Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-02-21

noSA - said they were only
nep .pld old women and inva
.,,Ivey's eyes sparkled with de
at the exchange of pleasantries be
tween her two lovers. She glanced at me
roguishly and encouraged the two young
fellows to go on.
"This translated love affair was an anus
ing comedy. and fingered at the table as
long as the young lovers kept it going. In
stincUively my sympathy went out to Per
cival 2ipp, and l watched the progress oi
the conversation, his defeats and his rallies
with that interest one feels in following
the fortunes Of hero in play or book.
II conceived strcng liking for his open
honest face gathered from the converse
tion that he was mine owner, and liked
him all the better for that. Spinks was q
young lawyer, and as Blipp rose in my es'
timation he fell correspondingly.
81 took my first look at the fair the next
morning. l remembered Miss Silvey's an
nouncement that she was going to spend
the day in the Art building, and late in the
afternoon l went there hoping to catch
sight Of them. stumbled upon Blipp five
minutes after got inside. He seemed to
be wandering about in desultory fashion,
gazing at the pictures in q perfunctory, dis
interested way. He recognized me and
BILE last night said he. My name is Per
cival Blipps, Spokane Falls. Wash. Look
ing at the picturesr
HE rambled on without any apparent
method or object. He kept sending inquir-
ing glances ahead, and presently recog-
nized, "a few feet away from us, Miss Silvey
and Spinks. If they were not enjoying the
show, why, appearances don't count for any
thing They were holding guidebook be-
tween them and alternately searching
through it's leaves for the numbers and
looking at the pictures, giving every symp-
tom Of pleasure.
"Blipp saw that recognized them, and
he blushed. There they are he said, half
guiltily; they've been taking 1t in all day.
I laughed out loud. And you,' said I,
and you-you've been following them
about I laughed louder than ever. That's
about the size of it. he said. DO you think
she likes him best? I asked Oh i don't
know he said, disnsllJ but earnestly; it's
been going on like this for q year and a
half At homeboth Of us have been trying
desperately to win her, but the contest
seems to be so evenly matched thatft looks
as il we were still neck and neck
"'When she came to the fair, Of course
we followed. She's certainly been leading
us a race. One day it's BEpp and the next
it's Spinks It's Spinks today he was so
genuinely miserable that felt sorry for
him. As he finished he made sudden
dart and disappeared through door to the
right stopped in amazement and found
the explanation of his startling conduct In
Miss Silvey and Spinks, who had turned
and were coming back toward US She was
saving that she would prefer to go back or
a steamer. After they had passed, Blipp
sneaked back. Have they goner heasked
apprehensiyely. They were disappearing
In the crowd, and we followed.
".This is tough luck he said, as he
scrambled along to keep in sight. You
can't appreciate it, old man, unless you've
been through it. What would you dor Ask
her and risx it, or keep on like this until
she indicated which she liked besta'
"T don't know said This is hardly
the place to ask a girl to marry you, but
it's an excellent place to prepare her for it
If can help you, let me know.
"'Thank you, thank you,' he said CRATE
fully.
"We were just in time to get on the
steamboat, and after we rushed on with
the crowd the young lady did not see us
Blipp hurried around on the opposite side
from them and leaned against the rail re
garding them furtively. The steamboat
was slashing along a mile from the fair
when the young miner tossed his cigar into
the lake and started toward them. Come
along said he. I'll introduce YOU
ut was with a fine affectation Of sur
prise that Blipp greeted them. You here!
be exclaimed gayly, how luckyl Miss Sl
yey, my friend Mr.. Hornady from the
south She smiled sweetly and gave me
glance Of recognition. / took seat beside
her, Blipp establishing himself on the other
side. Spinks regarded me for moment as
nuisance that had to be tolerated, but
luckily my first conversation venture with
him struck weak point. He asked me
how I liked the fair, and said superb
and told him liked the Mining building
best.
"His clayey face lighted up, and he
launched forth upon an enthusiastic disser
tation on silver While he was in the
midst of it unperceived by him Blipp and
Miss Silvey walked to the front end of the
boat and were lost to view. 1t was some
such thing had in mind when engaged
the western lawyer in conversation Sud.
denly he broke off and stared vacantly at
the two empty seats.
"'H'mp he remarked stammeringly and
with a very foolish look. Where have
they gone? Can't be overboardF
"All the silver eloquence oozed out Of the
young lawyer with the discovery that Miss
Silvey and Blpp were no longer with us.
He had no heart for further conversation,
! and his remarks to me during the rest OF
the trip were in monosyllables. His dis
tress was painful to see when the steamboat
butted against her pier at Van Buren street.
He rushed forward, then back again, then
to the center, where he stood, hopeless and
HELPLESS, staring at the retreatiDg crowd.
Where are theyp' he entreated. ! had
caught a glimpse Of Miss Silvey's brown
,urls on the gangplank minute before.
THEY'LL be along presently said consol-
lnply. Wait He did wait. We were the
last people to leave the steamer. He stood
On the pier gazing up the flight of steps with
lost expression.
"'Damn itp he said.
ut was my intention to 60 to the theater
that night, and as I started out look ed
around for the lovers party. Spiuks was
standing near the register, q picture OF de-
lection and gloom. I touched him on the
shoulder.
".Hello, Spinks, are you going out to-
night'"
HE looked at me darkly.
"'Yes, I'm going to the theater.'
"'What theater9'"
"He turned to the ticket scalper in the
corner.
"'Didn't you sell some tickets to fst
vounp man with brown mustache and
western accent tonight" he asked.
81 did,
n'What theaterp
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