Year: 1877




IN February; by the end Of that month
all the crops are in. and all the fruit
trees in blossom. Then there is period
Of rest till the branding season in April
and May.


II was the latter part of February
when Ralph Austin. according TO prom
ise. came down to Judge Delmars, in or
der to have weeks fishing with Burnett,
who had the best yacht in the bay. and
felt not little proud Of his ability to
sail it in any kind Of weather. The
Judge and Mrs. Delmar had gone to Gal
weston to pay short visit to some
friends, so that Belle was left III charge
Of the household. and young friend
with her, who she often laughingly
teased her brother about.


Tomorrow morning. sister Belle
Ralph aud are going TO sail as far as
Pass Cayallo. therefore we will take din
ner with us and you must not be alarmed
il We are not home before dark" said
Burnett to his sister. as they sat on the
wide piazza facing the bay, the even
ing before his contemplated depar-
ture.


Il am afraid to let you go. Burnett.
I feel responsible for you. and think it
will be best to keepyou in sight till IA
ther returns" said Belle. with affected
seriousness.


Il promise you, Miss Belle. TO take am
pie care Of this part Of your charge dur
INK tomorrow. and if l do not return
him in a good condition IS when bor-
rowed, then mine be the objectionable
blame"


Ralph Austin assumed the attitude of
a pleader during this little speech
though its most eloquent part was
in the bright black eyes ths, beamed
lovingly on her as he spoke.


with such promise cannot with
hold my consent, so Alice and | will See
that You have basket full Of all the
good things We can find for your din
ner"


"Mr. Ralph Austin, as it is you who
have obtained permission from the COM
manding Office for me TO visit Pass Ca
vallo with You, permit me TO tender you
my sincere, need say heartfelt thanks.
for your kind intercession, and should |
ever have an opportunity TO do you a
like favor. pray always consider me yours
to command"


Burnett look in such way at his beau
tiful sister, as he spoke, IS brought
brighter glow 10 her rounded cheeks.


Next morning Burnett Delmar and
Ralph Austin were up by Daylight, and.
as All early breakfast had been ordered.
Belle and Alice Morton were up and
shared with the young men.


DO not remain after sundown, or We
shall be very uneasy" said Belle, as she
kissed her brother good-by. and gave her
little hand TO his friend.


Ralph Austin, If he had his wish graft
fed in the matter, would not have gone
at all; for what Was 10 sail to Pass Ca
vallo compared with the same time spent
near "the Lily Of MatagordA," as the
young men Of the section called Belle
Delmar? And. not being anxious TO 20
for the reason mentioned. the same mo-
tive would force him TO return as soon as
possible; SO he assured Belle they would
return long before dark.


Theyscht was moored in anarrow but
very deep bayou that emptied into an
arm Of Matagords Bay--a place long
famed for its oyster-beds, and as duck
shooting point, second TO none on the
coast. IL was sixteen miles 10 Pass Ca
vallo, where the waters Of the bay met
those Of the Gulf.


The wind was blowing off shore, as it
usually does at that season in the morn
ing, and there was not cloud in the blue
sky even SO big as mans hand. A bet
ter day could not have been selected, and
Is the yacht sped over the bay, frighten-
ing myrisds Of waterfowl from its
course, the young men shouted and sang
and laughed 10 their very excess Of
spirits.


What an intense pleasure life is At
such times the young life in perfect
sympathy with the Spring season, the
fresh breeze, the rippling waters, and
azure sky the very motion Of the boat, as
it bounded along, beating poetic meas
ures to their throbbing hearts.


They reached Saluria, little village
on the shore of the Pass, in about three
hours, and here they stopped to fish.
The disciples of Izaak Walton, who claim
that the sport of angling consists in the
long search for the game, and then in the
skill with which the shy fish is hooked
would have no pleasure fishing in Mata-
gorda Bay.


Looking over the side of the anchored
yacht, the young men could see the
waters beneath literally alive with fish,
glancing and flashing like animated jew
els in settings of silver and gold.


Reddish, snappers, bass, gartish, trout.
mackerel, with here and there monster
sea-turtle passing over the white bottom
like s cloud-shadow across BEAUTIFUL
landscape They could see about them
the protruding dorsals of the huge
sharks that haunt the beautiful bay like
old pirates that have retired from the
more active plunder of the seas.


Fast as the baited lines could be
I......,I IL. kuh l.arnH f1,n than,