St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-11-16

II guess I'll go over to that well"
said he, IAN git a drink o. water. I
drink more'n eat, il amt workin'."
But when he came back, carefully
bearing tin pail brimming with cool.
clear water. his face expressed disap-
probation and he smacked his lips
scornfully.
Terrible fat water.' he announced
Tastes as if it had come out o the
cistern." But the others could find no
fault with it, and Serene drained the
pail.
When they were within three miles
could taste the saltness of the incom-
ing breeze. The road was ankle deep
in dust: the garden flowers were glar-
ing in their brightness. 1t was new
world. And when at last they emerged
from the marsh -bOrdercd road upon .
ridge of sand and turned . corner
Mrs. Pike faced her husband in triumph.
There. father" she cried. There
it's"
board in front of him. He looked pale.
why, father" said she. inpatient
ly. ''ain't you goin' to look? It's the
sea-"
Yes. yes.- said Eli, quietly: "byme-
by. I'm goin' to put the horses up
fust"
well. I never" said Mrs. Pike. and
As they drew up on the sandy tract
. where Serene had previously arranged
a place for their tents she added, al
most fretfully. turning to Hattie: Il
dunno what's come over your father.
| There's the water. and he won't even
cast his eyes at it."
But Hattie understood her father, by
some intuition of love. though not OF
likeness.
Don't you bother him. ma" she
said. He'll make up his mind to 1t
pretty soon. Here, les lift out these
little things while they're unharness-
in, and then they can get ut the
| tents"
Mrs Pixies mind was diverted by
| the exigen :ies of labor, and she said no
more: but after the horses had been
put up at q neighb hboring house, and
! Serene, red-faccd with exertion, had
superintended the tent-raising, Hattie
slipped her arm through her fathers
and led him away. Come, pa, she
said, in whisper; lies you and me
climb over on them rocks
Eli went; and when they had picked
their way over sand and pools to Z
hea dland where the water thundered
below, and salt spray dashed up in
mist to their feet. he turned and looked
, at the sea He faced it as . soul might
face Almighty Greatness, only to be
stricken blind thereafter: for his eyes
filled painfully with slow, hot tears.
Hattie did not look at him. but after
awhile she shouted in his ear, above
the outcrv of the surf:
Here. pa. take my handkerchief
don't know how it is about you. but
this spray gets in my eyes"
Eli took it obcdiently, but he did not
speak; he only looked at the sea. The
two sat there, chilled and quite content.
until six o'clock. when Mrs Pike came
calling to them from the beach, with
dramatic shouts. emphasized by the
waving Of her ample apron.
.-Supper's ready! Sereno's built .
burn-fire. an I've made some teal"
Then they slowly made their way
back to the tents, and sat down to the
evening meal. Serene seemed content.
and Mrs Pike was bustling and tri-
umphant-
well. father, what think?- she
asked. smiling exnberantly, as she
passed him his mug of tea. Does it
come MP to what you expected"
Eli turned upon her his mild, dazed
eyes.
81 guess it does he said. gently.
That night, they sat upon the shore
| while the noon rose and laid in the
water her majestic pathway Of light.
Eli was the last to leave the rocks,
and he lay down on his hard couch in
the tent without speaking.
II swouldn't say much to father
| whispered Hattie to her mother. as
they parted for the night. He feels
it more'n we do"
"Well, l s'pose he is some tired,
said Mrs. Pike. acquiescing, after q
brief look Of surprise. Its a good
deal of jaunt, but dunno but feel
paid already. Should you take out
your hairpins. Hattie?'
She slept soundly and vocally, but
her husband did not close his eyes. He
looked. though he could see nothing,
through the opening in the tent. in the
direction where lay the sea, solemnly
clamorous. eternally responsive tc
some infinite whisper from without
his world. The tension of the hour
was almost more than he could bear;
he longcd for morning. in sharp sus-
pense, with the faint hope that the
light might bring relief. just as the
stars faded. and one luminous line pen.
ciled the east. he rose. smoothed his
hair. and stepped softly out upon the
beach. Here he saw two shadowy fR-
ures. Serene and Hattie. She hurried
forward to meet him
"You goin' to see the sun rise. too,
father" she asked. II made Serene
come. He's awful mad ~ bein' walked
up" Eli grasped her arm.
Hattie" he said, in whisper,
don't you tell. just come out to see
how twas here before 60. I'm goin
home-rm goin now."
why. father!" said Hattie; but she
peered more closely into his. face and
her tone changed 'An right, she
added. .'SerenO IL so and harness up. y
NO: TIM goin' to walk.
but. father"
IL don't mean to break up your stay.
in here, nor your mothers. Tell her
how twas. I'm goin' 10 walk"
Hattie turned and took her fathers
hand.
"rll slip into the tent and put mp
somethin' for your breakfast and
luncheon" she said.
So Eli yielded; but before his wife
appeared he had turned his back on the
sea, where the rose OF dawn was fast
unfolding. As he logged homeward
the dusty roodsides bloomed with
flowers Of paradise and the insects
4 II Al II