St. Landry democrat., 1891-10-10
MOTHER CAREYS CUSHION,

PHYS sake, let your wild spirits run ava
with your
Octavia GLAND, in her pink musl
dress, tied here and there with jaunt
little bows of ribbon and a straw gvps
hat garlanded with pink peoples, turnc
around, the very incarnation of radian
glee.
Mamma she said, "why should yo
grudge me my little holiday Don't
work behind Miss Fanshaws counter al
the year like any African slave? Don't
lose my very identity in shirrs and pull
ings, and toll my finger ends off witt
flounces and tucks? Do let me play an
a child again, just this once2'
So this beautiful young Euphrosyn
danced away, leaving only the swee
echo of her laughter in the gloomy apart
ment, and Mrs. GLAND sighed.
"She is so thoughtless," said the
mother. "And Duncan Ray and Harry
Bolton are both going on the sailing
party, and somehow l feel as if TO-DAY
were to be the turning point of her life
wish she could bring herself to like
Duncan-he's steady, noble-souled lad
as his father was before him. but there
isn't much outside show about him.
And Bottoms dashing young fellow,
just the sort to attract any girl. But
somehow [ can't quite believe in him.
| Octavla says l haven't any knowledge of
the world. Well, perhaps she is right.
But l think we quiet, stay-at- home
bodies are sometimes gifted with sort
| OF instinct In these matters.n
The day was all sparkle and sunshine
the excursion steamer, futtering with
gay flags and the sound of music, glided
majestically along; the sea air breathed
new strength into the weary lungs and
touched fevered brovs with alchemic
power; and all of these over-tired, over
worked sewing girls forgot for brief
while, that life was nothing more than
treadmill to them.
They laughed, they danced, they sang;
they flung flowers into the water that
fioated around the wheeIhouse; they
counted the gllmmering sails that leaned
up against the horizon; and finally, when
the boat landed at White Crags, thev all
scattered in various directions over the
silver-shingled beach, in merry pursuit
OF shells, sea weed and pebbles, as so
many newly liberated school children
might have done.
And Octavio GLAND the prettiest girl
In all the throng relgued as a sort of
princess among them.
"Mother Carey's Cushion?' said she
merrily, echoing the words of an ancient
salt who was mending his rcts in asunnv
spot, with an old pipe in his mouth, and
a picturesque long beard blowing about
in the wind. SIS that what they call
yonder rock?"
THAT 'ere's what they halls her by.
miss said the old sailor, his dim ewes
resting with evident appreciation on
Octavia's fresh young lilies and roses.
And well it's known hcreabouts.n
but why do they call it so?" persisted
the girl.
'Bccause of the cushion, miss" said
the fisherman, laying his pipe down on
the sand, out of respect to this charming
young presence; land the Mother Carcy's
chickens as circle round the point, Of
dark day, when there's storm comiDr +
up. It's a round rock near the top
dye see? With grass and moses grow :
ing On it, in circle, like a cushion. 7
and my sweetheart-as has been dead |
these thirty years-climbed up there
once. But we didn't care to stay there
long, | tell ye. For the wind hoylcd |
and the sea gulls shriekcd, and the tide
roared like hungry shark around us.
and 1t was as much as we could do to get
down again with whole bones"
why, it doesn't look such a great
height said Bolton.
'Mebbe not-mebbe notw said the old
man. ga quarter of mile makes deal
Of difference in the looks of things. And
them as amt used to distances can't cal
sulate"
And he went on with his work. while
he little group strolled on, bright Octa-
va with her ribbons and curls floating.
6olton carrying her shawl, and Duncan
Ray walking silently on the other side.
And just then another gay party over
ook them, and there was discussion as
o where the site of their impromptu
banquet should be. Presently Duncan
Ray looked around.
"Where's Octavia?" he asked.
Everybody had some answer to make
Auriette Hall had seen her not five min
ties before; Helen Ray was quite GER
ain that she was hiding behind the
uned boathouse on the edge of the ,,
each; Louis Fielding suggested that she
ad probably gone back to the steamer
or scent bottle or a handkerchief.
She'll be here presently" he said. |
In the meantime let US get the lunch $
eady, for there's dark little edge of I
loud down in the west that the captain
ays he don't half like the looks Of
And where was Octavia GLAND all this
me2
She was springing up the steep and 4
hiding ledge of rock, quicker and t
ghter than any mountain channels, her t
ell floating back like white wreath of e
list, an exquisite scarlet dying her a
leek. .
IF other people can climb to Mother a
arey's Cushion, so can /, /" said dauntless il
ctayia, keeping her face resolutelv il
way from the furious waves that boiled n
I'd ragged below. lest perchance it should e
nder her giddy. 'sAnd how aston f,
he'd they will be when they see me i,
aving my handkerchief to them from +,
lat dizzy peak!' d
Long before the cold fowls, chicken il
lad and sandwiches were spread upon o
g grass the captain came up from the G.
Gamer. a,
Ladies and gentlemen" said he, D
Pm sorry to spoil sport, but there's a y
uall brewing, if ever there was one r
d we'll be safer well at sea than on tt
csc ragged points of rock, especially o.
the tide is coming in deal faster d
an we calculated on. So if you'll step Il
ely shall be particularly obliged" te
The ladies began hurriedly to repack W
g incomplete repast, and to gather up g