The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-07-11
THE HEIRESS.

AQelo layton gave d FeAeu 1ilt1e
toss of her leal-a gesture intended
to be awfully annihllating to Mr..
Harry Browne, standing on the lower
step of the piazza at the Seaside house.
livery well, 60, of course, Mr..
Browne, if you prefer but really, l
think it is too bad of you."
"Of course it is," added pretty Miss
Hunter, with the golden locks and
baby blue eyes that were considered ir-
resistible by the generality of the
sterner sex. "Of course it is too bad,
when you know that to a dozen ladies
stopping at the Seaside there are only
such a few gentlemen. 1 know what
the trouble is, though, don't I, Mr..
Browne? You are tired of us--the
same wei and overland you are re-
serving your forces until the much
talked of and anxiously expected
beauty and heiress arrives upon the
scene"
Harry turned lazily round and
smiled.
81 am afraid l shall have to incur a
great risk in contradicting a lady," he
said, good-humoredly.
Naughty Adele Fayton flashed him
a half-indignant, half-sarcastic glance
from her black eyes and said:
"And when this heiress has arrived,
I daresay Mr.. Browne will lose all his
interest in his solitary boat rides and
fishing excursions, while we forlorn
maidens get through the day as well
as we can, for lonesomeness. Mr..
Browne, you are selfish"
"Well, yes, rather, if always want
ing the best of everything concerned
is what you call selfish. But l will re-
deem my character by proving to you
that which will doubtless set your
hearts at rest. I don't believe in your
wonderful coming beauty and heiress
to begin with, and in the second place,
I would commit hari-kari before I'd
marry an heiress. Now am I vindi-
cated?"
BE bowed and walked off, just a lit
tie TO the discontinue Of the ladies on
the piazza-weLt off to the beach
where his boat and fishing tackle
awaited him, with more of a disguised,
impatient look on his face than was
customary with him.
What a lot of idiots a fellow comes
across in the purse of his life. Be-
cause a lot of pretty girls lose their
heads when a wealthy beau comes
along, they argue, with a woman's
senseless persistency, that the men are
as mercenary as themselves. Marry an
heiress !! not if she were as beautiful as
as Venus, and every word she
dropped was transmitted into a kohl
moor"
MI. Browne pushed off in his surf
boat, dashing and plunging through
the breakers like a sailor, born and
bred. He rowed out a mile OF two to
another fishing boat containing a
couple of barefooted boys eight and
ten, with wide-brimmed hats, and
bright, tanned faces and brown eyes.
A tall lad of sixteen, worried and
anxious-looking, who was evidently
dismayed at the increasing swell of the
sea, and the freshening south wind,
was of this company, and also a young
girl with lovely dark gray eyes-grave
and thoughtful, yet bright and flash
ing as she looked at Harry while he
rowed nearer and nearer in response to
the halo of the boys.
A decidedly n~ice-looking girl, hardly
what one would call handsome. and
yet the pure, fair complexion, ever so
lightly suntanned, the scarlet mouth
so tightly closed, the waving, deep
g%old-colored hair, thickly braided and
hanging down to her waist, and the
glorious gray eyes made a whole that
Harry Browne quite thoroughly adj
mired as he pulled alongside and spoke
to her.
"You seem to be in some difficulty"
he remarked, touching his hat, court
eously.
She bowed.
"Joe is rather demoralized, I think.
There is no danger, is there:" Harry
glanced at Joe's scared face, anG the
restless antics of the boys in the tiny
boat.
eff you had a mar in charge who
knew his business there would be no
shadow of danger. AS it is this young
man has no ~excusefor venturing SO far
out"
eve were fishing" she said, in a
pleasant, apologize way, "and didn't
realize how far we had gone. Well"
with a troubled look that was. more
anxiety than fear, eve must do the
best we can. Perhaps you would tell
Joe what to do with the boat"
Harry replied: eff you will allow
me to exchange places with your pilot
I will row you ashore. 1 am Harry
Browne, of -, brokers, - street,
at present stopping at the Seaside
house."
"You are very kind, Mr.. Browne,
and I will thankfully accept you offer.
My name is May Harper"
She laughed as if the oddness OF inc
mutual introduction amused her, and
Harry made up bis mind that she was
the very incest girl he had met IN
many a day.
"Well, then, Joe, you jump in here
and row yourself to shore. You won't
have any trouble to take yourself only,
will your"
The alacrity with which the lad
changed from the Bella to the Sadie
was sufficient answer, and Leither
Harry ri Minis Harner could helm