San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-27
A PERFECT STRANGER.
Raeusa Beach is not on the map.

When Arthur +. DeV1ne was making .
competency in "Fine Wines, Liquors and
Cigars-Oysters in every STYLE" among his
best customers was one Jackman, who cheer
fully spent his time and money in MIR. De-
vines sample room, and shortly got into that
gentleman's books to the tune of $500. Be
ing hard pressed and in need of further
credit this Jackman made over as collateral
fifty acres, more or less, Of Jersey soil on the
seashore and never redeemed them When
Arthur P. Devine made his competency be
cast about, as is the wont of rich men, as to
the best way of getting rid of it, and Jack
mans fifty acres offered an eligible oppor-
tunity. He dubbed it Ragusa Beach, sank
$4,000 in the Colonnade hotel and as much
more in laying out lots and booming the
town. But there they lay-the lots-and
there the hotel stood, and that was all
There was the best beach on the Atlantic
coast, prime fishing and boating and un-
rivaled hotel accommodations; everything
except people. They went to Newport, Long
Branch, Cape May, and, it seemed to the de-
spairing Devine, every resort except Ragusa
Beach. It didn't "go," and nobody knew
why. One man said Devine didn't have the
push, another friend thought that it wanted
q boom, another said: "Oh, give it time,
can't YOU" and there was some talk about
Rome not being built in day. Occasionally
there strayed thither an idler or an invalid,
but no one came twice. One and all assured
Mr.. Devine that "Ragusa Beach was destined
to be the leading resort when its advantages
were thoroughly understood" but all that
did not prevent the gentlemanly proprietor
from trembling on the verge of bankruptcy.
When Mr.. John Andrew Baxter came to
Ragusa Beach with his wife and only daugh-
ter, he was actuated by that perversity of in
tellect and purpose which had gained for
him the name of crank among his social ac-
quaintances In business circles Mr.. Baxter
was model Of conservatism and dealt in hard
ware. When speaking on the subject of
nails or selling job lot of files he was with
out trace of eccentricity, and always i'm
proved the shining dollar. Out Of doors he
was devoid of sense and reckless alike Of dol
lars and the opinion of the world. That's
what Mrs. Baxter said.
"You know, john" said she, with pardon
able acerbity, shat Winnie is 20 and quite
old enough to be married, and why you
should act SO strangely about it don't know
Il do hope there is no secret about your re-
luctance to permit Winnie to become &C
quainted with those in her own circle"
For answer Mr.. Baxter would shut his
eyes and purse up his mouth in an aggravat-
ing and non-commital way very hard to
bear. Even when Mrs Baxter Ia rotund
person of easy ways threw her natural
placidity to the winds and resorted to nag
cling, Mr. Baxter had not deigned a reason
able explanation of his conduct. A jury Of
his peers might well have called it madness.
With the brightest Of prospects and well
filled purse Mr. and Mrs Baxter and Miss
Baxter started out from their city house on
the 1st Of May to visit Saratoga Now who
goes to Saratoga in Mayo OF course there
was no one there, and after staying until
some one came, which happened to be an
eligible banker, Mr.. Baxter bundled his
charges to the Adirondacks. Too early, of
course, but he kept them there until indie
pendence Day, and when he announced that
they would next journey to the sea shore he
but raised hopes to dash them to the ground
by adding, "Ragusa Beach"
"Who," cried Mrs. Baxter, raising her
plump hands in despair, lever heard of
Ragusa BeachF'
81 have" replied Mr.. Baxter, closing his
eyes, as he always did when he anticipated
an argument.
"Where is til"
son the coast"
"Of course" said Mrs. Baxter, keeping her
temper admirably; "but, where, John1
Maine or Floridaw
1.-TWO weeks ago it was in Jersey. 1t is a
quiet place. 1t is also secluded"
$50 had imagined-pray tell me, John,
why is it necessary for US to GO to Rags
yl,o+a tie ;eTi
SIN the first place." said Baxter, II have
the strongest inclination toIvisit that place.
and that ought to satisfy you"
SIT doesn't at all" retorted Mrs. Baxter,
with rising choler. II have the strongest
inclination to visit the Branch, and so has
Winnie, and that ought to satisfy you. Sup
pose, John, you go to that secluded spot and
we will join you, say about the middle of
September
But this Mr.. Baxter wouldn't listen to-
He had no second place" to advance, but
he was adamant, and Mrs Baxter had to
submit She witnessed, with sullen resigna-
ton, her lord and master (old version pack
his trunk and purchase tickets of transporta-
ton, and then, and not till then, did she
make a final effort.
81 will not appeal to your feelings as a
father, John Baxter, she said, with the dig
nifty Of Roman matron, ''for ! fear that
you know not the meaning of the phrase;
but / will descend to the vulgar level Of
your business intellect. Vinnie-I speak
plainly-Vinnie is 1S"-
Twenty"
"John, / implore you to be human
Eighteen and unmarried. You say we are
not rich-you have repeatedly told me that
a crisis would bring things to a panic with
YOU -.