The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-21
THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY

~ Fronting the open sea, between St. Valery and Fecamp. is long stretch of desolate white sand. At low tide. 1t Is dotted and wrinhled by black. oozy rocks and long sinuous lines of seaweed. Here and there are bits of spars and wreckage that have been cast up by tie reluctant sea. And anoIfg the sea- weed, and in the little pools of water that are lingering about the bases of the rocks. are small crabs and shell-fish, and queer little jelly-like things which l scarcely seem to have any substance at all Overhead seamews and ospreys wheels and circle about. and make sud- den descents among the seaweed after dainty morsels which their keen eyes have espied.
 But when the tide comes sweeping in over the black, irregular outer-reefs and over the fiat rocks from which the iisn- CT men cast their bass-iines; and up, up. themselves. the beach narrows down to long yellow ribbon which swirls and sifts its fine sand under the fierce lash ings of the north winds.
 One morning, as the ebb-tide was slip ping and gurgling from rock to rock, a woman emerged from the dunes and went slowly along the beach, stepping here and there to pick up bits of wreck age which had been washed up by the waves. When she had gathered all she could carry she took some rope from her pocket and made the pieces into strong bundle. With this slung across her shoulders she moved back toward the dunes.
 Suddenly she paused and gazed earn estly at the water. It was only a plank she saw. rising and falling with the waves, but 1t was fuel. and dropping her bundle she waded out until she could reach and draw it ashore. Only then did she discover that there was small metal box. twelve or fourteen inches in length. securely lashed to the plank
 The strong ocean currents which set toward the north shore of France bring in many strange bits of wreckage, and the women had had her share in finding them. But none the less eagerly did her fingers work at the fastenings which secured the box. So much precaution was not without it's meaning. The box was valuable, and if no owner was found well. perhaps 1t would help her toward the three hundred francs she had been longing for for so many months.
 But when the box was released she found that 1t was securely locked, and that all her efforts to open 1t were un- availing. In the cover were strange llt- tie marks. She peered at them eagerly and shook her head. Well. she would take 1t home to little Jean. He could read and would explain the little marks to her.
 Over behind the dunes and hidden from the sea by the mimic mountains of sand were several storm-battered houses. They were built of rough slabs and wreckage and had neither doors nor windows on the exposed sides. Behind them were drying-benches and other apparatus for curing fish.
 The woman passed around one of the houses and threw her bundle down near the door. man was seated on the ground mending net. He looked up as she approached.
 "Bien"' he growled, you have come at last must have my breakfast so that I may catch the low tide. Mais. Elise, what have you tfereY
 He took the box and examined 1t care fully. Then he tried to open 1t, but with out success. When he picked up a ham
 "Non. non, Jacquesr' she protested. You shall not break 1t! The box is not ours yet. We may find the owner.'
 He laughed, jeeringly.
 We will not look very hard, ne sneered. But truly. Elise, you must not think of giving 1t up, The sea gives to those who find. You should remember n The box may contain jewels or money. Bien! who knows but 1t would buy me new boat and keg of wine.
 T shall let Monsieur le, Cure nave u tomorrow when I go to town, she said, firmly. Perhaps he will find the owner If he does not I suppose the box will be mine. But it will not go for a boat and kes of ,wn wine; etnar eas se te1 far yo" that
 Bah! the miserable three hundred francs you are forever dinning into one s earsr' ne grumbled. sullenly, as he piok- ed up the seine and resumed work. now much have you got of it. Elise, and what Is it for?''
 II have twenty francs," she answered, placidly But never you mind what II is for. Jacques. Better mend you seine e so that 1t will be ready for the low tide.
 He muttered something under his breath, which she passed unnoticed. In the wine shop of M. Decoux' ana among
 Fr,dav's story, IAN UTAH PASTORAL