The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1896-11-26
AS a boy / would loll on one of sbe

reading some novel or detective story,
while the soft swish of the water on the
narrow beach just beyond the garden
gate played minor key to the thrill
ing incidents to the story. Or I would
sit on the gross and mend my lines and
nets, while little pale-faced Del would
sit curled up with her Newfoundland,
in subdued, silent way, by my side.
"There is splendid fishing round the
islands out in the bay, few hours run
across from Seaview," said to Fred, as
I folded and sealed my letter to Aunt
Martha, telling her to expect us by the
afternoon train.
"The old lady has her cranks and
crotchets," explained,a we opened the
gate and walked up a garden path be-
tween trim box borders and flower beds
and skirted well-kept lawn, but she is
true blue all through"
Aunt Martha greeted us with less
frigidity than had anticipated. and
the frosts of years, in silvering her hair,
had obviously mellowed 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
l remembered the existence of my poor,
fragile little cousin Adele.
"Great Scott" I said, jumping up;
"Aunt Martha will never forgive mel"
l hurried back to make inquiries and
apologies, and as I was leaving the
wharf which runs out over 100 feet in
the shallow water of the bay, reaching
nearly to the channel, I saw a 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 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 feather, as 1
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 him to
my rebound cousin, Miss Del.
That was my great mistake.
No one knew better than l did that
Dalton is 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
q gracious and bright, unaffected wit
which makes him 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 be quickly charmed by SO
pleasant fellow.
June merged into July, which in turn
slipped by with swift, unconscious
fight, 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
antagonisms which we would hourly
balance, Fred and 1, when the fall
would come and the summer cease.
From 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
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