The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-05-11

WILL Uuo ASnG na1r KIM o gooo look.
ing, but where'd my breakfast be
while she was cleaning upG No, none OF
them for mel"
It never occurred to Abner that any
offer he made might possibly be re-
jscted.
"Iu have to look further'n Beach
Vile" he thought, as he climbed back
to his cabin. If I've got to get mar.
ried, I'm bound to get a wife to suit. 81
AS the days went by Abner's desire
for helpmeet increased, for the fish.
ing was unusually good and kept him
busy on the bay, so that his household
affairs went even more sadly awry. It
was clear that the he must get some
body to do his housekeeping.
About two weeks after his condemna-
tion Of the Beachville maidens the her,
NIT roWed around the Point to the
sleepy old town of Bayport with a
load of CLAIMS and Holsters. Bayport
was a busting metropolis to Abper and
he felt or his guard when he ventured
there, for he had a vague notion that
his path would be beset with sharpers.
But nobody tried to take advantage of
his innocence, and it was not very long
before he was returning 30 his boat
with his empty baskets.
On the journey back he stopped at a
humble little house near the wharf to
ask for a drink, and a young woman
of perhaps twenty years answered his
knock. She willingly brought to him
a dipper of clear, cool water. The
dipper was of tin, but it was as clean
and shining as silver.
Over it's rim Abner eyed the giver
with interest. She was little, plump
and dimpled, with a trimness about her
which especially pleased Abner. He
thanked her civillv.
MAY 1 ask your names" he ventured,
wiping his mouth on his shirt sleeve.
"Susie Brown" answered the girl,
a pretty pink coming into her cheeks.
mines Abner Mullens-and I'm
much obliged to you," responded Alb,
ner, with un wonted gallantry; then he
turned and went on his way.
''Trig little sloop," he said to him
self; Kitchen looked shipshape, too.
l don't object to good looks if there's
something to ballast them" and Abner
cast off his painter and pulled for home
with lone, steady strokes which carried
him swiftly through the dancing,
sparkling waves.
Somehow Abner's little house seemed
actually lonely to him that night, and
the next day the same feeling possessed
him. He could not quite understand it.
He did not think 30 much about get
ting rid of the work as usual. The
vision of a neat little figure flttingaEere
and there, and of a bright smile wei
coming him on his return from fishing,
haunted him.
On the day following, Abner per
suaded himself that it was necessary
to take a load of fish to Bay port, and
he expended uuaccustomed care on his
toilet before he started. Usually he
went from his fsh-cleaping or from
clam digging without a thought Of his
appearance, but now he put on a clean
flannel shirt and even trimmed his
rough beard.
After his cargo was disposed Of he
again raped at the little door. Susie
opened it to him and quickly brought
him his drink, with a smile of recogni
tion. This was all, yet somehow Alb
ner felt that his acquaintance had ad
vanced a step.
After this it became an accustomed
thing for Abner to go to Bayport to do
his trading, and he never failed to
stop at the house by the wharf to
quench his thirst.
Susie was always busy about the
kitchen, brisk and deft, with CHEEKY
word of welcome. OAce she was fry
ing doughDuts and she gave him one;
a delicious circle of crispness which he
ate approximately and with pleased an
ticipation of the future.
He never crossed the threshold, but
sometimes he leaned against the door
frame, watching the swift movements
of Susie and indulging in a little la
bored conversation; or he would linger
as if about to say something, then sud
denly turn and hurry down the street
as if in great haste.
He must be a stsady man." said
Susie to herself one day, asshe watched
the ~retreating figure, ''or it wouldn't
be water he'd want so much of. But he