Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-10-08
MOTHER CARtfS ROCKS.

WUlTltn Lhlltl0 nUGA0,
Now, Octavia," said Mrs. Oland
edo be little careful today. Don'i
for PHYS sake let your wild spirits run
away with youw
Octavia GLAND. in her pink muslin
dress tied here and there with jaunty
little bows Of ribbon. and stray gypsy
hat garlanded with pink poppirs turned
around, the very incarnation radiant
glee.
Mamma" said she, "why should
you grudgc me my little holiday
Don't / work behind Miss Farnshaw's
counter all the year like any African
slavep Don't lose my very identity
in shirts and puflings. aud toit nv fin
ger ends of with flornces and tucksP
Do let me play am a child again, just
this onceln
SO this beautiful young Euphrosyne
danced away, leaving only the sweet
echo Of her laughter in tho gloomy
apartment and Mrs. GLAND sighed.
"She Is so thoughtless." said the
mother. "And Duncan Ray and Harry
Bolton arc both going on the sailing
party. and somehow feel as If today
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 a dashing
young fellow Just the sort to attract
any girl. But somehow / can't quite
believe In him. Octavia SAYS haven't
any knowledge of the world. Well.
perhaps she Is right But | think we
quiet slay-at-home bodies are some-
times gifted with a sort of instinct iD
these matters"
The day was all sparkle and sun
shine; the excursion steamer, fluttering
with gay flags and the sound Of music,
glided majestically along; the sea air
breathed new strength into weary
lungs aud touched fevered brows with
alchemic power, and all Of those over
tired. overworked sewing-girls forgot
for brief while that life was nothing
more than a treadmill to them.
They laughed, they danced, they
sang; they flung flowers into the water
that iloated around the wheelhouse;
they counted the glimmering sails that
leaned up against the horizon, and
finally. when the boat landed at White
Crags. they 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 Octayia GLAND. the prettiest girl
In all the throng, reigned as a sort Of
princess among them.
'Mother Carey's CushionPn said she
merrily, echoing the words Of an old
salt who was mending his nets in
sunny spot with an old pipe in his
mouth and a picturesque, long beard
blowing about ia the wind. 'Is that
what they call yonder rockP"
That 'ere's what they halls her by
lady miss. said the old sailor his dim
eyes resting with evident appreciation
on Octavia's fresh young lilies and
roses ''And well it's known here
abouts."
But why do they call it SOP" per-
sisted the girl.
because of the cushion, my lady
miss said the fisherman, laying his
pipe down on the sand out OF respect
20 this charming young presence, ''and
the Mother Carey's chickens as circle
around the point Of a dark day, when
there's storm coming up. It's
round rock near the top-d'ye see?-
with grass and MOSES growing on it,
In a circle like a cushion. / and my
sweetheart as has been dead these
thirty years-climbed up it once. But
we didn't care to stay there long. tell
ye. For the wind howled aud the sea-
gulls shrieked, and the tide roared
like a 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 notln said the
old man. "A quarter of a mile makes
a deal Of difference In the looks of
tlings. Aud thom rs ant used to dis
tances caiitt calculate"
And he went SA with his work, while
the little group sH9lled on, bright
Octavia with her ribbons and curls
floating, Bolton carrying her shawl
and Duncar Ray walking sil'ntly on
the other side.
And just then another gay party
overlook them, and there was discus
sion as TO where the site of their im-
promptu banquet should be. Present.
ly Duncan Ray looked around.
where's Octavia9n he asked.
Everybody had some answer TO
make. Auriette Hall had seen her not
five minutes before; Helen Ray was
quite certain that she was hiding be-
hind the ruined boathouse on the edge
OF the beach; Louis Fielding suggested
that she had probably gone back 10 the
steamer foi a scent bottle or a hand
kerchieI.
She'll be here presently he said.
"ln tho meantime let us get the lunch
ready, for there's a dark iittlo edge Of
cloud down In the west that the cap
tain says he don't half like the looks
Of"
Aud where was Octayia GLAND all
this timeP
She was springing up the steep and
winding leSgt Of rock, quicker and
lighter than any mountain channels.
her veil floating back like a white
wreath OF mist, an exquisite scarlet dy-
log her cheek.
'lf other people can climb to
Mother Carey's cushion. 90 can II
said dauntless Octavia. keeping her
face resolutely away from the furious
waves that boiled and ragged below,
lest perohanoe II should render her
giddy. "And how astonlshed they will
b when they see me waving my hand
kerchlef 20 them from that dizzy
poakr'
Long before the ooid fowls. chicken.
salad, and aancWieisr 00re spread
upon tho grass iho captain came Up
from tllssleamor
Ladies' and gentlemen, SAID he,
''rm sorry 10 spoil sport. but there's
n sQuall brewing. II ever there was