St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-11-09
FROM COO ROCK.
By May ID. HATCH.

FROM COO ROCK.
By May ID. HATCH.
Il was variously designated the
'.Turtleb back the "Turtledove," and
sometimes merely the Dove" The old
salts Of the island knew 1t only as the
Turtleback rock, named for its decided
resemblance to the shining brown shell
of monster tortoise protruding from
the water: but On account OF its charm
ing security for a tete-a-tete and for
the appreciation it met with from those
who were strong enough swimmers to
enjoy its advantages the name which
had been given to it for Its crustacean
likeness was usually perverted into the
simple. nelodious appellation: Goo
rock" Indeed, So general had this
term become that even the venerable
guests Of the Shawkemo house, dis
cussinR the tide which covered 1t pretty
we'll at the full, would call 1t 50 In all
seriousness. possibly confusing It. men
tally spelled with X, with the various
Indian names with which the island
abounded, or believing it had refer
cnce, spelled with . c. to the gentle
Tapping of the waves about it.
1t was Monday morning. Most OF
the ulen who had come to spend Sun
day on the island had returned to
town. three hours distant by rail; and.
although the day was exquisitely clear
and beautiful and the hay rejoiced in =
thousand shifting blues in the sun
shine, the bothers were few half
dozen boys at the school age turning
back-somersaults OF the doat, come
children paddline around In the wet
sand Will, their clothes tucked up be
hind out OF the wet like cock feathers,
and q staid natron or two near shore.
mildly bobbing mp and down incased
in flannel and bathcrs' hats
As Marie Tfask walked down the
foat for her morning plunge she
nodded to the boys. looked out over
the water, and sat down moment on
the edge to try its temperature. Sho
felt q little lonely, little depressed;
she swung her feet-irreproachable in
size, in shape, and In black silk stock
ings-iazily In tho water, and medi-
tated.
She was a comely object for the wa
ter to reflect: a trim, srelfe. girltsh
figure in well-fitting black bathing
suit, her blonde skin Drowned by the
outdoor life she was leading, her eyes
clear gray. q small nose which had q
tendency to be Roman. q sweet. happy
mouth that was quick to smile and
show the white teeth that had not yet
lost their baby unevenness At the
edges, and, crowning all, her sunny
blonde hair; not so much OF 1t, but 1t
crinkled and rippled over her head In
such q fashion that no one came near
her but wanted to lay a hand on II and
smooth 1t down bit, just to feel how
soft and silky 1t was.
She looked over toward the rock; 1t
was quite a distance out In the little
harbor, and the tide ran rapidly there
at the turn. 1t was about full now,
but it would be slack water for some
time yet, and she thought she would
try it. She had been out there often.
but never alone. She was q strong
swimmer for a girl. and destitute OF
fear; but always before to-day there
had been someone to go with her.
She slipped of the noat; the water
was perfectly clear and just cooler
than the air With strong, quiet
strokes she started for the rock MS a
goal: halfway out she grew little
tired, fioated a few minutes to rest,
and then swan on. 1t seemed much
further than usual: but always before
she had been diverted on the way with
manly converse. or given . friendly
hand il she were tired. At last she
reached it. pulled herself eagerly up to
the highest bulging point of the rock,
and gave sigh of satisfaction. She
turned her back to the shore and
looked out at the hill-clasped harbor.
What a perfect day 1t was. She was
irritated with herself for being blue,
but how could she help 1t when other
people made idiots of themselves?
What n stupid thing for her not tc
have looked through the book. any
way, before she had lent 1t to him; but
at least she had discovered in time
what a jealous, doubling friend she
had almost consented to marry. She
remembered every word of the lette,
she had found waiting for her tha,
morning. 1t ran:
DEAR MARIE: When you loaned me Dob
sons poems last night. 1 do not think 80,
knew you had left the inclosed verses In tn,
book Perhaps l should not have read then
.Certainly he should not. Marie thoushtl bu
have done So They say that q womAn's il
stinct Is quick to rush at the truth; Q maj
has that instinct when he loves BY the sig
nature, Jack knew at once they were from
Jack Edgerton. and that he must he - writte
them to you when you left the Edgerton cam
three weeks ago Only three weeks. II un
nerved me to think he had the right to "a
such things to you such little while ago, an
--yes, and you have let me believe you love
me.
II am going to leave on the 6: 10 this norr
ing 1 cannot bear 10 stop to say sood-b!
Yours DARRELL"
Ani the verses-"Dear Eyes" the
were called:
so many eyes meet mine each day
Earnest and tender. and eyes that smile
Or dark without hope, and all the while
think OF You who have gone away.
II long so to look in your eyes. dear.
Your eyes that speak TO my soul until
Tho cry OF earth's lonelinees grows still
As Idraw you 50 near.-so near"
She had never known Jack ooul
make = rhyme till these verses hs
come TO her. Dear, honest Jack! ho
sorrc he would be II he knew all Il
4ronble he had brought about n
she could scarcely hold him respoas
s. fae her present a,seoMtost-it '.