The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-02

where it is, for it is but an insignificant
mound of sand few miles to the east OF
Fire Island lighthouse, on the southern
shore of Long Island. Beyond the
smooth white beach, that is unbroken,
save for inlets, for one hundred miles or
more, there is little about the place to
make it attractive The idea originated
with the Sawyers, or rather with young
Jim Sawyer.
Its STUPID" he said, Lying around
here and letting the sloop to city visitors
Oh holidays. We're doing well enough.
Let's make holiday of the Fourth for
than any other day"
Ably seconded by his elder sister, Mel
lie, Jim carried the day in his own house
hold, and after that the "set'' joined in.
Henry Martin, true enough, had held
back somewhat in favor of making busl-
ness of the Fourth and holiday of some
other occasion, but he was Oyerruled in
dignantly, and Nellie Sawyer even said
one or two sharp little things about some
peoples small dispositions, so that Henry
retreated hastily. Nellie's words might
have kept him away but for two reasons:
Young Jim was firm friend and admir-
er of Martin, and he threatened to make
it uncomfortable for Nellie if Martin was
frozen out" Martin knew that the lad 5
tongue would fulfill the threat, to the
modification Of not only Nellie but him
self as we'll, and therefore he ignored his
wounded pride and joined with appar
ent heartiness in the proceedings.
Young Jim would have made up the
party in the exclusive interest of his hero
if he could have done that, but Nellie
had her own will, too, and in this case
she compelled her brother to yield to the
dictates of the senior Sawyers, neither OF
| whom understood the cause of hOstilitles
between their children.
So when the excursionists started from
the Babylon wharf at 9 o'clock on the
morning of July 4, 1884, there was q
ranking discomfort in the heart of more
than one member of the party. Three
boats made up the fleet. The Sawyers
large and handsome sloop carried about
| twenty, among whom were all the elder
| Iy people, Nellie and Jim, and two of tbs
Young men whom Henry Martin knew
to be his rivals Henry was consigned
| to one of the minor boats. Although thi'
| arrangement was due to Nellie's strategy
| there was spice of dissatisfaction in he1
| view of the situation. Just what it was
| or why, is more than can say, for th'
vagaries Of young woman's heart def,
my comprehension and analysis. lneve1
did understand them and never expec
to; simply put down what know, ant
! among those things is the fact that Henry
| Martin ,ras Nellie's favorite, and tina
not all of young Jim's i'll advised effort
| in his behalf could displace him from
| high place in her affections In fact, hat
| it not been for Jim, Henry might hav
| sailed in the big sloop; but 1t doesn'
| matter much, for no blunder of that wei
| meaning boy could have affected serious
| " what finally came to pass on tina
Fourth of July, seven years ago. jus
before the boats put off Jim had WINS
| pered to his hero:
| Never mind, Mart; I'll keep thos
| buffers at bay till we get to Lone Hill
and then you watch your chance t
which Henry's reply had been sllen
scowl: but he made up his mind, never
theless, that the day should not pass be
fore he had come to an exact understand
ing with Nellie; for hitherto there ha
been no declaration or other formal tai
| between them.
| Arrived at Lone Hill the party wen
directly across the narrow sandy strip
land that prevents Great South bay frol
| being a part of the ocean. There was