The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-05-28
CHAPTER
Hermit Of Sullivsn's island

sequent upon his disasters. he lett
New Orleans. the city of his fore
fathers. and took up his residence
al Sullivan's Island. near Charles
ton. South Carolina.
This island lis Il very singular
one. II consists of little else than
the sea sand. and is about three
miles long Its breadth at no point
exceeds quarter of u mile. II IL
separated from the mainland by a
scarcely perceptible creek. oozing
It's way thru a wilderness of reeds
and slime. a fayorite resort OF the
marsh hen,
The vegetation. as might be sup
posed. Is scant. or at least dwarf
ish No trees OF any magnitude
are 10 be seen Near the western
extremity. where Fort Moultfie
stands. and where are some miser-
able frame buildings, tenented. dur.
Ing summer. by the fugitlyes from
Charleston dust and fever. may be
found. indeed. the bristly palmetto,
but the whole island. with the sx-
ception OF this western point. aud
line Of hard white beach on The
sea.eossi. Is covered with n dense
underground OF the sweet myrtle.
80 much priced by the horticultur.
list OF England The shrub here
often attains the height Of 10 or 20
feet. and forms an almost lmpene.
trable copplce, bur,henlng the air
with its fragrance.
In the lnmost reeesses 81 this cop
pice. not far from the eastern or
more remote end OF The island. Le.
grand had built himself small hut.
which he occupied when first. hy
mere accident. made his acguaint-
ancc This bnou ripened into friend
ship-for he was much Ia the re-
cinsc 20 excite interest and esteem.
found him we'll educated With
unusual power OF mind. but infect
ed with misanthropy. and subject
To perverse moods OF alternate en-
thusiasm and melancholy He had
With him many books. but rarely
employed them Ills chief amuse.
mcnts we're cunning and fishing.
or saunterinE along the beach and
thru the myrilcs. In quest Of
shells or sutomolosieai specimens
his ooll.c ion Of the latter might
have hccn enNicd by swammef.
damn.
IN these excursions he was
usually accompanied by an old
negro. called Jupiter Nhc had
hetn manumlticd before the re.
verses OF tho family. bu, who could
DO Induced neither by threats nor
by promises TO abandon what he
considered his right Of attendance
upon The footsteps ~ his Young
"MassR VIII" II Is not improb.
able that the relatives OF Lexrand.
conc.iving him 10 he somewhat
unsettled In intellect. had con.
trived TO inatill this obsiiuRcy into
Jupiter. with a view TO the super.
vision and gua rdIanshlp Of the
wandeser.
The winters In the latitude of
Suilivana Island are seldom very
severe, and In The fall Of the year
II IL rare event indeed shen a
fire Ia considered necessary. About
tho middle OF October. Is. there
occurred. however. a day 81 re
markahle chlllinesa. Just before
sunset scrambled my way
thru the evrrvreens 20 tho hut OF
ms friend. whom | had not visited
for several weeks-ny residence
being. AZ that time. in Charleston. a
distance OF nine miles from the
lslHnd. while The facilities % pas.
sage and re.passaRe we're very far
behind those 81 the present DAY
Upon reaching the but ! raped.
as was my custom. and getting no
reply. sought fos the ksy where !
neN Il was secreted. unlocked the
door. and went in. 4 fine fire vRa
blazing upon the hearth. II was a
novelty. and by no means an un-
grateful one. threw off an over
coat. took an armchair by the
cracking logs. and awaited pa.
tIently the arrival OF my hosts.
Soon after dark they arrived. and
gave mo a mos cordial welcome
Jupiter. grinnIng from ear to ear.
hustled about to prepare scms
marsh-hen for supper Legrsnd VAS
in one OF his fitE-how else shall
term them enthusiasm. lie
had found an unknown bivalve.
forming new genus. and. more
than that. he had hunted down and
secured. with Jupiter's assistance.
a scarabaeus which he believed 10
be totally new. but in respect 10
which he wished 10 have my opln'
ion on the morrow.
And why not tonight | asked.
rubbing my hands over the blaze.
and wishing the whole tribe OF
scarabaei at the devil.
"Ah. II | had oaly known you
we're here" said Legrand. but It's
so long since | saw YOU and how
could | forcsee that you would pay
me visit this very night OF all
others? As was coming home !
met Lieutenant c.. from the
fort. and. very foolishly. ! lent him
the bug: so It will he impossible
for you to see IL until the morning.
Stay here tonight. and | Will send
Jup down for It at sunrise. II is
the loveliest thing in creation
What 7-sunrise?"
Nonsense, no!-the bug. II Is
of brilliant gold color-about
the size OF large hickory-nut-'
with two Jet black spots near one
extremity OF the back, and another,
somewhat longer at the other The
antennae are
"Dey aint no tin in him. Massa
Wnl. keep a tellin on YOU" here
interrupted Jupiter, de bug Is n
goole- bug. solid. every bit OF him.
inside and all. sep him wing-neber
feel half so hebby a bug in my
life"
Well. suppose II is. Jup." replied
Legrand. somewhat more earnestly.