The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

ling It's silver6lue niles away and now and then
catch the CLINT sail blowing in or out OF charotta
bay.
Many beautiful carriage roads wound here and
there through the forest, and the balm Of pines
always in ones nostrs lazy river came down from
the north and loitered southwark a couple Of miles
debouched its waters into cypress swamp covering
thousands OF acres OF land. this bewilderng WEB
OF waterTays-ny 1nulatto friend told me this with
lar more impressiveness and ngual resource than
capable of-dsy OF island and on this tiny,
sunken continent out OF the human world.
lived creature half and half devil crime com
mtted elsewhere, 50 il whispered. had sent him
there. and isolation and wild beast mode Of
life had bred insanity IN the man coupled with wolsh
savagery and monkey cunning
Naturally. to the black people OF the region, as
well as to some OF lighter skin the rumored presence
Of such person in the swamp vas kind OF daily
nightmare For three years. the story went he had
been occasionally, upon the river at night.
sending hs canoe flying through the shadows less
frequently, in the daytime stealing through the
bayous into the open and shooting HIS little craft back
into the mazs OF liquid lanes sight Of a face
The landlord hardheaded northerner. affected lofty
contempt for the yarn It seems and the guests who
we're in great part weekly people winterng in this
ny latitude accepted IL spaTngly might OF food
that had certain DleasUrsble flip yet ended in
grit that sent unpleasant chill along the To
me the tale was peculiarly awakening. for IN my life
had occurred that which made OF this sort
pTemely interesting
began to haunt the edge OF the swamp, and be-
fore week had elapsed I the man He had
fearsome aspect; tange black hair hanging about
yellow sharp-nosed face, half-naked figure. topped
with cap that looked the feathered breast-skin
Of hamingo and eyes that looked from under It,
startled, furtve gllttering- I got but a glimpse of
him. for at sight Of me he shot his canoe under
dropping Of vines and vanished It was small
wonder that people feared the man. reflected seeing
how III his look. that the death OF a hunter
found strangely disemboWeled and floating in bayou.
had been attributed to him
That evening I'lay housed in shadow at the foot
Of terrace the big house the KNOLL muncing
my tramp's supper from newspaper and watching the
dusk close blue and gray upon the landscape I was
rumnating. rather sadly, guess for remember that
the grave case Of the n the swamp and my own
outlawed state close against enjoyment
Of life in and about the big hoselr my supper
to choke disagreeabIy
Later tremendous copper moon came heaving
over the worlds eastward and music struck
up in the house and dancing began. For years had
willingly witnessed fingered within earshot Of
ball, so bitter memory flowed out OF It Even the
sound of such performance was painful TO me And
now with the first soft shuttle Of feet got up and
hurried down the river and along its marge until
whisper behind ne
Then I sat down upon bank Of sward and obe-
dent perversity was presently considering
the mental picture I wished 10 escape thousand
times had sworn that I would think CT It no more,
and would entirely give the harsh purpose Of re-
venge which had grown Of Il; but the man in
the swamp and the music the dance brought all back
with fresh horror and clearness.
As II It were part OF yesterday, I remembered
the black transaction ana with what nexpressbIe dew
Htry be did it The speaker fell into little silence