The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-23

1
Even my mother, TO me, is, first of all,
an individual, and after that my mother"
Pretty Janet Dale gave the speaker a
distinctly disappearing glance.
mo, no. Phil, returned his uncle, in
diligently reproving. in that mellow voice
which was one of his charms. first of all
she is your mother and after that an indi-
vidual"
The first speaker. Philip Drummond,
had one of those wildly handsome faces
that would attract attention in any
crowd. 1t was so eager, so young-and
his character, too, had all the sharply de-
fined angles of youth. He bristled with
theories and opinions. There was strong
family resemblance between himself and
his uncle. Mr.. Armyn Van Dyne was also
a handsome man, but naturally in a more
elderly way with more rotundity of fig
ure and; the fact that his dark eyes We're
set rather close together deprived them
of that candor of expression which char
acterized Philips frank gaze.
THANK you for saying that, Mr.. Van
Dyne," said Janet, to whom the word
''mother" brought back a sweet sad mem
DRY.
Il consent to wave the point, said Phil
ftp. carelessly. IT'S too hot. anyhow, to
be arEumentative," he added as ne
famed himself with his straw hat.
The conversation took place on board
the Tom Jones a dingy little steamboat
that piled between a southern city and an
island of the gulf. They were now wait
ing to effect their entrance through a ca
nal dock, and the pause was a tedious
one with not a ghost of a breeze blowing,
and nothing to be seen but a few gaping
by-standers on the bank. and the sprignt-
ly fiddler craps scrambling about in the
mud.
IF this is foretaste of the joys to
come" sighed Janet, what happy fort
night we shall have"
Now, my dear child" urged her father,
don't make up your mind beforehand to
dislike the place"
You see," said Janet, turning to M.
Van Dyne, papa has always represented
the island as sort of earthly paradise,
and as this is the first time 1 have ever
consented to visit it he feels personally re-
sponsible."
1T is a jolly sort of place when you get
used to it," struck in Phil. mot very ex-
citing; but you can do pretty much as you
please there-wear old clothes and be as
unconventional-and as selfish-as you
like"
THAT is not my idea of bliss" retorted
Janet.
Whatever else the place lacks" said
Mr.. Van Dyne, "the air Is delicious. 1t
makes one feel young and strong, capI-
BILE of any exertion."
BY this time the tiresome wait was end
ed and the Tom Jones was snorting and
putting its way between the banks of the
narrow canal into the bayou, which pres
emily widened into a lake. The sky had
been growing darker, and now a sudden
squat arose. with sheets of rain and a
wild wind. The feminine passengers re-
tired to the small and stuffy cabin. where
most of them seized the opportunity to be-
come seaSick AS a precautionary meas
ure the engines were stopped the Tom
Jones not being a craft suited to stormy
weather.
Il trust this will grow no worse" said
Mr. Van Dyne, uneasily Are you suffer-
ing any inconvenience from the rocking
of the boat, Miss Janet?"
mot at all; only l wish papa would let
me go outside. 1t is so close in here"
Phil appeared just them with a beaming
smile.
"Such a joker he exclaimed. The cap
tain forgot to bring the anchor along
mot really?" said Janet.
Il don't see much of joke about that,
my boy, especially if the wind rises any
higher"
One of the detected sufferers raised her
head to ask: Are we in any danger"
''Oh. no." said Phil. struggling to open
the door, tits rapidly going down."
"She gave hollow groan. HE says We
are rapidly going down" she moaned to
companion in misery.
THE wind-not the boat" explained
Phil. and she fell back again with a NUT
tered oh"
Presently the squall passed and the boat
steamed up once more but as she had
been delayed, 1t was dusk before they ap-
preached the island. Then the painful
news was circulated that the tide was too
low for the Tom Jones to reach the wharf.
Must we stay on board all night?'
asked Janet.
I'VE are going ashore in lugger-a ro-
mantle lugger, that will satisfy all your
cravings for the picturesque" replied Phil,
with unfeeling levity.
Don't be alarmed-it won't last long"
said Mr.. Van Dyne, reassuringly.
The passengers embarked upon the lug
ger with murmurs of Dear mel" How
horrid! II wouldn't have come If had
known thisl" etc.
1t was dark, very dark, with only the
glimmer of the lantern at the boats head
to light their progress. Two men marched
up and down on the thwarts, polling the
boat along through the shoal water; and
the passengers shuddered as they heard
the cry, Hard off hard on" for they
knew they were about to stick In the mud
Three times they stuck, and meanwhile
the mosquitoes bit ferociously.
even you, papa, must admit that this
Is a poor beginning" said Janet. But Mr.
Dale only groaned and gave a vicious slap
at an invisible but very audible swarm Of
mosquitoes.
At last they reached the wharf and dis
embarked with some difficulty, but 1t was
so dark that Janet began to follow a stray
mule, under the impression that il was
her father. She was rescued from this
vain pursuit by Phil, who declared that
her Misrepresentation was very unflial
How dreadful ii all is" she said, "but
at any rate it's something to be on dry
land once more"
II.
The next morning, however. under a
bright blue sky, the island put on its pref