The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-10-01
AT SAPPHIRE INN
BY ElIzAEETH YORK MILLER.

gentleman in blue jeans.
There was a real or fancied wrong
involved. and he of the blue jeans
talked much and freely. His audi
ence included not only Mr.. Pinner,
but the whole porchful of white-clad,
rocking-chair ladies and their at
tendant swains, besides three newly
arrived and prosperous-looking
guests, who democratically shared a
seat on the steps with Mr.. Pinner.
The situation which had provoked
the discussion was this: Sapphire
inn, nesting in the heart of the
North Carolina mountains, had all
but been appropriated by conserva-
tive colony from New Orleans. After
a decade of patronage, during which
time he should have fully learned
the likes and dislikes of the colony,
Mr.. Pinner was supposed to be trusr-
worthy in the matter of admitting
new and welcome guests, or in ex-
cluding those who were palpably un-
desirable.
But New Orleans, with more aris-
tocracy than dollars, had reckoned
foolishly without New York and
Pittsburgh and the lure of lucre as
applied to Mr.. Primer. In a mo-
ment of recklessness, for which he
could not at present account, the inn
keeper invested in two tally-ho's, be-
lieving fondly that his guests would
rent them; but the season came and
went, leaving the vehicles as Dead
sea fruit on his hands.
1t was then that Mr.. Pinner, fac
ing bad investment, grew desperate
and advertised the attractions of his
resort in the New York papers, and
it was this advertisement which
fetched the despised tal'v-ho crowd.
After all, they had rented but one
tally-ho. The other still stood in the
barn under its canvas hood, solitarily
ostracized.
After he had studied the skies
for a sufficient interval to make the
lack of conversation embarrassing,
one of the strangers ventured ques-
ton. "These people" he said tersely
-"who are they? Where do they
come from"
E'They are some folks from New
York." Josh explained. "And you'd
think they owned the earth-with
their di'monds and their airs. Allus
up to something. You never know
what to expect next"
"Where are they now?" continued
the stranger, pursuing the subject,
"Shortsville-to the races"
"How far is it to Shortsville-is
there more than one road?"
Mr.. Pinner Immediately scented
further patronage of his livery, and
woke up to something resembling
animation. 'FWell, it's matter of
ten-twelve miles," he said briskly.
'Thats the only road there. 1t goes
clean off to Shortsville after the
bend"
81 don't suppose you have another
tally-ho tv rent?" interposed one of
the other men languidly.
'Why, yes, I have" Mr.. Pinner
brought himself smartly from a lol-
ing position to his feet, 'T've got
a right nice one-horns and all. 1t
amt never been used. I bought the
darn things last season, and nobody
ever hired them. They're yaller and
black, a bit too loud for my folks,
but the taly-ho people think they're
real elegant. do, myself. Want
to see the one that's here"
@Surew assented the strangers in
9 breath, exchanging amused glances
with one another.
Mr.. Pinner lost no time in getting
to the stables, and in half an hour
the second tally-ho, drawn by the
innkeepefs iveliest colts, dashed out
Of the barn. On the box sat the
shortest of the three new guests,
handling the ribbons like veteran.
The turnout swung briskly into the
road for Shortsville, with laughing
defiance of the avcrted faces on the
Feranda and much footing of horns.
The sun was sliding down behind
Whiteface mountaiT, and Josh Wat
~. ob.Sorra5 +bot - ,yo, l;xl 49,