The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-10-12
A DOUBLE RESCUE.

A milk white beach Of coral sand. on
which wero strewn thousands of ex-
quisite shells and strange sponge forms.
In front, dancing blue waters of
southern sea, stretching away into in
finite space and ruffled into flashing
white caps by tho strong breath of the
trade wind. Back OF the beach stood
dense grove of cocoanut palms. stateliest
and most graceful Of trees The myriad
slender tips OF their huge leaves rustled
in tho warm wind like the sharp patter
Of rain drops In heavy shower. Down
where the white trunks shot, tall and
slender. to the dim arches Of the living
roof all was in dark, cool shadow,
fiecked now and then by dancing points
of golden sunlight.
Mingled with the salt breath of tho
sea was faint odor from spathes Of
corn colored blossoms high up among
tho leaf crowns. Beneath these hung
clusters Of fruit in all stages Of develop
ment, from the size Of marble to that
Of football. On the ground lay scores
Of the great brown, ripened cocoanuts,
of so little value in that tropic land that
no ono cared to pick them up. They
were protected by tough three cornered
huslxs so thick as TO more than double
their actual size.
On one Of them, turned ON end, sat a
boy wearing a broad brimmed, high
crowned hat of palmetto braid He was
clad in white cotton shirt and brown
linen trousers turned up at the bottom.
His feet were bare, and his legs. hands
and face were as brown as an Indians
He presented an ideal picture Of youth
full strength and that perfect health
only to DO acquired through out of door
sunshine.
His face. generally bright and happy,
was olouded as no sat, with elbows on
his knees, resting his chin in his hands
The object ON which his eyes were fixed
was small schooner moored 100 yards
from shore. She was not more than 80
feet over all in length, but was broad
of beam and solidly built
Tho month was March, and tho beach
was that of one Of those low cut, fertile
Florida keys that form tho southern
most limit Of tho United States terri.
tory
Tho boy was John Albury, common
ly called Grit. to distinguish him from
the many other John Alburys Of that
region.
The schooner was tho Polyanthus,
formerly owned by Grit's father. who
had been lost at sea the autumn before
in boat belonging to neighbor.
For many years, while he was wild
over Mr.. Albury had only occupied his
home ON tho key at long intervals,
spending most of the time with his boy
and girl. Grit and Matey, ON board the
Polyanthus wrecking, spoDging. fishing,
while waiting for his cocoanut grove t
come into bearing. and, as he finally
hoped. to yield him an income.
The life proved very happy one fol
all three, and IL was sad day for tn,
children when IL was ended by the ap
pearanco Of a stopmother, who. coming
from inland ON the mainland. had n,
knowledge of nor love for boats or thu
water. Sho was not unkind, but she in
stituted q new order OF things, strongl,
resented by tho sailor boy and girl
Mr.. Albury was persuaded to clear lane
and put in crop. Grit weeded toma
toes. Matey was made TO sew and d.
homework. while both children wer
taught TO read and write.
Now they had very little of the sail
ing that they so dearly loved and 70
which they longed, for Mrs. Albur,
could see no good in boats She evei
advised her husband To sell the dear oil
Polyanthus and ship his crops by tn
regular Key West trading schooner, bu
this, to Grit's great satisfaction, h
steadily refused TO do. though he so fa
yielded TO his wife's prejudices as {
spend most OF his time ON shore Will
the POLY" swung idly at her moorings
When the father was lost at sea Il
the dreadful hurricane that nearl
swept away their home as well. Mrs
Albury's aversion to boats became 8
bitter that she would sell the Polyar
} thus TO the first person who would offe
800 for her.
"But. mother, 800 is n ridiculor
price for n fine boat like the Poly.
urged Grit. "She can make that in
single month.
"Sho never has since 1 have know
, anything about her. replied Mrs A
, bury.
A 'No. for she hasn't had chanc
You Just let me take her. and I'll sho
+ you how much she can make.
Q And get drowned like your poor 4
9 Their and leave me and Matey to ter
e the crop No, indeed, sirl You are t
= valuable to waste that way. | need yc
= ashore. and so do the tomatoes They
!, bring in more money than any bo
/ that ever was built; you see il th'
y don't / shouldn't be surprised il v
made all Of $500 of the crop this ye