The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-11-28
A STORM ON THE COAST.

It was during one of those hot spells
In the month Of June, when between
the mosquitoes and the heat life seemed
unbeatable, that Dalton suggested a
hasty retreat to the pine woods and gull
breezes on the Mississippi sound.
"By all MEANS" l said. There is
nothing doing in the way OF business
here; we are tied down by reason Of
other peoples absence to our office
desks, so we might just as well take up
our quarters until fail by the blue wa
tiers of the gulf and run in daily to see
our mail"
Then l bethought me of an elderly
aunt of mine, Aunt d'Arville, whom |
had not seen for quite a number of
years, partly from Discrimination, for
I preserved a vivid recollection of her
unpleasant manners, and partly be-
cause | had been absent abroad repre-
s~enting our house, first in Havre and
hen in Bremen.
I'VE will go to Seaview cottage" |
said to Fred. "Ihave an elderly relative
who viii take us in, l 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
tolerable."
Aunt Martha was n caution, / remem-
bered, in those days of my youth, when
Nve 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
temperament, and hard, determined,
narrow-minded nature, she was te-
nacious III her a~ffection,if wearisome in
a degree in the depressed, vehement,
puritanical way she had of showing it,
and her grief, while sincere and re-
spectacle. was an added inflictiOn to her
surroundings.
1t was a dreary atmosphere in which
TO bring up her only child, that pale
faced little cousin of mine. Adele.
1 wondered vaguely what sort of a
young woman she had grown into.
She was a plain child. Her only re-
deeming feature l could recall was her
eyes. She had inherited them from her
father. They were large and brown,
soft and brilliant, and We're yelled with
thick, dark Eases, which threw n
shadow on her pale little face. making
her look, | thought, still more frail and
melancholy.
What had induced Aunt Martha to
marry our consul, Paul BeremmauX
d. Arville, 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 dissinilar in taste and modes of
thought, and I 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 too
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
IldITldSt. hutN gro" uPHls' anu "hSI-
financial troubles befell she became
harsh and bitter, albeit she bore her
burdens bravely, and d'Aryille drifted
into club habits and kept out of the
housp.
Seaview is a beautiful place.
\ low, wide-spreading cottage, whose
windows and piaZzas are covered with
rose vines and whose green
is shaded by gigantic oaks, it in
vites 10 repose.
As a boy 1 would Toll or n Of the
various benches under their shade,
some novel or detective story,
while the soft swish of the water on the
narrow beach just beyond the garden
gate played c minor key to the thrill
ing incidents to the story. Or l would
sit On the grass and mend my lines and
nets, while little pale-faced Del would
sit curled up with her Newfoundland.
in a subdued. silent way, by my side.
There is splendid fishing round the
out in tie bay, a few hours run
across from Seaview." l said to Fred. as