Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-12-01
AN ELOPENIENT.

Eyes, sir, thero's plenty of romance
here. 1t comes down in trainfuls every
Saturday IN bank holiday all hangs
about an gets SO mixed with the spars
an ropes that you can't walk about
without runnin up agon it," said old
Billy Stumps, tho best known boatman
and oleverest wholesale manufacturer
of yarns on Margato sands.
"Mind you," he added, in q conoilia-
tory tone. II amt a-grumblin about no
romance--.not a bit Oh it. Why, sir, if
it hadn't bin for romance, Wouldn't
ha' bin the owner an navigatin had
miral Of them six boats RS lies below
there.
''Story, sir, " ho muses., as he loads
his short, black clay. "Woll, I'll toll
you this story if it's anyways welcome,
al it won't hurt them as it's :EuuI
COS the last heard thoy was with the
harmy in Indin, which to all accounts,
though / ain't never visited tho coun-
try, amt safe for boatin cos of tho crol.-
idiles and hallygators.
well, sir, it was ten years ago on
naturally l was ten years younger, an
the Seabird--that's her with tho dark
blue hull an tho red streak along the
gunnel-had just been built to my OK
press designs. Twas loungin along hore,
just as l might bo today, only it was
tho beginnin Of Juno, when up comes
ono Of tho young toffs as was stayin
st tho big hotel. Ho know'd me- an /
know'd him, for we'd bin sailing an
flshin together many times. Ho was a
ways an as handsome faco an kind a
manner Of talkin as you over seed.
'Stumps, says he-ho generally
called mo Stumps when thoro was busi-
ness about Stumps. ho says, Il wants
to talk to you
eyes, Sir, ses. respectfullilko, COS
l could SEQ it wasn't story ho wanted.
'Stumps,' ho says agon-makin tho
second time ho'd said lido you know
what it is to 30 in lovo?'
Well, sir, Sos, carofullilxe, SO as
to hide my surprise. 'l'vo seen good
deal Oh it.
"'Never mind what you've seen, he
says, kinder rilod. Il want to know
whether you've got any sympathy for
them az is in lovo. You an have been
friends, Stumps amt we?'
"'Corso wo have sir, SOS, an I'd
do anythink for you, if it was only for
tho Seabird 8 sake, as you've said was
tho smartost craft abouts.
"'An you like Miss Barclay, too? he
asks
"Well, / didn't liko to show it, but l
was completely took back, for, bless
you, thcro wasn't q protticr nor swCotor
nor nicer lady in Margit than Colonel
Barclays dartor, as had taken :. house
for tho season. Why, she used to como
down among us every day an bring us
books an flowers an fruit on Sundays an
talk an laugh just as if sho was COM
mon boin. An now + comes to rec Fleet,
I'd seen this young follor-Mr Egerton
was his name, and n nico young foller,
too--I'd seen him look at hor and follor
her, an | WON'T say as wot ho didn't
speak to hor sometimes, though that
ain t no business Of mino nor yourn.
"Woll, I tolls him straight what
thinks Of her, an no smiles all over his
face an holds out his hand, an | won't
deny as it struck mo when no smiled as
ho was just tho young follor as nico
gal lilo that would fall in lovo with.
Como Tor u sail, no says. Il can
tell you bottcr then.
so wo gets tho Soabrd, as had boon
painted afrcsh, with pair Of triangular
yOtting flags Oh her bows, an beats
about for awhile before no begins
"'Stumps,' he says. 1T amt ovorj
man as I'd trust with my private con-
sarns, much less my lovo affairs, but
I've took such n fancy to you rs I can't
let 90 on. I dossay, no says, it'll sur.
prise you as Miss Barclays a-goin to
marry mo somo day, but rs tho old
forget what tho precise word was--'but
as tho colonel amt agreeable to tho
match wo mir agoin to tako tho tiller In
our own hands and run for the fust op-
portunity as offers. Now, Stumps,' no
says, you're good sailor an n bravo
man, an the Scabird's tho smartost craft
on tho coast, an IL sooms to me as we
could do this job bottor and moro Of.
fectooallike by sea than we could by
land You need hayo no fear of the con-
sekens, he says, COS i've got plenty
Of money, an Miss Barclay Is old onuff
to know hor own mind, an It's only