The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-08
MISS HARPER'S MAID.

After the last voyage but one, the
good chip of which I was first officer
went into dock for a thorough reftting,
and had longer spell at home than I
had enjoyed for many years. l would
not change this way of life for any in the
world; but was glad for once to stretch
my legs fairly on dry land, and see
something of green fields, brick and
mortar, and my shore going friends In
the neighborhood of Canterbury.
Among the families III which I was
most intimate was that of Mr.. Harper.
he had made comfortable fortune by
trade, and now was enjoying his otiuna
cum dignitate in a good house on the
outskirts of the city. An only daughter
kept house for him; for he was wild
over. Now Julia Harper, when I first
knew her, was fine, handsome girl OF
two ard-twenty; tall, we'll made, but on
rather large scale, with bright, restless
eyes, and profusion of dark hair. She
had great many admirers, some of
whom, there is every reason to suppose,
admired the old gentleman's money as
much as the young lady's eyes, but they
met with no great encouragement.
often met with Julia at the house of
mutual friends. I certainly liked the
girl; ard my vanity was hattered, be-
cause, with so many admirers around
her, she showed me, as I thought, a de-
cided preference. She seemed to be
never tired of talking about the sea.
She wearied me with questions about it;
and on more than one occasion said
very upguardedly-that she thought
voyage to India would be the most de-
lightful thing in the world. OF course,
I made fitting answer, that with con-
genial companion, voyage anywhere
would be delightful; and, more than
once, opportunity being favorable, I was
on the point of declaring myself, when
an internal qualm of conscience arrested
the dangerous avowal.
Affairs were in this state, when an ac-
cident befell me which brought matters
to a crisis. There was a steeplecbase
one day in the neighborhood of Canter.
bury, which attended on foot. During
tie excitement of the race, I attempted
a difficult cut across the country, failed
at leap which was beyond my powers,
aud had the misfortune to sprain my
ankle. The injury was a very severe
one, and was laid up for many weeks
in my lodgings. You have often laugh
ed at mefor taking everything so c0olly.
assure you that I did not take this
coolly at all. 7 chafed, indeed, like a
lion in the tolls; and was continually ar
resting the progress of my recovery by
putting-in spite of repeated prohibi-
tions-the crippled member to the
ground. At last, ] begun to learn a
little philosophy, and resigned myself
to the sofa with groan.
The loss of my liberty was bad enough !;
but the loss of Julia's society was a
hundred times worse. Here father came
often to see me. and brought me kind
messages from his daughter but, if 1
had no more substantial consultations,
I believe that I should have gone
mad. Julia did not actually come
to me but she wrote me repeated notes
of inquiry, and often sent me flowers
and hooks, and other tokens of womanly
kindness. The messenger employed on
these occasions was Miss Harper's maid.
she was generally enjoined to deliver
tho letters and parcels into my own
hands, and sometimes to wait for an
answer. She came, therefore, into my
drawing-room, and if she had occasion
to wait, would always desire her to be
seated. The girls name WAS Rachel.