The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-11-21

afternoon train.
"The old lady has her cranks and
crotchets," explained, las we opened the
gate end walked up garden path be-
tween trim box borders and flower beds
and skirted a well-kept lawn, "but she is
true blue all through"
Aunt Martha greeted us with less
frigidity than l had anticipated, and
the frosts of years, in silvering her hair,
had obviously melowed some of her
asperities of temper.
We had dainty, well-served supper.
and it was only when Fred and sat out
on the pier-head enjoying our cigars
over the tapping water of the bay that
remembered the existence of my poor,
fragile little cousin Adele.
"Great Scott" 1 said, jumping up;
"Aunt Martha will never forgive mel"
/ hurried back to make inquiries and
apologies, and as was leaving the
wharf which runs out over 100 feet in
the shallow water of the bay, reaching
nearly to the channel, saw n fairy
vision approaching.
A young woman came toward me.
walking with slow, tranquil grace,
while holding her soft, pale blue gown
aloof from the dust of the shell road.
She was bareheaded, and the waning
afternoon light seemed to pause, all
entangled in the ripples of her golden
brown hair. Never had l seen anything
quite so lovely as this maiden, whose
brown eyes shone with subdued
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
coasting mgger beat her way slowly
down the channel.
Fred's back was toward US, and ht
only turned, aware of our presence
when | called to him to present him Il
my rebound cousin, Miss Del.
That was my great mistake.
No one knew better than | did thai
Dalton is a particularly pleasing fellow
Everybody likes him.
He is clearly one of natures favor
ties, for besides an uncommonly brigh
mind. much practical sense, as evi
denced by his success in life, Fred ha
y gracious and bright, unaffected wi
which makes him much sought afte
man by all, and everywhere, at all time
and all places.
So it was to be expected that chil'
|
from the world, mostly in the gran'
solitudes of Aunt Martha's seashore re
treat. would he quickly charmed by $
pleasant a fellow.
June merged into July, which in turf
slipped by with swift, unconsciou
fight, the pleasant days following eacl
other all too quickly, as we would rul
into town each morning, look at on
mail. step in at the club. then catcl
the nine o'clock train and speed bacl
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 o
hopes. fears. desires, anticipations.' de
termincd resolves and possible bite
antagonsms which we would hourl
| balance, Fred and l, when the fal
would come and the summer cease.
From a close friendship and in
! timacy, built on long years of liking
esteem and daily intercourse, Ere
and fell into polite frigidity and
+ aloofness from each other, which wa
r calling to each of us, but which neithe
F., could break through or overcome.
1 Between US stood Defs sweet witcf
a cries. ripping laughter, bright word
: and wondrous graces, piled mour
l tain high in an impenetrable bal
rier, which cut in two the tie
D of boyish years and the frien'
< ships of manhood, leaving us ster
: antagonism and an implacable dete'
!. mination to each seek without stay c
I stinct what the other most coveted o
this green, smiling earth.
r Aunt Martha led her busy life wit
( calm regularity, and Del each day CAV
a us Joyous greeting from her pom
: carriage when we alighted from tn
J. train: chatted with Fred and coaxe
: me to a better humor, or sat with n
o on the moonlit porch and sang SON
). sweet ditty. then chatted in Frenc
r with Fred, adding each day to the III
y of our long reckoning, which in tn
/ after years would make or mar t"
T. lives.
n "You both leave tomorrow for goo
q and ALI" said Del that last evenini