the company. A bright, rosy-look-
ing girl, iii her plain, neat-ftting
dress, Miss Gussie was, as she stood
smiling on the assemblage. All
present solemnly shook hands and
were studiously silent, with the ex.
ception of two women and the ac-
commodating stranger, who made
himself agreeable. Mr.. Gardner
stepped: forward and essayed to
speak, but an unaccountable huski-
ness prevented the effort, and he
Immediately retired to side room:
Jabe Ridley, seeing how matters
stood, took upon himself the re-
sponsibility of making few re-
marks in the following character
tic manner: a3- :.
eye see, friends" said Jabe,
taking a central position, tom
Gardner hez set up a brick house,
an fetched his darter out to run it.
Y er she is, pooty as a picter, an !
know half O. you young fellers III
60 crazy over her. Don't ye mind
ole Jabe Ridley, darter; lie don't
mean nothin'. Ye see, friends, ole
Tom Gardi.or was goin' to say
suthin', but suthin' grappled his
wind-pipe, an he's gone on little
posear until he comes round. Look
at thct yer sofy! Amt thet fine
AM look at this yer carpet wotyou
yams am a standin' on, an look in
these yer lookin'-g glasses. Hain't
ye ashamed of yourselves I most
fcrgit how things looked home,
but durn MY hide if these yer don't
most clean beat me. Say, you Bill
Thompson, don't set too heavy on
that yer cheer, or fust thing ye
know it'll sag right down. Thet's
right, boy, stand up, yer a little
cramped eny way. Friends, I'm
glad Miss Gusser's come. Fact is,
ther hain't enough wimmen out
yer, an good wimmen is benefit
to any s'ciety. Thet's the word
An now friends, one an all, a
hearty welcome to ole Tom Gard
ner's darter.''
Tom Gardner now hove in sight
and made a few remarks, after
which the guests were invited to
partake of refreshments. That
ceremony over, the young hostess,
feeling tired, bid the company good
night, curtseying gracefully, to the
intense admiration Of the assem-
blage. :
In the next weeks issue the Co
lumbia Vmdieator referred to the
occasion. 1t spoke of the valuable
acquisition to the society of Co.
lumbia in the person Of this young
lady, and lamented the extreme dis
proportion Of the sexes. Its socie-
ty, it said, had lacked tone, but
now there were prospects of a
higher order Of excellence. With
a good example before them people
would be disposed to follow its
teachings. It congratulated the
father upon possessing so fine a
child, and playfully warned the
young men to beware of Eyes. 1t
), also commented with pride upon
the fact that nearly one million of
dollars were represented on that
evening, some of which wealth was
prospective, but did not say how
much, doubtless leaving all calcu-
lations to the unbiased reader, and
predicted all manner of good things
for the welfare Of Columbia.
Two months after this event Miss
Gussie put on a light straw hat,
took small basket, and went sing
ing down the road tor a morning
stroll. First she would skip to a
buckeye clump, inhale the odor Of
their blossoms, and then go off at
a tangent to the other side of the
road to investigate an azalia bush.
Then she would stop and pick a
, number of the many-colored odor'
less flowers which grew along the
, road, and festoon her hat. The
young thing had hardly got used tc
the place, and the novelty had not
worn out yet.
within half a mile O Edinb'ro'
town. carolled Miss Gussie, as hel
hat slipped back.
4 did not know we were so near
> Miss .Gussie,' said a mans voice
behind her. ..
The hat was instantly in position