The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-08-06

freshness, and the rowing winds sat
In the shoulder OF the sail, resting
and riding to port.
1he little bark slipped along the
shores and shadows and in and out
by key and inlet, seeling its shadow
on the pure white sand that seemed
so near its keel. The last vestige of
the storm was gone and the little
Gulfsworld seemed fresher and glad
der for it. The tropical green grasses
and water-plants hung their long,
linear, hairlike sheaths in graceful
curves, and patches of willow-palm
and palmetto, in many an intricate
curve and inyolution, made laby-
rinth of verdure. The wild loneliness
of the numerous slips and channels
where never a boat seemed to have
sailed since the Indians water
logged canoe was tossed on the
shadowy banks, was enhanced by
the vision Of distant ships, their sails
even with the water. or broken by
the white buildings of sleepy plan
tation in its bower of figs and olive
and tall moss-clustered pines.
Suddenly the traveller tancied he
heard cry, but the fisherman said
not was the scream of waterfowl
or the shrlll call of an eagle far above
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 wild birds
that drummed and -04tt 49, 18th almost
human intonation; aSa they sailed
on again. But again the mysterious
troubled cry arose from the labyrinth
Of green, and the traveller entreated
them to 60 in quest of it. The fish
ers had their freight for the market
delay would deteriorate its value;
but the anxioas traveller babe them
put about and he would bear the
loss.
1t was well they did. There, in
the dense coverets of the swamps,
amid the brackish water-growths and
grasses, they found a man and wom-
an, ragged, torn, starved. For nine
days they had no food but the soft
pith Of the palmetto, coarse muscles,
or scant poison-berries, then, bed the
damp morass, and their drink the
water; and they told the
wild and terrible story Of Last
Island.
Last Island was The Saratoga and
Long Branch of the South. the south
watcring-place in the Gulf.
Situated on fertile coral island en-
riched by innumerable focks of wild
fowl, art had brought its wealth of
fruit and flowers to perfection. The
date-palm and orange
contrasted their rich foliage
in the sunshine with the pineapple.
banana and the rich soft turf of the
m1squit-grass. The air was fragrant
with magnolia and orange bloom. the
gardens glittering with the burning
beauty Of tropical flowers, jessamine
and yoluPtuous grape arbors,
he golden wine-like sun pouring an
balm over it; graceful
white cottages festooned with vines.
with curving chalet or Chinese roofs
,olored red; pinnacled arbors and
retreats Of espaliers pretty
IS a coral grove; and a fair shining
lotel in the midst, with arcades and |
galleries-the very dream Of ease and /
luxury, as delicate and trim as if
made Of cut paper in many forms of
orettiness. Here was the nabob's F.
'etreat; in this balmy garden of de- !
ight all that luxury, art and volup- .
.uous desire could hint or hope for
vas collected; and nothing harsh or
Door or rugged Jared the fullness of
is luxurious ease. Ten nights be- /
ore, its fragrant atmosphere was
broken into beautiful ripples by the
alang and harmony of dancing mu-
,ic. 1t was the night Of the ''hop."
The hotel was crowded. Yachts and /
oleasure-vessels pretty as the petals /
If flower tossed on the water, or as
graceful shells banked the shores; /
md the steamer at twilight came
short, excited breaths with 4
he last relay, for it was the height .
# the summer season. In their
light, airy dresses, as the music
iwam and sung, bright-eyed girls /
loated in graceful waltzes down the
waves of sound and the
yleam Of light and color was like a
ball. The queenly, lus-
,ious night sank deeper, and lovers