The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-12-05

wharf which runs out over 100 feet in
the shallow water of the bay, reaching
nearly to the channel, l saw fairy
vision approaching.
\ young woman came toward me.
walking with slow, tranquil grace,
while holding her soft. pale blue gown
aloof from the dust of the she'll road.
She was bareheaded, and the waning
afternoon light seemed to pause. all
entangled in the ripples of her golden
brown hair. Never had | seen anything
quite so lovely as this maiden, whose
brown eyes shone with a snbdued
mirth, while her smile of recognition
and welcome was beyond all descrip-
ton.
why, Cousin Allen. you don't seem
to recognize your poor little playmate
of years ago. Del is very glad to see
you again, nevertheless.
In common parlance. you could have
knocked me down with a feather, as |
instantly told Del, while insisting that a
long lost cousin was entitled to some
thing more demonstrative than hand
shake.
But Del laughingly objected until a
renewed acquaintance, she said, would
verify the existence of the trough,
good-natured fellow she liked SO
much"
We strolled out on the narrow plank
ing of the wharf, side by side, to where
Fred still sat, enjoying the cool breezes
of the gulf, his cigar, the broad view of
paling waters and sky tints, and the
faint song of some fisher folks waited
to us by the light evening winds as a
coasting lugger beat her way slowly
down the channel.
Fred's back was toward us, and he
only turned, aware of our presence,
when | called to him to present bin to
my rebound cousin, Miss Del.
That was my great mistake.
No one knew better than | did that
Dalton is.a particularly pleasing fellow.
Everybody likes him.
He is clearly one of natures favor
ties, for besides an uncommonly bright
mind, much practical sense, as evil
denced by his success in life, Fred has
gracious and bright, unaffected wit
which makes him a much sought after
man by all, and everywhere, at all times
and all places.
So it was to be expected that child
like Del. brought up austerely, aloof
from the world, mostly in the grand
solitudes of Aunt Martha's seashore re-
treat, would lie quickly charmed by SO
pleasant fellow.
June merged into July. which in turn
slipped by with swift. unconscious
flight, the pleasant days following each
other all too quickly, as we would run
into town each morning, look at our
mail, step in at the club, then catch
the nine o'clock train and speed back
TO Seaview to lounge through the cool,
sweet evenings and nights.
August came and went all to swiftly.
each day adding to the long account of
hopes, fears, desires, anticipations, de-
termined resolves and possible bitter
antagonists which we would hourly
balance, Fred and /, when the fall
would come and the summer cease.
From a close friendship and in
timacy, built on long years of liking,
esteem and daily intercourse. Fred
and | fell into polite frigidity and an
aloofness from each other, which was
CALLING to each of us, but which neither
could break through or overcome.
Between us stood Ders sweet witch
cries, ripping laughter, bright words
and wondrous graces, piled noun
tain high in an impenetrable bar
rier, which cut in two the ties
of boyisii years and the friend
ships of manhood, leaving us a stern
antagonism and an implaca5le deter
mination to each seek without stay or
stinet what the other most coveted on
this green, smiling earth.
Aunt Martha led her busy life with
calm regularity, and Del each day gave
ms a joyous greeting from her pony
carriage when we alighted from the
train; chatted with Fred and coaXed
me to a better humor, or sat with me
on the moonlit porch and sang some
sweet ditty, then ehatted in French
with Fred, adding each day to the list
of our long reckoning, which in the
after years would make or mar two
lives.
"You both leave tomorrow for good
and ALL" said Del that last evening,
clasping her little hands in mock de-
spair. whatever will | do without
you. How dull Seaview will be when
you are gone! Poor me! No more sail
ing! No more fishing! No more moody,
silent, irrational, cross companions to
make time pass pleasantly, and to
break the deathly monotony of these
great oppressive woods!"
Fred looked at me and at him.
We were grouped under spreading
oak, down by the waters edge, where
small table and chairs had been
placed, for Del delighted to serve us tea
when twilight set in, close to the
Inurmuring tide, as the wavelets broke
gently on the white sands of the beach.
Fred and l understood each other.
Slowly he rose, lit a cigar with a
slightly unsteady hand and stroled off
down the straight shell road.
Defs eyes followed his tall figure
as it stood out distinct in the paling
light, and unconscious of my steady
gaze. her great brown eyes took on a
tender, wistful look. which pierced my
heat like a poisoned dagger.
viii the solitude seem dull when
we are gone, Del?' I asked.