The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-12-05
A STORM ON THE COAST

+ a 0lOnM YIN l1G AOhb L
1t was during one of those hot spells
in the month of June, when between
the mosquitoes and the heat life seemed
undesirable, that Dalton suggested +
,hasty retreat to the pine woods and gull
breezes on the Mississippi sound.
"Rv all means" l said. There is
nothing doing in the way of business
here; we are tied down by reason oil
other peoples absence to our Office
desks, so we might just as we'll take uT
our quarters until fall by the blue wa
tiers of the gulf and run in daily to see
our mail.a
Then l bethought me of an elderly
aunt of mine. Aunt d'Arville, whom
had not seen for quite number OF
wears, partly from Discrimination, for
I preserved a vivid recollection of her
unpleasant manners, and partly be.
cause | had been absent abroad repre-
isenting our house, first in Hayre and
then in Bremen.
I'VE will go to Seaview cottage"
said to Fred Il have an elderly relative
who will take us in, have no doubt
and as we will be out of the house most
of the time fishing or sailing, the old
lady's moods and temper will not be in
ftolerable.n
Aunt Martha was a caution, | remem-
bered, in those days of my youth, when
rye were Familiarity acquainted with
each other.
l suppose the poor souls temper had
been soured by her husbands failure
and his too philosophical acceptance OF
it afterward.
His death later on did not mend mat
tiers; for like all people of her exacting
Temperament, and hard, determined
narrow-minded nature, she was te-
nacious in her affection,if wearisome in
a degree in the repressed, vehement,
puritanical way she had of showing it.
and her grief, while sincere and re-
spectacle, was an added infliction to heI
surroundings.
1t was a dreary atmosphere in which
TO bring up her only child, that pale
faced little cousin of mine, Adele.
j wondered vaguely what sort of n
young woman she had grown into
She was a plain child. Her only re-
deeming feature | could recall was her
eyes. She had inherited them from her
father. They were large and brown
soft and brilliant, and were yelled with
thick. dark lases, which threw q
shadow on henpale little face. making
her look, Thought, still more frail and
melancholy.
What had induced Aunt Martha to
marry our consul. Paul BeremmauN
d. Aryille, no one had been able to dis
cover unless it was his brilliant wit
intense divergence from herself and
handsome face.
Certainly no two people were ever
more dissimilar in taste and modes OF
thought, and l fancy d'Arville, whom
/ always looked on as a most fascinat
ing man from his fine manners, versa
tile conversation and general attract.
iveness, soon wearied of his wife's toe
austere, methodical temper and habits
No doubt he failed to discover under
her cold. precise manner the fine feeling
and nature which lay hid and did not
reveal itself. So, like many another
marriage. they grew apart, and wher
financial troubles befen she became
harsh and bitter, albeit she bore her
burdens brayely, and d'Aryille drifted
into club habits and kept out of the
house.
Seaview is a beautiful place.
a low, wide-spreading cottage, whose
windows and piazzas are covered Will
clambering rose vines and whose greer
lawn is shaded by gigantic oaks, it in
vites 10 repose.
As a boy l would loll on one of the
various benches under their shade
reading some novel or detective story
while the soft swish of the water on the
narrow beach just beyond the garier
gate played minor key to the thrill
ing incidents to the story. Or would
sit on the grass and mend my lines anc
nets, while little pale-faeed Del would
sit curled up with her Newfoundland
in a subdued, silent way. by my side.
There is splendid fishing round tn,
islands out in the bay, few hours run
across from Seayiew," l said TO Fred. a.
folded and sealed my letter to Aun-
Martha, telling her to expect us by thl
afternoon train.
THE old lady has her cranks an,
croichets,"I explained. las we opened tn,
gate Gnd walked up a garden path be
tween trim box borders and flower bed.
and slSirted a well-kept lawn. "but she {.
true blue an through"
Aunt Martha greeted US with les
frigidity than ] lad anticipated. an,
the frosts Of years, in silvering her hair
had obviously mellowed some of hei
asperities OF temper
We had dainty. well-served supper
and il was only when Fred and / sat on
OF the pier-head enjoying OUT cigar