The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-04
CHAPTER I.

very Teu, mOlot laSS " 'HNA N->
But they took no notice Of him.
Stepping genially over the rouga
mounds, looking beautifully cool and
clean and smart and well-dressed be-
side the besmirched and perspiring
Willie, they threw back their heads,
half closed their eyes, and proceeded
tc criticise the work before them
with as much care and conscientious
uess as if it had been a painting on
the walls of the New Gallery.
II say, old chap, 1t really is the best
thing you've ever DONE" began OTTO
with kindly admiration.
by Jove, Jordan, I never thought
you could paint before" added Cl-f-
ford. There's a broad touch, and at
the same time a nice feeling for e.
feet, which shows an immense ad'
vance on your previous work. You
seem, so to speak, to have put all your
strength into the work. 1t Goes you
immense credit-it really does, old
chap"
"Some meaning in it, too. And
that's the point where you c-Ways
failed before"
To the Intense disgust of Willie,
pretty Nell was evidently much
amused by these remarks. And, al
though a feeling Of condescending
gratitude to her abject admirer made
her try 20 control her enjoyment. Cliff
ford saw in he:c. blue eyes a merri-
ment none the less keen that she sub
dued it's outward manifestation.
"It's easy to chaff," grumbled VIII
lie, hotly. "Perhaps you'S like to try
the work yourselves"
INC, old chap. We should never get
that depth Of color" said Otto, calmly
surveying the artists heated, crimson
face.
1T wants a natural aptitude for that
sort of thing" said, Clifford.
"Well, you can take yourselves on
II you have nothing better to do t.sn
to find fault with what you haven't
the pluck to do yourselves, said VIII
lie, sharply.
We're not finding fault. We are
expressing our admiration" said Otto.
"And we are quite ready to try our
hand ourselves" said Clifford, as,
with O sudden burst Of energy, born
OF his desire to linger in the neighbor-
hood OF Nell, he threw off his own
coat, and struggled for possession OF
the tar-brush.
But Willie resisted, and there was
danger of their both suffering severe
" from the nature of the prize, when
the object of so much singular loyalty
in.erposed.
eff you really are so full Of energy
that you need come vent for it," said
she, in a voice which was full Of sug-
Eestions of demure merriment. you
might help pull up those boats"
And she glanced at two Of the small
pieasure-craft in the river, both Of
which had evidently suffered some in
Jury, as their water-logged condition
bore witness.
Clifford set about the task with en-
thusiasm, and, not without difficulty,
succeeded in bringing the boats up on
the Shiny bank.
It was warm work, and as Otto
Conybea-c made no offe:-: to assist him,
it vas 1Jng time before Clifford
managed, first ~ baling the water
out of the boats with an old pail and
then by turning them little on one
side when he had partly dragged them
out, ard implying them, to finish his
task. When he at last raised his head
with great sigh Of satisfaction, ne
saw il the river below a weather
beaten lid punt, in which sat young
fisherman Of the realistic, not the oper-
attic, kind. wearing hard felt hat, a
stained jersey, and huge pair of sea-
boots, who regarded him with al air
of mingled pity and contempt.
"Shc always gets moogs e co her
dirty work, she do," Ec observed, with
q Jerk of the head in the direction OF
fair Nell. "And the better dressed
they ere, the more she likes it. Oh,
she's q are un, she be-"
Now, it is not in hum,1: nature to
like being classed among the "moogs,"
and Clifford, who could hardly fusb
q deeper crimson thai: he had already
done with his exertions, tried to as
sumo an air Of philUsophic indifference
il vain.
I'm afraid you are not chivalrous,
my man." said he, thrusting his arms
into his coat and feeling that he would
like to plunge into the river.
- don't care to pull he cart out of
my boGy ard get no thank for it, re-
Joined The fisherman.
Clifford, I spite of lis assumed stole
isr began to feel like a fool. he
looked toward the spot where Nell had
been standing beside the shed, and
say that she, as we'll as his two
friends, had disappeared. The fshef-
man grinned and stuck the end Of an
old pipe in his mouth with an air Of
snug satisfaction.
az wasn't fashionable enough for her,
I wasn't: an I hank my stars for 1t.
It's saved NY back many good load"
Then Clifford felt satisfied that il
was pique at having his own advances
rejected which caused the young fish
ermar to be so contemptuous. So he
sai6, without irritation:
II should have thought no mail
would mind doing mans work to
tlve worlan's hands,
The fisherman Yutted away at his
dirt little pipe for few moments il
silence.
"Thems fine words" ne said, at last.
can maybe Id say the same of some