The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-09-21
FROM coo ROCK.
By M1T d. 4

1t WIS variously designated the
''Turtlcback," the ''Turtlcdovc,' and
sometimes merely the Dove" The old
salts of the island knew it only as the
Turtleback rock, named for its decided
resemblance to the shining brown shell
of a monster tortoise prOtruding from
ghe water; but Oh account of its charm,
ing security for Il t~ete-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 crustaccan
likeness was usually perverted into the
simple, melodious appellatiOn: Goo
rock" Indeed, So general had this
term become that even the venerable
guests of the Shawkemo house, dis
cussing the tide which covered it pretty
well at the full, would call it SO in all
seriousness, possibly confusing it, men,
tally spelled with a X, with the various
Indian names with which the island
abounded, or believing it had refer
ence, spelled with a c, to the gentle
tapping of the waves about it.
1t was Monday morning. Most of
the men 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 bay rejOiced in a
thousand shifting blues in the sun
shine, the bathers were few-a half
dozen boys at the school age turning
back-somcrsaults off the float, some
children padding around in the wet
sand with their clothes tucked up be-
hind out of the wet like cock feathers,
and a staid matron or two nca~ shore,
mildly bobbing up and down incased
in flannel and bathers' hats.
AS Marie Trasl walked down the
float for her morning plunge she
nodded to the boys, looked out over
the water, and sat down 4 momcn on
the edge to try its temperature. She
felt a little lonely, a little depressed;
she swung her feet-irrcproachable in
size, in shape, and in black silk stock
ings-lazily in the water, and medi-
tated.
She was a comely object for the wa
ter to reflect; n trim, sUete, girlish
figure in Il well-fitting black bathing
suit, her blonde skin Drowned by the
outdoor life she was leading, her eyes
clear gray, n small lose which had a
tendency to be Roman, a 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, browning all, her sunny
blonde hair; not so much of it, but it
crinkled and rippled over her head in
such a fashion hat no one came near
her but wanted play 4 hand on it and
smooth it down a bit, just to feel how
soft and silky it was.
She looked over toward the rock; it
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 a strong
swimmer for a girl, and destitute of
fear; but always before to-day there
had been someone to go with her.
She slipped off the float; the water
was perfectly clear and just cooler
than the air. With strong, quiet
strokes she started for the rock as q
goal; halfway out she grew 4 little
tired, loated n 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 n friendly
hand if she were tired. At last she
reached it, pulled herself eagerly up to
the highest bullying point of the rock,
and gave q sigh of satisfaction. She
turned her back to the shore and
looked out at the hill-claspcd harbor.
What Z perfect day it was! She was
irritated with herself for being blue,
but how could she help it when other
people made idiots of themselves?
What a stupid thing for her not to
have looked through the book, any
way, before she had ienti it to him; out
at least she had discovered in time
what a icalouA doubling friend she
had almost consented to marry. She
remembered every word of the letter
she had found waiting for her that
morning. 1t ran:
DEAR MARIE: When you loaned ne Dob
sons poems last night, 1 do not think you
knew you had left the inclosed verses IN the
book. Perhaps l should not have read them
Certainly he should not, Marie thought. but
I have done so They say that q woclan's Id
stirct is Quick to rush at the truth; . man
has that instinct when he loves By the sig
nature, jack 1 knew at once they were from
Jack Edger;on, and that he must have written
their TO you when you left the Edgerton camp
three geeks ago. Only three weekSl 1t I'M
neryed roe to think he had the right to say
such things to you such q little while ago, and
yes. and you have let me believe you loved
ne
81 am going 20 leave on tie g.: 10 this morn
Ing. l cannot bear 70 stop 10 say good-oy
Youra,