The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-16
PART III.-CHAPTER I.
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.


PART IH-CHAPTER L
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
The month of September was draw.
ing to close. The season was re-
markedly mild, the weather fair and
pleasant that autumn along the upper
Atlantic shores of our country. Upon
the afternoon of this day from the high
ground near the old Lobdell House, al
Provincetown, the bay was spread on,
like beautiful panorama to the view.
Outward and inward bound vessels,
some with clouds of canvas spread
allow and aloft as they started upon
voyages of thousands of miles; others
coming in with sails reefed, to be towed
up to the city; two OF three steamers,
trailing behind them long black wake
of smoke from their tunnels; fishing
craft by the score, and here and there
beautiful yacht on short pleasure
cruise these were the characteristic
features that enlivened the bay, and
made it appear the busy picture OF
life, commerce and enjoyment that il
was.
We have heard from the lips of the
owner of the old house brief descrip.
ton of it. To that little need be added.
Yet stranger, especially if he had an
eye to the picturesque and the incon-
gruous, would have scanned the old
building with curiosity. 1t was SO
large, and the uninhabitable part
of it so extensive, that it's last owner
had thought best not to do any thing
for the appearance of the unused part.
Therefore, while about one-third of it,
at one end, was neatly painted, the
windows hung with green blinds, and
ivy clambered over the door, the great
er part of the building was time
stained, weather. beaten and nearly in
ruin. Windows were shattered and
several sashes were missing. Doors
hung by single rusted hinge
Loosened clapboards sounded in time
of high wind. If houses, like men,
have their life and death, beth were
surely embraced in this old relic of
colonial days.
The hour was about the middle of the
afternoon. Mrs. Willis stood in the
doorway, looking down the street. She
was anxious and troubled. By the
careful reckoning that her husband
had made before bidding her adieu.
after making all allowances for deten-
tons and unfavorable winds, he should
have returned week ago. The ap-
pearance of the bark was familiar to
her, and often she came thus to the
door and scanned the ocean beyond the
cape. hoping to be gladdened by the
sight of the home-returning Nellie. Her
daughter went daily to the post-office:
she had gone there now, and Mrs. Will
lis paused at the door and waited, as
she saw her slowly approaching.
..She has no letter." thought the
wife, with sigh. "She does not walk
FAST
A group of battered and superanu-
ated sailors, who loved to come up here
and take observations of the bay from
a neighboring sand-hill while smoking
their pipes, observed Mrs. Willis at the
door and Helen coming back from the
town.
Them folks are gettin' anxious"
one observed.
"Bout the barkp''
There was grunt of assent
''Well, they needn't. A week or
two weeks over time ain t nothing on
av'y'ge to the gulf. -
The oracle of the party, IN old, one
eyed fellow. whose face looked like a
thiekly-knotted section of oak-bark,
pulled vigorously for moment. and
then announced,in a mysterious way:
-Ex-Justice Strong is often referred
to as the most sensible man in Wash-
ington. He served ten years on the
Supreme bench and then retired on
full pay. In 1880 he resigned. and has
since lived quietly in Washington.
lecturing occasionally and performing
faithfully the one duty that the law
requires of him. Whenever the Su-
preme Court is required to take part
in any public ceremony. Judge Strong
puts on his robe and walks with them
in the procession. In consideration of
this and his past services he receives
ten thousand dollars annually from
Uncle Sam treasury.
"A pleasant story is told at San
Francisco of the wife of the Mexican
President. The Spanish Opera Com
pany recently found itself in distress
in that city. 1t seems that one of the
musicians was something of poet,
and he had dedicated some verses
once or twice to Nine. Diaz. She was
very much pleased with the compli-
ment and told him if she could ever
serve him in any difficulty she would
be happy to- do it. He recalled her
promise and asked her if she could
assist the poor opera people back to
Mexico. Immediately telegram came
from the kind lady authorizing them to
be sent home at her expense, said to be
some three thousand dollars
- - l. ~