The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-15

.'The dishes are put away, mamma.
What else can we do to help you Z"
said Esther.
b. Mrs.t5ray- locked up from the iron
/ ing-board, where she toiled when she
was not at the washtub, to give her
two fatherIess girls the necessaries or
/ life
Mothers dear little girls she ex-
claimed. There is nothing more that
you can do just now. Run down TO
| the shore and make the most OF this
1 bright Saturday.
| Esther and Marjorie, a year younger
joined hands and ran gayly down the
slope towards the cliff.
THE Spray Ladies will be tossing
up lovely things after the storm OF
yesterday" said Marjorie.
''Oh, look! isn't 1t glorious" cried
Esther as they came to halt at the
top of tho cliffs. There before them
spread the ocean, radiant with color.
it's sunlight sapphire changing TO vio-
/ lets where cloud shadows swept across
1t.
"Why. We needn't wish for jewelry
when this great jewel of the sea IS
ours" she added. touching on sub
iect much discussed between them
Both childre. loved exquisite things
and their souls longed for some treas
urea ring, n Iocket or even little
gold baby pin. such as many OF tneil,
schoolmates had, Their mother had
taught them that imitation 1e"eiry
was in bad taste. and that she could
not afford the genuine, SO they went
unadorned.
I'VE can't wear the ocean. though.
If 1t Is all sapphircs and anethysts,
complained Marjorie. But see the
Spray Ladies. Aren't they dancing,
now that the storm Is over. The great
along the headlands Of rocks that nut
ted out Of the water, leaving many
sheltered coves of shingly beech be-
tween.
Down to one of these the children
scram hied. running toward the wa
ter In search Of treasures.
sOh. that Spray Lady threw her lace
all over me-" Esther shivered as she
was suddenly deiuged with spray.
But see. she brought sn1e a vase.
called Marjorie She held up large
mussel shell. open. with a root of
seaweed grown about it in such way
that 1t could stand open end up.
isn't that pretty cried Esther
coming toward her sister. She
brought me "A piece of sponge with
three branches. See! IT is as red as
coral. If II would only keep this love-
~ color. but it always fades when II
dries
'tOh, that's prettier than my she'll
Let's trade" said Marjorie.
But | would rather MOI, demurred
Esther. Il never found such pref
~ piece OF sponge before.
II think you might. when you know
am collecting sponge, and you are
not" urged Marjorie
"AIl right" agreed Esther reluctant
IL. And now let's play house. They
each chose niche In the cliffs fer u
playhouse. Esther arranged her star
fish and shells and began cleaning the
sand out of the seaweed which ciasped
her vase In a moment she uttered
an exclamation. Marjorie ran over to
her.
What in 1t Esther OH and her
ewes grew round with establishment.
for there amid the roots tangled about
the shell was child's gold ring. les,
a gold ring beyond IA doubt 1t shone
softly ont at them. though ii had
been imprisoned there no knowing
how long. Marjorie caught her
breath.
well, Esther Gray. now / suppose
YOU will claim it just because you got
the vase away from me-" she exclaim-
ed at last.
"Oh. no. we will own it together.
You shall wear ii half the time re-
sponded Esther affectionatey. But
Marjorie pouted.
al woudnt give anything to own II
together That's just another name
for neither one really feeling that 1t
is hers" she said.
Esther looked iongingly at the Mt