The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-19
d" "PATEN'S." "
" All, my dear Miss Floral"

AAS 1hy NCdl Z lOld.
gave MY friend Mr.. Barnwell m
hand but at the same time l followed
with my eyes my other friend, MI
Frederick Leighton, who at that momen
went gathering down the street, escor!
ing lis cousin, George Neal.
suppose that may be considered
an eng. sement?"' commented Mr.. Barn
=. well, following my gaze.
"Or perhaps only q skirmish," I re
joined, hastily. Mr.. Barnwell said n,
mora; he never argued. But I could SCI
hetiid not agree with me. -
! J. stopped in front Of shabby littl
house. This is where Wagner lives,
said.
/ had known the Wagoners, husband
and wife, for some months. Mrs. Wag
oner did my washing, and Mr.. Wagonel
carried home the basket. / employed
her originally because she needed tht
work. She did it so badly. what will
scorching, mildewing, burning, that
despatreo and expostulated. She looked
helpless; hut her husband looked as
though bright idea had struck him
AfSer that there was marked i'm prove.
rent. / suspected him OF becoming my
FISHERMAN. 1t was on the occasion Of
one ofhis weekly trips to my house tha,
tle had requested an interview with me
and had presented me with a bouquet
unpinned from conical newspaper
bundle. l was not unfamiliar with his
bouquets, which were usually com.
pounded of balsams and marigolds, anG
OF the unknown her bs of unsavory smell
which grow in the gardens of Philistia
Having made this presentation, he said
with some slight hesitation, that he had
something to show me. "A new paten'
miss"
He was nominally a cobbler by
trade. Something you use in your
shoemaking?" / suggested I thought
he meant pattern. To this day am not
sure that he did not.
''Oh, certainly, miss" (He always
began by saying, "Oh, certainly
whether he ultimately agreed or dis.
agreed.) NO, miss; it's a kind of q
little wagon I've been a-studyin' out
It works real easy. It's right handy
little thing, miss. I'd like to show il
TO YOU
IL would like to see it, the-whatevel
it is, W agoner."
"J.f you'd be at home tomorrow
evenin', miss, I'd be proud to bring il
OYER"
Evening in Port Royal means any
hour after twelve meridian, 80 rather
expected to see the paten' put in an ap.
pearance long before dark. Instead ol
which it was eleven o'clock when Wag.
oner rang our bell, and inquired for me
He had made sure offinding me returned
from any walks abroad.
Il brought it over, miss. It's drawed
up close to the sidewalk. Will you
look at it?"
Invent out, accompanied by various
mem bers of my family. There stood 8
rough little cart. Wagner pulled il
backward and forward, explaining mat
ters in his eager voice.
"Tll show you how it works, miss,
he said, finally. He got in, worked s
crank up and down, and started off down
the street at nearly a breakneck speed.
1T goes beautifully" I said, as spokes.
woman Of the party, when he stopped al
last, and stood before us, hat in hand
waiting to be congratulated. Its like
avelocipede."
ooh. certainly. No, miss, it amt 6
bit like velocipede. It has this here
principle different. I've been assured
by gentleman which he understand s
these things that there has never been
nothin' cxac'ly like this here paten' oi
mine afore."
why, Wagner, that's splendid.
You'll make your everlasting fortune"
'Oh, certainly. Yes, miss. / hope
So. miss. Won't you try it, miss?"
! mounted the trap, feeling myself
somewhat ridiculous, and yet wishing
encourage inventive genius. I moved
the crank as directed. and off I started
inthe bright moonlight. The group in
front of our house laughed encourag.
lngly. Some one said l looked like
Peggy some one or other, who went, tc
some fair or other. at is capita
tling, Wagner" said. having climbed
outagain. "You are Wagner by name
and Wagner by nature, aren't you?"
"Oh, certainly, miss. Yes, miss. You
see, miss, / design itespecial for child'e
There amt but only the one seat now fol
the person as works it, but mean te
handy. And I have another notion ir
AuJ aSoo ouSo IL laeshC ~ ~ ioSICA. L ca
miss, and ! mean to set It up higher or
it wheels nor it is now. Stylisher. Oh
certainly"
Would it be desirable for it to be
higher or 60 faster for a children!
wagon? Do you think it would be a:
safe?"
'Oh. certainly, miss. Yes. reckon
you're right. That's So"
1t was extremely clever in you
Wagner, to think it out" pursued
relaxing from criticism into compli
r,ent. at is really remarkable"
He laughed a good deal-he had :
habitual, nervous laugh-in a gratifiet
way ut this, and presently, after muct
bowing and scraping, clattered away
down the street. Fred Leighton anc
Mr.. Barnwell had both been spending
the evening with me, and were presen
now. Fred took his hands out of hi:
pockets to say, II saw a cart that
worked on that same principle in Balti
more the other day"
''Oh, Fred, you didn'tw
Fact. Pity about that inventive
friend OF yours"
II am very sorry. was thinking h
might get out a patent for it, and max
,,oooov br - ua Sc on ,porl nht