Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-05-05

It did look az if woman's hand
was needed to bring order out OF that
chaos. Boots, clothing, dishes, rags
and fshing-tackle Uttered the floor.
A basket of cleaned fish occupied the
only chair, while the table and sink
were piled with an accumulation OF
articles too varied for description. As
for dirt-dirt was everywherel
"Folks say Pm unsidy," continued
Abner as he eyed the disorder. "But
I amt. 1t sint that I Ike dirt; It's
that I don't like cleaning up. / love
to see things kept nice as we'll as any
body. hate dirt worse than poison,
but / hate getting rid of it. heap
sight more" and he drew long sigh
as he set about his uacongenial task.
"There aint doubt about it, he
went on aloud, habit which his
solitary life had developed. cit takes
more'n one to run schooner, land or
sea. It's been growing on me ever
since l was hauled up in dry dock
with rheumatics that I'd have to get 8
mate. She can boss the galley and
I'll man the ropes. If there's foul
weather, can take to the dory till
the storms blowed out" Here Abner
attacked his breakfast dishes, a task
ne particularly detested.
"There'll be a lot of things thai
aint pleasant about it." he said, as he
thought of his lost freedom. "Bu'
I'll take care what kind of one / get.
! don't want master-hanl at any
thing but cooking and scrubbine
decks. I'm captain, and I won't steE
down in rank for anybody"
The notion of getting married hat
been presenting itself to Abner fol
some time. Not that he was lonely
he felt no need of companion. His
idea OF wife was some one to keek
his house clean, mend his clothes, ono
cook his meals. No more tender
emotion stirred in his breast.
He was 'tgetting along" in years
and his rheumatism was increasin:
upon him. One of these days h.
would need some one to care for him
His wife must be young, strong, cap
able and amenable; that was ell h
asked.
Abner Mullens had lived alone TO,
many years. The Hermit of Beach
vile he was called by the Young peo
pie, who regarded him with awe ant
suspicion. TO their minds mystery
hung over his rude dwelling. Dit
they not of hear Abner talking busil,
to some unseen listener? The trutl
vas, Abner, tacitura to al! fellow-be
ings, was fairly gasrulous with him
self, and his conversations were pro
longed and emphatic.
His little, unpainted, shingled cabil
stood on the rocks which rose higl
above the beach, and from the ston
which served him as step he had tn
range OF the broad bay and of the opel
sea beyond. 1t was far view, bu
Abner's eyes scanned the blue watc
more often to discover signs of school
of fish than in the enjoyment or az
probation OF its beauties; and th,
varying moods Of the sky meant tt
HIM only phases OF weather.
Abner had not proceeded for in hi
domestic occupation when the cheal
little clock on the shelf struck ten
He dropped his dishcloth with eviden
relief.
"Mess or no mess, those fish ha7'
got to be carried to the boat" ht
said.
He took his basket on his arm, ant
went down the rocky lane to the vii
lage and through the one struggling
street bordered by houses, white
painted, but with green blinds and gay
little door.vards bright with flowers.
The street led to the wharf.-the
business centre of the village
quaint and curious wharf. admired by
artists and by tourists with cameras,
but which was regarded BY the natives
from purely utilitarian standpoint
An old schooner had been firmly
grounded, propped by stout spiles, it,
cabin converted into o wharf-house
and fight OF steps cut into its side
for the landing of passengers.
The Mary Ellen had made many 6
hard voyage, but now she lay ct rest
Leisurely feet trod her planks, and tht
little waves plashed gently against hel
weatherbeaten sidcs-a peaceful end
ing of sea.tossed existence.
As Abner sauntered along the shaky
structure which bridged the space be
tween the schooner and dry land, tht
little steamer slowed up to mako it
daily landing, and bevy of village
girls hocked to the wharf to see 80
boat come in, the chief excitc .ent .
the day.
The young wolaG @s'@ e'
spirits, laughing. saria' .as
ing gum vigorous i1lsr
was critical.
"None of them for1ao ao-al
to himself. "Gaddin% aowr
this hour in the morn ug Sizes
ought to be doing up :
parcel of giggling fem
The gum also met Wit -
proval. "Waste of strenrih, beside
being dreadful exp %! The gir
with the light hair is kind O. gooe
looking, but where'd my breakfast b'
while she was cleaning up? No, non.
of them for mel"
1t never occurred to Abner that an,
offer he made might possibly be re
jected.
'I'll have 10 look further'n Beach
ville," he thought, as he climbed bacl
to his cabin. "If I've got to get mar
ried, I'm bound to get o wife t.
suit"
AS the days went by Abner's destr,
for a helpmeet increased, for the fish
ing was unusually good and kept hin
busy on the bay, so that his household
affairs went even more sadly awry. L
was clear that he must get somebody