The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-08-05
A Romance of the River.
BY DIR. E. W. FISH.

| BY DR. E. W. Fish.
sAh, James, my boy, give us your
hand. Here I am, safe and sound,
and you look o little seedy. Hum
we'll, you're blue, blue as o newt
How is business |? -..
James Bedford occupied the next
office to my own, in Leverett's block,
Business is good enough. Brad,
fields case gone over to January term
Thumbold is swallowed up by at.
tachment. Did you have good
time? Might have written +
James, don't tear your coat-sleeve.
No man could write under the cir
cumstances. Let me unfold to thee
Il am q married manP
You're what!' shouted James, leap.
ing from his chair. and scattering a
halEpint of ink over the desk and
floor" .....
Married, by jingo! Give us your
hand. The brides at the house wait
ing to see you to tea at FIVE.
II don't believe it. Nor will I.
Here on affianced lover like myself is
totally forgotten for month, and o
man who never had a sweetheart
brags of being married. Salem Mott,
you are insufferable-well, I believe
in nothing
you will be more considcrate OF
my honor when you hear the STORY
of my adventures and see the beauti.
full wife have
Then, for Patience sake-pardon
the omphasis-go on with the ro'
nance. You are the worst Lothario
ever heard Off
well, TO begin with-yes, l thank
you, I never smoke unless at this time
of day, thcre-do You really think
there is any man so far gone in de-
pravity, or in facial obliquity, as To
look like me p
well, Salem, I am happy to say no.
never knew any one so unfortunate.
Nor did I. Never did / think my.
self rivaled in ugliness till we met
But there is a man who looks like
me. It must be so, else I would not
have married on such short notice.
have been off just two months
But what did that have to do with
lit? Hero, take another match. Get
your feet out Of that waste basket
Did you leave your manners at St
St. Paul?
st. Paul? Bless your soul I have
not been within sixty miles of st
Paul. Left Red Wing Wednesday
afternoon. Got married there
We'll, we'll, 90 onl'
Don't worry me. 1t takes me by
storm as it takes you. We left St
Louis-that is I and my precious face
lin good spirits, innocent and happy
The Phil Sheridan had comfortable
set of passengers, and to avoid tht
confusion I Immediately went 70 tht
hurricane.deck. Here I sat for hours
smoking and thinking; thinking how
delightful it was to get away from
tho cares Of business and take
; pleasure-trip. By and by this thins
got monotonous. thought that on
thing over fifteen thousand times, ant
then began to think it all over again
But just at that time the steam
boat sidled up against the wharfboa
, at Alton -
.AIton p said James, Il wish I wer'
!. there-somebody would get q blow
ing up
!Ah, you have sweetheart there
perhaps. Well, number of passen
gers came aboard. There nigh
have been a thousand-I only saw
one, and one sight alone would hav
made me proud of having seen tn
loveliest woman in the world. But
indulged-l took more than one sight
Before she had crossed the gang
plank I was intoxicated by q frenz.
which was foolish enough for hot
/ bledehoy. She was the most magnif
/. cent looking girl you ever saw-n
: : you never saw her, but you will 'soor
Il rushed down into the cabin-fol
wards to the clerks ofice-and say
her enter tho cabin. Then I becam
more critical. There was rich, heav
lbrown hair, and plenty Of it; blu
''eyes-you know ! always said blu
: eyes would either murder or MARI
4 4 me-her cheeks were as ruddy as th
+ bloom of peaches, and her skin a
clear as isinglass. And she We
p IproudLproud as o queen-at least
u thought SO. She wasn't very larg'
u but everybody made way for her.
not for the jaunty travelling suit, ne
the dainty shoe, nor the damon
cross hanging to the satin round ht
: throat, nor the Paisley shawl, but fl
the princess that carried them.
For two days I watched her;
t. was the worst case Of lovesickne
& you ever heard Of and now I lol
d. back upon that complete capsizal
~ manhood as an opium-eater does h
B. on o season of exaltation. I Etot
atlnear the cabin door while she play,
upon the piano; while she sang.
LEANED over the railing so stark nj,