The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-02-02
SUSIE'S LOVER.

He was only a rough tar, but he had
heap OF gold. Perhaps all the dangers
that Dick Turner had seen on the great
deep had had their influence upon him
but certainly, for single-hearted earnest
ness Of character, l never met his equal
He had returned from q long voyage
and the hope of many years was to be
fulf led, for the girl be had courted sc
long was to be his al last.
Susie Willis was n rustic coquette,
Many qualms of jealousy had she occa-
stoned her lover; many a miserable
hour had he spent Oh her account. But
at last she had not only promised to be
his-she had done that often enough be.
fore-but the day had been fixed and
another week would see him 8 happy
man.
He tried 10 sill the old feelings Of
jealousy and doubt as he watched his
sweetheart. and noted the glaHces she
still often bestowed upon other men,
He, who Lad no thought but for her,
was moved with wonder to see how
lavishly she could bestow smiles and
words of cordially upon all the world
"But it's aye the way OF the lassies,'
he thought. "SheM settle down TO ii
when once we're married."
He could have wished her 10 show
more interest in his adventures, in the
yarns he was so tond Of spinning for the
amusement Of the village gossips: but
Susie would at sny time rather walk OF
with one Of her younger companions, or
Join in the dance On the green, while
Dick looked on with hungry eyes, long
ing for n Of the quips and jokes which
she bestowed so freely upon others.
Still, she had promised to marry nlm.
Her modest stock Of clothes was ready,
the banns had been called, and in less
than eight days now she void be his
wife. Dick was thinking Of ali this rs
he sat in the evening light and smoked
his pipe, and INDUCED himself the while
in sweet visions of what was to be.
He pictured his home, with Susie as
his wife; in Imagination lie saw her
moving round in the two small rooms
which he had prepared with so much
care. His thoughts went further; he
saw himself, at some future time, re.
turning from his voyage, to be welcomed
by q loving wife and by little children,
who would Chamber on his knee and
never tire of the longest yarn hat be
might spin.
His imagination grew 30 vivid that
be rose mechanically to knock the ashes
from his pipe and to stretch himself in
sailor fashion. Then he looked around
for Susie.
When he commenced his reverie she
had been one of a group OF girls who
l,o6 boop p,orr;lu d;cn,ccino Como Setoi
of the coming wedding, but now his eye
sought vainly for her. The girls were
still gossiping, and he crossed the little
path between his home and the village
green, and asked in his awkward fash
ion where Susie had gone.
The girls laughed.
"Ah, Dick" said one of them, ''can't
yer lose sight of her for a moment
Sure, then, and you'll have enough o!
her after the eighth. Let her bide; lie,
her have a good time while she may !
"Well well" said Dick, in his slow
aay, holding his pipe at arm's-leEgth
"but where be she p
"She just went of with Joe Miller &c
see his mother, and buy some ribbon fol
Ter hat" said the same girl, with n sor,
OF hesitation in her tone which did moi
escape Dick notice.
"fII 70 and meet her. sid he; and
suiting the action to the word, he started
down the steep village street and tool
his way 10 the outlying farms beyond
and acro's the fields to the neighborin&
town of Upton, the favorite resort o
the village girls for the purchase o
fnery.
Joe Miller was an old rival. He mad'
q striking contrast to Dick. who, in hi
Sailor garp, alw avs felt at a disadvantage
with the spru.,, trim shopman, who's
tongue was a, glib rs lis own vas un
rLady, lu,, excepting in matters relating
to sratartng experience, Dick was no
eloquent
Susie had more than once shown ap
probation of Joe's wit and persuasive
speeches, and had encouraged him
great deal more than her lover had con,
sidered fitting. Words lad alread!
passed between them on the subject
but now that Susie was SO nearly his
Dick had persistently lulied his Jealousy
to rest. So now, as he hurried along
his thoughts dwell more on the JOY;
that awaited him than upon any IN
pleasant Renaissance.
Joe Miller was employed in the mos
pretentious Diapers shop in Upton, and
his occupation gave him many oppoc
tunities Of Offering attentions to the vii
lage girls.
Dick walked rapidly along. The mel
low light of a summers evening in
vested the surrounding country with
charm whose sweetness Dick felt, al
though he could not have recognized it
source.
He had nearly reached the outskirt
of the town when. turning downsa Ian
which would take him Ky a shorter:cu
to the quarter where the draperer's sho
was situated, he saw two figures in ad
vance of him which he instantly recoe
nized AZ Susie and Joe Miller. The
were talking earnestly, and as his rapi
walk brought him nearer, he could Sc
that Joe's arm was round Snsie's waist
A sharp pang OF jealousy shot throug
his mind, but he repelled it as it rose
arguing to himself the long friendshi
which had existed between the two
who had grown up as boy and girl to
ge.her. He went on. AS q sudden m
g'r in The lane hid them from his sigh
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