The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-27
ANNIE O'BRIEN.
A TRUE TALE.

TRUE TALE.
The Counaught Castle had arrived in
New York. The cabin passengers had
gone ashore. The steerage people were
being carried away by their friends or
by the boarding. house keepers who
always lie in wait for them. Those yet
uncallcd for sat about the decks. Wist-
full ewes turned shoreward anxious to see
familiar face and form among all those
steeragc ores.
Pat Nolan had come aboard in all his
bravery-a new blue coat flung open
that it might not conceal the shining
watch-chain dangling from his vest
pocket, his hat tipped to one side in true
Connaught fashion, with a mighty show
of white collar and cuffs and blue neck
tie, and his boots for once polished by
an "Eyetalian." He threw his shoulders
back and looked his best, for "aidn't he
come aboard to bring his sweetheart,
Annie O,Brien, home, and wasn't she the
purtiest girl in ten countries and hadn't
she crossed the ocean for his sake?'
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.
"Sure, an wouldn't she be as anxious
to mate him as he would be to mate
her.
He was little late, for there had been
a delay of train in which he came down
from the place where he was working as
coachmau and gardner. But surely
Annie would never have gone ashore
without him. He walked about for full
ten minutes, looking everywhere, but
still missing the face he wanted.
Every now and then gay ribbon or a
bright coil of hair would make his heart
dance, but it was never Annie's hair or
Annie's bonnet. At last he made up his
mind that she had gone ashore; but in
that case she had left word for him, of
eourse-word where she had betaken
herself.
81 beg pardon, sir" he said, step
ping up to man who wore gold band
upon his cap, and was presumably an
officer; Il beg pardon, sir, but I'm Pat
Nolan. Is there bit of 4 message left
for me, do you know. sir?'
"Not that am aware the officer re-
piled.
ssIt was Annie O'Bricn," said Pat.
s'Sbe came owe: on this steamer; she
expected me to mate her. We're to be
married, you know, sir, and she'd lave
word where sho is gone--Annie
O'Brien."
The officer turned a curious, startled
gaze upon him.
Annie O'Brcn," he repeated. "A
steerage passenger"
''In coorse, sir" said Pat. "She's
comm over to marry me, and she's a
workin' girl. We're nayther iv us
rich"
The officer looked at him again.
II know the namc," he said.
"You couldn't help noticing the
GIRL" said Pat "she's purity crayther,
is Annie, wild eyes like the sky and gold
en- hair and a waist ye could span wild
yer two hands-barrin' she wouldn't
permit yc to do it-and foot light as a
birds upon tine floor. A little jewel is
my Annie. You'd not fail to notice
her."
"Sit down a moment, Mr.. Nolan, "
said the officer, II will make some in
quiries. Wait here for me-"
ga mighty polite gentleman, though
he's as solemn as funeral" said Pat to
himself ~ hope he'll not delay long.
I'm wild to see Annie. wonder is she
cryin' her eyes out for not seein' me2 1t
was what she had right to expect-the
FIRST one aboord."
The officer was returning.
He looked more serious than ever.
''Mr. Nolan, he said, gravely, "the
captain would like to speak to you.
will take YOU to him. We have had a
very stormy voyage, as winter voyages
often are"
"But you come into port on as pleas
ant day as there is in the calendar, VI
Pat said, cheerfully. "a Christmas
couldn't be brighter
'But we have, had very unpleasant
voyage" said a& officer gravely.
He opened the door of the captains
cabin. Pat entered with his hat in his
hand.
The captain--a grave, bronzed man
with iron. gray hair-sat at table before
an open book, on which his hand lay.
sit down" he said.
'.Thank you, sir. It's as easy stand.
ing" said Pat, with bow.
''You had better sit down." said the
captain. II may have to talk to you fol
some minutes. I have :omethins very
very particular to say if your are the
right man. Your name is"
pat Nolan," said Pat, beginning to
feel astonshcd: but then perhaps the
captain knowing that he was to be mar
ried that evening, wanted to congratu-
ls.s him. or perhaps 1t was the way
Of the captains af 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 as he waited.
nYour name is Patrick Nolan" said