The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-30
ROXANNE
tOriginal.1


letter was opened by Deacon Pertle |
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? / have not been there
since / was a little girl. but i remember
II well, besides the long stretch of beach
and the curling waves with their gigantic
names. Do let me come. Your loving
niece. ROXANNE-
Roxanne came. She was but seven
teen. though she could be companion
able with a man of forty. She was
city bred and wore becoming dresses,
reaching to her ankles. She had sin
gular eyes, n laughing mouth and an
enormous braid of jet black hair. Alex
Pertle followed her about with his
eyes, while Alice Brooks. a young girl
whom Mrs. Pertle had adopted, heaved
a 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.
Its a mile" said Alex. you could
not walk SO far"
Roxanne burst out laughing.
60 with her. Alex" said Alice. 81
must help mother with the supper"
Mo- said Roxanne. I'VE will go
after supper. The moon rises at 3 to-
night. / have always wanted to see it
rise as IL 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 a word. After supper
the three walked to the beach. Alice
timidly asked to be allowed to remain
at home. 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 themr' she exclaimed. "How
they roll and break and come boiling
up, then go back with that seething
sound. There comes the moon. too. a
mere spark OF fire above the edge of
water against the sky. Now II is like a
red bow. Look. Myriads Of little lines
| of light are touching the tops Of the
| rollers, forming a golden fan"
| She had gone down to the very verge.
and the foam was wetfing her shoes.
| Alex and Alice stood back, watching
her 1.-the figure, which by this time
stood out I'm silhouette against the
bright disk Of the moon. She seemed
to them like a water fay that had come
out of the ocean. and they almost look
ed for her at any moment to go back
into its depths. She talked about the
stars, the moon and what beautiful
changing views We're 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 il
was.
Roxanne stayed at the farm two
weeks, and then they begged her to
stay another two o,weeks.
"Stay," said her uncle. 1--WE shall b'
so lonely without you"
Stay" said Alice. "It seems as Il
everything Is changed since you came
Now we know why the ocean Is beau
tiful. Stay another two weeks and tel
us more about it and the stars"
Alex looked mute appeal Onl.
Mrs. Pertle said nothing.
Roxanne consented. During the sec
ond fortnight of her visit Mrs Peril
saw that Alice wished to remain witt
her. leaving Alex to Roxanne, but ha,
not the strength to disobey the girl
who would not permit Alex to be alon
with her. Mrs. Pertle tried to max
excuses that would free Alice. sayin
that she needed her help about tn
house: but when Alice worked at hom
Roxanne would steal away to tn
beach alone.
1t was a month since Roxanne ha
come to the farm. and she was to g
away the next day. In the evenin
| they missed her. She had slipped ava
| to the beach. The moon was I'm tn
same position as at the night Of he
arrival. rising as IL out Of the oceaI
She heard n crunching Of the sand b.
, hind her. and there stood Alex.
II have tried" he said. "ever sine
you have been here to see you alon
to tell YOU
"You must not tell me-"
"WhyT'
"Alice-she loves you"
The young man stood mute for
time and then burst out passionately
when you 90 tomorrow. you wi
take my very life with you. You wi
leave me worse than dead"
81 am sorry for you. II has not bee
my fault"
He drew near her and. grasping b,
hand In both of his. held it feverishl
to his lips. She drew il away an
turning. walked toward the farm,
walking silently by her side. a pictul
OF despair. The next morning she r
turned TO the city.
In the autumn Alice left the farm
begin to make her own living. 1t W,
year later when Alex came for b
and brought her back. The spell tn
Roxanne had woven about him hs
passed. Never again did Alice Wis
| the ocean. and when the wind WI
high from that direction and broug
the sound of the waves she would
come so melancholy that at last h
husband took her away to a far diffe
ent home I'm the interior.
Roxanne married the son of mul