The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-07-19
THE STORY OF LAST ISLAND.

Lippincott's Magazine for July tells
this realistic tale OF the South: Nine
days after II storm In the Gulf of Mexico, a
traveller, finding his way to the salt-pans
| of Western Louisiana, took a little fishing
craft. There was that fresh purity in the
air and sea which follows the bursting of
the elements. The numerous bays nand
keys that indent the shore looked fresher
and brighter, and there was that repentant
beauty In nature which aims to s0oth us
into forgetfulness of its recent angry pas,
sions. The white winged sea birds few
about, and tall water fowl stoop silently
over their shadows, like picture above
and below. The water sparkled with
salt freshness, and the rowing winds sat on
the shoulder of the sail, resting and riding
to port.
The little bark slipped along the shores
and shadows, and in and out by key and
inlet, seeing its shadow on the pure white
sand that seemed SO near its keel. The
last vistage OF the storm was past, and
| the little Gulf-w0rld seemed fresher and
gladder of 1t. The tropical green grasses
and water-plants hung their long, linear,
hair-like sheaths in graceful curves, and
patches of willow palm and palmetto, in
many an intricate curve and involuti0n,
made a labyrinth of verdure. The wild
loneliness OF the ships and channels,
where never boat seemed to have sailed
since the Indians water logged canoe was
tossed on the shallow banks, was enhanc-
ed by the vision OF distant ships, with their
sails even with the water, or broken by
the white buildings of Il sleepy plantation
in It's bower of fig and olive, and tall moss
clustered pines.
Suddenly the traveller fanced he heard
a Cry, but the fishermen SAID no. it was the
scream of water fowl or the sbrill call of
an eagle far above dropping down from
the blue zenith and they sailed on.
Again he heard the distant cry, and was
told of the panther in the bush and the
wild birds that drummtd and called with
almost human intonation and they sailed
on again. But again the mysterious
troubled cry arose from the labyrinth of
green, and the traveller iutreated them to
90 III quest of it. The fishers had their
freight for market-delay would deterior-
ate lis value: but the anxious traveller
babe them put about and be would bear
the loss
1t was we'll they did. There, in the
dense coverts of the sea swanps, thew
found Il man and woman, ragged, to1n,
starved. For nine days they had had no
food but the soft pith or the palmetto,
coarse muscles, or scantspoisonous berries,
their bed the damp morass, and their drink
the bracklsh water; and they told the
wild and terrible story Of Last Stand
| Last Island was the Saratoga and Long
Branch of the South. The Southermost
watering place in the Gulf, Situated on
fertile coral Island enriched by imam.
able focks of wild fowl, art had brought
It's wealth of fruit and flowers to perfection.
The cocoanut palm, the date palm, and
orange orchards contrdsted their rich fol.
lage In the sunshine with the pine apple,
| banana, and the rich soft surf of The mes
qultgrass. The air was fragrant with
magnoli and orange bloom, the gardens
glittering with the burning beauty of
tropical flowers jossamiae thickets, and
voluptuous grape arbors, the golden wine
like sun pouring intoxicating balm over it,
graceful white cottages iestooned with
vines, with curving chalet or Chinese
roots cOlored red, pinnacled arbors and
shadowy retreats of espaliers. pretty as a
coral grove and Il fair shining hotel in
the midst, with arcades and porches and
galeries-the very dream of ease and
luxury, as delicate and trim as if made out
of cut paper in many lSrms of prettiness
Here was the nabob's retreat; in this
balmy garden of delight all that luxury,
art, and voluptuous desire could hint or
hope for was collected; and nothing harsh
or poor or rugged Jared the fullness of its
luxurious ease.
Ten nights before, its fragrant atmos-
phere was broken into beautiful ripples
by thu clang and harmony of dancing
music. 1t was the night of the "hop,5
The hotel was crowded. Yachts and
pleasure vessels, pretty as the petals of a
flower tossed on the water, or as graceful
shells, banked the shores; and thei steam
er at twilight came breathing short, ex-
cited breaths, with the Ii ST relay, for it was
the last of the summer season. In their
light, airy dresses as the music swan and
sung, bright-eyed girls foated in grace
tul waltzes down the voluptious waves of
sound, and the CLEAN of light and coler
was like the butterflies ball. The queen
ly, luscious night sank deeper, and lovers
strolled in lamp-lighsed arcades, and
dreamed and hoped of life like that, the
fairy existence of love and peace and so,
till tired ofplay, sleep and rest came in
tn g small hours
Hush All at once came the Storm
not, as in the Northern lautudes, with pre-
monltory murmur and fretting, flashing
itself by slow degrees into white heat and
rain, but the storm of the tropics carrying
the sea on its broad, angry shoulders, till,
reaching the verduous, love-clustered lit
tie isle, it flung the bulk of waters with
all its huge, brawnyforce right upon the
cut paper prettiness, aud broke them into
sand and splinters. OF all those pretty
children with blue and opalesoent eyes,