The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-24
A BRIDE FROM THE SEA.
By FRANCIS NJ. LIVINGSTON.

.remetrius Green was travelling sales
Nan. He had the reputation Of being
the best-informed man and of selling
more goods in his line of business than
any man in New York. The causes for
this were few, but amply su Efficient. The
FIRST of these was natural ability; he had
. keen eye to business, and when he had
anything to do he permitted nothing to
interfere with it until his end was ac.
compishcd He was man of good ap-
pearance and address; aud. lastly, was a
man of good habits. He was in no sense
aladies' man, for ne had never cultivated
the society OF the gentler sex, perhaps
from lack of time, perhaps from want OF
inclination.
He had been with his house four years
When he took his first vacation. He had
never asked for one, and he did not ask
for This one His employers freely offered
it to him and insisted on his taking three
weeks. so, in the month of July he
ran down to Patchogue, Long Island,
intending to pass part of his vacation
with u married sister who was spending
the summer there. His sister was an at
tractiye young woman, fond of society.
She introduced him to several nice girls,
aud what with boating, bathing and
strolling on the beach. Demetrius found
that there were other things in life which
he enjoyed as much as selling canned
goods. ...
BY far the most attractive gil among
his sis er's trends, Demetrius thought,
VS. Lydia Hartley. She was not par
ticularly BEAUTIFUL, except that she had
the beauty of youth. health and inno-
cence; but she was modest, sweet tenn
pered. aud thoroughly nice girl. She
was from Brooklyn, and had come to
Patchogue with her aunt for the summer.
More than this emetrius's sister did not
know, US she had never met the Rartleys
before their seashore acquaintance. AS
for Demetrius himself he did not ask to
know any more. AttE end of week
he had settled in his own mind that he
would be 4 happier man if he were mar
ried. He had also determined that
Lydia Hartley was the woman to make
him happy, if he could gain her consent.
Though his mind was thoroughly made
up on this point, he resolved to wait
another week before speaking to her.
Caution was character site of the man,
snd as he was to be in Patchogue two
weeks longer (for he had resolved to
spend his whole vacation here), there
, was no need to act on the spur of the
monet, and Demetrius said to himself:
. ~ shall wait until next Saturday"
:. On Monday there was boating party.
When the ladies' we've seated in the boat
Demetrius noticed that LYDIA rose aud
gave her seat in the stern to her aunt.
'sShe is thoughtful and uuseltlsh," he
said. When they were coming in
s9uall sprang up, the loat pitched great
deal aid there Was moe difficulty in
making landing. i:cst OF the ladies
were greatly frightened, many were in
tears AID some in Mysteries lydia
alone, although little pale. was per
.fcctly calm. "She is sensible and cour..
'ageons," said Dcmctrius.
They landed without IN accident and
Demetrius he'd an umbrella over Lydia
IS they ran to the hotel. Miss Hartley
followed wrapped up in his macintosh.
The ladies were none the worse for their
wetting, and they had merry party at
night in the par.or of the hotel :
: Demetrius sat smoking his pipe for a
long time before he went to bed. He
reviewed he eTents of the day, trying to
recall all that Lydia said and how she
looked when he said it. lie thought
he had never seen eyes of such beauti-
ful blue as hers, or hair of so pretty a
brown. He remembered how her hands
looked as they dipped in and out of the
: baskets in preparing their luncheon, such
deft and competent hands as they were,
as well as pretty hands. lie thought of
how she had bright smile and Eleas-
snt word for everybody in the party.
fayoring none and forgettin" none. All
this and more he recalled, then be- laid
down. his pipe, slapped his knee and
said: "She is asplenl d girl love her
and I'm going TO marry her" which was
very enthusiastic ouI burst for Deme-
trius. Nevertheless he added: sIll
wait until Saturday.
Sfatnrday morning dawned bright and
beaGtiful. Nothing had occurred to
change Demetriuss mind in the slightest
degree, except that he was more in love
than ever There was nothing ''oa' for
that day, and Demetrius and Lydia
found themselves strolling quite natur-
ally on the beach together. They had
walked almost a mile neither having
'tpoken for some minutes when Deme.
tius proposed that they sit down on the
sand. 81 have something to say to you,
Miss LYDIA" he began.
4 faint blush rose to Lydia's cheek,
tut she made no reply.
"ruring the two weeks which have
known you 1 haze grown to feel deep
regard for you," he went on; "you are
the first woman have ever loved, and if
yeu can care for me in return | want to
make you my wife. am, as you know,
nttavcling salesman. My salary is 300
year, with perquisitcs amounting to
5000 more My sister, Mrs. Jackson,
IS the only relative have. If you marry
me you will find that | will do every
thing a MN in my position can do to
make YOU happy have nos arr we'd at
this decision suddenly, and will not
press You for an answer if you wish to
take time to consider. shall be here
until next Saturday" This was very
long speech for Demetrius, but he felt
that the circumstances required some
thing different from soliciting an order
for canned goods.
The blush on Lydia's cheek had deep
ened as he went on. When he pausec
she was silent moment, and then, witt
aowncast eyes. she said:
.tThis is sudden, Mr.. Green; l did MOI
tbink-that is, l was not sure tha