The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-20
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OCuuuIu.
After Ellen and her mother had ex-
planned the situation, and Lea had ex-
pressed her sorrow in her face rather
than by words, the Squire read the letter
aloud, and then, spreading it out on his
knee he took off his spectacles, and
after wiping them, again adjusted them
with great nicely to his nose; he con-
cluded these preparations by taking
vigorous pinch Of snuff, after he had
passed round the box with no takers.
Let me ask you question, Lieuten-
ant Hedges" he began, with severity
Of mien that startled his wife and per-
picked Ellen not little.
Aye, aye, sir. Fire away" said Mr..
Hedges.
Captain Denham left you in COM
mand Of the Sea Hawk"
Yes, sir.
ITO hold till he returned?"
Yes, sir, or till 1 am relieved by some
properly commissioned officer.
just so; that is the way see it.
Now this letter does not say that you
are to turn over the command Of the
ship to Captain Fox; on the contrary, it
is expressly stated that you shall obey
him as superior officer, SO far as the
movements of the vessel under your
command are concerned"
Il think you are right there, squire, I"
said Mr.. Hedges, his face Frightening
up.
Il know I am. When Fox comes he
will have orders from the Governor,
and you'll see that they accord with my
opinion as justice of the peace. And
satisfied that all the judges in the world
could not differ from this opinion, the
squire handed back the letter.
When Lea learned that Thrasher, the
post-rider was about to return in about
an hour or two, she got quill and pa
per from Ellen and sat down then and
there to write her lover letter.
All wrote, Mr.. Hedges being the
only letter that had an official tone, and
the only one in which love or friendship
was not sent to Ralph, with strong in
functions to answer as soon as possible,
and give them all the particulars, par
ticularly the particulars Of his return.
When all the letters were ready, Mr..
Hedges and Valentine Dayton took
them down to the inn, where they found
Thrasher smoking his pipe with an air
Of great enjoyment, and looking like
anything but man exhausted by long
ride.
These letters, said Valentine Day
ton, taking u gold coin from his pocket
and handing it with the letters to
Thrasher, are all private, 80 I will pay
you now, and when you hand them TO
Capt. Denham, am sure he will give
you an additional reward.
Il like Cap'n Denham as much as any
man I ever came across, except, per-
haps, mebbe, Cap'n Fox; he comes up
about to him; and you'll see'I won't
forget myself" replied Thrasher, whose
flushed face showed that he had been
taking advantage of his unexpected
prosperity to treat himself to wine.
Soon after this the post-rider left for
Greenport, from which point he said he
was going to Gardner's Island, then
and still in the possession Of the family
that first purchased it from the Indians.
II don't like that man, Thrasher,
said Mr.. Hedges, as he and Valentine
stood on the beach signaling the Sea
Hawk to send boat for them.
Nor do I, but of course the fellow
has nothing to do with the nature Of the
messages he carries. almost wish the
Sea Hawk was out of commission, and
we were settled down on shore again, y
said Valentine.
"Oh, it's all very we'll for you, Val,
who have pretty girl ready to become
your wife, to talk about settling down;
but here I m-tive-and-forty, with no
wife and the prospect of none.
THAT is your own fault, Uncle
George"
Perhaps it is; could have married
i'm my time, and when I was your age, if
any one had told me 1 should live to be
as old as I am now, without getting
married, I would call him crazy. Yet,
here am, with no bride but the ship
and no home but the sea.
"Oh, come, Uncle George, don't talk
in that way. Every house on the island
is your home and every man is your
friend; and as to getting married, why
q man of forty-five should be in his
prime. If you doubt this start out at
once with the object of getting wife,
and my word for it, you can win girl
nearly as sweet as Ellen Condit, and
that is saying a great deal for the pow
ers of fascination Of any man, young or
old"
The lieutenant's bronzed face and
clear, brave eyes took on a softer ex-
preston, and Ills usually strong, bold
voice had in it sub-tone Of music, as
he said:
Perhaps you are right Val. know
/ feel as strong, and my head is as
clear, and my heart as stout as it ever
was; and talking bout being too old to
love, I'll tell you something if it wasn't
I'm afraid you'd laugh at me-"
You do me an injustice, Uncle
George, if you thing I could entertain
any other feeling than respect for what
! think to be the noblest emotion that
can stir the human heart. A man him
self in love. is not apt to ridicule the
feeling in another.
Il think you are right, my lad,
and more particularly when that
other is ones uncle. But
don't see why I shouldn't tell
you, though you may think strange of
my taste, that l have had my eye on q
certain girl for two years and more"
May I ask if know her?"
you do, VAL" said the lieutenant,
blushing through his tan.
We'll, Uncle George, who is ehe?"
She is not OF our race" said the
lieutenant, with solemn shake of the
head.
Not Of our race! What do you mean?"
y mean, Val, she amt white"
But she aint black" cried Val
mercy preserve us! No, she's red.
She's an Indian, Val, princess in het
tribe, and prettier or nobler woman
new i trod the shores Of Long Island,
! don't care what color the next is"