The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-09-20


II was variously designated the
.-TurtIebacls." the 'Turtlcd0vc. and
sometimes merely the Dove" The old
salts Of the island knew il only as the
Turtlcback rock. named for it, decided
resemblance To the shining brown shell
OF monster tortoise p-otruding from
the water. but o. account Of it, charm
inc security for A tete-a-tcte and for
the appreciation IL met with from those
who were strong enough swimmers TO
enjoy It's advantages the name which
hal been given TO it for its crustacean
likeness was usually perverted into the
simple, melodious appellation: Goo
rock" Indeed. SO general had this
term become that even the venerable
quests Of the silawkesno house. dis
cussirg the tide which covered it pretty
well at the full. would call IL SO in all
seriousness possibly confusing it. men.
tally spelled with u X, with the various
Indian names with which the island
abounded. or believing it had refer
ence. spelled with c. 10 the gentle
tapping OF the waves about IL
/. was Monday morning. Most OF
the men Who had come to spend Sum
day on the island had returned TO
town. three hours distant by rail: and.
although the day was exquisitcly clear
and beautiful and the bay rejoiced in q
thousand shifting blues In the sun
shine. the baihers were few-a half
dozen boys ut the school age turning
back-,o.aersanlts of 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 s,aid rsatron or two near shore.
mildly bobbIng up and down incased
in flannel and bathcrs' hats
As Marie Trask walked down the
hoat for her morning plunge she
nodded to the boys. looked out over
The water. and sat down 4 moment on
the edge 10 try its temperature She
felt a little lonely. little depressed;
she swung her fect-irreprcachabl in
size. in shape. and in black silk stock
inys-laxIly in the water. and medi-
tated-
She was a comcIy object for the wa
Ter tai reflect; . trim- srslts. girlish
figure in n we'll lifting black bathing
suit. her blonde skin Drowned by the
outdoor life she was leading, her eyes
clear gray. a small nose which had .
tendency to be Roman. a sweet happy
mouth that was quick 70 smile and
show the white teeth that had not yet
lost their. baby unevenness at the
edges. and. crow ming all. her sunny
blonde hair. not 20 much OF ii. but 1t
crinkled and rippled over her head in
such fashion that no one came near
her but anted , lay hand on 1t and
smooth it down bit. just to feel how
soft and silky it was
She looked over toward the rock; 1t
was quite distance out in the little
harbor. and the tide ran rapidly there
a, the turn II 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.
bu. never alone She was j strong
Swimmer Tor a girl. and destitute OF
fear. but always before to-day there
had been someone TO 20 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 rs q
goal: halfway ont she grew little
tired. iloated few minutes to rest.
and then swan on 1t seemed much
further than usual: bat always before
he had been diverted on the way with
manly converse. or given friendly
hand IL she were tired At last she
reached il. pullcd herself eagerly up t.
the highest bulging point Of the rock,
and gave n sigh of satisfaction She
turned her back TO the shore and
looked ont Mt the hill-clasped harbor
What q perfect day il was She was
irritascd with herself for being blue
. bu, how could she help IL when Other
people made idiots of themselves?
What a stupid thing for her not e
. have looked through the book, any
. way. before she had lent il to him; bu
. At least she had discovered in time
! what jealous. doubling friend shs
had almost consented TO marry. Sh'
. remembered every word Of the lette'
she had found waiting for her tina
I morning. II ran:
; DEAR MARIE: when you loaned me Dob
! sons poems last might. I do not think 20
, knew you hal left the incio~ei verses Ia III
look Perhaps l should not have read taer
gcersairIv he should not Marie thought. ou
1havc do-e so They say that wonans u
ssircs u quick to rush at the truth. ma
has ,nas Instinc, when he loves lsy the sie
nature Jack knew al once they were froi
Jack Eixcrtoa. and that he must have write
> them 10 you when you left The Edgcrton cam
three weeks ago. only three weeks II w
{ rcrved me 20 thinix he had the right TO 81
such things 20 you such a little while ago an
!. yes. z7d you have les me believe you io'e