The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-11-28
Remarkable Dispatch.
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By EMERSON BENNETT
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Our life at West Point was an en-
chanting monotony-a plunge in the
| river at seven, breakfast at nine, nc
| letters to read IT write-thanb
Heaven-a prolonged smoke. George
! sketched. I read a trashy novel. with
the full knowledge that it was rub
bish of the most uncompromisins
kind, but exulted in it's flimsy fiction
nevertheless; and then to the dock to
| meet the steamar-this act, together
with that Of attending the evening
parade at the Point, we regarded in
common with all the guests at Coz
zen's Hotel, and indeed of the village,
in the light of serious duty; and be
the weather fair or foul, wet or dry,
stormy or calm, the arrival of the
boat found us on the dock, like pair
of detectives, awaiting the landing of
scme party telegraphed as wanted.
Six weeks had glided away as
though l had been in dreamland, and
the hour was not far distant which
was to summon me to work The
shadow of New York was upon me-
One exquisite afternoon found us.
as usual. on the lookout for the boat
en- route to Albany. Tourists from all
climes under the sun were passing
backward and forward. and Georges
excuse for gazing at the pretty girls
was on the plea of studying char
acter."
II never saw such a colorless lot, :"
growled my companion, as the boat
commenced to glide from the dock.
"As ugly as-ah, that's something
over there in deep mourning-the girl
with the hay-colored hair"
My heart leaped.
1t was the young lady whom I had
encountered at the telegraph Office.
My eyes caught hers and she
flushed.
The boat was passing along the
dock.
She spoke rapidly to her compan-
ion, tall. MISUNDERSTANDING young
man. toward whom, in that single in
slant, I conceived a deadly aversion.
This man instantly quilted her side
and rushing to the stern of the boat
shouted:
Your name and address; l want to
get out of your debt"-his tone as
though he were addressing a lackey.
you are not in my debt" l def
antly retorted
The boat had almost passed from
the dock.
He sprang upon a seat, and rapidly
silver dollar in a green
back, know not of what value, cried,
as he flung it:
Catch! Debt with interest and
thanks"
the boat had passed away from the
dock. was not the "boss" baseball
player in the Manhattan Club without
being able to make a fair catch. II
caught his missile as it came flying
through the air. With all nv
strength | sent it spinning back to
him. 1t struck him, and a savage
brill of pleasure ran through me as
saw him apply a handkerchief to
lis face.
The steamboat had passed away,
md my hearts longings were with
hat fair girl who was being borne
rom me, whittier I could not tell.
What was this naughty beauty to |
ne? What link between us? None.
ave an act for which a newly
'reeched schoolboy would fout me.
Her husband, too. Strange to say.
never admitted the possibility of her
icing united to that man-whenever
he thought came to the surface, did |
lot give it breathing time, but sent
down to the unfathomable depths of |
underlined idea.
Upon my arrival in New York I |
ound letter which compelled me to
axe the night train to Boston. III
ordered my berth to be made up with
tut entering the sleeping compart-
nent, and smoking a cigar before
urning in.
1t was bright daylight and we were
lowing into the depot when the por-
$50 G I'D c.