The Lafayette gazette., 1895-10-26
FROM COO ROCK.
BY MAY ID. IlATC!l;

It was rnrionsiy designated the
''Iurtlc back" the ''Turtlctlove,' and
sometimes merely the Dove" The old
salts of the island knew it c:!: s.s tho
Turtlebncii rock, named for its decided
rese1n b]ance to the shining brown shell
of IL monster tortoise protrudinG fron
the water; but on ecco;:nt OF its charm
ing security for n tete-a-tete and for
the appreciation it met with from those
who were strong enough swimmers to
enjoy it's advantages the name which
had been given 10 it for it's crustacean
tii>eness was usually perverted into the
simple, !nelodious appellation: 'Coo
rock" Indeed. 50 general had this
term become that even the venera BILE
cussinE the tide which covered it pretty
well q the full. would call it SO in all
seriousness, possibly confusing it. men
tally spelled with !, *, with the various
Indian names with which the island
ahpunded, or believing it had refer
cnce, spelled with G. to the gentle
tapping of the wives about it.
/: 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 Il
thousand shifting blues in the sun
shine, the bathers were fcw-a half
dozen boys at the school age turning
bac|<-sonersaults Off the float, some
children padding around in tho wet
sand with their clothes tucked up be-
hind out of the wet like cock feathers,
and Il staid matron or two near Shore
mildly bobl,ing tip and down incased
in hannel and bathers' hats.
AS Marie Trask walked down the
float for her morning plunge She
nodded to the boys, looked out over
the water, and sat down a moment on
the edge to try its temperatEre. She
felt u little lonely, n little depressed;
she swung her fect-ir1e proacha bic in
size. in shape, and in black silk stock
ings-lazily in the water, and ulcdi-
tated.
She was ccrnely object for the WA
ter to reflect; trim. srelte, girlish
figure in 4 vvell-fi ttiny black bathing
suit, her blonde skin Drowned by the
outdoor life she was leading, her eyes
clear gray Il small nose which had Il
tendency to be Roman, sweet. happy
mouth that was quick to smile and
show the white teeth that had not yet
lost their baby unevcnnesS at the
edges, and. crowninG all, her sunny
blonde hair; not SO much of it, but it
cli:,l1lcd and rippled over her head in
,uch a fashion that no one came near
l.,r but wanted tol lay hand on it and
:nooth it down Il bit, just to feel how
oft and silky it was.
shc looked over toward the rock; it
was quite Il distance ont 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 strong
swimm 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
than the air. With strong, quiet
strokes she started for the rock
goal; halfway out She grew little
tired. f1Oated few minutes to rest,
and then swain on. 1t seemed much
further than usual; but always before
she had been diverted on the way with
manly converse, given n friendly
hand if she were tired. At last she
reached it, pulled herself eagerly up to
the highest bulging point Of tho rock
and gave sigh of satisfaction. She
turned her back to the shore and
looked out at the hill-clasped ,arbor.
What a 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 - stupid thing for her not to
have looked through the book, any
way, before she had lent it 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 letter
ske had found waiting for her that
morning. 1t ran:
DEAR MARIE: When you loaned mo Dob
sons poems las, night. do not think YOU
knew you had left tho inciosed verses In tho
took. Perhaps 1 should not have read them
;Ccrtainly he should not. Mario thought. but
I havc doac They say that q woSaac'S Ill
stircc is quick to rush at the truth; = man
has that instinct when he loves. Ey tho Sig
nature, Jack knew ct oace they we're from
Jack Edgerton, and that he must have written
them to you when you left the Edserton camp
three weeks ago. Only three weeks: 1t un-
nerved me think he had the right to say
such things to you such little while ago. R:itl
yes. and you have let INC bel!eve Sou loved
II ana going tU leave On tae $40 this mora.
.sS capraa pear 80 step IL say 2aes-hS
SsHrS. vf8hEGll"