Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-23
A MISPLACED KISS.

that if one were trifle taller one could
touch it with the ferrule of q parasol
And when night came the stars would
issue from their ambush and stab it
through and through, but their glitter
ing points left it bluer even, more Der
sistent than before
The sun, too, seemed to menace. On
every bit of dingy metal on the boat it
blazed threat and i'll the lap of the
waters there was a compact with fever.
Beyond to the right was one long level
stretch of yellow sand, on which the
waves fawned with recurent surge and
swoon, as the unwieldly hulk of the
river boat wallowed down the current.
Behind it were the grayish green moss
hung ramparts of the forest and swamps,
which seem in the southern country to
follow the water courses To the left
were the staring white washed sheds
and gray roofs of the landing, piled high
with the yellow brown, pudgy cotton
bales, while in the distance among the
hills and intervales, the white or red
chimney stacks of the planters mansions
peeped forth.
1t was good looking young fellow
enough that stepped from the gangplank
of the boat, bronzer far than when he
left his northern home. His English
habit Of dress made him an unusual
figure ON the dingy landing among the
busy half naked black roustabouts, and
the careful parting of his hair and the
70 III cfr l,n
showed that he was not indifferent to
his own personal appearance.
"De majors compliments, and is yo'
ready, sah?" 1t was the black steward
addressing him with that smiling def
erence which is born of expected tips.
Everard Furman had met the major
the preceding winter i'll New York, and
the major had so represented the charms
of life on a sugar plantation that Fur
man had consented to become his guest
in passing to his post of duty as secre-
tary to the consul at Havana. In issu-
ing the invitation the major may have
had some ulterior motive, but in that
case he left no inkling Of it escape. And
now, as Furman crossed the gangplank,
the major stretched his hand cordially.
He was a man who had long since feted
his fiftieth birthday. He had the dor
mant eyes of the southerner, those eyes
in which apathy is a screen to keenest
vigilance, and his chin had the tenacity
of "a rock. In stature he was short and
slim, and his complexion below the
eyebrows was burned to a swarthy cop
perish yellow
His greeting TO the young man was
cordial, and guided by his host Furman
entered an open trap that awaited them
Then, after brisk drive along sandy
roads bordered by rioehelds, now by or
chards and fields Of waving cane, at
last, in a grove Of giant cottonwood,
the house was reached, two stored
dwelling, quaint and roOmy, with wide,
double galleries along the four sides
In tho lower gallery, facing the front
Of the mansion, gray hammock swung,
bright rugs dotted the floor, aud many
daintily shaped willow chairs stood
about IL seemed an ideal place IN
which 10 lounge away the heated hours
Of the summer morning, aud many
traces of feminine occupancy lay about
A gay oolOr6d sun hat hung by its
strings 10 the back Of ono chair, and a
ribbon bodeoked banjo shared tho ham
mock with an equally adorned tiger cat
Of Immense size But Fumap caught
no glimpse of the feminine occupants 4"
the major pleasant home until au hour
luter Whom. with his host, he awaited
dinner on tAo piazza.
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staircaso came tho uuklu ~ light ieei
and tho llgnt tIOu fup ~ sllhep Aia.
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