San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-23


on the beach, sat down to rest on an OLD
log that had driitcd across the sea-from
Cuba, perhaps. Young men and laugh
ing girls were driving by, children were
playing on the beach, and every thing
was gay and bright. First one thing
attracted her attention, then another;
the long line of puffy jelly-fshes strung
out along the beach like an advance
guard sent out by the sharks that some
times followed them; the boys, bathing
far out in the surf, tumbling over each
other and shrieking with laughter; the
queer German women, and the little
Mexican girls who passed by. finaily'
two little figures attracted her notice.
One was that of tiny mite of girl,
who sat on a small pile of drift-wood,
and watched boy, scarcely larger than
herself, who stood knee-deep in the
water. She was quaint, old-fashioned
figure, in short calico dress, and an
old ragged mantle, that might have been
her grandmother's, wrapped around her.
She sat so still that the sand-crabs ran
over her bare feet; but as Letty's gaze
followed hers to the boy in the water,
she saw that he was active enough.
Whenever wave came rolling in, he
would stoop and make frantic grabs in
the water; but his hands were usually
empty as he brought them out, except
for shells or sand, which he threw down
in apparent disgust.
"What in the world is he after, AdyP"
cried Mrs. Lefty.
Looking for shells, suppose" said
her husband, who objected on principle
to answering, 81 don't know" to any
of his wife's suggestions.
"But don't you see he throws down
the shellsP"
Perhaps he wants a particular
kind"
At this moment the little girl rose and
called cut, " Wens, Victor. Ntaw que
mus en- allons."
"She is speaking French!" cried
Lefty. "They are Creole children, l
guess" ...... .... l.s
81 reckon they are," said her hus-
band, laughing. '..0 %.
snow hear me air my French, Ady.
Little boy, come over here, won't you?'
she called, with her best accent. "What
are you doingP" she said, as he stood
before her. .......... .
Fishing, madame.
"Fishing! With your hands?"
eyes, indeed, madame. They come
in on the waves. If one is quick enough,
one can seize the little fellows before
they get back. l knew a boy who
caught one as long as my hand" and
he held out his tiny hand with pride.
81 should think it would be slow
work. What's your name, little manP"
"Victor Lorelli, madame.
"What u pretty name! What pref
ty boy!"
In truth, little Victor had rare beauty.
| His was such face as looks out at you
from the canvasses of old painters; a
scarlet little mouth, curling dark hair,
cheeks tinged with delicate bloom, deep,
wonderful eyes shaded with fringe of
jet, and over all an expression of cher
ubic innocence.
81 irish you would look at him,
Adrian!" cried Lefty. "Did you ever
see such eyes? And oh, his eyelashes!
Victor, do you know l would give
hundred dollars for those eyelashcs of
yours?"
"Would you, madame?" said Victor,
so soberly that Lefty burst into q ring
ing laugh as she said, Indeed would!
But don't believe your mother would
let you give them to me at any price"
"Come, Victor" called the little
girl, ait grows late. Mamma will be
looking for us"
"Well, well, Marie, come" Then,
lifting his little cap, " Where do you live,
madame?" he asked.
In that great white house near the
beach," and Lefty pointed it out. "Come
and see me some day, and | will give
you some of the prettiest little cakes
that ever you saw"
~ will come, madame;" and with
grave "Bon joUr," he joined his sister,
and the two, after heaping their arms
with driftwood, trotted of over the
sands.
"What Il funny little fellow he isl"
cried Lefty; 'but his face is simply
lovely. Adrian, wouldn't be the pref