The Opelousas courier., 1893-11-04

-&A~ oIAAO Nb IL
he stretched himsel
upon the sand beside her, with al
easy lack of conventionality. He.
dress was a plain white flannel, un
adorned save for the faring cuffs anc
wide collar, which were blue, like hel
eyes and the Florida sky above them
Her white sailor hat had a blue bant
about it. The impetuous gulf breezeI
which blew little tufts of her light all
about her face in rather a trying man
ner were powerless to spoil the charm
of that sweet girlish countenance.
Her companion was a man perhaps
ten years older than herself; not 6
man of fashion, one would have beer
quite sure after the first glance; 6
man of business, perhaps of letters,
but not a devotee of society.
"Isn't this g~lorious?' he said, push
ing back his hat and drinking in big
draughts of the pure sea air. 81 shall
miss it all"
Before them stretched what seemed
a limitless expanse of water, somewhat
turbulent just now, and far out where
water and sky seemed to meet, there
could be family discerned the white
sail of a fishing smack. On. each side
of them glistened the white beach, I'M
marked by tree or house, for they
were on q narrow island, o small strip
Of land where the life-saving crew
kept their lonely vigils. Back of them
and a little to the left, was the station
with the lifeboat within, ready and
waiting forsa m A hundred
yards or SO down the beach were the
rest ofthe gay party of pleasure seek
ers, separated into groups-some walk
ing up and down searching for treas
ures the sea had left in it's wake, others
lolling idly on the sand.
"Have you decided to leave to-mor-
rcw?:' asked the girl.
81 must. Six weeks of idling in
Florida, at a busy season of the year,
too, is enough for a man with work to
do. Don't you think SOP"
"Well, yes" she said smiling. 81
suppose it is. Yet it seems a pity you
cannot wait for the rest of us when we
return SO SOON"
"I wish I might, " ~regretfully. "Are
your plans for the summer fully ma
tured as yet?'
"We are to go from here to Ashe-
vile, I believe" she said rather wear
lily, ''then to Newport and to the West
later. Aunt Helen seems to feelit her
dnty to be forever dragging me from
place to place"
"She thinks it a duty you owe your
position in society, no doubt, to do the
fashionable thing OF the fashionable
time. And you enjoy it,"
He made the statement, but glanced
up at her inquiringly. a
'.Oh, yes" she replied, 1T enjoy it.
But too much fashion is apt to be
wearing, you know"
Yes" he said, ST fancy it would
s'Now this" she continued, with a
little comprehensive sweep of her
hands, this is different. I have real
ly enjoyed our sojourn here"
so have l." he responded heartily.
'fYour aunt certainly deserves. the
thanks of the crowd for getting to.
such ~congenial people and pre-.
upon them to come here in.
of wandering off with the rest OF
the northern colony to st. Augustine
or Jacksonville. I like the town.
is something remarkably pleas
ant about its broad, quiet streets with
their fine old shade trees. Then the
harbor is magnificent"
81 like the bay" she said dreamily,
her eyes following the movements OF
some bird of the sea that was circling !
round and round far above them. 81
like the bay and the beautiful Navy |
Yard, and the old forts with their
great silent guns and cannon balls, and
their ramparts strewn with wild flow
ers. Al for this island, I simply love
it. It seems to stand as q sentinel OF
The gate of the sea-such a slender
strip of land, but SO steadfast. Only to |
Here before US is the great
gulf, rough and awful; while but a
yards behind us, on the other side,
les the beautiful blue bay, in the dis
the great ships anchored peace
'ully on its bosom, and still further in
he background the sweet, peaceful
I'D town. Oh, I like it"
Evidently, said her companion.
lie seemed amused.
why do you smile?" she asked.
q am thinking how different you
re from what you were described to
And how was that2''
oh, / had heard Of the lovely Miss
.oomis, the beauty and belle, andI
ather faneled you q young woman