Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-03-02
THE STOLEN CURL.


beauty Of its situation, its handsome resi-
dences and the wealth and refinement Of its
citizens
To the young ladies' academies and mill
tary institutions Of Pass Christian many
Of the wealthy planters we're wont to send
their daughters and sons TO be educated
and rs the pupils Of the respective institu
tions would meet In their daily promenades
many admiring glances would be ex-
changed between them and longings felt
to become acquainted.
Among the fair pupils OF the lake acad-
envy none were more beautiful than Rosa
Vcrtner, the sole heiress TO all Of her dot
ing fathers cotton estate situated upon the
Mississippi river.
A shower Of golden curls fell upon her
shoulders; blue, dreamy eyes, a bright,
smiling face and a graceful form, added TO
a disposition Of the truest womanly sweet
ness, made the young girl OF fifteen partic,
ularly attractive 10 all who knew her
Many handsome cadet from the mill
tary academy had fallen in love with the
bewitching beauty at the first glance from
the heavenit eyes, but to none did she
show a preference when meeting at the
soirees and receptions given by the differ
ent schools.
One Of Rosa's greatest though silent adj
mirers was Earl Griffith, the son Of Mis-
sissippi planter, whose estate lay ad Looming
that of Mr.. Vertner, but between Mr.. Vert
ner and Colonel Griffith there existed great
bitterness, and for years the families had
not spoken, though meeting constantly in
social intercourse at the houses of the
neighboring planters.
The feud commenced long years before,
in the old days before the war; when Mr..
Vertner and Colonel Griffith were rivals
for the hand Of Earl's mother.
Colonel Griffith had won her heart and
hand and had married her, and his success
so enraged Mr.. Vertner that he challenged
him. duel followed and in this en-
counter Colonel Griffith came of victori
7 Gus, severely wounding his adversary
/ Since that day neither had spoken TO the
( other
] Meeting Mt Pass Christian, thus Il WIS
/ that, though Rosa could not but see that
Earl Griffith admired her, and he felt that
she was not Indifferent TO his gaze, both
were governed by the remembrance Of the
feud existing between their parents, and
gave no sign OF the recognition of the
/ others feelings
Toward the close OF lovely summer
[ day. in the year that this story opens, the
/ fair pupils OF the lake institute had gone
down the long pier, leading out into the
lake, 20 the bathhouse Of the institution.
Soon merry party OF damsels were
splhshing about IN the water. II was a
pretty sight, and handsome youth OF
twenty-one. clad In the stylish uniform OF
the Pass Christian Military academy
paused and gazed upon the lovely scene.
Suddenly a shrek was heard, and a dark
I T.. l.rrt N,
reach Of aid from her companions
With the speed Of a deer the young cadet
sped down the pier, reached the bath
house and bounded headlong into tn,
water.
Vigorously did he breast the waves ant
soon rapidly overlook the fair girl, VIII,
was struggling TO sustain herself abovl
the waters, for she was fair swimmer
Soon he came nearer, and seeing thai
help was at hand her courage forsook he
and she sank beneath the waters, whil'
shrieks Of distress from the shore Shove,
that her companions believed her forcve
lost
With a deep dive the youth succeeded il
catching hold of the drowning girl, anl
with renewed strength started shoreward
Bravely did be struggle and at last b.
felt that he would reach the shore, 70
when almost TO the bathing house two o
! the professors Of the institute, alarmed b.
the cries of distress, had run down to tn
scene, and swimming out few yards hai
relieved the youth of his precious burden.
+, Without word the young man turnel
r once more seward, and to the surprise O
Q all commenced to swim down the coast
In vain did they call to him from tn
shore. On he swan, and night comm
rapidly on he was no longer visible.
After continuing slowly and with stron
I. and steady stroke down the coast, the C,
. Diet swan toward a pier that projecte
o some distance into the lake, and then DIRE
d himself, greatly fatigued, from the waite
Looking around him to see that he va
not watched, he walked rapidly up u
pier and struck OF across the fields for q
IS academy.
Il Arriving there he sought his room an
is reached it unperceived, where he hasti
s. changed his clothing.
Before descending TO the study hall
join his fellow students he drew from q
pocket Of his saturated jacket, which
Iy had thrown aside, a long golden GU
In dampened by the sea water.
& 81 could not resist the temptation
sever this beautiful curl from its gold
mates. She win miss Il, and yet she W
never know who it was that saved
le life;" and carefully drying the tress
20 hair the cadet placed it securely away.
10 A great excitement was created at Ps
Christian by the saving from a waite
grave Of the beautiful Rosa Nertner, a
-. Of the strange conduct Of her noble p
~ server, whoever he might be, for it W
- impossible to discover his name, and
~ thai could be ascertained was that he "
a cadet from the military academy.
This much the young girl bad noticed
al be sprang from the pier, and Rosa, havi
become unconscious, could not describe
features
The missing curl was commented up
~ and the faces Of all the cadets were cage
iu scanned by the pupils Of the lake institl
ago and the citizens who evinced deep int
IN, est in the mysterious affair. but yet an
on, preston Of innocence rested upon ev
|, a students face and gave no clew.
. Mr. Nertner came 10 the Pass and
has vain did hevisit the academy and endea
By to find ont the brave youth who had
syl- cued his daughter from death. twas d
? Of less, and after a time &c was thought
only as a thing OF che past
den Three years have passed since the d
led. dents mentioned above and from