The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-23
BY HUGH WILSON AND W. G. BENET.

like, reading or thinking. All the fisher
men have high tenor voices at Harpswell
and sing songs of the sea, and wear olt
straw hats and look picturesque. 1t wa
pleasure enough to sit on the rocks and hea
their melody rising free and unrestrainet
while they mended their nets. 1t wa
beautiful, too, to watch the shadows coming
over the tree tops, and the hush of nigh
falling on all the land.
One night we were out in the boat, ant
Mr.. Price drew in the. oars and let tn
boat drift. 1t happened unfortunately tina
Annie Carew was placed beside Mr.. Skid
more making it uncomfortable for both.
soon forgot it, however, in watching TIL
beauty OF the beach and ocean in the mel
low, soitened light, and drinking in tn
sweet fragrant air.
"Such scene as this brings up sleepin!
memories said Mr.. Skidmore. "With tn
glamour of this soft beauty on man h
might oe forgiven for almost any rashness
/ am strangely susceptible to moonligh
and the fragrant spring air. Miss Carew
won't you favor us with 4 song and breal
the spell?"
1t must have affected him indeed t
cause him to speak like that, in that half
tender voice to Annie Carew.
81 shall be happy to o3lige you if yol
really desire it,"
ooh, yes, do sing, Miss Carew," sale
several voices.
She sang little boating song, all abou
"waves" and "ripples" and "the sand
upon the Shore" and she sang it beauti
fully. felt like falling in love with her
she looked so handsome, and there wR ;
haunting pathos in the voice. Certainly
Annie Carew was not plain girl. She wa
Il dangerously fascinating one. / realized
it fully as she sat there in the moonlight
her splendid eyes sparkling and her cleal
voice touching one's heartstrings so closely
Bohemian she might be; she was more
beautiful in that tender, gracious mooc
than any woman had even seeA.
There was silence for a moment; ther
Mr.. Price said:
"You sing like the sirens of old, Mis-
Carew, if one can Judge from ideas. The
tears almost came, in spite of my endeavor
to be manly"
She laughed softly, and Miss Derry sale
in an earnest way, 81 do really believe
have fallen in love with her"
That made us all laugh, and the little
craft was turned homeward. Mr.. Skid
more walked up to the house beside me
and I asked him if he liked Miss Carew':
singing.
"Yes, Idid," he answered; "and I wish
could understand her real nature
He was more polite and friendly towarG
her after that, and I began to hope for al
established basis of good feeling between
them, when an unlucky accident set them
on the old path.
was tying up rosebush one morning
and had nearly finished when my supply
of string gave out. Mr.. ..Skidmore put his
hand.in his pocket and drew out handful
If different sizes of cord, when little rib
bon fluttercd to the ground.
"Oh, that's Miss Carew's bow" cried
May. "Miss Carew, he has had it all the
lime."
A flush rose to his face, as he said, in ar
annoyed tone: "The very fact of its be-
ing in my possession shows that / had nc
idea what it was"
"Oh, but you did know, Mr.. Skidmore
for l told you about it the day she made
The sketch. Don't you remember the bird
look it in his bill from the umbrella:
Where did you find it?"
"Miss Derry, really have no idea how
the thing came in my pocket. l assure you
should not Lave cherished it, had | known
it was-a lady's property"
"Why, it is no great harm, anyway. II
you like Miss Carew-"
"But 7 don't like Miss Carew. That is
Miss Derry, I don't like to.be teased.'
His face was flushed with annoyance
! md sighed as | thought Of the mischief
had done. They were really getting to see
each other in quite a fair light, until now
Ill his old dislike was revived. And An
ME, too, seemed to think him more disagree.
able than ever, for at dinner she scarcely
noticed him. In the afternoon she came to
my room for book, saying she was going
10 the cave OH the cast shore for while
"I'm 80 sorry about that ribbon" said.
alt shows him him his true light, Miss
Arden. I am glad OF it, for / was just get
ting foolish enough to think had been
mistaken in him.
1t was sultry, oppressive air, and was
too indolent to 20 out, so took Bad
deck" and sofa for the afternoon. l read
until nearly four o'clock, and then fell
asleep. When awoke it was raining furi.
ous!y and was quite dark. Then as a
heavy peal of thunderstartled me remem.
hered Miss Carew. l went across the pas
sage and tapped, and looked in. The room
was empty. | went hurriedly down the
stairs, and into the sitting-room.
Here comes Miss Arden, looking az il
she had seen a ghost" said Mrs. Derry,
smiling
"Nliss Carew is out in this Storm" !
said feeling as if should faint; "and some
one must 60 for her.
"My God Miss Arden, what do you
mean" asked Mr.. Skidmore, turning white
20 the lips.
"Miss Carew went to the cave this after
noon and has not returned, and | fear she
has lost her way"
"It is sure DEATH" began May, when
there was trampling of heavy feet on the
piazza, and in 4 moment two men were IN
the room, and had put poor Annie Carew
on the sofa Her long hair hung wet and
tangled to the floor, and the white face was
leath-ike in its dreadful calm. In mo-
ment knew what itwa
."She is dead !" said some one, in a con-
strained, harsh voice, "and never knew
how loved her. "Oh, Annie, my darl-
ing, my love- And Mr.. Skidmore fell on
his knees beside her and kissed the sweet
lips.
One BY one we stole out of the room and
left him kneeling there. The men had
found her on the shore, and thought she
must have tainted from fright, and had
brought her home.
"Likely the lightnin' killed her. said
one. "I've known such things"
went to my room and wept bitterly.
"Poor Annie Carew!" was all | could say.
Poor, unhappy girl. At the thought OF Mr.
Skidmore my tears flowed afresh. | was
scarcely surprised that he loved her. But
his pride had buried his happiness.
Later in the evening May tapped at my
door. She was crying softly. "Oh, Miss
Arden" she said, "she wasn't dead after all
1t was only iainting fit, and she can speak
now.
"And Mr. Skidmore p
"Is in there with her, and he has been
crying. I guess its all right between them
BECAUSE saw him kissing her Just now"
And all the time he had been in love
with plain Miss Carew.
Tho Pphhnr Suit Man.