The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1905-09-14
THE IVEHGIAG
] SPIRIT OF PAL|
Observation-Disclosures:

M M been living In the wilds or
Australia for three years,
and was making his first return to the
land Of his birth, where pair of blue
eyes were waiting to give him a lovers
welcome.
The vessel was several days overdue,
and bis brow clouded when he was told
that the American ship which trans.
ferred the Australian passengers had
sailed the dry before. That meant a
month or more In this out-of-the-way
island.
He passed the day on the veranda of
the quaint little hotel. inhallng the fra
GRANGE of the vines and flowers. Lus.
cious mangoes, figs, guavas and tama-
rlnds were within reach Of his hand;
tall palms and cocoanuts in the dis
lance bowed with the slight breeze, as
IL giving him honorable welcome to this
paradise. L.
That night there was a bail In the
hotel. given ir honor OF British man
of-war lying in the hnrbor. 4 native
band played weird minor airs, 'eauti-
full women and handsome men IN IN.
form laughed, danced. and fliIted rs
they might have done in any city Q the
Old World.
But, somehow, gayety scene out of
harmony with the soft righteousness
of this troplc isle Then ths perfumes
OF jasmine lover linked with the
low notes OF fellow IN .Ghter drlfted
down tue IN osnllght air; there was the
rustic Of slIken skins. the flash of n
pair OF soft. dark eyes, and he knew
tht 9uetr of falryland had come.
An elderly man, with n slight. girl
ish figure cllngng lightly to his arm,
stopped at his side.
"Pardon me-" the man said, in good |
English, as he lightly brushed some
thing from the young mans shoulder. |
"A centlpede. Youneed not be alarmed |
They are harmless. unless angered."
The young man bowed his thanks. |
He was startled not at the thought OF
the insect, but at the beauty Of the girl. |
ut seems there are still disagreeable
things in the Garden of Eden" he re-
Piled his eyes upon the fair crea ture
looking up at him with innocent curlos-
ity. Everything Hre is so beautl- |
full" he continued, hurrledly, to hide
his boldness. "You see, am Il stranger
among You. My name is Champion.
am OH my way from Australia to
England. We missed the American
ship, and I must await her return"
The other extended his hand.
My name is Brickwood. Mr.. Cramp-
ton, my daughter. Emaline."
A soft, musical voice acknowledged
f. the Introduction. while dark. velvety
eyes looked sbyly into his. Then some
one came to claim her for a promised
waltz. and she foated away, leaving
the fragrance of jasmine trailing be-
hind her.
The two men lighted cigars and
talked. Champion told enough of his
affairs to win Brlckwood's confidence.
The elder man was Devonshire born,
and had settled OH the island when II
had few white occupants, and had
married n full-blooded native woman,
the daughter of chief. He was now
postmaster.
Long after tho dancers had departed,
Champion sat on the veranda. putting
clouds Of smoke into the feathery
moonlight and thinking of beautiful
girl with bronze skin, gowned in soft |
silk and Grape, her only ornament n
crown of jasmine flowers, the odor OF |
which still fingered with him.
He had accepted ar invitation from |
her father to dine at their cottage next |
day, and he longed for the morrow TINT |
he might see her again. She seemed |
n part of the music and moonlight of |
this new, delightful world. For the
erst time for years he retired that night
without looking at the portrait in the
back of his watch.
Into vine-clad arbor OF roses Cramp-
ton passed, to be welcomed by the Wis
ion Of the previous evening. Again he |
drank in the scent of the jasmine |
Mower, again he wandered in Elysium,
entranced by the luster of those fawn-
like eyes, again he heard the caressing
tones of that fiutelike voice. He was
as one ldazed by some strange spell, |
having its birth in a beauty ne," to
him.
But when her mother came 20 the |
room he felt sudden shock, as though |
he had fallen from height. She was
an enormous woman, dark copper in |
color. with irregular features. deep, !