The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-07-21
THE BLACK RIBBON.


The gentlemen Of Cove house sat
upon the piazza, smoking and looking
at the sea as it tumbled in, when the
evening coach, laden with piled up
baggage and passengers came rattling
down the turnpike and made the
sweep which led up to the hotel. This
in itself was matter enough for attcn-
tiOn, but when in the wake Hf the old
yellow coach, just beyond its clouds
of dust, a g'ittering little pony car
riage rolled swiftly on, dozen pair
OF lazy eyes grew interested and ex-
pectant.
The coach drew up with scientific
flourish, and the sweating horses
stood painting with the tug through
the heavy sand, while the driver
leaped down, and with much tumb-
ling and crashing of trunks the old
stage was unlndened.
Meanwhile the pony carriage, hold
ing two girls, rolled smoothly up to
a side door, and three walters were
instantly in attendance upon them.
The ladies alighted, and the two
disappeared at the privated door of the
Cove house. >t
"Who are they ?" asked Paul Han.
over, withdrawing his cigar from his
mouth and turning his handsome
blue eyes on the friend at his elbow.
Fame King, who was looking
thoughtfully out at sea, replied quiet
ly that he did not know.
"It's Miss Payson, of New York" "
said Will Mckenzie, who knew every.
body. "At any rate, that's her turn
out"
(which one %
"The blonde, / suppose. l never
met her, but she was ut Newport
with my sister last season. Nice
amt she ?"
"Who is the other one p
II don't know. Poor cousin, l pre-
sume."
Hanover and King relapse to theil
cigars; but everybody was. thinking
more or less of Miss Payton.
The ladies appeared ut supper
There were only five of their party
the old gentleman, the two young la
dies and an invalid child of l3 with
her nurse. 1t was soon remarked that
they were sufficient for themselves
and neither sought nor received ac
Quaintanccs. The face of the blonde
girl was as jolly without the Jockey
hat as with it, but the profile OF hel
companion only was to be seen. A
broad black ribbon bound arount
the chin and nearly concealing ;
} wealth Of rich brown hair revealing
only the side view Of a set of rcgula
features and one smooth fresh cheek
"What can be the matter ?" Qucs
toned the ladies one OF the other.
. So, without the least possible In
} formation on the subject, Alice Pay
son was decided to be object O
misfortune and compassion, while IN
concealed admiration and adulatio
were offered the other one.
, I cannot say that either appcare.
much affected by the regard of thos
, around them. Certainly they spok
to no one for at three weeks. Peopl
. became discouraged about maxim
, their acquaintance, and few more at
tempts were tried.
But things inevitably changed. On
evening when all Cove house was |
the surf a scream arose. The screar
! was followed BY u frantic cry:
"Alice Oh, Alice! She Is drowr
ing Save her save her save her
"Who can swim ?" was the cry.
/, Long before 1t was answered Fan
!. King was seen striking out b0ldly IA
: the spot.
But he had some forty rods to swim
: and it was proba BILE that Alice Pa.
. son had sunk for the second tin
while the strong tide swelled agains
n the rocks.
. "Swim. man, swim" shouted I'll
: old uncle upon the beach.
"Save her, oh,fo Gods sake y erie
n Maud, wringing her hands.
J, But wlthlna few strokes OF Far
- Kings 0utstrctched arms Alice dl
!. appeared.
There was already death upon III
I,t.<,,..xl avs,u aud sn11id fnr0l,p.td