The Glasgow courier., 1921-12-23
A Gift From, the
Sea
By MALCOLM BROWN.

Copyright. 1921. Western Newspaper Union
II don't believe that we are ever
going to be married, Frank" said
Maisie Lester, looking sadly at her
fance. There were tears in her big
gray eyes, and Frank Rhodes felt a
sudden sting Of shame as he per-
ceived them.
He was twenty-eight and Maisie
twenty-five, and they had been en-
gagged four years. They ought to have
been married long before, but Frank
was what his folks called "ne'er-do-
upon the first rung of the ladder Of
success He had been a clerk in half
q dozen offices, but he wholly lacked
the elements that make for financial
affluence.
Maisie was stenographer, and be-
tween them they made exactly forty
dollars a week. Frank would have
married her on that, but Maisie had
enough worldly wisdom to refuse.
'NO, my DEAR" she had said, "un-
less you can do something that will
enable us to get our little farm we
must remain unmarried.
Then Frank had had a wonderful
idea. He would 60 west. And on the
following day he was to start for St.
Louis, which was as far as his money
would carry him. They had met on
the beach. 1t was to be their last
meeting for years-perhays forever.
II shall always be true to you,
Frank" Maisie whispered again. and
clung to him; and they kissed each
other as passiOnately as lovers do who
are to be sundered for an incalculable
age. They sat down side by side and
Maisie traced his initials In the sand
with the point of her umbrella.
F-R-A-N she had written, and
then the ferrule encountered a soft
and yielding substance that obliterated
the fourth letter as her umbrella point
dragged it forth from it's hiding place.
She looked curiously upon the shape
less substance. 1t was waXy, some
thing like beeswax. She flung 1t into
the air and turned to her sweetheart.
Frank, dear, if you are to get that
train home we had better be starting"
she said.
He agreed and they chung together
in one last embrace, to be the last for
goodness knew how long. Then they
turned their steps sadly toward the
station.
Frank turned and gripped Maisie's
arm flercely.
"Dear, I'm going to make good" he
said. III can earn two thousand dol
lars we will have our farm"
Poor Frank! Maisie looked at him
wistfully. Neither Of them had ever
owned fifty dollars at a time. And
Frank was close on thirty.
They were walking among the strag-
Cling visitors to the little place. A
se-girl wheeled two fat infants In
baby carriage. A ridiculous-lo looking
little man with waxed mustaches was
approaching them. Maisie opened her
umbrella and held it over Frank-the
action was instructive and demon
strated her unconscious maternal at
titude toward him. He linked his
arm through hers, but he did not take
the umbrella; he was far away, COM
posing. Even Maisie was forgotten
for q moment
Maisie heard an exclamation behind
her and the fat little man came pant
ing toward her. She heard him blow
Ing and painting. 'Mees! Mees!" he
was calling. He was evidently
Maisie turned round. The little man
was standing before her, and in his
hand he held--that absurd mass Of sea
growth which she had flung away upon
the beach. She must have let it fall
into her umbrella, and, when she
opened it, it had slipped out upon the
boardwalk. Maisie felt furious.
"Yes, I dropped that" she said icily.
"But it is of no value to me. Keep
it, monsieur, if it interests yOu.'
The fat little man looked Quizzical-
ly at her.
"Mademoiselle is, without doubt, a
millionaire?" he inquired blandly.
Something In his tone arrested
Maisie's angry answer. There was a
strange look in the little mans eyes.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Ambergris," said the fat little man.
"The basis of perfumes. The mos
valuable of the seas gifts. l am a
perfumer, mademoiselle. buy heem."
"HOw muchY" asked Maisie.
II Civ you-tree t'Ousan' dollars"
said the fat little man.
That was the only time Maisie ever
scolded Frank for whistling.