The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-07-13

man at work. Then, she knew she coulC
count on Tom She strolled along the
broad walk. occasionally approaching the
rail and looking down on the beach for
| the next two or three mornings, early
! But she saw no one. Perhaps he had
been frightened off. II she could only
catch him!
The next morning she did! There
crouchcd on the sand. working in it, SC
absorbed that he never glanced around
was man! He and she were almost
the sole persons abroad at that hour.
She recognized the clandestinc model
ler beyond the shadow Of doubt. Blu,
instead of getting her brother and have
him fall upon the delinquent ed-handed,
she hurried back to the hotel, and
watched from behind the curtains of her
room until she saw the sand-artist come
Up. Then she sailed forth again, went
down to the beach, and regarded her fca-
tures with more interest than ever. He
had actually put a sweet smile on the
lips! Suddenly, she turned and studied
the sea. The tide was coming in!
She stood motionless, thinking very
hard. Yes! Every time she had seen
the face on the sand it had been early
morning, when nobody was about and
the tide was coming in!
She turned, smile on her face, re-
gardcd the sand image wistfully; then.
suddenly stopped and stuck a pink car
nation from a cluster at her corsage in
at the neck Of the damp portarit. Next
she hastily retreated to the hotel, to find
her brother and Miss Cunningham we'll
on with their breakfast
Il declare, Margaret observed Miss
Cunningham, as her friend attacked her
morning repast with keen enjoyment,
this place is doing you no end of good.
Your color is excellent. anG your ap-
petite leaves nothing to be desired
II hope it leaves few things that are
desired. Elsa, you would pay dearly for
my improvement; if it could be called
that! But this morning walk does i'm
prove the appetite" she added, inno-
Gently.
IF it weren't for that horrid man and
his faces in the sand" observed her COM
panion.
tom said he denied it in way that
left no room to doubt his innocence.
Besides, | have discovered that it was
always done early, when no one was
about, and when the tide was coming in,
so that it would be washed out before
any one saw it"
What on earth did he do it for,
them" cried Miss Cunningham. "Only
a man in love would do such thing as
that"
Perhaps as fve-fnger exercises, just
to keep his sculptor hand in training"
she replied, laughingly.
But Miss Cunningham looked so sur
prised at her mitigated tone and her face
felt SO red that she escaped to the open
air as soon as possible. She had not
gone far before she saw Mr.. Hammond
sitting on a bench. gazing pensively at
the sea. In his fingers he clasped pink
as if it were a precious relic.
She paused near him. His preoccupa-
ton was so great that for a moment he
did not perceive her. Then he bounded
10 his feet, his face discounting the
Hover for color, and stammered: "Oh,
Miss Hartwell! I was thinking of you.
wanted to see you. hope you are
lot too angry. You will let me explain"
1T must not happen again, not even
when the tide is coming In, and no mat
er how carly" she smiled family.
"Ard may keep this little fower?"
She nodded.
"Will you sit down just for a minute,
md let me explain?" he asked, his in
yenuous eyes fastened on hers implor-
ngly.
She seated herself by his side Judg-
ng from very pretty wedding in St.
5eorge's three months later, Mr.. Ham,
nond must have explained" beautifully.
-New York Ercning San.