Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-09-07
ON THE SAND
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

sleep at any time and under all condi
tons. and you can readily understand
why morpheus found him an easy vic
tim that eyentful morning.
Suddenly something hit him with
sickening force In the solar plexus.
Then something said softly: "Go0is
and, with a few delighted gurgIes
SCOOP again. A baby looked up al
him with placid blue eyes and twisted
the corners Of its little rosebud mouth
into a thousand SMILES.
'Hello, there, mister or miss o.
whatever you arei" Ted exclaimed.
"Where did you come fromf
Baby gurgied an answer.
''You don't say sol Wen. II you had
only sent word ! might have been bet
ter prepared to receive you. sup
pose" Ted looked around and saw
no one who appeared to have lost q
baby recently. or who might In any
way be associated with one. II sup
pose" he said. 'that you fell out Of
the chair, seeing that you had such
q nice soft thing to land onI"
"when you smile at me so sweetly,
/ think you're q girl. The girls ell
like me to pieces. Honor bright" The
wide-open blue eyes searched him In
quiringly. IAN except one, and she
doesn't think I'm worth two for q cent.
But It's all because she doesn't know
me. We have never been introduced.
By Joye. here she comes nowT
A variety Of reasons caused him to
pick the baby up just then--either 10
hide the confusion which he always
felt when the girl came near. or be-
cause II looked heartless to let beau
tiful, embroidered. shell-plnk baby 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 go back. Ted and the girl were
staying ut the same hotel. He had
tried to meet her--as he had explained
TO the baby--but no mutual friend had
80 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 clutched II tightly. desper-
ately, when she picked up the toy and
handed II TO him, with: Here Is your
baby's rattier and. half-stopping, add.
ed 'cute little thing--looks like
your
She was gone with that. and Ted
suddenly wished the sands would swal.
low him up and spare him any further
torment Of living. His babyi Merc'
full heavens
He laid baby In It's soft nest, gave
II the rattle and tried to collect bis
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 q
movie just as a woman passed wheel
ing a baby perambulator. Something
few out OF the carriage aud landed ai
his feet. He recognized the blue rattle
of his friend. the baby. and handed II
over.
'oh, thank you !" beamed the mother
"She's always throwing Il out" She
was young and pretty--aearcely more
than girl. II occurred 10 Ted TO re,
late the episode OF the baby's fall, and
he did so. suiting his step TO her own.
OF course, the girl passed just then,
as the young mother was listening with
all attention 10 Ted.
"Darnl" he exclaimed. stopping.
Il beg your pardoni''
He apologized profusely. Il forgot
something, and must go back IL you
will excuse me-" he said, as he lifted
his hat and turned IN the direction the
girl had taken.
He followed, unabashed. desperate
Ted came up beside her, and after
an irresolute minute spoke. II should
like to talk with you just a minute. II
you don't obJectp'
She looked up. "0bject7 Well, I'll
have to listen. l suppose. 90 ahead"
AhAA Dhb1 AnA ! iblAG
II know Il isn't"
What Excuse mel didn't under.
stand. | thought you thought"
HE thought we thought. you
thought, they thought" she finished
mockingly.
Ted was very red in the face by this
time.
Now listen" said the girl. Il am
that baby's aunt. l was only teasing
you, 80 don't worry about II any more.
He dlgested this. "why don't you
like met" he went on. "It's been 20
evident Ia a hundred ways that you
don't. I'm really curious ahou; 1t. Dc
you mind telling mel"
"MercyI" she cried. Il have Ger.
tainly developed into a regular bureau
OF information. But I'll tell you that
too It's because you are here having
a 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 a hot Office when he Ii
dying to be here with his family. He
can't leave as long as you are away -
Ted was speechless. But I'd have
gone week ago lf--if-it hadn't been
for you'll" he declared suddenly.
Then the girl smiled, the very sort
Of smile he wanted to see. 'Tfs
wicked for me to keep George away
from May and the baby, isnT it2' she
said. "Fll 90 home tomorrow"