Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-23

the seashore to spend her vacation.
She arrived at MRS Coulter's board
ing house with trunkful of quietly
pretty clothes. which she hung up in
the closet OFF a room that looked out
upon the sea. At her first dinner she
met the dozen other people in the
house. all women with the exception
of a fat old man. who acted very much
out of place. Her seat at the table
was between an elderly woman loaded
with odd-looking old jewelry and a
ate a great deal and the girl very
little. but neither paid any attention
to Marietta. who tried in her shy way
to touch them with little feelers OF al
lection. She was newcomer ana not
to be trusted at sight although she
whole party went out upon the veranda
where a talking machine PLAYED fox
trots. while Marietta's heart ached Tor
I'll Trovatore." She endured the fox
trot as long as she could. then she
skipped away to her room to sit by the
window and smell the sea.
In the days that followed Mrs Coul
ter's boarders changed constantly. but
there was not one coming or going
whom Marietta could win to intimacy
The elderly ladies. with false hair ana
hleached compile xions. were clique by
,
another clinue. and the occasional man
or two smoked away their ennui. Ma
rietta roamed about alone. She sailed
alone. she walked alone, she sat alone
upon the rocks. And presently she
grew finely rested. with carmine and
tan predominant in her small, earnest
face.
There was a certain place which she
had discovered and appropriated and
loved-a natural seat half way up
great rock. which one had to chimp
carefully. With a sofa pillow ana
shawl and book. Marietta sat there Tor
hours at time watching the sea. Be
meath her. but out Of sight save for its
roofs. was a great hotel full Of fash
ionable. happy peop1e-people of a Diff
rent circumstance In life from those
who filled Mrs. Coulter. S roomy, OLD :
fashioned house. But they never tried
to climb Marietta's cliff in their ex-
pensive clothing. She felt absolutely
secure there until one afternoon
That afternoon q 8 she aporoach ed the
cliff she saw little girl climbing pain
fully up toward her own beloved niche.
chi1d's awkward movements. One SO
unskilled had no business to climb at
all. And then she perceived that the
climber was lanne: she was mount1ne
foot The other foot dra gEed nfteously.
In terror lest she fall Marietta sprans
after her Marietta was light and agile:
besides she knew her rock She called
to the girl before she reached her. And
then she had an arm around the pant
ine little figure.
what made you?" she chided.
The child looked up at her with beau
tiful Blue eyes She was twelve years
old and very delicate looking.
II saw you up there yesterday when
] was out in the motor boat" she said
You looked Just like a gull perched
on the rock. I wanted to see the place
We'll. I'll help you up." Marietta
said But you mustn't try to climb
alone again. 1t is dangerous for YOU
Yes. my left foot isn't much good
the girl replied. "It never has been
You see 7 had infantile paralysis" She
pronounced the words with grave cor
rectness There! We're up now. It's
beautiful up here. I don't wonder you
come"
"sit down. Marietta said. You're
warm with climbing. Let me put this
shawl about you and the pillow be.
hind your back Now are you not
comfy? You see there's plenty of room
for both Of us
There's room for three people
laughed the girl. She flung her arms
about Marietta. "oh. you're so sweet!
I'd rather look at you than at the sea.
My names Frances Vernon. What's
yours"
Marietta told her. They became con-
f1dential and told each other many
things. Frances said that she was
staying at the hotel with her gov
erness. She was an orphan. but she
had a kind uncle. who was doctor.
and he looked after her. He was busy.
and had not much time for her. and