The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15
ASCRIDED 10 NERVOUS PROSTRATION.

49, ne w@s nearly opposite that semi
deserted hotel which stands the inner
side, overlooking the inlet and the ruin OF
the Spanish fort which once guarded the
southern approach to st. Augustine
But the ridge of sand concealed all that
might be on the river coast. From this
wide and desolate beach. where one should
be able to look over to Africa. there Is alb
solutely nothing to see but sky and water.
But such sky and wateri That heavens
might steal your very heart out of you.
Remember it is a Florida heavens, and
the gates OF Paradise are open more wide
IL on a Floridian coast than at almost any
other spot in the world.
But II is very warm here the first day
OF June The sunlight is not only beauti-
full but ardent. Still. as every breeze must
come across more or less of the ocean,
one may endure. nay. may be happy in
this heat.
The dog changed his trot for slow lope,
then back again to a trot. He was abso-
lutely the only living thing visible on the
earth. But the white wings of flying crea-
lures gave sudden glitter here and there
low down toward the sand. Sometimes
there was a clear, ringing call from a
birds throat in the direction of the unseen
marshes on the inside
When this call came the dog would stop,
draw in his lolling, swollen tongue for an
instant and listen. Then he would go on
again.
Several times he paused to investigate GER
tain footsteps which had been imprinted on
the sand since the last high tide These
footsteps strolled in desultory manner. as
II the feet which had made them had often
paused. sometimes that their owner might
look on over that enchanting ocean, or up
at that enchanting sky. Perhaps, also,
this person had picked up shells and bits
or odd live things that seemed to take
pleasure in strewing themselves on this
beach. The footsteps were those of
woman; evidently OF a woman who was
When the dog reached the inlet where the
shore turns to the west that it may curve
Immediately back to the north along the
MatanzaS river, he looked forlornly about
him. nosed rapidly here and there on the
compact damp sand then sat down on his
hauncheS with his face toward the south.
The footsteps he had been following
appeared TO have ceased. He was contem-
plating the ACCESSIBILITY of plunging Into
the water and swimming across; and he
might have been thinking that a bath would
be refreshing; but the thought of refresh
ment was swallowed in his sense of per-
plexity and sorrow.
He put his long black muzzle up into
the air and howled twice AS the second
that were coming in from Africa, pro-
longed, piercing whistle sounded from
somewhere. 1t is one of the peculiarities
whence 1t comes.
For the first moment even the dog could
not tell; but the sound changed him from
the most despairing of animals to some
thing made of hope and. joy. He stood
for an instant with head and tail held
high, tense and listening. At the second
whistle he seemed to fly up the slope of
dry sand, which dashed behind his feet in
glittering white sprays.
then ahead of him he saw a large white
umbrella; protruding from beneath this
canopy was pair OF small feet, in white
canvas shoes.
The dog dashed at the umbrella, knocked
1T over, and then seemed to be devouring
This person threw aside a pamphlet novel,
"A FAM pair of gloves and handkerchief,
which latter article, as it fell, unfolded and
dropped from itself small opera glass.
Having thrown these the woman tried to
protect herself somewhat from the demon
strativenesS or the dog, who was nuzZling
and licking her face and hands, and max
Ing little whining noises of delight:
As for the woman, she gurgled ana
laughed, and every now and then uttered
"Oh,-you silly fellow.-It's all-your-
own fault! You shouldn't have-gone hunt
ing-and lost mel oh. Romeo! there won't
be-anything left of me-"
By this time she had captured the dog
She held him firmly at arms length by his
collar. He blinked, and writhed, and made
dives at her. but there was strength in the
Aren't you a kind of fraud, Romeo? Or
are you really as glad TO see me as you
pretend? And it's not an hour since you
left me to try to catch that thing. Did you
catch it. and kill it, and eat it? Now. you
may give me just one more kiss on the
She advanced her chin so that her COM
panion could just reach it with the end of
his tongue Having accomplished this ca
reSs Romeo withdrew himself for the space
of about one foot, sat down and immedi-
ately became apparently perfectly calm.
From his position he could see the ruined
and ragged top of the Spanish fertilization
He gaZed intently at this ruin, his tongue
out, his eyes narrowed in the shifting glare
The woman who had just sustained this
greeting now planted the long handle of her
forth for her scattered belongings. She
talked to herself as she did So.
Il shall vapS the gloves and the fan; yes,
I shall waz< everything but that novel. L
shall never have srre--s-rh to finish that. 1t s
q miracle that / haS strength to begin it.
roines; they make me sick" She put her
head back on mound of sand over which
she had some time before spread a large
silk handkerchief. She closed her eyes.
Now If L could go right on with that
1T is impossible TO tell whether or not
she went right on with the dream; but it
seems certain that she almost Immediately
fell asleep again.
After a few moments Romeo changed
his position so that he was shaded as TO
his head and shoulders by the umbrella,
black hair, was so hot in the sun that 1t
almost seemed ready to start into flames.
For an hour there was no sound, and no
movements, save Romeo'S uneasy nest
iings-that is, no sound save the rushing
noise of the southwest wind and the long,
regular beat OF the rollers coming in from
Africa
1t really seemed as If there had never
been any other human being on this spot
since that day when Menendez made here
his slaughter of enemies and heretics.
Footsteps do not make much noise COM
ing over thick sand. Perhaps 1t was for
that reason that a man came within few
even Romeo heard him.
The dog showed himself suddenly back
from the umbrella and growled.
"Oh, deari' said the girl, with her head
on the sand pillow; cant be allowed to
rest at all? It's not the day for the
q gull. Sweetheart, be quiet, L tell you
AS If in acknowledgment of that term of
endearment the dog wagged his tail and
then he growled more loudly than before.
His mistress groaned. Then she lifted her
head and, with extremely indolent action.
brought herself TO a sitting posture After
a moments further pause she peeped out
from the umbrella. In doing this she looked
directly into the eyes of a man. This man
took off n Wide-orimmed straw hat and
smiled He was dressed in white and he
carried a green silk umbrella. He looked
cool and comfortable, having a dark face
which heat made pale
Il hope l am not ntrudlng, he re-
marked"
He glanced with the utmost calmness at
Romeo who was grinning belligerently, but
not thinking IL worth while 10 make any
more Violent demonstration until his mis-
tress should give the cue: