The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-06-09


rutded into flashing whitecaps by the
OF the beach stood dense grove of
cocoanut palms, stateliest and most
graceful of trees
On the ground lay scores of the
great, brown, ripened cocoanuts of SO
little value in that tropic land that no
one cared to pick them up. They were
protected by tough three-cornered
hushs so thick as to more than double
thciY actual size.
On one of them, turned on end, sat
hoy wearing broad brimmed, high
crowned hat of palmetto braid. His
face. generally bright and happy, was
c!ou;iGd as he sat, with elbows on his
knees, resting his chin in his hands,
.anc gazing out over the glinting wa
s.crs.
Tho month was March, and the
boaen was that of one of those low
cuG fertile Florida keys that form the
sourbernmost limit of United States
tcrri>ory.
r'ie boy was Johnny Albury. com
mu,.iy called "tirit, to distinguish him
from the many other John Alburys of
ttat region.
For many years. while he was wild
over. Mr.. Albury had only occupied
hi> nome on the key at long intervals,
speeding most of his time with his boy
and girl, Grit and Matey, on board the
schooner Polyanthus, wreckiDg. spong-
in-. fishing while waiting for his
cocuanut grove to come into bearing
and. as he finally hoped, yield him an
income.
This life proved very happy one for
al three, and it was Il sad day for the
children when it was ended by the ap-
pearance of a stepmother, who, coming
from inland on the mainland, had no
knowledge of, nor love for. boats or
the water
Mr.. Albury was persuaded to clear
iaaG and put in crop. Grit weeded
tomatoes and hated them. Matey was
mace 10 sew and do housework-while
bots children were taught to read and
write
Now they had very little of the sail.
ing that they SO dearly loved. and for
which they longcd; for Mrs. Albury
conid see no good in boats.
VIXEN the father was lost at sea in
the dreadful hurricane that nearly
swept away their home as well, Mrs
AlIpry's aversion to boats became SC
bitter that she declared she would sell
the rolyanthus to the first person who
would offer one hundred dollars for her
But, mother, one hundred dollars Is
ridiculous price for "a fine boat like
the Poly" urged Grit ''She can make
tina, in single month"
she never has since have known
anything about her." replied Mrs AL
bury. ... F..
No, for she hasn't had chance
You Just let me take her and I'll show
you how much she can make"
And be drowned like your poor ia
ther, and leave only me and Matey Il
tend the crop. No, indeed, you are too
valuable to waste that way. | neet
You ashore. and so do the tomatoes
They'd bring in more money than an,
boat tilat ever was built, you see j
they WON'T
New the fatal day had nearly ar
rvca. A man from Key West hat
sen, word that he was coming to lool
at the Polyanthus, and would proba
hIy bay her If she proved as repre-
sen,rd.
He might appear at any moment
and that was the reason why Grit
Alhnry sat gazing sadly at the dea
boat on that glorious March afternoon
instead of gathering the last of the TO
ma.o crop that was expected to realiz
two hundred dollars.
A. the boy slowly rose TO return +
his work there came sound of hyin
.ect. nnG Matey's voice was heard cal
ing IL Joyous tones:
Grit. @, Grit! mother wants you I
catch her mess OF fish, and says ca
60 with YOU"
The lad only answered: "All righ'
sister, come along" but a sudden reso
luton, that he did not put into words
flashed into his mind.
Two minutes later single skillft
throw ,,f a cast net into the school {
sardines. always swarming alongshor
hao provided sufiiciency of bait. an
light skiff was dancing merrily ou
over the blue waters.
Why, Grit! where are you going?
demanded Matey, II the skin WI
headed directly TOR the Polyanthus.