The Pensacola journal., 1913-04-27

The night had gone-the short gum
mer night: the stars OF the south,
larger than the stars Of the north and
more iustrous. shining down through
the warm air from the mystery Of
the illimitaible arch above. had gone
out for some two hours.
How quiet It hal been-hushed as
II were under the soothing glances OF
the myriad orbs: the quietness OF
nature content. resting for the move
ments Of the tomorrow.
But there had been some sounds
the tide rustIing along the beach, and
afar Off. some six miles, the restless
surf OF the gulf sometimes finging a
wave TO a hugeness to reach the ear
And all the night the wind had
blown-gent1e but persistent and re-
freshings flowing 30 the land from over
the gulf waves, from which it had
gathered vigor and stimulus CRATE
ftzl to the senses.
The night had passed while al
creatures were still asleep but the
lonely loon. which had sent forth its
long drawn out, lamenting cry as the
goldern orb had risen slowly from
the waves and 1ightened the grey of
the night departing.
And now 1t was 5 o'clock and the
sun well above the line of dark spruce
across the Garnder bayou to the east
OF my water front. The world OF the
bayou was awake but stir lay quiet,
refr reshed by the tonic breeze passing
through the open shutters Of my shack.
This breeze blew as refreshing every
might, and every night ! had slept with
doors and windows open to IT,
with the day had come the wants
0R 1ife-appetite calling for food-and
q red bird seeking the early worm
looked down on me from the limbs OF
an overhangfng live oak where It
hoped .fearlessly and whistled in
soIently, as il I were intruder. The
bird could see me through the open
SHUTTER lying quiet on my cot, Ill,
without strength, helpless as an infant,
and wishing for someone to come from
somewhere and make me breakfast.
Suddenly a voice: sHilIo in there!"
from the shelter of some bushes close
by.
sIilIo yourself" I replied. come
saong by my shutter, I want to see
you"
A moment passed and there stood
by the shutter a young girl, erect but
slightly shrinking. see what I have
brough you" she exclaimed, and at
arms length she dangled soft crab.
~Ehall stop and fry 1t for your"
\
thought, reincarnated in Florida-the
prises passer as she eTnerges from
q brook where she had been catching
crabs for q town market
Balzac's Crab Girl had the name OF
F1ore the name of this Florida Girl
was BERTHE.
Bertie was simply dressed she
wore no hat and nothing indeed to
-. y.
a sort of skirt of cotton that did not
reach to the knees by some inches
TIE legs be.ow-bare but unshamed-
s:;esTs burned and SCARED. and muscular
surprised the eye in their perfectnessH
OF form, from the round thighs and
knees to the slender and elastic
ankles and the feet arched and strong
that shoes had seldom cramped though
shells and thorns had deeply wounded.
The features of the pretty girl were
regular, the face oval, and about a
tered abundant hair without con1ne-
naent At first look the hair seemed
black and gave the girl a brunette i'm
preston, yet CLEANS of yellow showed
at had once been fair; reckless and
constant exposure to the sun had
burned 1t 30 the nearly black and
shortened 1t. A fisherman's daughter,
brought up In a boat. living her life in
the sun and continually peering into
the waves that reflected 1t, from brow
20 feet she was brown as a chestnut.
Her frank eyes. brown too, were
veiled with long lashes. The mouth
opened between lips of a ripeness for
love and showing small, white teeth
of perfect shape.
Not yet fifteen by two days, the
girl was still virginia. as the modesty
OF her. glances showed-but was to
be married when the two days passed.
And where were we, in this wonder
"a. enchanted land, you ask?
A postal card shows the launch Gem
leaving Ndgger bayou in a region OF
unique water ways some forty miles
east Of Pensacola Niger" as on the
postal no doubt stands for Nigger. as
that opprobious name was spelled in
the old time piney woods school. Yet
the only negroes ever seen on it's
banks are occasional blacks with
teams OF the turpentine camps. It is
q pretty bayou cut with strait sides
into the land for half a mile and
along It's borders grow oaks and pail
metto. A charming water lane it is
and the name Lane bayou would suit
it much better and is suggested.
The postal is taken from the blur
Of the Garnier's postofFice, where the