Rock Island Argus., 1902-09-02
DAILY SHORT STORY
ROxANN G.
IOrf~inal-1

and read TO the family.
viii you let me come to you and your
cozy farm near the sea for the first two
weeks in August? 1 have not been there
since / was a little girl, but L remember
it well. besides the long stretch of beach
and the curling waves with their gigantic
names. DO let me come. Your loving
niece, ROAANNE-
Roxanne came. She was but seven
teen, though she could be companion
able with Il man of forty. She was
city bred and wore becoming dresses,
reaching to her ankles. She had sim
gular eyes, laughing mouth and an
enormous braid OF jet black hair. Alex
Pertle followed her about with his
whom Mrs. Pertle had adopted. heaved
n sigh the moment she saw her, for
Alice loved Alex, though she did not
know 1t till she feared to lose him.
RoXanne seemed delighted with the
country and had not been at the farm
an hour before she had gone all over
it. Alex and Alice went about with
her, but instead of explaining things
and their uses listened to what she had
to say about them. When she had seen
them all, she proposed that they should
go to the beach.
It's mile" said Alex. You could
not walk so far
RoXanne burst out laughing.
Go with her, Alex" said Alice. II
must help mother with the supper"
No" said RoXanne. I'VE will go
after supper. The moon rises at to-
night. 1 have always wanted to see it
rise as if out of the ocean,"
Neither Alex nor Alice thought of
disputing anything she said, following
her about like children, Alex replying
to what questions she asked, Alice
speaking never word. After supper
the three walked to the beach. Alice
timidly asked to be allowed to remain
at homo, but when RoXanne objected
she went with them like lamb to the
slaughter. When they came in sight
of the waves rolling upon the sands,
RoXanne clapped her hands.
"See them!" she exclaimed. How
they roll and break and come boiling
up, then go back with that Seething
sound. There comes the moon, too, Il
mere spark of fire above the edge of
water against the sky. Now it is like
red bow. Look Myriads of little lines
of light are touching the tops of the
rollers, forming Il golden fam
She had gone down to the very verge,
and the foam was wetting her shoes.
Alex and Alice stood back, watching
her 1.-the figure, which by this time
stood out in silhouette against the
Iay.i,y fSI- Of I,n ln
to them like water fay that had como
out of the ocean. and they almost look
ed for her ut any moment to go back
into its depths. She talked about the
stars, the moon and what beautiful
changing views were made by the bro
ken clouds passing over its face. Alice
remembered how happy she and Alex
had been sitting by the side of the
ocean on nights like this. but till now
they had not known how beautiful it
was.
Roxanne stayed at the farm two
weeks, and then they begged her to
stay another two weeks.
Stay" said her uncle. I'VE shall be
so lonely without you"
Stay" said Alice. ut seems as if
everything is changed since you came.
Now we know why the ocean is beau
tiful Stay another two weeks and tell
US more about it and the stars"
Alex looked a mute appeal. Only
Mrs. Pertle said nothing.
RoXanne consented. During the sec
ond fortnight of her visit Mrs. Pertle
saw that Alice wished to remain with
her, leaving Alex to Roxanne, but had
not the strength to disObey the girl,
who would not permit Alex to be alone
with her. Mrs Pertle tried to make
excuses that would free Alice, saying
that she needed her help about the
house; but when Alice worked at home
Roxanne would steal away to the
beach alone.
1t was month since ROXanne had
come to the farm, and she was to go
away the next day In the evening
they missed her. She had slipped away
to the beach. The moon was in the
same position as ut the night of her
arrival. rising as if out of the ocean.
Sine heard crunching of the sand be-
hind her, and there stood Alex
II have tried" he said. ''ever since
you have been here to see you alone,
% tell you
You must not tell me-.
"Why?"
"Alice-she loves you"
The young man stood mute for q
time and then burst out passionately:
when you go tomorrow, you will
take my very life with you. You will
leave me worse than dead"
81 am sorry for you. 1t has not been
Dy fault
He drew near her and. grasping her
hand in both of his. held it feverishly
to his lips. She drew it away and,
turning, walked toward the farm, he
walking silently by her side, a picture
of despair. The next morning she re-
turned to the city.
In the autumn Alice left the farm to
begin to make her own living. 1t was