Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-24
The WOOing
Of Ann * *
By J. c. PLUMBER
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

PEAL OF SlVery laughter rang out
IA on the Nereid and went down
wind to the wharf where a brawny ne
gro, eating his dinner of plantain and
raw Goldfish in the shade of a tier of
sugar hossheads, caught the sound and
I'm sympathy showed his white teeth,
Though he knew not the reason for the
merriment
"You look sweet enough 20 eat, Mr..
Jennings" said Ann, between her
laughing fits
Mr.. Charles Jennings, second mate of
the Neried. probably blushed for. even
in the absence of mirror, he pretty
well knew how he looked. Molasses
vas intermiXed with his hair, diluted
with perspiration it ran down his tenn
sIes in brown rivulets, while great
patches of the brown, sticky stuff
adhered 20 his duck breeches and shirt
If there's any task that will utterly
rout mans conceit in his appearance
and make him admit that he belongs
among the pariahs of the human race
1t is when he superintends the loading
or a cargo of molasses on a vessel a
typical West India day. For be it
known that molasses is loaded in this
way. number of empty hossheads
are slowed, bung up. in the hold. Then
q full hogshead is hoisted over the
hatch and by means of hose the con-
tents is carried to the hogshead in the
hold. The men who guide this hose.
especially when the cargo nearly
reaches the deck beams and they are
Obliged TO lay prone on their stomachs
become picturesque objects Of smear
and daub. 81 wish she had come any
other day" groaned jennings, as he
skunk below to get off those stains and
clothes.
And yet he had been alternately
burning with desire and chilled with
timidity about this day ever since the
brig sailed from Sierra Leone for Bar
BADGES, where the captains daughter
was TO Join her. For two years Jen-
nings had secretly loved Ann Somers,
he felt sure her father would refuse his
consent and then he was extremely
doubtful if Miss Ann would say yes
She would probably laugh at him and
he dreaded Miss AIMS laugh more than
he did the brusqUe refusal he expected
fron her parent.
The next day the Nereid weighed an
chor and set sail for Boston, and there
was little balm 10 the heart of Jen-
nings. Not only was Miss Ann unap-
proachable, but Mr.. Gride. the chief
mate, paid her some very direct atten-
tions which attentions the young lady
received smilingly and with apparent
favor.
''Gride's father is a shipowner,"
groaned Jennings, he'll be master OF
a ship when he gets home and that
catches her"
The heartsore and pessimistic Jen-
nings felt that all the world, as con-
tanned on the Nereid, was against him.
He detected dislike in the captains
manner, contempt in Gride's way of
looking at him and utter disregard
famed from Miss AIMS turquoise eyes
Added to his troubles his preoccupation
of mind caused him to make one or
two plumbers Of the captains orders
which brought down a hurricane OF
wrath upon his head from that high
dignitary.
IT'S simply all up with me-" admit
ted Jennings TO himself.
Barring a brush with the fag-end OF
cyclone on The Bermudas, the voyage
was uneventful until the brig was in
the latitude Of Hatteras, when the mo.
notony was broken by sighting a dere
hct,' one of those Wandering Jews o
the ocean, drifting slowly at beck o
wind and current As the craft was evi
IDENTIFY abandoned and waslumber lade1
the captain did not board her. Their
was not breath of wind, the sails lay
Ing listlessly in wrinkles. Capt Som
ers and Gride had gone below for
nap and Jennings had the deck. II
was leaning against the rail idl,
watching the dereuct when a voice tina
made his blood Jingle addressed him.
Il should dearly love to go aboar
that vessel" said Miss Ann
Il don't believe you coud get Of
her. answered T-~o'~o~ ''r ev.- 10