St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-23
BY JUNIUs L. HAMPSTEAD.

Bordering upon the Gulf of Mexico,
upon the Southwestern coast of Louisiana,
near one of the passes that opened up the
Calcasieu River, there stood roughly
built cabin upon the left embsnkment,
that jut ted boldly to the east. One could
hardly, imagine that life would be enjoy
able in such secluded wild, for the large
sand bars stretched seaward in the most
desolute manner; but the harmonious
blending Of woods, water, and sky, soften
ed the glazing contrast, but did not add to
the cheerfulness. The cabin was above
flood tide, perched upon tall escarpment,
that overlooked the gulf, almost concealed
by the trunks of the huge trees, whose
spreading roots twined around each other
with fantastic shapes wherever the soil
had washed into the pass. A solitary fig
ure stood motionless, leaning against the
rock chimney to gaze far ovgs the gulf,
lost to the world and lost to himself, as his
thoughts wandered wildly over the infinite
space by which he was surrounded. His
keen eyes were fixed upon the sluggish
turtles, as they deposited their white
round eggs in the sand, but not of these
. were his thoughts. With an impatient
jerk he straig htened himself and muttered
as he moved away.
"Hey-hol who would have thought it,
the sun is two hours high, will never
catch fish by stupidity gazing at them"
He climed down the well beaten path,
and had hardly reached the bottom ere his
memory pricked with some omission, for
he assembled to. reach the stout door.
"Griselda, came very near forgetting
my send off, and you may be sure will
be forgetting it now"
He bent the charming face backwards
!. and imprinted soft kiss upon the pouting
lips
t'Ah! Reginald, we have been married
many years, yet you do not forget to kiss
me, Griselda, your wife, just as you did
when we stood at the altar, while every
one pitied you. because you would SO soon
be widower."
.They would not think SO now Griselda,
your cheeks are roster than Mamie Peny-
ston's, who was picture of health. Poor
girl, she is in her grave, andyou, my wife,
are spared to raise this little brood"
"Reginald, you should have married Ma
mic, you would have fallen heir to thous-
ands."
ssAnd you would now be sleeping, alas,
forever, no, no, better as it is, have as
much as 1 ever had, and that is nothing"
care you as happy, Reginald? Some
times think that have been the means
of burying you in this gloomy woods"
"Burying me, Griselda, impossible, these
grand old pines. that echo every whisper
from off the gulf; these cypress jungles,
festooned with Spanish moss; these giant
roots that fantastically disport their ex-
posed, twisted arms; the little cot that has
sheltered us these many years. l would
not exchange them for a palace"
"Bless you, my husband, for the words,
they are swseter to me than the perfumed
breath of Arabia.
"But must be gone"
kiss me, papa"
Edlin bent her childish head backwards,
while her long lashes swept her cheeks,
he bent over to kiss the rosebud lips, and
nress the beautiful face between his rough
weatherbeaten hands, climbed down the
path. shouldered his net, showed the boat
into the middle of the stream, hoisted his
sail, and was skimming like swallow
over the. crested waves; while his wife
gazed long and fxedly at the shell that
held her all.
aPoor Reginald, he did not think that I
observed him, as he stood in the shadow
If the chimney, until two whole urs had
slipt by, would give the earth TO know
what he was thinking about, poor fellow,
know he misses the bright world, for it
was his idol"
Size went to the trunk that was the only
connecting link that bound them to the gay
and festive scenes of years ago. The
smell of camphor came like incense from
the altar of mammon, as she lifted, piece
Nv piece, the well preserved clothing that
had gone out and in fashion, dozen times.
Little faded bouquets, bits of ribbon, q
yIove. all mementoes of some little Irritation |
fhat rolled back the curtain of the past.
ssWhy should disturb these sleeping |
YEARS lam becoming morbid, and yet I /