Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-01-28

Lst's 50 up and gst them 10 rspest
that Polonaiss. must hear u again"
TheOAHonstte player was busy vita
hiS cor and had his back turned when
Claire (Who came from New Orleans),
and the Boston man, and him Of New
York, Sauntered up TO the stand TO re-
quest that Radowsk's inimitabla crea-
ton b repeated.
OF curse II was; but the soloist al
tered his position, and Mrs Chat
worth's party could hardly see him
from where they set under the arched
pillars, enjoying the salt breesss and
their ices.
"Tve been noticing him for the past
month" Betty remarked, crauing TO
get q better view Of the tall gray-hsired
player whose easy pose seemed ia
muiar.
Capt. Benham says his name IL Gus
taVus Berret. But he told me they
none Of them believe THAI Is his real
name. He speaks French and Hikes to
read, and the captain says he talks
very little, but when he does his LAM
guage Is that Of an educated man.
I'm dying TO find out who he iE."
It was after that night that Berret
positively declined to play again In
public, and went back again TO the du-
ties Of 3 soldier in the ranks Of L com
pany.
This cool, September day when the
air was slightly answering, and a light
haze yelled the tumbIing breakers on
the Jetties, and over the old sand reef
Of Drunken Dick, the sentry pacing
slowly at the foot Of her tall embank-
ment of Fort Getty watched the swaL
lows eager fight southwark with .
strange pulling at his heartstrings.
81 wish to Cod" he said, then
stopped.
Because what IL the use Of idle and
vain regrets that the shackles we in
u folly once placed upon our wrists
were riveted by our own act? That
miSspent years, squandered and Ill
used, and debased, had not been diff
ferently employed, when we were in
the heydey Of YOUTH
And why torture the soul with pic
lures Of what might have been, but
Is not?
The sentry, Gustavus Berret, knew
that the swallows were winging their
fight to a land in the south, once so
familiar before those turbulent years
Of reckless and wild dissipation had
cut him off from old home ties, before
that black stain on his name debarred
him from the association Of
Berret groaned aloud.
He had recognized her instantly.
Who could ever, having once seen that
laughing face, and those glorious eyes,
ever forget them? Why, he could re-
call as if it were yesterday, their
romps together in the old garden, when
blindfolded he would chase Odette,
his little sister, and her companions,
like a flock of frightened doves down
the winding paths, and around the
acanthus and sweet olive bushes, and
always catch Claire, who, laughing and
breathless, would beg for mercy.
She had fulhlledthe promise ofthose
early years, her beauty a hundredfold
4ntensifed.
Who were those men gathered
around herr
The swallows stfll fitted by, mil
grating south, and he slowly resumed
hts walk.
go TO see the men practice at the
Life Saving station2 With the great
est pleasure" Claire said. SIT must
be such q pretty sight"
They hurried down to the beach, but
there seemed to be a hitch, because one
Of the men was missing from some sud
den cause.
"Go and tell Capt Benham I ask him
70 send me Bsrrst; he's Just on duty"
the captain Of the squad said to n OF
his men.
The small brass cannon used to shoot
= cord TO any endangered vessel, by
which 10 attach a rope and secure com
muniCation, was rolled out on the
and the squad Of men with
to bury the anchor, against
they were to haul the men from
the supposed wreck, were soon ct
work, and the hfe-saving boat was
rolled out with rapid precision into the
surf now coming inward
Berret came forward TO take his
place on a wooden tower, toward which
the shot vas to be fred, and paused
Claire caught her breath with q
exclamation, and Betty stared
With silent astonishment.
Berret stood ct attention pale &c
ieath, with his eyes fixed on the ruddy
lace Of the captain of the h~fesavinF
rev.
Receiving his orders he wheeled and
went with the mechanical tread Of the
drained soldier to the tower up which
be slowly swung himself to q anal
olatform, where he stood erect.
"It's Gustavei dear old Gustave?'
Claire. II must go and talk
With him when they are through. I
will have q long, long talk with himi