Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-09-03
The Face
In the Sand
BY JOHN J. A'sEcKeT
COPYRIGHT, 1901, By A. S. Richardson


Miss Hartwell strolIed along the
beach at Atlantic City that early sum-
mer morning drinking in the air and
watching the slow, green waves break
with the conviction that she was deriv-
Ing new strength for her settlement
work. IL only some of those poor east
side youngsters could have a little OF
this sea air tool But they would reap
the benefit Of all she got. and there
was comfort.
At which stage OF her reflections she
paused to look with smiling curiosity
at something In the sand. II was the
profile of young girl fashioned very
cleyerly out of the damp material As
she continued gazing II grew on her
that the features were quite like her
own.
1t was a mere coincidence, of course.
She didn't know anybody in the place.
finding all the company she needed in
Miss Cunningham. After their break
fast she would get her friend to walk
that way and see how the sand image
| affected her.
The waves of the incoming tide were
almost tapping it. but her companion
caught sight of the alto riIievo mod
| eled from the unstable material and
stopped to look at 1t more closely.
why. Margaret" she exclaimed aft
| err moment, raising her eyes to the
others face, sit looks like youl Turn
/ your head. There! Now take off your
| hat. Yesi II Is q fair likeness of you.
| Who In the world can have done itT'
1T Is enough of likeness to merit
this returned the other, stamping the
delicate profile into oblivion. ut is
piece Of impertinencew
In the sun parlor OF the casino that
| afternoon she noticed man regarding
| her. There was contented, well fed
| air about him which she did not Ike,
/ although he was good looking man
| In his heavy way. Earnest, practical
interest in the thin poor made her
little intolerant of stated idleness. At
| dinner that evening she caught his eye
upon her again as he passed her table.
| She ayerted her face. Miss Hartwell
was a very pretty girl. but fastidious
| one. with no taste for seaside fiirta-
| ton.
| THAT Is Burlington. the sculptor"
| she heard a woman remark to her
| nelghhor.
/ That face In the sand. Her facet
| This was the mani
| Miss Hartwell got note from her
| brother Tom that day saying he could
| not come before the end of the week.
| you girls want man 10 fetch and
carry for you. You mention half a doz-
/ en- women you have met and then com
| plain that the place is restful. but a
little dull Here's your chance,
hear that Hammond, a Boston man,
| clAssmate OF mine at Yale. Is at At
iantic City. He is a good fellow-rich.
| family, brains-but is shy of girls.
shall make him miserable by sending
| him a note OF introduction to you and
Miss Cunningham"
A day or two later the young fell
low presented the note. He was a
charming young man. From an ac-
! quaintance he rapidly developed into
| an acquisition. He was quiet and dig
/ nlfied, not shy. Miss Hartwell got to
| Ike him very well. tom is good
athlete but not strong on analysis Of
character" she laughingly said to Miss
| Cunningham.
Miss Hartwell had not encountered
her face on the sand again and WAS
reaping nothing but health and pleas
ure from her vacation, especially since
| young Hammond had become such an
! interesting part of 1t, Then one morn
| Ing she came upon 1t again. AS before,
II was early morning. She stamped
\ 1t out even more emphatically.
Her brother arrived that day, and
I she Immediately confided to him how
much annoyance the sculptor was oc.
casloning her Tom lost no time III
| getting after the man, who denied all
knowledge of the matter.
IL came here for rest and amuse-
ment, and the last thing am likely to
do is to make faces in the sand.
work In more durable material"
But the likeness was unmistakable.
and you are the only sculptor here"
urged Tom doggedly.
That may be. | had nothing to do
/ WITH IL sGl ApA1 SAAphAA bAASEN "a AAlAAS
suspicion. | do not know your sister,
but If she Is the young woman l think
you can assure her that l will not
model her face In the sand" the man
concluded sarcastically.
Miss Hartwell was incredulous when
she heard her brothers report. Il don't
like the mans face" she said.
'sThat doesn't prove he did yours in
the sand, Maggie returned her broth
err reproachfully. 81 gather from his
remarks that he doesn't like your
| face"
Miss Hartwell tossed her head. Tom
was so easy going. She might catch
this man at his work. Then she knew
she could count on Tom. She strolled
along the board walk, occasionally APP
preaching 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 OF.