The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-04
THE STOLEN CURL.

Christian, noted for its balmy climate the
beauty of it's 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 were won't to send
their daughters and sons to be educated,
and as the pupils of the respective institu-
tons would meet in their daily promenades
many adnliring 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
Vertner, 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 graceful form, added to
disposition of the truest womanly sweet
ness, made the young girl of fifteen partic-
ularly attractive to 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 heavenlit 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 adjoining
| 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. A duel followed, and in this en-
counter Colonel Griffith came off victori-
Gus, severely wounding his adversary
Since that day neither had spoken to ths
other
Meeting at Pass Christian, thus it was
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 a 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, to the bathhouse of the institution.
Soon merry party Of damsels were
splashing about III the water. 1t was q
pretty sight, and handsome youth of
twenty-Gne, clad in the stylish uniform of
the Pass Christian Military academy,
paused and gSZed upon the lovely scene.
Suddenly s. shrek was heard, and dark
form was borne away by the tide, out of
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 the
water
Vigorously did he breast the waves and
soon rapidly overlook the fair girl, who
was struggling to sustain herself above
the waters for she was fair swimmer
Soon he came nearer, and seeing that
help was at hand her courage forsook her
and she sank beneath the waters, while
shrieks of distress from the shore showed
that her companions believed her forever
lost.
With deep dive the youth succeeded in
catching hold of the drowning girl, and
with renewed strength started shoreward.
Bravely did he struggle, and at last he
felt that be would reach the shore, for
when almost to the bathing house two of
the professors of the institute, alarmed by
the cries of distress, had run down to the
scene, and swimming out few yards had
relieved the youth of his precious burden.
Without word the young man turned
once more seward, and to the surprise of
all commenced to swim down the coast.
In vain did they call to him from the
shore. On he swan, and night coming
rapidly on he was no longer visible.
After continuing slowly and with strong
and steady stroke down the coast, the ca
Diet swan toward a pier that projected
some distance into the lake, and then drew
himself, greatly fatigued, from the water.
Looking around him TO see that he was
not watched be walked rapidly up the
pier and struck off across the fields for the
academy.
Arriving there he sought his room and
reached it unperceived, where he hastily
changed his clothing.
Before descending to the study hall to
join his fellow students he drew from the
pocket of his saturated jacket, which he
u
dampened by the sea water.
Il could not resist the temptation to
sever this beautiful curl from its golden
mates She will miss it, and yet she viii
never know who it was that saved her
life" and carefully drying the tress of
hair the cadet placed it securely away.
A great excitement was created at Pass
Christian by the saving from a waterY
of ha no fJ1f
of the strange conduct of her noble pre-
server, whoever he might be, for it was
impossible TO discover his name, and all
that could be ascertained was that he was
q cadet from the military academy.
This much the young girl had noticed as
he sprans from the pier, and Rosa, having
become unconscious, could not describe MS
features.
The missing curl was commented upon,
and the faces of all the cadets were eagerly
scanned by the pupils OF the lake institute
and the citizens who evinced deep inter
est IN the mysterious affair, but yet an ex-
preston OF innocence rested upon every
students face and gave no clew
Mr.. Nertner came to the Pass. and in
vain did heylsit the academy and endeavoT
10 ind out the brave youth who had res
cUed his daughter from death 1t was use
less, and after a time it was thought Of
only as thing OF the past
Three years have passed since the Incl
dents mentioned above, and from tbs
SHORES OF the sunny gun the scene cnangsA
70 the banks of the Mississippi river,
Riding slowly along the levee road are
two persous-a lady and gentleman upon
horseback. Earnestly they are canversing