Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-09-18
The White
Elephant.
By CLARISSA MhCKIE
Copyrighted. 1905. by Associated
Literary Press

cession. On the contrary, It was
carved from n bit Of ivory with some
needlelike tools and girdled about
with a narrow band of gold terminal
ing in a small ring
"A fob charm, and / wish / could
keep ii" 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 nursemsids and
their young charges the park seemed
deserted at this point
Far away on a distant intersecting
path n mans tau figure appeared for
an instant aud then vanished among
the trees. Miss Standish breatbed n
sigh OF relief as she slipped the Ivory
elephant into her pocketbooh.
* whl watch the papers. and II II Is
advertised OF course shan Return 1t.
l suppose ought to advertise 1t my
self. Well / Will. and IN the mean
time i Will enjoy It's possession. 1t Is
the dearest thing?'
The next morning Miss Standish
scanned the papers with interest The
first one she threw aside with satisfac-
ton, the second with elation. 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
will please Communicate with J. NJ. Beck
rnNf1I faw n,x1 ,I,rA
liberal reward
The white elephant stood mcekly on
her dressing table Marian picked II
up and examined 1t 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
mans watch fob" she sighed discon-
tentedly. There was n slight rattle as
she laid it down. and she lifted II
again and shook Il briskly. There was
something inside that clicked. and the
knowledge that the bit OF carving was
not only hollow, but was evidently
terry was an added vexation now that
she must loose It.
There was something vaguely ia
miliar about the name of Beckwith.
1t seemed to conjurs up visions Of
East Indian islands. palm fringed
shores. the smell OF wild Jasmine and
the fragrance OF cassia and other
spices, yet she had never been there,
but she had read-where wns It?
Marian Standish was the soul OF hon.
esty. but she could not resist the temp
tation to retain possession OF the
charm for another day. So she con-
scienttously cut out the advertisement
and tucked 1t away In her writing
desk, assuring herself that she would
communicate with the owner that very
evening.
She attached the charm TO her own
small watch fob and. thrusting the
gold timepiece in her belt, set out for
her morning walk, accompan MED by
that prize winning bulldog. Pedro who
was as hideous as his mistress was
beautiful.
In due course OF time they reached
the park and eventually entered tho
same arboreal path where she had
found the white elephant Walking
slowly toward her was very tall
young man. who was studying the
ground attentively as he advanced.
Marian blushed guntily. and her
hand dew to the white charm swing
Ing copsptcuously against the black OF
her skirt. and 1t seemed that the stran-
ger saw 1t. too. for. with quick
glance at her and beyond. his good
looking face frightened with sudden
interest he removed his hat and
paused
Il beg your pardon. madam, but
he was beginning when her chilling
glance stopped the words on his lips.
Sir" said Miss Standish haughtily,
and She swept past him. dragging the
leashed Pedro. who sneered contemp-
tuously at the presumptuous youth
IL brought it on myself" Marian
chided herself as she crossed the park
toward home. III I had not kept the
charm could not have worn 1t and
he would not have seen it and spoken.
or Course he had right to under the
circumstances. Without a doubt he Is
j. NJ. Beclkwith.' for he was searching
the path in the very spot where i
found It. He probably values 1t high
y. fancy he picked 1t up In India or
China. and-where have seen his face
before, and his name-it Is very fa-
miliaf! How very brown he was to
the very finger tips, and he was web
bred, too, and yet I treated him as
though he were a cadi i will send It
to him tonight"
But she didn't Three days passed. and
the httie white elephant still swung at
her belt Three days she had walked
In the park, and three times she had
met the tall brown. Soung man, who
passed her with haughtiness equal to
her own
suppose he thinks am an unprin-
cipled character" murmured Marian
the third day. just after her dark blue
eyes had met his brown ones In a
brief glance.
That afternoon she indited a brief
note to the owner of the white ele-
plant and prepared little box In
which 70 send the charm to him x
will send 1t the first thing in the morn.
ing" sho said as she went down to
dinner.
Three hours afterward she fastened
the ivory elephant to the long gold
chain attached to her fan and went to
the Gearing dance.
Late in the evening, flushed with
dancing and looking vary n,uch iio