The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1903-03-13


ture. around which the river spread
in foaming sea one day when. leav-
ting the big ocean liner, with his
brown-eyed girl in his arm. he
walked along the levee. feeling a
stranger in strange land.
IL often happened that Del" as
Jean-Picrre lovingly called her. was
left alone with old Marie. their one
servant. until late hours of the night.
sometimes for several days, while
Jcan-Pierre ran down 10 the gulf
for better fishing. or TO work with
the oyster goelettes.
In the summer time the willows
were bright and green. and the bat
ture animated. and Delphine sang her
plaintiye Norman songs, read and did
pretty work and played on her man
dolin. and she and old Marie were
contented and happy.
But on this cold, bleak December
afternoon. when the swollen tide
washed suIlenIy against the levee.
dashed in little vavclsts against the
steps and rustled the willows sigh
ingIy. old Marie took 10 chanting
cantiqued in a dull monotone. while
attending 10 her household duties, 10
drown the moaning of the wind, and
Delphinc. in spite Of her books and
CHEEKY fire. felt distinctly dull and
fOrlorn-fo Jean-Picrre would not
come home until the next evening.
On the other side of the river
young man stood impaticntly urging
"a boatman to row him across in
skill which looked Ike child's play
thing as il swuycd and rocked on the
edge Of the broad eNpa~se Of turbid
water.
Vow. look here. | must get over
TO the city. That boat Is all right.
Get out your oars and name your
price," said Hugh Compton. stepping
IN and sitting down and taking hold
90 the tiIlcr.
The man. thus urged. looked up ut
the sky. pointed To- the clouds sour
rying over from the north. and with
shake Of the head. got in. united
the rope and pushed or.
4 gust of wind dashed a handful
OF rain in Hugh's face. the skin rode
and danced, as the current. catching
IL ia its strong grasp. swept il furi-
ously along. paying very little heed 10
the vigorous strokes Of Ben Barton's
long oars.
When well out from the shore
Hugh was better able To understand
the boatman's reluctance To make
the crossing.
II was wild and tcmpestuous
night. and when the frail boat was
fairly i'm the current Of the stream
the sweep Of the wind was terrific.
Hugh had an engagement to call on
"a very pretty woman. who was just
nj that time Specializing as TO
whether or not the increasing storm
would keep him away. while adding
n few last touches To her elaborate
and artistic toilet.
Dorothy Cameron decided that he
certainly would come. in spite of the
howl of the wind. dcadcned by the
thick walls and heavy curtains. nor
was the black gloom Of the night at
all appreciate. in the brilliantly lit
room. for Dorothy Cameron lived in
one Of the handsomcst houses on the
avenue.
Yes. there were strong reasons why
he should call that evening. Dorothy
thought. with contented smile,
while contemplating her rosy. well
polished nails. and the glitter of her
rings. as she stood before the fire
place in the drawing room.
The bell rang and a caller was
ushcred in. but il was not Hugh. and
while chatting Of rhe mid-winter CO
tiIlon. carnival balls and the latest on
dts and engagements in the world
s..
strained 10 catch the sound Of the
closing of the hall door. Others
dropped in. for Dorothy was a social
leader: evening waned, but Hugh was
not one of them. Dorothy was fever
ishIy gay. and a brilliant color made
her more lovely than usual. and no
one could possibly guess. that hid
behind her wit and laughter. there
was keen distress. for after those
whispered words in her box mt the
opera last night and the permission
granted To call he so significantly
solicited. surely she had the right To
expect the words she longcd TO hear.
From others they were irksome.
But Hugh-well. Hugh for this fasci-
mating and brilliant social light was
the one human being who could fill
the world with joy. Without him"
Dorothy waited with growing an
guish mingled with anger. But Hugh
did not come.
Her callers dropped off. one by one.
the hours grew late. and ringing 10
have the lights eNtinguished. Dorothy
went slowly up the broad staircase,
dismissed her maid and slowly sink
ing into n chair by the ire in her
luNuriouSly appointed room. covered
her face with her hands.
The storm increased 10 hurricane.
rs the frail skiff in which Hugh and
the ferryman sat. reached the middle
of the rolling torrent of the Missis-
sippi.
The ps ing in the blackness OF
tramp ship steaming along 10 reach
the docks and tie up. until the storm
was over added long rollers 10 those
whipped by the wind. and must have
been the cause of the disaster. Hugh
imagined.
Swampcd bv torrents Of water. be-