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

'do be little careful today. Don't
for PHYS sake let your wild spirits run
away with your
Octayia GLAND, in her pink muslin
dress tied here and there with jaunty
little bows of ribbon. and a stray gypsy
hat garlanded with pink peoples, turned
around, the very incarnation of radiant
glee.
Mamma said she, why should
you grudge 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 puffings. and toit my fin
ger ends off with Aounces and tucksP
Do let me play am a child again, just
this oncew
So this beautiful young Euphrosyne
danced away, leaving only the sweet
echo of her laughter in the gloomy
apartment, and Mrs. GLAND sighed.
she is so thoughtless, said the
mother. And Duncan Ray aud Harry
Bolton are both going on the sailing
party, and somehow l feel as if today
were to be the turning point of her
life. wish she could bring herself to
like Duncan-he's a 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, stay-at-home bodies are some-
tunes gifted with sort of instinct in
these matters
The day was all sparkle aud sum
shine; the excursion steamer. tluttering
with gay flags and the sound OF music.
glided majestically along; the sea air
breathed new strength into weary
lungs and touched fevered brows with
alchemic power, and all of those over
tired overworked sewing-girls forgot
for a 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 hoated around the wheelhouse;
they counted the glimmering sails that
leaned up against the horizon, aud
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 Octavia 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 a
sunny spot with an old pipe in his
mouth and picturesque, long beard
blowing about in the wind. rs that
what they call yonder rockP"
That 'ere's what they balls 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.n
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
to this charming young presence. land
the Mother Carey's chickens as circle
around the point of dark day when
there's a storm coming up. It's a
round rock near the top-d'ye seeP-
with grass and MOSES growing on it,
in a circle like a cushion. and my
sweetheart - as has been dead these
thirty climbed up it once. But
we didn't care to stay there long. / tell
ye. For the wind howled, and the sea-
gulls shrieked, and the tide roared
like a hungry shark around us, and il
was as much as we could do to get
down again with whole bones.
why. it doesn't look such q at
height. said Bolton.
'.Mebbe not-mebbe noti" said the
old man. "A quarter of mile makes
deal of difference in the looks of
things. Aud them as ant used TO dis
tances can't calculate"
And he went on with his work. while
the little group strolled on. bright
Octavia with her ribbons aud curls
floating. Bolton carrying her shawl,
and Duncan Ray walking silently on
the other side.
And just then another gay party
overlook them. and there was discus
sion as to where the site Of their inn
promptu banquet should be. Present.
ly Duncan Ray looked around.
Where's OctaviaP" 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 to the
steamer for a scent bottle or a hand
kerchief.
She'll be here presently" he said. !
s'In the meantime let us get the lunch |
ready, for there's a dark little edge Of
cloud down in the west that the cap
tain says he don't half like the looks
on
And where was Octavia GLAND all |
this time?
She was springing up the steep and |
winding Ledge of rock, quicker and |
lighter than any mountain chamois, |
her veil floating back like a white |
wreath OF mist, an exquisite scarlet dy- /
ing her cheek.
''f other people can climb to
Mother Carey's cushion. so can J."
said dauntless Octavia, keeping her |
face resolutely away from the furious |
waves that boiled and ragged below, |
lest perchance il should render her /
giddy. And how astonished they will /
be when they see me waving my hand /
kerchief to them from that dizzy /
peakr
Long before the cold fowls. chicken.
salad. and sandwiches we're spread /
upon the grass. the captain came up /
from the Gamer.
Ladies and gentlemen" said he,
"rm sorry to spoil sport. but there's
a squan brewing. if ever there was
one. and we'll be safer well at sea than |
on these ragged points Of rock especi-
ally as the tide is coming deal faster
than we'd calculated on. So il you'll /
step lively l shall be particularly |
obliged"
The ladies began hurriedly to re-
pack the incomplete repast and to I
gather up their hats. wells. parasols. /
and gloves; the gentlemen looked I
around for shawl-straps. books. and /
baskets; and once again ran the ques-
ton;
tflut 0otavial Where a OotayiaPn ]