Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-04-16

The street led to the wharf,
the business centre of the village,
quaint aud curious wharf, ad
mued by artists and b> tourists
with cameras, but which was re-
garded by he natives from a pnre'
" unitarian standpoint.
An old schooner had been firmly
grounded, propped hy stout spilrs,
Its cabin converted into "a wharf
house, aud a flight of steps cutlnIo
its side tor the landing of passen'
gers.
Tue May Ellen had made many
hard voyage, but now she lay at
rest. Leisurely feet lrOd her plaukS,
aud the little waves FLASHED gent
ly against her weatherbeaten sides
a peaceful ending OF a sea-tossed
existence.
AS Abner sauntered along the
shaky structure which bridged
the space betv zen the schooner
and dry land, the little steamer
slowed up 10 make its daily lanc-
ing and a bevy of village girls
tlocked TO the wharf to see the
boat come in, the chief, excitement
of the day.
Tue young women were IN hlg0
spirits, laughing, shrieking, and
chewing gun vigorously. AbneI'S
gaze was critical.
'None OF them for mep ho re
marked to himself. 'Gaddlng
dowB here at this hour IN the
morning, when they ought to he
dong up their work. \ parcel OF
giggling females"
The gun also met with bis dis
approval. Waste OF strength,
besides being dreadful expense.
The girl with the light halr is kind
O. good looking, but where'd my
breakfast be while she WIS clean
lag up! No, none of them for me!
Itneyer occnIr,d to Abner that
any offer he made might possibly
be rejected.
I'l have to look lurihrl'n B och
vile be thought, - he clihO q
back TO bis ctoin. 1T I've got T..
get married, Im bound to ger Il
wife u SUIT.
As the days went by Abner'S
desire for a helpmeet Increased,
tor the fishing was unusually good
and kept him busy on tue bay, 50
that bis household tfiirS went
even more sadly away. 1t was
clear that he must get somebody
20 90 his houSek eepiug.
About two weeks after his con
demnaton of the Beachville maid
ems the hermit rowed around the
Point to the sleepy old town OF
Bdyport with load OF clans and
Holsters. Bayport was a bustllng
metropolis to Abner, and be fell
on his guard when he veninred
there, tor he bad vague notion
that his path would be best with
sharpers. But nobody tried to take
advantage OF his Innocence, and II
was not very long before he was
returning to his boat with his
empty baskets.
On the journey back h9 stopped
az a humble little house near the
wharf to ask for a drink, and
young woman of perhaps twent'
years answered his knock. She
' Willingly brought to him a dippe
OF clear, cool water. The dippe
; was OF TIN, but it was as clean an'
J shining as silver.
y Over its nm Abner eyed tn
giver with interest. She was llttl
plamp and dimpled, with trim
: ness about her which esp ciall
j pleased Abner. He thanked he
civllly.
d May ask your nameP he yer
u rured wiping his mouth on hi
. shirtsleeye.
II Susie Brown answered th
J. girl, a pretty pink coming into he
cheeks.
II Minis Abner Mullins and III
ID m lcb obliged to you, responde
% Abner, with unwOnted gallantry
then he turned and went on b
"a way.
III 'Tng little sloop,' ne said
I'd himself; 'kitchen look shipshap'
as too. / don't object to good looks
be there's something to ballast then
ca and Abner cast off his painter an
ut pulled fol homo with a long, steaC
Ne strokes which carried him swift
ns through the dancing sparklir
n waves.
is Son chow AbneI's little hOu
ds seemed actually lonely to him tn
Ily night, and tine next DAY the san
feeling possessed hin. Ho cOU