The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17

hand slipped in grandfather's broad
palm, watched the children with a
friendly smile as old Peter led the
way up to the lamp.
After they had visited the light
house they went back 10 the beach
aud the lady and gentleman seated
themselves in the carriage with books,
while the children played on the
sand.
They were Just about Elsie's age,
and she stood by the window watching
them wislfully, till Peter said:
"Run and play with them, my lassie.
They will be glad of a play-fellow.
Elsie did not need any urging, and
her little bare feet carried her quickly
over the sand to her place where the
children were at plays
'pve come TO play with you," she
said, shyly, as the children looked al
her.
She made a pretty picture as she
stood there with the wind tossing her
brc wn curls, and bringing bright
color to her rosy cheeks, while the
waves rippled up over her feet
"Who wants yOn ," was the rude re-
spouse. "You'd better wait till you'er
invited, miss
Swift tears came to Elsie's brown
eyes at this rude rebuff, and turning
away without u word she ran home as
quickly as she could, to throw herself
INTO her grandiather's arms and tell
him that the children had not wanted
her to play with them after all.
Nl,nn 10 nal .lf nd 4
so interested in large sand fort where
they were walking that they pleaded to
stay little longer, so after some dis
cussion it was decided that they might
spend little longer time and that the
cOachman should return for them III
the afternoon. The carriage drove
away, and a little later old Peter found
that he had TO go to the vellahe, SO he
trudged off, and Elsie was left all alone
IN the lighthouse. She looked at the
children, whose merry shouts she could
hear, and thought what pleasant lime
>he could be having, too, if they had
been willing TO let her share their
sports, and then she sat down to her
knitting.
Some time later she looked out of
the window and saw that the tide had
crept OFT, leaving wide stretch of
beach uncovered. The children had
waded out to little clump of rocks
that seemed very near the beach when
the tide was out ond they were having
merry hunt for shells and weeds
that clung 10 the rocks.
"Oh the tide has turned already"
said Elsie, jumping to her feet. "If
they stay there much longer they won't
be able to get back" Remembering
her former repulse, it WAS quite an et-
fort for shy Elsie to go down on the
beach and call to the children.
At the first sound of her voice the
boy who had spoken before turned
around. "Iou mird your own busi-
ness. guess we can take care of our
selves" he answered.
ooh! l hope grandfather will come
in time 10 make them come back"
thought Elsie. She watched the chill
iren anxiOusly, and saw that they were
50 absorbed in their play that they did
not notice how swiftly the tide was
coming in.
1t was not until the spray dashed
against their faces that they looked
around and saw that the water was
growing deep around their little island.
They started to wade back, but only
few steps convinced them that the
water was already beyond their depth.
"Oh! wish I had urged them again to
come back" thought Elsie repentant-
ly. She ran down 10 the beach, and for
, getting how rudely he had repulsed her
short time before, the boy called,
"Say, how are we going to get back
"If there were some one here that
could get the boat out, he could row
you back" said Elsie, "but it is too
heavy for me to stir, | will tell you
what will do. 1t will be two hours
yet before these rocks are covered with
water, SO you will be safe for some
time yet. l will run down to the vii.
lage as fast as l can, and get grand
father to come and help you. Don't
be afraid. | will run all the way.n
She darted off, and the children
watched her with fearful eyes. they
no longer cared to play although they
still had the greater portion of theil
little island out of the water.
The miles seemed very long to Elsie
as she ran along in the hot sun. SHE
would not stop 10 rest, for there was
no time. The water was creeping up
over the island all the time, and she
dared not tarry. Perhaps herstrengtt
might have given out if she had moi
met the carriage returning for the
children after about half the distance
had been traversed.
A few hasty words to the father eX
planned the danger his children were
in, and-taking breathless Elsie up by
his side, he babe the coachman drive
with all the speed he could.
1t had seemed long time to the
frightened children, and whenever {
wave had come up little higher than
usual they had clung together, fearing
that the next enc might sweep them
away.
1t did not take long for the father
and the coachman to launch the boa
which had been altogether too heavy
:, for little Elsie, and soon the children
were safe.
Elsie, in her anxiety for their safety
had forgotten their unkindness to her
but they remembered it as they gath
cred around her and thanked her fol
her efforts.
The lighthouse keepers little grand
daughter had taught them how to re
turn good for evil, and whenever they
rpnemheral their hOur' Of alarm unO,