The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-09
"Not as long as you can SAIL"

sturdy fellow that he was, Archer
was fully competent to handle the
boat, for all the power there was in
the breeze he got out of it, and
though time and again the Miriam
keeled over till her lee sail was wee
aw,."h and my heart was in my
mouln, she always swung back again
without swerving an inch from her
course.
"There is a girl in that boat that |
am most anxious to see, Mr.. Kemp .
said Archer after a pause.
so I should judge, " said /.
II have spent nearly all my life in
London he went on. 81 should be
there now had I not met her. She
sailed for home about two months
ago, and ostensibly by accident, but
really by intention, l came over on
the same steamship. By the fourth
day out from Queenstown we had
fixed everything up nicely. Then I
happened to remember another en-
gagement = sort of a marriage of
convenience-and, like a fool, I told
her. She shut herself up in her
stateroom for the rest of the voyage
and cut me dead at the pier. I hum
bly, followed her to her homo in San
Francisco. She fled back east. All
trace of her was lost, and came
down here to sulk.
"Do you think we'll catch 'ems"
asked, with suddenly awakened in
terest.
"Thank your' he replied. This
simple acknowledgment of his graft
tude for my now evident sympathy
in his venture won me completely,
and scrambled forward to the mast
with recklessness that surprised
me that might get the bearings of
the craft we were chasing.
elbow far off do you make themi"
he called to me.
"About two miles.
"They are beating along the bay,
he cried, land 1 think if we hold
this course we'll just cross their
bow.
The mans judgment was superb,
for Is minutes later we were so close
to the other boat that I could see its
two occupants plainly. One was a
man, regulation small boat man,
attired in combination of golf and
yachting clothes. The second was
the girl. l felt that, were she as in
teresting as she appeared as she sat
there ON the windward rail, fearless
of danger, her face aglow with the
excitement of what she evidently
realized was race, Archer was ex-
cusable for forgetting his other en-
gagement. l was meditating on this
when my companion, who had been
hidden from her view by the rail,
exclaimed, "Jove!"
"We're all right" said 1. "We'll
catch them, and you can go on
board
"That's just it," he growled. II
can't go on board. Why, she would
cut me dead or toss me over
AS he was best posted as to the
young woman's character, silence
on my part seemed beftting. He did
not speak again until we had drawn
within hailing distance OF the other
boat, when he motioned me to him.
"We'll run right across their
bow" he whispered. "Don't you
mind me. I can see bottom here.
Keep right on, and they will have
to take me in. Now, look out' We
swept across the bow of the other
craft and, by a seemingly clumsy
maneuver, went about. The boom
swung around, and an instant later
Archer was foundering in the bay.
I grasped the tiller, and the Miriam
scudded away before the wind. Poor
sailor as I am, had necessity de-
manded it I doubt if I could have
navigated the boat back to where
Archer was Topping about in the
water, SO it was an easy matter for
me to obey his injunctions and sail
away oblivious to his cries, which
mingled with those of the girl i'll the
tiny sloop.
Only twice did I look back. The
first time was to see my erstwhilc
companion being dragged by maili
force into the other boat, the second
to see two men and girl gesticulat.
ing wildly to me to return, but !
smiled grimly and pointed the Mir
lam toward home.
On the very next day l returned
| to town, and I heard no more of the
| sentimental man until late in No
vember. I was walking up Thirty
ninth street one afternoon on my
way home from the Office when my
attention was attracted to well ap-
pointed brougham that swerved into
the curb close by me. l heard
voice call, "Kemp'
It was Archer, and as I took his
outstretched hand he returned to
the pretty young woman who had
| i11c+ a,naroe6 from the carriage and