The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-06-08

SallSlN MIN, anu IL III bNN'i0
in watching the ripples kissing the sands
of the beach, and the wings of the gulls
that cut, as with white sickles, the
glassv surface .of the ocean, Kate re-
sumcd:
'Fortunatcly, the water wasn't deep,
and as l was scrambling out, drenchcd
and covered with mud, a great monster
of an alligator shot out of the reeds and
rushed toward me with open mouth and
swapping red cyes!'
'Intent, no doubt, upon a dainty
breakfast or dinner. Ugh. the canni-
bal; though must own he showed good
taste in the selection. But, seriously,
Kate. | should have screamed
That's just what l did do, and with
all my strength. But, before | fully
realized the desperateness of the situa-
ton, deep and manly voice shouted in
Spanish: 'Tengan cuidado""
(" Have care Yes, | understand"
"Then the report of a gun broke the
Stiffness"
"And bullet broke the skull of the
impudent gator at the same time. What
next, Kate"
81 hardly know; but l have faint
recollection of being assisted"
Carried, you mean, with your head
resting uron a manly bosom, your eyes
turned up with thankfulness, his looking
down into them with intense admiration.
How sweet" and her laughter rang out
merrily.
''Do give over your nonsense, May.
There wasn't anything of the kind.
Without word, he walked by my side,
until very near our camp, then disap-
peared as suddenly as he came"
without 'good-by' or claiming a
kiss as reward! What an idiot the
man must be-"
Every far from it, 1 imagine; and l
must acknowledge that he did say some
thing, and very much to the purpose
"Told you that you were the most
beautiful being in the world, and-wcll,
| WASH t there-and how madly he loved
you"
at was simply, 'Dos tie guardia. '"
"'God guard thee Well, that was
something. And you saw 70 more of
the silent gentlemanf
''NOt until we met in the Garden of
the Gods"
'.IIum-including Cupid? What wa
your adventure there"
VERY like the other"
''Chased by Indians, nearly dcroured
by a mountain lion, or Rugged by a
bear! vote for the latter every time"
Neither, | was hunting for flowers;
had stopped near bush, was about to
stoop down, when, rs if it came from
the clouds, there rang out, with start
ling dstinctness: 'Arton"
"'lIaltn The gentleman must be-
long to the military. But go on, Kate"
"And in the same breath, 'Mira!"
"Wcll, what did you 'seeF"
Nothing in particular, but the flash
of a gun. A moment later, however, a
hideous rattlesnakc was dragged out and
tossed near my feet"
II should much have preferred the
gentleman in that position. Had been
Eve, he might have tempted me with
ice cream, say-but a snake. never"
GLOW you do rattle on, May"
(Which reminds me to ask if the
champion did not cut off the rattles and
present them to you.
Eyes; and | have them yet"
so, and treasured"
Her shrill and merry laughter again
broke in upon the reyere of the lounger
by the sea. and cau,cl him to look up
sharply. Then he arose, slowly walked
down the beach and disappeared.
"Of all human conundrums, this is
the hardest ever attempted to solve, "
continued May. II wish he would turn
up in the role of knight preserver for
me, Kate"
"What would you do"
Make him talk, and something be-
sides Spanish, or there is no power in