The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-10
A FLORIDA ROMANCE
By
w. D. Turnkey
DeFuniak, Fla.

mothers piano. Miss Esther, the sis.
ter Of Mrs. Cook, was a musician Of
no mean ability. having learned to
play on this piano in its palmy days.
The captain himself was fiddler of
"the old school," which was one of
decided energy. Esau also was must
cally inclined. and played the flute
with the same sort of emphasis.
All went merry as marriage
bell'' the night that Truman and Jim
both fell In love with the CAPTAINS
second daughter. As yet Jim has not
been introduced to the readers of this
narrative, but 1t is enough to say
that he was Familiarity called "Tat.
ers," and that he answered to either
name.
This second daughter was a Jolly,
plump little lassie, with nut brown
hair and cheeks the color OF a Peen-
| to peach. Her eyes never remained
still long enough for one to see what
they were like. In other words, she
was the spoiled pet Of the house
hold.
Truman outclassed Jim, In that he
| could quote poetry OF original manu-
facture. But Jim did not give up the
| race, as we shall presently see
Miss Joy had leisurely walked along
| the beach one soft, sweet day in
June until she came to neighhor's
| house, three miles away, guessing
| with feminine intuition that she would
not have to walk back home alone.
Both Truman and Jim learned about
the same time Of her going. Jim. by
the way, was the choice of the cap.
| tain for son.in-law. But John and
Phil did ali they could to advance the
| lawyers cause. Somehow or other
the captain got the idea into his head
| that Jim was in love with his eldest
| daughter, who had just returned from
a Georgia boarding school with all
the polish that means. Jim tried to
appear to all the family, except Miss
Joy, as In love with the one selected
for him.
| Now, on this particular day in
June, Jim and Truman each determin'
ed to walk of with Joy before the
other could get there. So it speedily
came to a question Of speed. Jim
started first, and as his ability to
walk measured about inches more
than Truman's. the lawyer realized
that he must have help. At the wharf
fish boat stood idly Jerking its
chain. and inviting somebody to raise
the perspiration always to be found a.
the end of it's oars.
It seemed providential that John
and his chum we're on the beach
tying the long grass across the path
SO as to trip Jim and Joy when they
should come along. These imps had
seen Jim start with swinging stride
along the beach, and easily guessed
his destination. They had not seer
Truman, but he saw them, and II
them the chance of his victory.
Here boys, come quick. come a
jumping" called out Truman.
They obeyed promptly, and soor
all three were in the dory, John AMI
Phil at the oars and Truman holding
the tiller. The pilot encouraged hi:
crew TO their utmost endeaVoT by
promising to each a quarter of dol
lar to beat odd long legs" TO neigh
Dor Hawkton's,
One mile was soon measured OF
by the bounding boat, while John ane
Phil churned away with such snerg,
as to cause the oarloeks 20 cry alou.
as if in distress.
Two miles, They are abreast with
Jim. who has taken in the situation
and begun to hump himself along ths
circumference of the waters edge
!: The shorter track Of the boat gave
the lawyer the odds in the race now
} But Jim kept travelling with hope
ahead and fear urging on. Here
} dity had given him speed and wine
unusual. His father before him hat
} been a noted pedestrian in Kentucky
, Two and three-quarter miles! TIL
boat ahead, the oarsmer's tongue.
, lolling out, and Jim blowing sand viii
. a steady trTTdge. It was royal race