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

road or shall git right out"
She stood up as she said 1t. The cap
tain looked ut her determined face.
why, Tempy"- he began.
mo, l shan't like 1t q bit, Cap'n Tit
comb, II you don't turn right round
and so the way you was goin'."
The captain jerked at the rein with
almost unnecessary vigor. The turn
was made In hurry. They wheeled
back into the direct road to the Port
and moved swiftly along 1t. Captain
TitcOmb did not say much, but as Miss
Tempy talked continuously he had lit
tie opportunity.
"Now nice the horse does gor' COM
mented the lacy. "You don't have to
cluck to him or nothtn'. Father used
to find 20 much fault with our Dex-
ter; said he had to shove on the reins
30 hard to make him navigate at all
that he didn't knows 'twouldn't be
easier to haul the carryall himself.
But, then, father was so high spirited
that nothin' less n race horse would
do him. What's that waitin' ON the
corner In FROM Of Gaius Eldredxe'sl :
Why. do b'lieve It's Claray
Captain TitcOmb evidently did not
see Miss Hopkins. At all events he
looked the other way and chirruped
- the horse. But Miss Tempy not
only saw. but Intended to be seen.
ut Is Clara" she declared. II must
speak to her. Clara! Clara!
The young lady. who had been In
.tently wftchinE the approaching bug
'gy, stepped to the edge Of the side
walk and waited until the equipage
drew up. She was dressed in her new
gown and jacket and certainly looked
very pretty. She nodded to the cap
tain, whose face was redder than
usual.
How dye do, Clara7" said Miss
Tempy. trying hard not to be patronix-
Ing. II s'pose you're takin' a walk.
You look reel nice Where are you
goin'r'
Miss Hopkins replied that she didn't
know Just where she should 60.
= well, l hope you'll have pleasant
afternoon wherever you co." gushed
Miss Tempy. '.rhe cap'n Ia takin' me
for little drive. Isn't this a beautiful
horsef'
Here the captain made his f,rst re-
mark since the carriage stopped. 1t
was to. the effect that he was taking
Miss Tempy down to the Methodist
chapel She had been going that way,
and it was l0o8 walk.
"Oh." said Miss Hopkins sweetly, rs
that allf ! thought perhaps you were
going to take her over to Harniss. It
seems a. II remembered you saying
you expected to go there today. Good
by. ] hope you'll have nice time"
/. On that evening Captain Titcomt
made the FIRST OF the short calls which
were to continue during the week.
Miss Tempy welcomed him enthusias-
tically. and her sister did her best not
to appear Jealous. Clara did not come
into the sitting room at all, nor did she
do 90 during the following four even
ings.
Bradley did not mention the trouble
aboard the Diving Belle when he
reached home Friday night. He was
even more silent than usual at the
supper table. When the meal was over
he suddenly exclaimed: by George.
Clara. must bel, your pardon! There
was a letter for you in cur box this
morning, and I left 1t aboard the
schooner. Ill bring II home tomor-
row."
Captain Titcomb came about 8. He
seemed really cheerful when he first
arrived. but soon relapsed into the
moody silence that had characterized
bis visits that week.
"Clara out In the kitchen?" he ask
ed after awhile. IL noticed the light
was burnin'."
NO." replied Miss Tempy: "she's up
In her room. She's left some bread to
rise. and guess she's comm down to
see II by and by. That's why she left
the lamp. s'pose likely"
AZ the big clock In the dining room
struck o the captain rose, announced
that he must be going and went.
Bradley retired soon after, and the
sisters followed his example. The old
house grew still. Miss Prissy was
dropping into comfortable doze when
she felt herself clutched violently by
the back hair.
"Ow" she exclaimed, half awake.
LET go! What on earth"-
"S-s-sh-hv Miss Tempy breathed
Il frantically into her ear. "Don't
speak,
II won't II you let 60 of my hnir.
what's the matter-nightmare? I told
you there was limit. even to pepper
tea"
"Oh. do be still! There's robbers
downstairs. l heard 'em."
Miss Prissy groanlngly sat up and
listened. ITS Clara seem to her
Bread" she said fter moment.
1T ain't. Clara, In her room readin'
l saw her through the crack In the
door. And Bradley's I'm his room