Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-12


were spent In going from house %
house and whose ears were wearied
with much gossip and whose eyes
were tired OF flashing needles and the
whlr or the sewing machine, What n
blissfully happy existence would be
hers In the snug shelter of the sloop.
with its perfect arrangements for
housekeeping, the indulgcnt captain
FOR husband. And-here Miss Will
Hes head drooped-there was nobody
quite so lovable rs Captain BENJAMIN
Bum. That was Miss Willie's care.
fuily guarded secret. that and her zeal
ousy or the three EvaS of Little River
village. Her face grew quite pafe
again as she shook Off Captain Runn's
hand.
Il couldn't live In n house or II boat
that was named after smother woman.
You can see how they~i all talk, espe-
cially IL they didn't marry YOU them
| selves" she said resolutely.
Marry me themselves" roared the
captain. "iou don't mean them three
women wanted 10 marry me!'
Miss Willie nodded proudly Every
one of 'em has laid claim TO you ever
since you sailed into harbor with
Lovely Eva painted on the sIoop."
she had that name when bought
her down IN Rockport. What can /
do? It's bad lucl, tD- change Il boats
name" said the captain hrlpltsSiy.
perhaps y"u1l think II good luck
not tn change il" rctortrd Miss Willie
stiftiy, once more turning away. And
this time Captain Bum G!d not detain
her.
He watched her with grave blue eyes
from which all the happiness had fed
until her lilac skirts had nuttcred
around pile o. great powders. and
then. with long sigh he picked up his
painting materials and trudged I'M to
the sloop.
The result of Il long meditation was
visible the next morning when captain
Bum rugged II small scaffolding and
swung himself To Il seat under the bow
OF the Lovely Eva. Cheerfuly he
worked. and he sang Justify the chorus
OF Ben Bowine." II was II short lob.
but one requiring delcacy and skill
When Ii was finished he performed Il
similar operation on the port bow and
then hurried to the stern, where he
stood on barrel and carefully re-
painted the worn letters that an
nounced the name Of Lovely Eva.
Little River"
Then he flew down to the sailboat
and with loving care lcttcred the name
OF "Wilhelmina r." on stem ard stern
fin f-h hi
fresh and clean in suit of white drill
when n man came along the beach
from Little Village. He was the edi.
tor of the weekly newspaper.
Good morning. captain" he hailed
cheerily. Il received your message
about the new boat. so I've come down
to have look ut her. \ beauty. isn't
she?" He stood still and examined the
boat with critical eye
II think she's pretty fine. Mr.. Brown
I'll take YOU out tomorrow Perhaps
we can get few blues outside. eh?"
The captain beamed happily. Every
thing would be we'll now. AMI in the
distance he could see Miss Willie
Deems picking her way down the
beach toward him.
Makes the old sloop look some shah
BY he remarked. calling attention 10
The boat on the sand above them.
Mr.. Brown turned and lGo::td nj The
sloop. He squinted long at her and
then went up closer. "Whlt's the
matter with her name. captain:
thought He turned II pl2: led look
on the captain. who was watching him
with twinkIing eyes.
What is the matter with her Nance"
repeated Captain Bum inuocCnuy.
why. thought her name was Love
ly Eva. but. by George. its Lonely
Eva
The captain laughed It's always
been Lonely Eva-qucer name. isn't II?
but somehow the first stroke Of the
N wore off and left Il " las never
been painted back again till awhile
ago. You see, that's her real name"
Now that is quite joke" mused
MIR. Brown. with eyes mirthfrlly rem
iniscent OF two spinsters ana an am
bilious widow who laid claim to the
name of Eva. II wonder If you'd OBJ
iect to my writing that up for the pa
per. never heard the Sloop called
anything except Lovely. although
guess it's been mighty lonely some
times" He laughed at his own Joke.
Write her up; write her up" agreed
the captain heartily, with wave OF
his hand TO the departing editor.
He saw Mr.. Brown greet Miss WI
lie with great Difference, and then he
stood quietly waiting until she reach
cd his side
II expect I'm acting like II fool over
the name Of that boat" she began hur-
riedy, when Captain Bunn's pointing
iingcr brought her 10 an abrupt pause.
DO you think any woman u ever lay
claim To having that sloop mined after
her, Willie? Any woman in Little
River going TO acknowledge her name
q" be Lonely Eva: Not ON your lie"
Miss Willie saw and blushed and
ihon laughed mcrriIy. Then her face
tssNt Il