The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-29
JOHNS HEROISM.

JUHN'S HERUlSM.
Handsome, plump Mrs. Archibald
Steele wrote the following paragraph in
one of her letters to her husband in
New York the other day: ed.
John must come down here at once, wheth-
or YOU can spare him or not Our dear little
Laura is greatly taken with a tail, thin young
man, with a hooked nose and thin l!ps, called
Stuyyesant. 1t is whispered about the hotel
shat he is very good match, and has the ver-
table blood Of the cd Dutch governor in his
veins. must say that it has queer way of
showing itself, for the young man is as pale
rs q specter; and dressed in that white duck,
With his sunken eyes and bilious skin, is
enough to frighten one. Ihave grown to hate
him, while Laura is growing to be quite the
contrary, am afraid. All the evening he
kans up against the wall, never dancing or
opening his mouth, save to give vent TO
some hateful, sarcastic criticism upon the
scenes around him, aud yet dear little LauraS
syes-as indeed, all the other pretty eyes
about-are perpetually beseeching him for at
tsntion In the daytime he is always with a
long black horse, that covers more ground
with it's legs while it is gong than
any other animal that ever saw. When
Laura goes out to drive behini it, and
yanishes out of sight with the bony creature,
tremble to think how dreadful it would be
Il our dear little girl would ever be part and
parcel of this wretched man and his beast.
So I think John had better come down at
once quite long to see his handsome face
md hear his honest voice, and think it IS
about time that John should tell his little
story to Laura and have thing settled COM
Sortably.
). Mr, Archibald Steele smiled when he
put the LITTER of his wife in his waist
coat pocket, and, picking up the morn
ing paper, scanned through his gold
simmed spectacles the news of the day.
Finding nothing therein to refine the
exceedingly satisfactory condition of his
affairs, he put it down, smiling as only
prosperous, contented downtown mer-
chant can smile. He was one of those
happy exceptions to the ordinary rule OF
mortals, with whom everything went
veil. His who'e experience was an en-
elamation point to that effect. If he
ventured little hazardously in trade,
fortune trimmed her sails to favor him.
If he set his heart upon anything relat-
ING to domestic felicity, all the elements
of art and nature conspircd to bring it
about. So when he stepped to the door
of his Office and beckoned to a young
man with astrip of commercial paper in
his hand and a pencil behind his ear,
with the general air of briskncss and
shrewdness about him that betoHeued a
successful downtown merchant embryo,
Mr.. Steele smiled the third time, with
the air of one who was not at all afraid
of any bilious, blue blocded obstacle
that might be thrown in the path of a
domestic happiness which he firmly
agreed had been arranged by an Omni-
potent hand.
ssJohu," said Mr.. Steele, closing the
door of his private Office, and looking
upon his young clerk benevolently, s'I've
got an order from Mrs. Steele which
wish you would attend to "
sCertainly, SIR said John; "shall ]
70 out and get the articles myself"
''Why, the fact is, John," sand the
merchant, enjoying his joke more and
more, sits only one article "a rather
bulky one. 1t was bargained for long
time ago. think you will have to &c
down with it, John"
"Down to the seashorep said John,
getting little hot and hustcred; sis it O
very valuable parcel, sir2'
"Well, perhaps your natural modesty
may deprecate its WORTH, John. Mrs
Steele and l think good deal of it. and
Laura, too, am sure does. The com,
modify is yourself, John. Mrs. Steele
wants you to 60 down and take little
holiday there"
When the name of Laura was men
toned the young mans face grew more
fustered and hot than before.
"You arc very kind, SIR" he said
stand Mrs. Steele is more like an angs
than q woman."
''Rathcr solid and plump for that,
interposcd Mr.. Steele, bit liking tht
phrase nevertheless.
''But it is simple Madness, pursued
John, "to dream of further happiness
than I enjoy now-your affection anC
that of your wife-my position here;
don't dare, l can't hope for, anything
more. Oh, Mr.. Steele, l can't tell hel
my story. She would turn from me with
horror and aversion. She is so young,
30 beautiful. Let Inc at least enjoy the
present"
"Aud,in the meantime some cadaver
Gus, bilious, blue blooded scouudrel will
carry her of from US ALL
Then Johns face grew pale aud stern
'Tf there is the slightest feeling upon he,
part for-for any one el.c, then, inIccd
Mr. Steele, my case is hopeless
The commercial paper futtered from
his hand. the pencil fell from his ear
and he leaned his head against the desl
and trembled.
''Why, who would suppose you coult
be such coward2" said Mr.. Steele, i'm
petuously. "You shall go down witt
me this very day."
All the way to the scashore john
face wore the look of one who had re
solved to storm deadly breach, but wh'
did not hope to survive the attempt.
Even the ocean, when it confronted
them, wore q. threatening look. Upol
the horizon pile of clouds formed
background, wan and gloomy, grea
hloolS r,;ot Law, in. the zenith and