The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-12-27

She did not come. But the next day he
found her reading in the woods. She was
self-possessed, but this time she blushed
when suddenly he appeared before her
And now how soft were their accents, so diff
ferent from the tone of raillery that had
characterized their Iirst meeting.
And thus they met, sometimes every day
for a week, and then not at all for several
days. She would never agree to an APP
pointment, always leaving their meeting to
chance. One day they sat gazing out upon
the dreamy sea. 81 had taken so severe q
course in athletics that had reason to be-
lieve that all emotion had been trained out
of me-" he said. "Violent exercise is some
times an offset to strong mental might
say heart emotion. But / find that with me
this belief was all fallacy." She looked at
him as if she did not understand his mean
ing, and, though lie knew she did, yet he
pretended that he did not. Have you been
trying to feel strong emoton?" she asked.
and he replied: "No, not trying to feel it.
81 don't know what you mean," she said,
and then he cried: ooh, yes, you do"
and he put his arms about her; and the
hours flew and the sun sunk low and famed
upon the water, like your hair spread
out" he said. And then they heard the old
man calling her He was near at hand and
he saw Crandall. Here" said he, "lve
got word to say that may be of use to you.
From this time on you will see the black
flag Of my ancestors flying from the tower
on my house. If you come on my land you
will be shot, and if you attempt to influence
any further the mind of this child | will
hunt you and kill you"
"She is to be my wife," said Crandal.
Then she is to be bride and a widow at
| the same time" replied the old man. He
| led the girl away and Crandall went home
and walked the floor all night; and when
morning came he looked out and there was
| the black flag of the Ponchartrain pirates
! floating from the tower on the old man 5
/ house. He roamed about in the woods all
| day, but did not see the girl And each
morning there was the black flag, and there
| it was at night, patch of deeper darkness
| against the dark sky and one night, when
| lightning flashed, he Eaw it streaming, red,
! like fame-like her hair. Once he ven
tured near the house, and bullet nipped a
! bit of bark under a tree just above his head,
| Early one morning he stood on the pier
! waiting for the sun to rise, but, instead, a
! cloud and a wind arose almost hurricane
Suddenly he saw saiiboat near by, strug
! Cling hard, and then it was overturned and
; Down last away, ItdNlHB d man ~ uSbilllf
in the water-an old man, and Crandal
thought that he recognized the girls grand
father He did not hesitate. He sprane
into the sea. seized the old fellow and swan
to shore with him; and staggering upon tn,
sand, he looked at Crandall and said: "Iol
fool why didn't you let me drown?"
Crandall went home and sat down L
brood, with the black flag still in sight.
was the last day of the year Early the mex
morning before it was light ne went out anC
was standing near his door when a clou'
lifted and the sun flashed; and then hi
heart leaped, for the black flag was gone
And jus. at that moment the old man, lead
ing the girl by the hand came round tn
corner of the house 81 have brought you
New Years present." he said,