The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-06-01

10 or 90 miles TO spend an evening with
a friend, for it is only an hour and a
half's gallop back, which is nothing; it
would take longer to make the distance
on the usual "accommodation'' trains
running into our cities.
While this living so far apart begets
friendship and s%ociability, it is a perfect
barrier to such IL thing as gossip, which
can only flourish in crowded villages
and small towns, where there is a large
per centage of very idle, and, conse-
qiently, very vicious people.
The old Texans are Il very gallant
people, and, as may be supposed, Belle
Delmar did not want for admirers. Apart
from the numbers of more experience
and personal confidence who came to
see her, there were many of the younger
and more timid callers at the Judges
house, who came to see Burnett Del
mar, though that handsome young fcl.
low knew very well that he was not the
attraction.
Burnett Dclnar was "a few years older
than his sister, and seemed to be us pop
ular with the ladies, and deservcdly so,
as his sister was with his own sex.
He vas a very warm friend to Ralph
Austin, though Ralph but seldom put
in an appearance with the avowcd pur-
pose of seeing Burnett Delmar. Belle
was the attraction, and there was none
so welcome to her among the many,
for he mad all the qualities of form, head
and heart which sensible women most
admire.
Spring comes to that portion of Texas
in February; by the end of that month
all the crops are in, and all the fruit
trees in blossom. Then there is Il
period of rest till the branding season
in April and May.
1t was the latter part of February
when Ralph Austin, according to
promise, came down to Judge Del
mars, in order to have weeks fishing
with Burnett, who had the best yacht
in the bay, and felt not Il little proud Of
his ability to sail it in any kind of
weather. The Judge and Mrs. Delmtr
had gone to Galveston to pay II short
visit to some friends, so that Belle was
left in charge of the household, and a
young friend with her, whom she often
laughingly leased her brother about.
"ro-morrow morning, sister Belle,
Ralph and | are going to sail rs far as
Pass Cavallo, therefore we will take
dinner with us, and you must not he
alarmed if we are not home before
dark said Burnett to his sister, as they
sat on the wide piazza facing the bay,
the evening before his contemplated
departure.
81 am afraid to let you 60, Burnett.
feel responsible for you, and think it
will be best to keep you in sight till
father returns" said Belle, with affect
ed seriousness.
81 promise you, Miss Belle, to take
ample care of this part Of your charge
during tomorrow, and if ! do not re.
~ hibi VI tS Spou NpililJitIl us WIltl
borrowed, then mine he the unpardon-
able blame"
Ralph Austin assumed the attitude of a
pleader during this little speech, though
its most eloquent part was in the bright
black eyes that beamed lovingly on her
rs he spoke.
"With such Il promised can not with
hold my consent, so Alice and | will see
that you have Il basket full of all the
good things we can find for your din
ner."
"Mr. Ralph Austin, as it is you who
have obtained permission from the
commanding officer for me to visit Pass
Cavallo with you, permit me to tender
you my sincere, need ! say heartfelt,
thanks for your kind intercession, and
should ever have an opportunity t do
youa like favor, pray always consider
me yours to command"
Burnett looked in such q way at his
beautiful sister, as he spoke, as brought
a brighter glow to her rounded cheeks.
Next morRing Burnett Delmar and
Ralph Austin were up by daylight, and,
as an early breakfast had been ordered,
Belle and Alice Morton were up and
shared with the young men.
"Do not remain after shutdown, or
we shall be very uneasy" said Belle, a.
she kissed her brother goodbye, and
gave her little hand to his friend.
Ralph Austin, if he had his wish graft
fled in the matter, would not have gone
at all; for what was it to sail to Pass
Cavallo compared with the time spent
near "the Lily of Matagorda," us the
young men of the section called Belle
DelmarP And, not being anxious to go
for the reason mentioned, the same mo-
tive would force him to return N soon
as possible; so he assured Belle they
would return long before dark.
The yacht was moored in Il narrow
but very deep bayou that emptied into
an arm of Matagorda Bay-a place long
famed for its oyster-beds, and rs a duck
shooting point, second to none on the
coast. 1t was l6 miles to Pass Cavallo,
where the waters of the bay met those
of the gulf.
The wind was blowing of shore, as it
usually does at that season in the MORN
ing, and there was not a cloud in the
blue sky even so big as a mans hand.
A haitian InxT na.,1I - ... h.
ed, and as the yacht sped over the bay,
frightening myriads of water fowl from
their course, the young men shouted
and sang and laughed in their excess of
spirits.
What an intense pleasure life is at
such times! the young life in perfect
sympathy with the spring season, the
fresh breeze, the ripping waters, and
azure sky. the very motion If tbe hoat