The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-05-23
DADS 10.
How She Did Something Big for
Dad, So He Would Know"

just noon of warm, bright day a
Block Island. On the broad, shady
piazza of the great hotel there is an
unbroken stiffness. The roses Chamber
ing over the railing, nod lazily in the
breeze; the lace curtains at the long
windows sway gently to end fro; the
parlors beyond are silert and deserted.
Up at the beach the waves are sleepily
tapping the glist ching sand, while the
bright-colored s.oits drying in long lines
behind the bf.thing- houses are the only
reminder of the merriment which ex-
listed less than half an hour ago. One
or two ox-teams are slowly creeping
alo ng the road, loaded with trailing
Eea-weed of variegated hues; here
and there is a group of bronzed
fishermen mending their nets. These
are the only signs of life.
Everybody is down on the pier. The
"'Block Island" is overdue more than
twenty minutes and the rickety boards
creak and tremble as the anxious crowd
press to the very edge, each one eager
TO catch the first glimpse of the steamer
as she rounds Clay Head.
The excitement increases. The fish.
ing-boats huddle closer together behind
the breakwater, the hackmeh. growing
impatient yociferate loudly; the Marine
Band in the pavilion on the hill strikes
up; and yet
''Here comes Jo!" some one shouts.
depend ont, the boat'll be in soon,
now," says grizzled, old fisherman
standing close by. "Jo's sure sign.
Nigh onto year since she's watched
that boat come in every day, and
never knew her to round the Head I'M
less 10 was here"
All eyes turned toward the road. An
antiquated specimen of a carriage is
coming down the hill as rapidly as the
lean and bony horse in front can drag
it along.
1t draws up on the wharf beside the
more pretentious vehicles, young girl
jumps out, ties the horse, lays her arms
lovingly around his neck a moment,
then hurriedly pushes her way through
the throng to the end of the pier.
A tall, angular girl, clad in a home
made dress of the coarsestmaterial, scant
and patched, yet very clean, with g
rough straw hat tied down over hair,
which is long, straight and decidedly
red. A girl with nothing pretty and
attractive about her, but there is such
brave, pathetic look in her great blue
eyes, that one involuntarily turns and
looks at her again and again.
Swiftly and silently she passes along
to the farther end of the pier and, lift
ing one hand to shield her eyes from
the sunlight, gazes steadfastly at the
distant horizon.
81 know he will come to-day" she
says, seemingly unconscious that she il
speaking aloud. "Just year ago to
day he went over there, Dad did. HI
went to get some fixins' for me, and hi
promised to come back soon, but it ha
been so long. Oh! he will surely com,
to-day, won't hep" she asks, turning
to weather-beaten old sailor who i
gazing at her with just a suspicion o
moisture in his eyes.
"Aye, lass, that he will, - he answers
'tI've got extras for dinner to-day,
she goes on, frightening up, "caus
he'll have mighty appetite after be
ing at them turin places so long, an
I've made cushion for his chair tina
sets by the window. l brushed up tn
team, too, and oldBess seemed to know
he was coming, Tor she brought m
over in no time.
''Quite likely he'll come to-day,
says the old skipper, land he'll brin
you so many smart things that III
afeared you won be 10 any longer.
Eyes, l will" replied the girl. II
always be 10 to Dad anyway. Deal
old Dad. He's told me many tim
how he picked me up out of the waite
that dreadful night; and when no on
seemed to want me, he took me HON
with him; me, helpless baby, wit
nothing in the world but ring on m
finger with 'Jo' scratched on it. Oh,
wish l could do something big for hin
SO heswould know"
"Well, cheer uu, lass; he's waitin
for some good reason. P'raps he can
find what he wants for you just yet.
"Oh, know now; that's it. He wa
going to get me blue gown with bi
collar on it and a great gold star
each corner; but begged him to TT
and get white one; white is so prett
like, and l never had white dress
all my life" glancing ruefully down {
the homespun cotton. "May like b
, had to go and go, fore he could g
it"
For few minutes she gazed carr
? estly over the water. Is it smoke
that long, thin line of gray? Yes, jul
around the headland something viii
is coming into view. A few more mil
utes and the great steamer, gaily b
decked with flags and pennants, bur
into sight, Slowly, too slowly for j