Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-07-21
(Copyright. BIZ J. B. Lippincott CO..


which proclaims geographical limit
to the Ten Commandments. To her
mind, frost and virtue go as INSOFAR
ably linked as self-indulgence and hot
baths, and while her intelligence has
never denied that high mercury
might be looked for in the tropics, the
fact of needing fan on the day after
Christmas filled her with indignant
disgust.
We had made this pilgrimage to
avoid dampness. but on the way from
the boat to our lodging rain-such
a., rain as never fell in Boston-blot
ted out every feature of the village.
The whole place was distressingly un-
like Fairhaven, Mass.
Our hostess offered apologies. Yes,
they were a trifle upset. Carpenters
putting up a bathhouse in the garden
and 200 guests had just left (the
house accommodated 49,, sailors
from a gunboat, on three days shore
leave, for Christmas.
They have all left, did you say?"
My aunt countenanced no belligerents
but herself, and sitting upright on a
couch in Mrs. Brownies mysterious
parlor, she raked the shadowy corners
for trace of naval occupation.
Yes, ma'am. All gone, that is,
but one He's quiet enough now, poor
lad" Mrs. Brownies voice neverthe-
less limited at anxiety.
First a lightning-quick patter of
unshod feet, then through the door
less doorway burst rean, cinnamon
colored man, straight-haired, straight
featured, wild-eyed! OF course time
only showed these details. Our first
vision was headlong tangle of brown
nakedness and white drapery, radi-
ating terror and haste. An escaping
end of white stuff tripped him, and
with shrek he fell, rolled over, and
shot under the sofa upon which my
aunt sat waving her fan, just in time
to escape the onslaught of a large,
black devil who brandished a trident
of great power and sharpness.
You Johnson, you sir You ne
groes are a perfect pest!" Mrs.
Browne fearlessly addressed the fiend.
You scare that coolie man crazy with
your nonsense. Clean crazy!"
The devil burst out in an impolite
genealogy of all coolies; my aunt,
partly treasured, raised a dominant
Massachusetts voice. At that moment
a young man lounged in the doorway,
a curly-headed lad of some two and
twenty, with thick black hair, bold
black eyes and rosy cheeks smooth
as a girls. When he smiled, his full
red lips parted over teeth as strong
and white as a sound young dogs
He wore nondescript clothes, suggest
ing the sea, and small gold seal
ring, on the little finger of his left
hand. A fine, lusty creature born to
work hard, play hard, and satisfy his
keen young appetite upon all the
fruits of the EARTH
Seeing, after CLEAN of amusement
that my aunt's wordy anger covered
genuine fright, he babe the intruders
be gone, adding touch of authority
as the masquerading negro seemed
disposed to linger.
Then indeed my aunt's eloquence
knew no bounds And doctors
send invalids to this place! A nerv
Gus woman might easily have died fol
less!
II shall see"-for all her wisdom
turning in great crises to man, ever
to beardless adolescence-"I shall see
that paper l write for is supplied
with full details or the truth about
this island! My niece shall help me
get off the letter by tomorrow
boat!"
Now why was it that at this, the
lad lost color, grew sullen? The lool
he gave us became distinctly hostile
nay, worse! Fright, controlled bu
unmistakable, showed in his Who'll,
bearing, fright and disbursement
Turning on his heel to leave, he
marched straight into two uniformed
officials, one quasi-white, one black
both wearing stiff linen tunics, hel
NETS, blue trousers with a stripe O
red.
Mr.. Frank Liston?" the white mar
asked. "Gunboat Hecla?"
Where was the lads spirit, his nat
ural gayety? With surly nod of as
sent he followed the uniforms through
devious passages, out of sight.
My aunt, now Interrogation personi
fed, turned to Mrs. Browne. "The,
come every day, just to see he's al
right A mere FORM" the landlady ex
planned.
do all strangers on this islant
live under police surveillance?" M.
aunt had passed into regions far be
yond surprise.
Before Mrs. Browne had time to re
assure her, gong summoned us I,
repast whose oddity struck me as
merit and outraged my aunt's tradi
ton and digestion.
Appeased by coffee OF high perfec
ton, Aunt Mary discovered a writin,
room. Busily occupied with journa
and letters, she reviled the heat an,
sat close to students lamp.
| strolled out on the gallery for
first glimpse of the crowded littl
town. To one side. hall, fddles an,