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 fishing-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 everywhere!
"Folks say Pm untidy," continued
Abner as he eyed the disorder. "But
I amt. 1t aint that ike dirt; It's
that I don't like cleaning up. I love
to see things kept nice as we'll as any
body. Ihate dirt worse than poison,
but I hate getting rid of it a heap
sight MORE" and he drew long sigh
as he set about his .uncongenial task.
"There aint doubt about it" he
went on aloud, habit which his
solitary life had developed. "It 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 a
mate. She can boss the galley and
Ill man the ropes. II there's foul
weather, L can take to the dory till
the storms blowed out" Here Abner
attacked his breakfast dishes, task
he particularly detested.
'There'll be lot OF things that
aint pleasant about it, he said, as he
thoug ght of his lost freedom. "But
I'll take care what kind OF one I get.
! don't want mastcr-hand at any
thing but cooking and scrubbing
decks. I'm captain, and won't step
down in rank for anybody"
The notion of getting married had
been presenting itself to Abner for
some time. Not that he was lonely (;
he felt no need of companion. His
idea of wife was some one to keep
his house clean, mend his clothes, and
cook his meals. No more tender
emotion stirred in his breast.
He was "getting along" in years,
and his rheumatism was increasing
upon him. One of these days he
would need some one to care for him.
His wife must be young, strong, cap.
able and amenable; that was all he
asked.
Abner Mullens had lived alone for
many years. The Hermit of Beach.
vile he was called by the young peo-
pie, who regarded him with awe and
suspicion. To their minds mystery
hung over his rude dwelling. Did
they not of hear Abner talking busily
to some unseen listener? The truth
was, Abner, saciturn to all fellow-bs.
ings, was fairly garrulous with HIM
self, and his conversations were pro.
longed and emphatic.
His little, unpainted, shiugled cabin
stood on the rocks which rose high
above the beach, and from the stone
which served him as step he had the
range OF the broad bay and of the open
sea beyond. 1t was far view, but
Abner's eyes scanned the blue water
more often to discover signs of schools
of fish than in the enjoyment or ap.
probation OF its beauties; and the
varying moods OF the sky meant TO
HIM only phases OF weather.
Abner had not proceeded far in his
domestic occupation when the cheap
little clock on the shelf struck ten.
He dropped his dishcloth with evident
relief.
"Mess or no mess, those fish have
got to be carried to the boat" he
said.
He took his basket on his arm, and
went down the rocky lane to the viii
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, its
cabin converted into q wharf-house,
and fight of steps cut into its side
for the landing of passengers.
The Mary Ellen had made many o
hard voyage, but now she lay at rest.
Leisurely feet trod her planks, and the
little waves plashed gently against her
weatherbeaten sides-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, the
little steamer slowed up to mako It's
daily landing, and bevy of village
girls focked to the wharf to see :ie
boat come in, the chief excito cnt a5
the day.
The young wo,aeu wara
spirits, laughing. sarie' .aa
ing gum vigorous i1lar
was critical.
''None of them for1oo uorar
to himself. "Gaddin& 1oan =
this hour in the morn ug, .ass
ought 10 Dc DONG up -. -I-t
parcel of giggling fem 4.
The gum also met Wit ' dls.p-
proval. "Waste of straIgth, besides
being o dreadful exp -! The girl
with the light hair is kind O. good
looking, but where'd my breakfast be
while she was cleaning up? No, none
of them for mel"
It never occurred to Abner that any
offer he made might possibly be re-
jected.
'I'Il have 10 look iurther'n Beach
ville," he thought, as he climbed back
to his cabin. ''If I've got to get mar
ried, Pm bound to get wife to
suit"
As the days went by Abner's desire
for a 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. 1t
was clear that ke must oes somebody