Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-07-22
nv 7TV'Vv ~ WV ~ wv N 7'TV'VVV

to the Zen commandments 10 nGr
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
rain as never fell in Boston-blot-
ted out every feature of the village.
The whole place was distressingly I'M
like Fairhaven, Mass.
Our hostess offered apologies. Yes,
they were a trife upset. Carpenters
putting up a bathhouse in the garden
and 200 guests had just left (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 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 a 1ean, 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 a 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 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 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 a girls. When he smiled, his full
| red lips parted over teeth as strong
| and white as sound young dogs.
He ~7ore 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 a 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
lessi
81 shall see"-for all her wisdom
turning in great crises to man, even
to beardless adolescence-'I shall see
that paper l write for is supplied
with full details OF the truth about
this island My niece shall help me
get off the letter by to-morrow's
boat"
Now why was it 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 disbursement.
Turning on his heel to leave, he
marched straight into two uniformed
officials, one quasi-white, one black,
both wearing stiff linen tunics, he'll
NETS, blue trousers with stripe of
red
Mr. Frank Liston?" the white man
asked "Gunboat Hecla?"
Where was the lads spirit, his nat
ural gayety? With a surly nod of as
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 to
a 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 writing
room. Busily occupied with journal
and letters, she reviled the heat and
sat close to a students lamp.
/ strolled out on the gallery for
first glimpse of the crowded little
town To one side. hall, fddles and