The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-08
INDIVIDUAL PRIZES.

"Nothing succeeds like SUCCESS
means, perhaps, apart from the implied
sneer, that acquired impetus sends US
forward to new achievements. At any
rate, I found it so when I applied the
theory to Kate.
It seemed to me that I had been in
despair regarding the Indifference of
this bonny creature since time immemo-
rial. In reality it was only about year
since the fact dawned upon me, as she
eat in the stern Of my boat, her dark
hair darker, and all her soft outlines
clearly cut upon tender evening sky,
her cheeks bright with the breeze, her
eyes bright with pleasure, that she was
the most charming object that ever
SKINNED the river, and absolutely in.
dispensable to my existence. But I had
never once attempted to let her know as
much without meeting a rebuff suffici-
ent to make ones blood run cold; and it
was in one such Instance that I had de.
clared 10 man could hope for favor
with the women CT her set who was not
the captain of nine, the driver of a
four.in hand, or walker against time.
"You are quite mistaken, so far as I
am concerned" said Kate. "For my
part don't believe In muscle at all.
Samson and Goliath could do nothing
worth while if they were on the earth
to-day. I don't believe boat-race.
for example, was ever won by brute
strength in the world"
"By what, then?"
"By science and nervous pluck"
Ihad occasion to remember Kate's
words when a parcel of our fellows
came into the Office and began discuss
ing the challenge lately sent to our
club, the Cheviots, by the Gaths. The
Cheviots had become somewhat demor-
allied by their victories, and were, 80 to
say, lying on their osrs. 1t bad been a
hot summer, and the club had really
done no work at all; now and then some
members taking out party Of ladies,
or solitary man enjoying stretch;
but for the most we had contented our
selves by lounging over to the boat
house for a bath, and a gossip and a
smoke on the balconies in the sunset.
Our best men-those that had won in
the previous contests-were one in
Europe, one in Australia, and the resi-
at the lands end, with the exception oi
Rogers, who was i'll. We were certainly
in no condition to accept challenge
from the Gaths, yet still less could We
refuse one. Holding the champion col
ors, as we did, we could hardly lower
them to any, even to the Gaths. The
Gaths, indeed, we're in splendid trim
there was Converse, an Englishman,
who had been stroke of winning crew
: at Oxford, magnificent creature, one
hundred and eighty pounds clear mus
Gle; shoulders and chest that would
have made Hercules shed tears; there
was Dunbar, another young giant, who
had beaten professionals at single scul
four times; there was Well, there's
no need to go through with them now
it made ones flesh creep to do it then
We hadn't man left in the club tha
they couldn't get away with. Realizing
the situation, We looked at each othe,
blankly.
"You'll have to get into the boat
yourself, Geoffreys," said Harden.
NOG unless WauG W SlLh Ike
ct don't see what else we can do"
"We can't do that; we can't afford tc
do it. No, We must look about-not ir
q hurry"
"!Oh, come, Geoffreys, you've beer
lying off long enough !" cried Jersey.
"What do they propose to row for
Hang 'emi"
"Indiyidual prizes."
Individual prizes We can't afford
to do that, either; it will stick US for q
couple of hundred extra-another assess
ment, and the boathouse just paid for.
It can't be done. Row as We always
have--row for colors."
Well, we looked about us, and the
end of it was that they came on another
day and took me by main force, and the
crew was made up-Harden and Rogers.
myself and little jersey; I to pull
stroke, little Jersey to steer; and be
weighed, maybe, a hundred and sixteen
pounds. AND that was the most we
could offer. The Gaths insisted on theii
individual prizes. l tell you, things
looked dark; the whole thing seemed
preposterous; and for about a week ]
didn't dare look soul in the face.
$50 you are going to show the Gaths
what we can do," said Kate one day
for the girls whom we were in the habit
of taking out on sunset parties and al
other times were all ardent Cheviots.
There was another club in town-the
Jasons-but the girls never seemed te
know it.
"Or what we can't" said I.
Down.hearted? Faint heart never
won, you know" she said.
"Nor monstrous conceit either. W.
can't refuse; we must row-thats al
there is to it. Oh, we've no show at all 7
nI won't listen to such talk q mo
nsut," cried Kate, stooping TO gathsl