Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-12-29
SATURDAY. DEC. 20 I9OC
THE BLACK FLAG
A NEW YEARS STORY.
BY Opie Read.
BY Opie Read.

Il EA go south. - What Tor. the young
ElMGS fellow spoke up, rather testify.
''You forget that was the successful cen
Ger rush Of"
Eyes, 1 know all about that" the doctor
broke in. And 1 also know that in your
great strengthen the over development
Of your muscles, there lies a danger. Go
south for the winter and rest. You can af
ford it And, acting upon the physicians
advice, Crandall went down to the gulf
coast of Mississippi and took up his abode at
Ocean Springs, place settled by the Span
sards many years before there was a New
Orleans He rented a cottage built high
upon the pine wooded bluff, hired a negro
cook and was soon at home with his guns
and fishing tackle upon the walls. Some one
asked him if he had brought any books with
him and he answered: mo, left them in
The black shadow of the university. What
I'm looking for is sunshine. And, by the
way, yonder it is now, out in that boat"
That, in fact, was not the name of girl sit
ting in boat not far out from the end of
the pier on which Crandal and a newly
formed acquaintance were standing. 1t
was not the name by which she was known
among the neighbors, but name which any
stranger might have applied to her. Her
hair, as il streamed in the breeze, was wav
ing fame, so golden was its hue; aud when
she stood erect, which she did at the mo-
ment Crandail spoke of her, she was pic
ture of a grace so true might never be
effaced from the mind.
"Who is she?" he asked OF the man who
stood beside him; and thus was he enlight
sned: 'She is the granddaughter Of an old
Fellow who lives in that queer-looking house
mp yonder, the one with the round tower
About here it is known and he himself
boasts of the fact that he is the grandson Of
afamous French pirate who once infested the
coast along here, and whose offenses were
condoned by the government on account of
services which he rendered Andrew Jack
sons army. don't know what her name
Ia" .... ....
ct believe I'll row over and have a tax
with her." said Crandall.
HYou may do as YOU like, but the cd man
dead set against any attentions that
strangers pay her"
By this time Crandall was in his boat.
The girl did not take notice of his APP
proach--she paid not the slightest heed to
him until he spoke, and then, turning to-
ward him, she said: I'm not acquainted
with you"
"a fact which acknowledge with re-
Eret," he replied.
''Oh, you do" she said, giving him a full
view of her wondrous eyes.
Eyes, and your name is-let me see Isn't
keete-or whatever his name was-who
robbed on the sea and built fort on Lake
Ponchartrain?"
you seem to have read history, at any
rate"
"Yes, have skinned the most important
events, and l can dip up happening all
right, but dates run through my skinner
What are you trying to catch here"
Fish," she answered; and he replied:
might have surmised as much" and then
abe rejoined: "Oh, as to that, man doesn',
sften take the trouble to surmise reasonably
when his only object is to gain an oppor
sanity to ask question"
By George, Miss Pirate, you are Al
sharp az your old ancestor" and when sh,
lad looked at him and laughed, for the re
mark did not displease her, be added: at
may be small concern to you, but we arr
aeighbors. live up yonder among tn,
pines" .r-.
-sDh, you are the crazy man, !" she said, look
eng at him closer. He looked back at her il
astonishmsnt, and she explained: That
what some of the folks believe. What els
could they think of man who hangs up
leather bag and hits it nearly al night? 2
Hs explained that he was merely taking sx
srcise and she asked him why he didn't Gu
wood, aud he replied that il would give hin
pleasure to make chips fiy for her. She trie,
60 frown at him, but laughed. They ha
been drifting along together. Now she too
mp the oars. He asked her what she wa
going to do. and she replied that she wa
going home, of course. He could not expec
her to remain out there with stranger
And, laughing, she rowed of from him; an
shortly Afterward he muttered an imprec,
Zion against himself fer not having nerv
enough to follow her, and late that nigh
ne turned from the punching bag and sal
30 himself: Come, old fellow, brush the
&ace out Of your mind. But is it in NJ