The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-14

Il II
\. house. Up to the beginning
II Of that week he had called on
oesday and Friday evenings only
and had remained until after 10
o'coock. joking. laughing and apparent.
~ entoying himself. But now he
came every night and seemed less
taIkative and moro glum each time;
alep bis calls grew shorter. and he
uont homo a. early as half past g.
Ihe sistsrs did not know what to
mike OF II. II was pleasant and en-
eooraGing b have him come 90 often,
h ~ WIN djdp't he stay longerf Miss
4ompy Aeught ~ must be worrying
en- ~ big contract.
- asked Clara for her eoanIon. but
n H. Hopkins seemed very III 1l6erent.
- ueed to come into the G1tfing room
- oooo - the work was doue 10 listen
- Captain Titcomb's stories, but Of
~ che had gone straight to her own
ooom- The old maids did not urge htx
- somalu- They liked to have the cap
lnln to thsmsslvss.
On the afternoon Of the previoas
11nday Nfiss Tempy had taken 4, sud
- notion to 60 over to the Msth0d1at
110Del and attend the sabbath ocAoo1
<ouucoft. The chapel was on tho rood
4 - Orham Port, mile or more from
- Allan home Miss Prissy was not
clEone enough to 60 and. In fact,
0oooht The walk too long for her del
1850 sister. but Miss Tempy. having
3o6o up her mind, went. She would
0ovo besn glad Of Clara's company,
- the young lady had already gone
M 11lss Tsmpy had just reached the
0uRoer whsn she was surprised to see
CqUtnln Titcomb drfvine toward her
. - haGU. She recognised the horse
- eaRiags a. being the best owned
~ Len Mullett, The livery stable keep
~ clio she noticed that the captain
1oo&ed particularly well dressed.
Ornced up. che told Miss Prissy after
Uuzd
n ''Capn!' she called. "Cap'n Esraw
The captain was then almost direct
~ oppoats. but be did not seem to
1onr ~ 80 her. Instead he whipped
- ths bore and drove by faster than
~Dsar mers thought Miss Tempy.
- must b gittin' absentminded.
Wegkl1 too hard, guess. Cap'n
u y doubtful II the captain would
oavo heard even then. but Jonadab
Nlxon was coming down the road.
md he also besaur to shout. Hailed
ous. fore and an. the absentmInded
- wa obliged to heave to, aud when
Captain Jonadab pointed out Miss
Hempy he turned bis horse and drove
oock To whsre che waa standing.
We'll. I do declare.' exclaimed the
ny. smlllngly conscious OF a becom-
- new bonnet-one Of the reasons
~ her desire to attend the concert.
IN all out Of breath callin' after you.
y dent know what folks will thlnkv'
Ihe captain didn't appear to care
~Ey much what folks might think. He,
- polite 40 usual. but seemed to be
. 01ne nervous and kept glancing up
- down the road. Miss Tempy. un.
3ohocious Of the nervousness, went
gu1hInsIy on.
what lovely horsew she cried. "T
+ eselare. II must be a pleasure to ride
behind him. do 10 like to ride with
nlc& gentle horse like that Father
Unod to take Prissy and me drivin'
WIN our Dexter when he was alive
0fher was alive, l mcan-yes. and the
norse. too, OF course. hope haven't
hept you. Was you goIn' to see Brad.
Hr,
D~No. no." was the hasty answer. 81
was jest--jest drivin' down the road
. ways" Then. perhaps noticing that
~ friend was headed toward the vii
h9e. he added: II bad q little errand
Aewn toward the Port. You're goin'
upsown. l see. else I'd ask you to
11mp In"
why. how lovely exclaimed Miss
1ampy. II was goln' to the Port, too
down to the Methodist folks concert.
only came this way cause thought
I'd stop at Mrs. wlngate's and see II
- wouldn't 40 with me- Prissy was
afraid the walk there and back would
- t,o long for me. and. truth to tell, l
vas little afraid OF 1t myself. l
0idnt expect TO ride. and with you.
cap'n Ezra! It'll be such treat, be-
cause I shall feel perfectly safe with
you drivin'."
The captain did not answer immedi-
ateiy. He was busy with the buckle
thnt fastened the reins together. But
the Hllence was only momentary.
"Good enoughr' he cried. "Tll have
you there In jiffy."
He sprang out. assisted the lady into
Tho buggy and then turned the horse :
head into the road leading UP the hill
why. you're goln' the wrong way"
Miss Tempy exclaimed. You're goIn'
the wrong way. Cap'n Ezra"'
"Oh," replied the captain cheerfully