Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-28
The Argus Daily Short Story

Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated Literary Press

Amelia Vcrnet sat out on the sand
spit waiting for the turn of the tide.
She had become absorbed in her sketch
ing, and time had passed unnoticed
until the curling swish of water told
her that the sand spit had become n
temporary island.
1t was midday now, and she could
not hope to reach the mainland before
) o'clock-unless she waded. Amelia
looked down at her pretty tan shoes
and then turned and peered over the
sand dunes toward the town.
a narrow channel OF choppy water
cut off escape for the present. Out in
the bay Il few sails hashed in the sun
light, but none was within hailing dis.
lance.
Amelia picked up her pencil and re-
turned to her sketch book. "Aunt Tom
will be worried she thought. IF
don't return to luncheon, ard yet
she will have the satisfaction Of know
ing that her predictions have been full.
filled-at last the tide has caught me
ON the sand spit"
A shadow fell across the open book
Amelia lifted startled face to meet
the astonished glance of a tall young
| man.
IL beg your pardon" he STAN
mered. lifting his white canvas hat
II thought / had the island to myself
| az wish you had" said Amelia plain
| lively: ''the turn of the tide is re
sponsible for my presence he;e."
milne too. I became interested il
! this COMPOUNDED book, ard / was doZ
ing comfortably when the water crept
around my ankles and woke me up
He thumped vjciously upon the offend
ing volume and cast it from him. SO
suppose there is no escape until o.
4 o'clock"
"None," sighed Amelia, land nothing
to eat!"
"Wait; we'll see about that" Thu
stranger disappeared behind the dune
and Melia saw him making haste to
| ward the narrow inlet.
GLOW shocked Aunt Tom would b,
if she could see me talking to a per
feet stranger, butt am quite sure IN
is gentleman, and lie must be stayin:
/ ut one of the plantations near by. Hi
/ face is familiar, and yet
He came, around the dune and sd
| down on the sand beside her 81 hep
| you Will share my luncheon" he sal,
eourteously. "a thoughtful aunt pre-
! pared it for me against possible star
walton between an o'clock brea!zfas
and a 1890 luncheon" He opened tn
good sized basket which he ha.
brought and removed a snowy fringe'
napkin.
! "You're awfully kind" mprmure;
Amelia hungrily 81 hope I'm not rob
bing you"
i Not in the least. We are casta
ways and must make the best of TIL
food we have saved" he said gayly.
i "There should be cask of waite
and some timed things"
/ Here are flask of lemonade and
cup, chicken salad sandwiches, pound
cake and grapes-a very ladylike re
pastr'
The young man spread napkin i
Amefia's lap and helped her generous
!, ~. "You were sketching?" he yer
tured, glancing down at her DRAWN
materials.
Yes. little-the marsh and tn
sloping hill beyond, with its masses c
cedar and pine. Would>you like to sc
it" asked Amelia frankly.
"Yes," he replied, taking the boo
and opening at the page she indicated
In one corner she had inscribed he
signature in bold black character
amelia Vernet." He glanced at I'll
name, and his eyes shot a ,peculis
look, at the girl.
Amelia was looking OF his stron