The Monticellonian., 1905-12-21

t& & ently moment later S She was stopping at S= he Ormond, and a car
 riage was now waiting her signal at notch in the dunes which marked the road. On the sand ridge above the road was the CoqHina hotel isolated and lacking paint, but having a reputation for good yiands and excellent table service. It was popular with those who desired quiet and hathins, and there were even now number enjoying the surf just as though it were not the day before Christmas, and along the beach be- tween them and the hotel were dozen pr more children, some playing in the water and some in the sand.
 Mrs. BigeloW Stevens paused, and gazed at them with dimming eyes. She had lost her own little girl but few months before and for that req son she was here not to forget, but to find new scenes to awaken her in terest. Presently a child of five or six separated from her companions, and came racing up the beach in pursuit of hal which was rolling merrily along before a gust of wind Mrs. Stevens reached ont her parasol and intercept. ed the runaway.
 Thank you, gasped the little girl out of breath, but looking ID with rosuish smile on her bright face. T shall whip it when l get home Then, instead of returning to her compau- ions, she grasped finger of her new friend. May walk with you29 she asked, beginning to swing along as though the permission was granted
 She was silent for some minutes her lips tremulous with recollections of the past, and during that time the little girl made excursions from her finger 10 investigate escaping crabs and cu- rioHs shells, and even the last efforts of waves that sent long lines of shallow water curvirg up toward their feet. At length Mrs. Stevens lips grew frmer, and she looked down.
 T suppose your mother is here, she said.
 The child in her turn became grave 'I haven't any mamma, she an swered; and my papa doesn't walk with me like he used to-" She hasi- tated little. and then went on, with childish frankness: "He-he talks loud to me sometimes. and his face gets red, and-and he strikes me. don't have anybody to play with now. .
 That evening MT. Stevens was look ing over some new curiosities he had purchased. He did not care much for such things. but this winter he was trying to cultivate an enthusiasm for them in hope of interesting his wife
 There are some really fine Florida sketches in that studio in the new block he said, presently, looking up from a nautilus shell he had b=en ex- amining One of them will make nice souvenir of 0rmond However. if you do not care for them. you may select anything else you like. This year l am going to give you two pres ents-my usual one and one of your own choosing as an Ormond souvenir l He turned back to his shell. only to raise his head again quickly. By the way, l forgot to tell you about a man met on the street to-day. Ysa re member Seaton. the bookkeeper. who ran away with $2,000?'
 Yes
 Well, il was he. but so cf anged l l hardly recognized the man. In his case. crime has certainly proved it's own punishment. Two years ago he was reckless. but was very scrupulous about his personal appearance, new he is only a slovenly, red-faced topeT" l MT. Stevens paused, and ran his fingers 1 through his hair in an irritable. dis gusted sort of way "It isn't the man 1 I care for, he grumbled, but fel- low of his stamp seems to drag SO much good into tho mire with him Fortunately his wife is dead, but there is a child left
 Did you have him arres,ed?" Mrs l Stevens asked
 No; what was the use2" a little apologetically He has gone through the money-and through himself al most. When he saw me he was too scared to speak, and just stood there trembling. I asked a few questions and found that the money was all gont and that he owed a months board at the Coquina. He even confessed that he was thinking of running away and leaving the child"
 How old is the child?" Mrs. Stevens asked. eagerly.
 "Oh. five or six; and she is a very nice little girl
 Mrs. Stevens rose from her chair with an unwonted light in her eyes. 'Yes. she is a nice little girl Now may hold you to your word. and take whatever l like for my present-my Christmas souvenir?"
 Why, certainly, dear" with glad tenderness, as he detected the new ln- terest in her eyes and voice, whatever you like
 Then will take the little girl 10 be our own."
 He half rose in his astonishment. but Ne look on her face prevented eveh the appearance of generalization. Very we'll. dear" he said; i've will go for her in the mornng"-Farm and Preside.