The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-08
CHAPTER II-Continued.


Squire Condits gate, and addressing
Ellen, who stood with more than the
sunset glow on her fair cheeks.
"Oh, Lea! good news! good newsi"
caied Ellen, running out and taking her
friends hand.
Then do not keep 1t back, Ellen, for
my very soul yearns for news good, bad
or Indifferent; anything to break the
monotony of this dull life. All, If l
were a man / should make my own
news and give the world a fresh and
startling supply every day, but being
only a woman, a weaker vessel, as the
dominic says, who
Lea would have gone on at some
length in her bantering, half-real, half
laughing way, had not Ellen Condit in
terrupted her by calling out:
"The Sea Hawk has just anchored in
the harbor!"
THE Sea Hawk" echoed Lea Hedges,
and for the instant the color fed, under
the excitement, from her cheeks, and
she sprang from her horse, the spirited
creature making no effort to get away,
though there was no restraining hand
on the bridle
"Yes; she has been in sight for an
hour. and Ralph has signalod that he is
coming ashore at once. Mother has
just gone In to order supper, aud every
servant on the place is hard at work to
give their fayorite welcome
There, Ned, go home and tell Black
Joe 10 put you in the stable"
Lea Hedges threw the bride rein over
the pummel Of the saddle, and the in
telligent horse, with q snort that no
combination of letters could convey an
idea Of, tossed up his head and walked
away with comical dignity.
You will come into the house and
watt" said Ellen, encircling her friend
waist with her left arm, and making as
II she were going to the house.
No, my love, we shall take the other
direction" said Lea.
ITO the village?"
"No, 70 tho shore. Let US greet the
brave boys before their feet press the
soil. Ten months since they sailed
away; it has seemed like ten years.
The Sea Hawk carried with her all the
life and glory OF the Island. pray
that tho pirates have torn none of them
from US.
This was. said as the girls hastened
down to the beach, q few hundred yards
below Squire Condit's house.
"The pirates have not taken the Sea
Hawk, said Ellen, who, though as much
rejoiced ut the ships arrival, had neither
her friends enthusiasm nor her fluency Of
expression.
Il knew the pirates never could take
her: they might destroy her, but she
would go down with tho flag flying and
every living man at his post, said Lea.
THE people are cheering and the
bells are ringing, Lea"
Aye, but tho cheers are all too faint
to express my feeling, and the bell
tinkles, when it should clash, and clang,
and boom. Hark, gun from the ship!
See the smoke rising from the port like
monsters breath on o frosty morning.
There is music in that sound. How did
men fight before the roar Of cannon set
the warrior blood to throbbing In their
veins?"
Ellen Condit did not attempt to an
swer her friends question. By this time
they could see boat lowered away
from the Sea Hawk, into which six
rowers and four officers got
The boat shot away from the ship.
and headed straight for the beach where
the girls-now the center Of large
crowd Of whites and gaily attired In
dians-were standing.
From tho stern sheets Capt. Denham
w
with cheer.
The men at the oars threw all their
strength into the quivering blades, till
the boat at each stroke seemed fairly to
leap from the water.
While the Captains cutter was still
several hundred feet from the shore he
recognized among the throng the faces
of Ellen, his adopted sister, and of Lea,
his old playmate and friend.
He rose in his place and raised his
hat, and the first and second officers did
the same.
The people on shore supposed the
greeting to be general, and they at once
sent up cheer, which the men at the
oars answered, and as they shouted the
boat seemed to leap from the water, as
II 1t, too, were animated, and shared in
the Joy at again touching the soil on
which 1t was built
Captain Denban sprang ashore the
instant the boats bow grated on the
white beach, and the people were not
surprised to see him catch Lllen in his
arms, for was she not his sister?
Lieutenant Dayton was near him, and
his arms were about Lea, whose fine
eyes were now full of tears of Joy.
Valentine was her own cousin, some
eatd ne was neT lOVoT, put VI tuos uiAs &c
not the time to speak.
Every man at the oars was native to
the place, and had mother, sweetheart,
or sister to greet him.
1t would be q waste OF time TO de-
scribe what the most prosaic reader eau
easily imagine.
The men laughed and shook hands
again and again.
The women syniled through their tears
aud seemed never to weary of repeat
ing the first greeting.
And in the midst OF itail, down 9; me
SQUIRE Uondit and DIR. Hedges. and e
them the welcomes were repeated, ant
the gathering people cheered till the IN
creased volume of sound rolled out Il
the ship. Here, the watching sailors
forced to stay on board--caughtt the Joy
Gus contagion, and springing into tn
rigging, they shouted In q way ina
called out ali the crew of the stranger
who cheered also.
To speak OF the feast and dances tha
followed that night would take good
sized volume.
The officers Of -The STRANGER" as w
shall call the other ship for tho want Q
q better name. were invited. and nov