St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-06-24
A MAN OF
THE SEA 8
By MARTIN BuRHE

I'D RETTY Della somers stood in the
middle of her room and surveyed
the numerous strapped and labeled
trunks with sigh of satisfaction
Only one thing in the room remained
unpacked-over the narrow little bed
stead, with its cheap. printed counter
| pane, lay wedding dress. For mo-
! n.ent the girl looked at it, then turned
! and opened cupboard. 1t was empty
save for a straight blue serge skirt, q
| blue cotton blouse, and a sailor hat.
II suppose I shall never wear such
things again." she said, and some
thing like sigh escaped her. "Ah
| we'll! for one more escapade, and
| then
She made a little grimace at hel
| own charming reflection as she hastily
donned the garments in question.
Half an hour later she stood on the
| quay; anxiously scanning sundry small
yachts at anchor outside the harbor
| A fisher lad lounged up to her.
do you know which is Mr.. Smith
yacht?" she questioned.
He pointed to one lying some dis
| lance off.
ROW me there. please" she said.
But, arriving at her destination, she
| was amazed to find it deserted.
However, it's all right" she as
sured the lad; 'N1r Smith is expecting
he 70 Io
It's funny, too" she added to herself
as she started to explore. Il can't
think what Aunt Charlotte and Bob
have gone ashore for, when they told
me to be sure and be punctual. Bob
said we should have barely time for
the trip"
The miniature saloon filled her with
dismay by its hopeless litter. Gust
like Bob,' she reflected, and straight
way proceeded to reduce the chaos to
some sort of order.
About an hour later Mr.. John
Smith, accompanied by Joe, the facto-
tum. boarded his tiny craft.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"And where's my Aunt Charlotte and
Bob?"
IL really-don't know!" he STAN
mered m
She eyed him disdainfully.
Il suppose you are the sailor But"
-severely-"you had no business in
here. l will go to my aunt"
you can't!" he burst out INGRAM
matica1ly. There's only me-and
Joe," he added.
"Only you" she began, and then
an inkling of the truth broke upon
her, and the haughtiness died out of
her face "O-h-h! you don't mean
you can't mean-pve come to the
wrong boat?"
CO., he calculated, vaguely relieved;
that's it, is it?"-
What else should it be-" she de-
manded, with swift return to
haughtiness. You surely don't mag
inc came here on purpose!"
81 didn't know. You sect took
me rather"
The next instant she was clinging
angrily to the doorway, while he fed
rapidly away. 1t hadn't been exactly
an unpleasant sensation, but j.
"Come back!" she cried imperious-
ly; "and stop the boat! You mustn't
START"
Were more than started" he an
nounced BADLY. Were half way up
Tregarthen, and we can't go back. It's
blowing up for gale. You know Pen
witha harbor-we couldn't go back in
the teeth of the hurricane we're in for.
You see," he added, in calmly explana-
tory tones, 1--WE should be mere fire
wood"
"But-but have an engagement, q
particular engagement" she expostu-
lated, tomorrow at ten o'clock q.
Penwitha."
The boat lurched, heavily again and
the man fed precipitately.
"Impossible! he called over his
shoulder.
Somers one of direst stress. At first
she could think only of the appalling
fact that tomorrow was her wedding
day, and that she would figure in all
the local papers as "the millionaire's
runaway BRIDE" Il could bear that"
she groaned, "but the boys and
mother OF course he'll forgive me.
o, it's cruel-it's cruel! And how can !
I ever explain?" But then there slowly
dawned on her the disheartening con-
viction that she would never need to
she was doomed to a
lonely death with the ugly, disrepu-
ably attired stranger above.
But I can't die alone down here"
she cried, In sudden terror, and
fighting her way inch by
inch, to where he stod by the helm.
She caught his arm, and-yes, he was
smiling.
81 thought, she shouted, the refec-
ion Of his smile showing in her eyes,
I thought we were going to be
irowned."