Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
A SEASIDE ADVENTURE.
BY ALICE FISCIIEI..

three years. The children drove him every
where. and though he was spirited enough
to set over the ground at a good pace. lie
was regarded as thoroughly safe. There
was just one slight fault he had-he would
not stand still united. with rp- in the
carriage. That was a dangerous trick.
and his owners We're careful not to leave
him alone, standing loose.
Ted might be called the children's horse
for there were six of t2scm in the Grisgs
family-Lawrence, owen. Roger. Frances
Nat and Marion. Lawrence was fourteen.
little Marion was six and the others were
almost anywhere between those ages. ex-
cept that Roger and Frances, the twins,
We're ten.
One afternoon the six Griggses piled into
the surrey and drove across the moor to-
ward the sea. They were in playful mood.
and half the time were out of the carriage,
trotting along beside it or making little
side excursions to some tree flower while
the carriage waited. Lawrence drove and
him. but no one gave close attention to
where or how far they went. The beach
was In sight, but just then they preferred
the grass of the moor to the heavy sand
that the tides of centuries had washed up.
Presently there came a wind bringing the
clouds. Lawrence wished to run with the
rest of the children to the beach, so it was
agreed that Nat should stay in the carriage
to hold the horse. Ted seemed to be so
contented. browsing on the wild grass, that
Nat decided he would leave him, to run
after the rest of the party.
Before long the wind began to roll up
great banks of fog. The children were
almost frightened to see it, fer there was
no road across the moor. and even Law
renee could not have told if he had driven
nr
Lawrence gave a whistle to call the little
party together, and was surprised to see
Nat among them.
wv here is Ted?' Lawrence asked
Eating grass, said Nat.
Then there was haste to find the surrey.
for the fog was SO dense they could not
see ten yards ahead of them They guessed
the direction pretty well. though and came
up just in time to see Ted trot away. Of
course, they all called ''Whoar But Ted
was not accustomed to being addressed by
a whole volley of voices. and at a distance,
besides; SO he quickened his pace 10 a gal
lop and was Socn out of sight in the fog.
Breathless and painting, the children stood
gazing at each other.
1T is all Mats fault" complained Roger.
Frances, who always looked on the funny
or the humorous side of things, laughed as
she said: What good time Ted will
have going back with empty surrey!
But isn't it lucky thing we are all 20
gether?"
Lucky enough to be together" said
Lawrence, feeling his responsibility, but
mighty unlucky to be left in the fog, no.
body knows how far from home, and night
coming on, too"
That made everybody look serious.
Lets walk home" peeped little Marion.
For answer Lawrence threw her over MS
shoulder and started off the other four
following. But almost al once he felt that
he had no idea in which direction home lay.
They stopped and held council.
Now Owen was usually more serious
than his brothers and sisters. He never
had much to say. but he had been known
to do some very sensible things.
Larry" said he I'VE know the way
from the house to the beach, don't we?''
Lawrence agreed that they did; and
owen continued: Then we ought to know
the way from the beach back home"
Owens reasoning seemed sound, SO they
listened for the surf and when they heard
it, started in that direction, thinking they
could then guess what course to take across
the moor.
Somehow nothing they saw in the thick
ening fog seemed familiar. They ran into
huckeberry bushes and scrub oak. When
they reached the surf they found them
selves upon a bluff Lawrence declared
they were away up near the Hampton
Headland. and that they would have to
turn and go the other way two miles along
the beach before striking across the moor
for home.
1t was distressing discovery. but Roger
and owen said hey would carry Marion
part of the time OF chair made by joining
hands. 1t was fast growing dark, but the
forlorn little party started bravely forward,
cheered only by remark Frances made:
How glad we'll all be to get home!'
Suddenly Lawrence, who was ahead.
stumbled against something, and the next
moment realized that he was bump up
against the side of building.
"A housev' cried Frances.
"a barn. echoed Roger.
Owen thought 1t was one of those life
saving stations, and said he hoped 1t was.
so that the men could come and save them.
The children followed Lawrence, feeling
their way around the side until they found
door that opened readily. The building
inside was dark as pitch, and therefore
not 50 very inviting. But Lawrence, urged
on by necessity, CROPPED around until he
came upon a good-sized box with a lid.
This, too. readily opened, and his hand was
soon upon box of matches. He lighted
one of them and saw fireplace with a
neat pile of kindling wood all ready to
light. Lawrence soon had this blazing,
and then he knew what they had found.
1t was ore of the buildings placed few
miles apart on the moors for the protection
of travellers overtaken by fog, storm or
darkness In them were hunks of hay or
straw, with matches and wood.
To the Grggses, lost. tired and hungry,
this rough shanty, with it's roaring fire.
place, was like paradise. Owen, the
philosopher, had started on a quiet round
of inspection, and soon came with a good
sized box of crackers.
This was a banquet! Never before had
dry crackers tasted so delicious. They ate
and ate. When the fire settled down into
a CHEEKY bed of Goals they all grew sleepy,
and their eyes closed as the fire SmOldered
and went out.
In the morning the fog lifted as the sun
rose, and Lawrence was no sooner outside
than he saw the searching party fastening
along the beach toward them. Ted had
his how btre 4