St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-08-20
Shore
Lea We
By
N RY MO s S
Copyright. by j. b. Lippincott Coz

(COpyrtghIs py i. -. LlpQlucott MI
Although no deyotee Of Mr.. Rudyard
Npling, my aunt was in perfect, If
unconscious, accord with line OF his
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 a high mercury
might be looked for in the tropics, the
fact of needing fan on the day after
Christmas filed her with indignant
disgust.
We had made this pilgrimage to
avoid dampness, but on the way from
the boat to our lodging a rain-such
rain as never fell in Boston-blot-
ted out every feature of the village.
The whole place was distressingly I'M
like Fairhayen, Mass.
Our hostess offered apologies. Yes,
they were trifle upset. Carpenters
putting up bathhouse in the garden,
and 200 guests had just left 1.-THE
house accommodated 49,, sailors
from 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
couch in Mrs. Brownies mysterious
parlor, she raked the shadowy corners
for trace of naval occupation.
YES, ma'am Ali gone, that Is,
but one. He's quiet enough now, poor
lad" Mrs. Brownies voice neverthe-
less limited at anxiety.
First lightning-quick patter OF
unshod feet, then through the door
less doorway burst a Iean. cinnamon
colored man, straight-haired, straight
featured, wild-eyed! OF course time
only showed these details. Our first
vision was a 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 . large,
black devil who brandished trident
Of great power and sharpness.
"You johnson, you sir! You ne
groes are a perfect pest!" Mrs.
Browne fearlesslY addressed the flend.
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 dominant
Massachusetts voice. At that moment
q young man lounged in the doorway,
curly-headed lad OF some two and
twenty, with thick black hair, bold
black eyes and rosy cheeks smooth
as girls. When he smiled, his full
red lips parted over teeth as strong
and white as 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 earthi
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 for
| less!
ct shall see"-for all her wisdom
turning in great crises to man, even
to beardless adolescence shall see
| that paper I write for is supplied
with full details OF the truth about
this island! MY niece shall help me
get OF the letter by to-morrow's
boat"
| Now why was 1t that at this, the
lad lost color, grew sullen? The look
he gave us became distinctly hostile,
nay, worse! Fright, controlled but
unmistakable, showed In his whole
bearing. fright and encouragement.
Turning on his heel to leave, he
marched straight into two uniformed
officials, one quasi-whfte. one black,
both wearing stir linen tunics, hel.
| NETS, blue trousers with stripe OF
red.
"Mr. Frank Liston?" the. white man
asked "Gunboat Heclag'
Where was the lads spirit, his nat.
ural gayety? With a surly nod OF as
sent he followed the unIrorms through
devious passages, out Of sight.
My aunt, now Interrogation persona.
fed, turned to Mrs. Browne. "They
come every day, just to see he's all
right. A mere FORM" the landlady ex
| planned.
do all strangers on this island
live under police surveillance" My
aunt had passed into regions far be
| yond surprise.
Before Mrs. Browne had time to re
assure her, gong summoned us tc
/ q repast whose oddity struck me as 8
merit and outraged my aunt's tradi
ton and digestion.
Appeased by coffee Of high perfec
ton, Aunt Mary discovered writing
room. Busily occupied with journal
and letters, she reviled the heat and
sat close to students lamp.
Il strol1ed out on the gallery for q
first glimpse Of the crowded little
town. To one side, hall, fddles and
dancing; through open windows
i could see pretty brown girls waltzinz
with smart brown beaux- Music aoated
ont agreeably, also many doors.
sYou ladies don't really mind him
being heref" Mrs. Browne whispered
1T my elbow. HE seemed right
/ young and innocent to go to gaol
4 He'd never feel the same about him