Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-07-24
ANNIE o'BRIEN.
\ TRUE TALE.


being carried away by their friends or
by the boarding. house kcepers who
always lie in wait for them. Those vet
uncalicd for sat about the decks. Visit
iul eyes turned shoreward anxious to see
"a familiar lace and form among all those
Storage ones.
Pat Nolan had ccme aboard in all his
bravery new blue coat flung open
that 1t might not conceal the shining
watch chain dangling from his vest
pocket his hat tipped to one side in true
'ConnauSht fashion, with n mighty show
'ot white collar and cuffs and blue neck
tic, and his boots for once polished bv
an ''Eyctalian. He threw his shoulders
back and looked his best, for ':lidn't he
come aboard to bring his sweetheart.
Annie Bricn, home, and wasn't she the
purtiest girl in ten countries and hadn't
she crossed the ocean for his sakc?'
Pat felt as though every one that saw
him must know his business there.
Standing still he looked about him.
expecting to see his little Annie some.
where not far
''Surc, an wouldn't she be as anxious
z to mate him as he would be to mate
herr"
lie was little late, for there had been
"A delay OF train in which he came down
from the place where he was working rs
'coachman and gardner. But surely
Annie would never have gone ashore
without him. lie walked about for full
ten minutes, looking everywhere, but
still missing the face he wanted.
Every now and then a cav ribbon or n
hrIrlf rnil f,f h,,;,. i
dance, nut 1t was never Annic's hair or
Annlcs bonnet. At last he made up his
mind tina: she had gone ashore; but in
that case she had left word for him, of
'coursc-word where she had bctakcn
herself
al neg pardon, sir" he said, step
Ping up 10 II man who wore gold band
upon his cap, and was presumably IN
officer; II beg pardon, sir, but I'm Pat
Nolr. Is there a bit of message left
for me, do You know. sr!'
''Not that l am aware the officer re-
piled.
ID was Annie O'Bricn," said Pat.
'Shc came over Oh this steamer; she
expected me to mate her. We're to be
married, ;ou know, Sir. and she'd lave
word WHERE sho is yonc-Annie
.OBr.cr."
The officer turned curious, startled
gaze uron him.
"Annie O'Dr;cn.' he repeated "a
Storage lmsscngc: ~
In coorsc, sir" said Pat. "Shc's
comm over to marry me, aud she's Il
workia' girl. Were nayther iv us
rich
r The officer looked at him again.
Il knox the name he said
"Yoa couldn't help noticing the
girl" said Pat. Shes Il purity crayther,
is Annie, wild eyes like tie sky and gold
en- hair ana 81 waist We could span wild
yer two hands--barrin' she wouldn't
permit VIC to DO it-and Il FOO. light rs Il
bird upon the aoor. A little Jewel is
my Annie. Yoad not fail to notice
her
"Sit down a moment, Mr.. Nolan"
said the officer, - will make some in
'quirics Wait here for me-"
"a mighty polite gentleman, though
hes rs solemn rs Il funeral" said Pat to
himself. Il nope he'll not delay long.
I'm wild to see Annie. Iwonder is she
erwin hcr eyes cut for not seein' me? 1t
Was what she had - right 10 expcct-thc
frs. ore aboord."
The officer was returning.
He looked more serious than ever.
''Ir. Nolan, he said, gravely, s'thc
captain would like to speak to you. l
very stormy voyage, us winter voyages
often are
''Bua you come into port on rs pleas
ant day as there is in the calendar"
Pat said, cheerfuliy. "a Christmas
couldn't be brighter
''But we have had very unpleasant
voyage" said the officer gravely.
He opened the door of the captains
cabin Pat entered with his hat III his
hand.
The captain-a grave, bronzed man
with irongra hair-sat at n table before
an open book, on which his hand lay.
''St down." he said
THANK you, sir. It's as easy stand
4 ing, said Pat, with bow.
=" < You had better sit down." said the
captain. II may have to talk to you for
some minutes. 1 have something very
very particular to say ii your are the
right man. Your name is--'
80 -''t""j '"it az OCS inning W
feel astonishcd; but then perhaps the
captain knowing that he was tc be mar
ried that evening, wanted to congratu-
late him, or perhaps 1t was the way
of the captains of ocean steamers to be
SLOW and solemn, not thinking how he
kept people from their sweethearts So
Pat sat down, put his hat on the floor,
and, not knowing just what to do,
cracked all his knuckles one after the
other rs he waited.
Your name is Patrick Nolan" said
the captain again, sand you came on
board to find II young woman-a friend
of yourss"
My sweetheart promised to me. We
are to be married to-day" said Pat.
''If God wills 1t, said the captain.
cay, sir; we can do nothing widout
that, / well know" said Pat. "The
.roo1 ord ahovo onI Eofhor dual, will