The Monticellonian., 1916-08-17
ON THE SAND
By LOUISE OLIVER.

The swim out to the sand bar and back six times repeated had made Ted tired. Add to that q scorching July sun. the inviting shade of beach chair. and a natural propensity for sleep at any time and under all eendl- tlons and you can readily understand why morpheus found him an easy vic tim that eventfHl morning.
 Suddenly something hit him with siekeHlHE force in the solar plesas
 Then something said softly "Goo 2" and, with a few delighted z4rgles. "Goo,s again X baby looked up at him with placid blue eyes aud twisted the corner, of lis little rosebud mouth into thousand smiles.
 Hello. there. mister or miss or whatever you are 2" Ted exclaimed "Where did yea come framf'
 Baby gurgIed an answer
 You don't say so, Well !f yaa had only sent word i might nave bcen bet ter prepared te receive so'i. l sup pose Ted looked ar5uud and saw no one who appeared Ed have lost q baby recently ef whe might in any way be assoc eated with one. T sup pose he said "that yeH iell=aut ot The chair seeing thai you had such nice soft thing to land eu 2"
 When you smile at me so sweetly, think you're ii girl. The girls all Ike me to pieces. Honor brIghtts The wide-opeu blue eyes searched fim in quirinElv. All except one, and she doesn't think I'm worth two for Il cent. But it's all because she doesn't know me. We have never been introduced, By love, here she comes now -
 A variety of reasons caused him to pick the baby up just then-either to hide the confusion which he always felt when the girl came near. or be. cause Il looked heartless to let beau. tiful, embroidered. shellzpink haby lie unprotected on the sand
 The girl passed, but not before she had taken in the stage setting and the chief performers of the little act.
 To 20 back. Ted and the girl were staying at the same hotel. He had tried te meet her-aS he had explained to the baby--but no mutual friend had so far appeared.
 The girl walked along with her com. panion. but turned back as she saw something lying on the sand. Ted's heart nearly stopped when he saw her coming. and he almost dropped the baby. but he elutehed it tightly, desper- ately, when she picked UP the toy and handed t to him, with: Here k your babys rattle = and, haif=stopping. add ed Cute little thing-looks like you"
 She WAS gone with that. and Ted suddenly wished the sands would swal low him ID and spare him any further torment of living His baby Merci. ful heavens
 He laid baby in its soft nest. gave 1t the rattle and tried 10 collect his scattered senses by another swim to the bar. When he returned baby was gone. He breathed more freely then.
 Another day Ted came out of movie just as woman passed wheel ing baby perambulator. Something flew out of the carriage and landed at his feet He recognized the blue rattle of his friend, the baby. and handed it over.
 "Oh. thank you" beamed the mother She's always throwing 1t out" She was young and pretty-searceIy more than a girl. It occurred to Ted to re- late the episode of the babys fall. and he did SD. suiting his step to her own.
 Of course, the girl passed just then, as the young mother was listening with all attention to Ted.
 Darn :" he exclaimed stopping.
 'I beg your pardon! !"
 He apologized profusely. q forgot something and must go back if you will excuse me-" he said. as he lifted his hat and turned in the direction the girl had taken.
 He followed. unabashed. desperate. She turned into q pavilion facing the sea. sought d comfortable chair in Il quiet corner and opened book.
 Ted came up beside her, and after an irresolute minute spoke: "I should like to talk with you just minute, if you don't objecti'
 She looked up. Object? Well, I'll have to listen, suppose. Go ahead"
 That baby isn't mine!"
 q know it isn't
 What Excuse me-I didn't unders stand. l thought you thought"
 He thought, we thought, you thought. they thought she finished moekingly.
 Ted was very red in the face by this time
 Now listen said the girl. q am that baby's aunt. was only teasing you, so don't worry about it any more."
 He dgested this Why don't you like mef" he went on. Its been so evident in a hundred ways that you don't. I'm really curious about it. Do you mind telling me?'
 Mercy" she cried. "I have cer- tainly developed into regular bureau of information. But I'll tell you that. tool It's because you are here having q good time for month while George Bronson, your partner. who happens to be my brother-in-law and that ba- by's father. is at home working his head off in q hot office when he is dying to be here with his family. He can't leave as long as you are away i'
 Ted was speechless. But I'd have gone week ago if-if-it hadn't been for you. :" he declared suddenly