Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-08-08
The White
Elephant.
BY CLARlSSA MACKIE.
By CLARISsA MAcKIE
copyrighted lgos. BY Associated
Literary Press

one bright June morning or course
II was not the sort OF elephant that
nmhlcs duslily along IN the circus pro.
ccssion on the contrary. II was
carved from bit OF ivory with some
needlelike tools aud glrdlcd about
it'll narrow band OF gold terminal.
ins IN Il small ring.
a fob charm. aud | wish | could
keep It, she exclaimed GENEROUSLY as
She examined the delicate workman.
ship OF the toy. which was no larger
than the end OF her thumb. She looked
about as She continued her stroll down
the green arbored path Save for the
usual aggregation OF nursemnlds and
their young charges the park seemed
deserted at this point
Far away on distant intersectIng
path mans tall figure appeared for
an instant aud then vanished among
the trees Miss Standish breathed II
Sigh u Keller as she slipped the ivory
elephant into her pocketbouk.
II Will watch the papers. and II II Is
advertised Of course shall return IT,.
suppose ought To advertise Il my
self Well. | will and In the mean
time | will enjoy Its possession 1t IL
the dearest thing"
The next morning Miss Standlsh
scanned the papers with interest The
first one she threw aside with satisfac-
tlon. the second with citation. but the
third sheet contained the dreaded In
quiry:
Lost in Central park on the morning OF
June Is a small ivory elephant fob charm.
Initials - NJ b." on gold band. Finder
viii please communicate with J. NJ Beck
with. Block Building. city. and receive
liberal reward
The white elephant stood mcckly on
her dressing table. Marian picked It
up and examined II curiously Three
tiny initials which had escaped her
attention the day before were scratch
ed upon the gold band She also dis
covered that the eyes were emerald
sparks and the miniature tusks were
tipped with gold
You are too pretty To hang on II
mans watch fob. she sighed discon-
tentedly There was slight rattle aS
she laid II down. and she lifted II
again and shook 1t briskly There was
something Inside that clicked. and the
knowledge that the bit OF carving was
not only hollow. but was evidently
. IL. ~ AafiKltffVI
terry was an added vexation now that
she must loose IT,
There was something vaguely fa-
miliar about the name of Beckwith.
1t seemed to conjure NJ visions Of
East Indian islands. palm frlnged
shores. the smell Of Wild jasmine and
the fragrance Of cassln and other
spices. yet she had never been there.
bus she had read where was II;
Marian Standlsh was the soul OF hon
esty. but she could not resist the temp
tation 10 retain possession OF the
charm for another day so she con
scientiously cut out the advertisement
and tucked II away In her writing
desk. assuring herself that she would
communicate with the owner that very
evening
She attached the charm Ia her own
small watch fob and. thrustlng the
gold timepicce In her belt set out for
her morning walk. accompanied by
that prize winning bulldog. Pedro who
WAS as hldeous as his mistress was
beautiful.
In due course OF time they reached
the park aud eventually entered the
same urboreal path where she had
found the white elephant Walking
slowly toward her was a very tall
young man who was studying the
ground attentively rs he advanced.
Marian blushed guilty. and her
hand flew to the white charm swing
ing conspicuously against the black of
her skirt and II seemed that the stran-
ger saw Il too. for. with quick
glance at .er and beyond. his good
looking face frightened with sudden
interest lie removed his hat aud
paused
htE tRdA Nhh
he was beginning when her chilling
glance stopped the words Oh his lips
sir" said Miss Standlsh haughtlly.
and she swept past him. dragging the
leashed Pedro. who sneercd contcmp-
tuously al the presumptuous youth
81 brought It ou myself" Marian
chlded herself AS she crossed tlle park
toward home. III / had not kept the
charm | could not have worn It and
he would not have seen Il and spoken.
OF course he had right to under the
circumstances Without doubt he Is
j NJ Beckwith for he was searching
the path IN the very spot whore
found IT, lie probably values I, high
~ fancy he picked II up In India or
China. aud where have ! seen his face
before. and his name-it Is very ia
mlllar, How very brown he was to
the very finger tips. and he was well
bred too. and yet treated him as
though he were cad VIII send II
TO him tonight"
But she didn't. Three days passed. and
the little white elephant still swung ni
har k..ft frLraa .l.Vg sh.. huh kraIE AL