The Democratic advocate., 1908-08-07
White
!: Elephant.
Rv CLARISSA MACKIE'
,,,,ted. 1908, by Associated

N',, %rbt June morning. OF course
81 que nos not the sort of elephant that
''as S dustily along in the circus pro-
sDO. On the contrary, it was
eeSslO W from a bit of ivory with some
eal,o ,,o,iEe tools and girdled about
nteu narrow band of gold terminal
nc in a small ring
w. fob charm, and 1 wish l could
~ she exclaimed covetously as
Ats' Ass examined the delicate workman
sue @ If tbe toy, which was no larger
sson sb,T the end of her thumb She looked
tnan + ' os she continued her stroll down
aOOus "roon arbored path. Save for the
us sa1 aggregation Of nursemaids and
usu4- ronnp charges the park seemed
deserted at this point. .....,,.o.:,,,.
For away on a distant intersecting
!.h M mans tall figure appeared for
paw ,,stant and then vanished among
sn .ho trees. Miss standish breathed a
lns ~ relief as she slipped the ivory
olsnbant o into her pocketbook. e.
~ will watch the papers, and If it is
,-ortised of course l shall return it.
auur q nnnnose I ought to advertise it my
.olf Well. 1 will, and in the mean
s'n,o ssra 7 will enjoy its possession. 1t is
the dearest thing?'
T Tha next morning Miss Standish
,.onned the papers with interest. The
srct @ one she threw aside with satisfac-
.u .on tbe second with elation, but the
third f sheet contained the dreaded in
Quiry:
1o.t IN Central park on the morning of
two X a small ivory elephant fob charm.
f.Itois ff ~ M. B." on gold band. Finder
I'm tI, nlease communicate with ]. M. Beck
mitb VIII Block Building, City, and receive
liberal reward.
The white elephant stood meekly ON
bor dressing table. Marian picked it
m and examined it curiously. Three
INV initials which had escaped her
sttention the day before were scratch
ed upon the gold band. She also dis
covered that the eyes were emerald
snorks and the miniature tusks were
tipped with gold.
"You are too pretty to hang on a
mans watch fob" she sighed discon-
tpptedv There was a slight rattle as
she laid it down, and she lifted 1t
again and shook it brisEly. There was
something inside that clicked, and the
knowledge that the bit of carving was
not only hollow, but was evidently
the receptacle of some delightful mys-
ery was an added vexation now that
she must loose it.
There was something vaguely IA
miar about the name of Beckwith.
It seemed to conjure 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 was it?
Marian Standish was the soul of hon.
esty but she could not resist the temp
tation to retain possession of the
charm fer another day. So she con-
scientiously cut out the advertisement
and tucked it 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, accompanied 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 the
same arboreal path where she had
found the white elephant. Walking
Slowly toward her was very tall
young man, who was studying the
ground attentive1y as he advanced.
Marian blushed guiltily, and her
land flew to the white charm swing
ing conspicuously against the black OF
ner skirt, and it seemed that the stran-
ger saw it, too, for, with a quick
gAnce at her and beyond, his good
NOklng face frightened with sudden
interest. He removed his hat and
paused.
Deg your pardon, madam, but
le was beginning when her chilling
siance stopped the words on his lips.
sr." said Miss Standish haughtily,
alu she swept past him, dragging the
.'aSned Pedro, who sneered contemp-
'IUISly at the presumptuous youth.
brought it on myself" Marian
.alued herself as she crossed the park
%Sard home. "If I had not kept the
". t.afm could not have worn it and
a, ~ "ould not have seen it and spoken.
". ~ Nurse he had a right to under the
T,unstances. =. Without doubt he is
~. ~ beckwith, for he was searching
ss. pain in the very spot where i
h DI IT. He probably values it high
n,. lancy ne picked it up in India or
Ss .ua' and-where have seen his face
na4, and his name-it is very IA
sa at How very brown he was to
ms, very finger tips, and he was we'll
hou @ 100, and yet I treated him as
sn hM ne were cad! will send it
%nln tonight"
j ao u.., 1e uldn't. Three days passed, and
j ha, ,e hn white elephant still swung at
IN w. e't' Three days she had walked
4 mo, =, PARK, and three times she had
] rss.a ae tall brown young man. who
4 her eu w ner with haughtiness equal to
4 enoa ppose he thinks / am an unprin
bp ~, eharacter," murmured Marian
evos u day, just after her dark blue
brpt u''o met his brown ones in a
aOts :. afternoon she indited a brief
nj W Tue owner nf tho white oIo