Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-21
FROM COO ROCK.
BY MAY d. HATCH.

It was variously designated the
. Turtle back" the ''Turtledove, and
sometimes merely the Dove" The old
salts of the island knew it only as the
~Turtlebaclk 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
she appreciation it met with from those
exvho were strong enough swimmers to
enjoy it's advantages the name which
had been given to it for its crustacean
eiikeness was usually perverted into the
simple, melodious appellation: Goo
rock" Indeed, SO general had this
term become that even the venerable
Qlruests 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
.pbounded, or believing it had refer
scnce, 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
sLOWn, UnTCG hours dlSUduU ny Td11S dAOJ
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
tbac<-somersaults 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 staid matron or two near shore,
snildly bobbing up and down incased
IN flannel and bathers' hats.
AS Marie Trask walked down the
noat for her morning plunge she
nodded to the boys, looked out over
che water, and sat down moment on
she edge to try it's temperature. She
felt little lonely, little depressed;
she swung her feet-irrep in
size, in shape and in black silk stock
angs-lazily in the water, and medi-
6ated.
She was a comely object for the wa
ter to reflect; a trim, SUelte, girlish
figure in a well-fitting black bathing
suit, her blonde skin Drowned by the
outdoor life she was leading, her eyes
clear gray, a small nose which had
,stendency to be Roman, a sweet, happy
vlnouth that was quick to smile and
yshow 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
.crinlIled and rippled over her head in
s1cl q fashion that no one came near
9lcr but wanted to lay hand on it and
smooth it down 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. It 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,
sbut never alone. She was strong
swimmer for q 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
shan the air. With strong, quiet
strokes she started for the rock as a
goal; halfway out she grew a little
tired, foated few minutes to rest,
and then swan on. It seemed much
further than usual; but always before
<she had been diverted on the way with
manly converse, or given 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 sigh of satisfaction. She
turned her back to the shore and
hooked out at the hill-clasped harbor.
What perfect day it wasl She was
i irritated with herself for being blue,
but how could she help it when other
people made idiots of themselves?
What stupid thing for her not to
E have looked through the book, any
way, before she had lent it to him; but
at least she had discovered in time
xvbat jealous, 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 me Dob
sons poems last night, do not think you
knew you had left the incloSed verses In the
book. Perhaps should not have road them
ICcrtainly he should not, Marie thought, but
( have done so They say that a woman's III
stinct is quick to rush at the truth: a man
has that instinct when he loves. BY the sig
/ nature, Jack knew at once they were from
Jack Edgerton, and that he must have writer
sthem Co you when you left the Edgerton camp
three weeks ago Only three weeksl It un-
neryed me TO think he had the right to say
= such things to you such little while ago, and
yes, and you have let me believe you loved
4 me
Il am going to leave on the $40 this morn
sing. 1 cannot bear to stop to say good-by
Xcurs, DARRELL"