The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-13

kSH Slil row. Marry you, Sim Par.
ker! You! Why, may be a lady
ship before come back with all that
money. All want is to find some one
to take care Of Club till I get back
Club was her little boy.
See that tree?' asked Sim, pointing
to an ancient rock elm which leaned
crookedly against the side Of Celinda' s
pretty little house-the house she had
just sold.
'Of course I do. What has that got
to do with it?''
You'll find me leanin' agin it when
you come back; that's ALL The young
fellows blue eyes impressed her with a
sense Of power. Her own fell beneath
his masterful gaze.
There was a big but unsympathetic
procession to see Celinda start from the
wharf next day. Four Cornerites
vaguely resented CeIinda's airs and
graces, and did not believe that she
would get the money. AS far back as
1850 Fraser of Ochiltree's eldest son
had emigrated to Canada. When Fra
Ser Of Ochiltree died his son had never
claimed his money, which, presumably,
continued to accumulate. One Of the
Montreal papers said it amounted to
four millions. All Celinda had to do
was to prove her identity and bring
back the money. She wanted to settle
IN Ind nd chnr
people what she thought of them. But
when the vessel got outside Quebec Ce-
linda would have given all the Fraser
millions to be back at Four Corners.
But in time she recovered. Club (he
declined to be seasick) made violent
love to the captain. whom he persisted
in looking upon as parent, greatly to
that worthy's embarrassment. He was
married man, and told Club so, but
Club only laughed and gurgled, and
wanted him to "tiss mummy"-a propo-
sal which sent a blush to the young
widows pretty cheeks.
When Celinda reached Liverpool the
captain obtained permission from his
owners to take her up to town. and
leave his first officer in charge. Celin-
da had refused to marry the first Off
Ger four times, the second officer twice,
the third officer thrise. but they none
of them. bore malice, except to pity the
captain for being married man. You
see," said the first officer to his compan-
ions in misfortune, 1--WE can afford to
look down on him, because he's out Of
Now if the widow comes
back with US for the return trip we can
go on proposing until she gets tired out
and takes one Of us. 1t looked at first
as If the Old Man has the bulge on us,
but you just wait until he goes home
and tells his wife all about it."
II.
"Sim Parker went into what had once
been Celinda's pretty house, and gazed
lat it with an air of satisfaction. Every
thing was just as it had been before
Celinda went away to fetch the hypo-
thetical four millions. Clubs cradle,
already aired, stood in one corner Sim
gave it a thoughtful push with his foot,
and set it rocking. Some interesting
works Of art on the walls shone in
fresh frames. The rooms had been re-
lpapered and the kitchen ceiling white
washed. At the sale Sim had been the
only bidder for five photographs Of the
l]ate unlamented Dick Marston. With
b certain dellcacy he took them into the
Kitchen and put them in the stove, as
ydf he thought they would thus rejoin
$he person whom they portrayed. The
sshired girl" wore new frock, present
Jed to her by Sim. Celinda's little pig,
no longer an outcast, in spite of his pit.
peous entreaties, had been scrubbed by
Sim into a state Of pinky perfection. in
case Club wanted to love him. The
black and white COW looked out from
her stall and lowed to a pretty little
black and white calf which had mystic
riously appeared on the scene. The
calf wore collar with the word
"Chub" in brass letters.
80 far that's all right" said Sim, as
he went around the verandah. and no.
ticed belated humming bird lowering
over the big fuchsia in its green tub
"NoM, If parson and his wife will only
-eome along in time, Celinda II git here
just after dark and nobody be any the
wiser"
He looked at telegram from his
agent in Montreal and smiled. Then
he frowned.
- dunno" he mused. II dunno as
it's fair to Celinda to force her into it
Reckon she'll be feelin' pretty bad"
He heard the whistle Of the night
boat as she fused up to the long
wharf. "I'd like to wiring the neck OF
ethat whip-poor-will," mused Sim, tax
ing his position against the tree he had
Smentioned to Celinda. Makes me fee
that lonesome 1t gives ME the chills."
: The inhabitants of Four Corners
were all indoors enjoying their evening
meal, and the stage, after vainly wait
ing at the wharf to bring up passen
gers crawled emptily into Four Corn
ers.
"5uss so." said Sim, placidly continu
ING to smoke. "Juss so. She ain't
Hgoin' to come up in the stage and have
half the place rushin' out to jeer at her
Mot much. No. sir. Not much. By and
large, Celinda's pretty cute"
"Are you there, sim?" asked pleas
IA