Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-07-07
A Gift From the
Sea

By MALCOLM BROWN.

= don't believe that we are eve
going to be married. Frank" sal
Aaisie Lester. looking sadly at he
tiance. There were tears In her bi
gray eyes, and Frank Rhodes felt
sudden sting OF shame as he pei
ceived them.
He was twenty-eight and Malsi
twenty-five; and they had been en-
gagged four years. They ought to hav
been married long before, but Franz
was what his folks called a ''ne'er-dO
WELL" He had never placed his foo
upon the dsst rung Of the ladder Of
success. He had been Z clerk In hall
dozen ofaees, but he wholly lacked
the elements thst make for financial
afiuence:
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.
mo, 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 go 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
chung to him; and. they kissed each
other as passiOnately rs lovers do who
are to be sundered for an incalculable
age. They sat down st1e BY side and
Maisie traced his initials in the sand
With the point Of her umbrella.
F-R-A-N she had written, and
hen the ferrule encountered a soft |
md Yielding substance that obliterated
he fourth letter as hep umbrella point
ragged II forth from tts hiding place.
Ihe looked curiously upon the shape
ess substance. 1t was waxy, some
hing like beeswax. She flung 1t into
he air and turned to her sweetheart.
Frank, dear, II you are to get that
rain home we had better be starting"
he said
He agreed, and they chung together
q one last embrace, to be the last for
Oodness knew how long. Then they
urned their steps sadly toward the
tation.
Frank turned and gripped Maisie's
rm fiercely.
Dear, I'm going to make good" he
aid. IF can earn two thousand dol
IFS we will have our farm"
Poor Frank! Maisie looked at him
'istfully. Neither Of them had ever
wned fifty dollars at time. And
rank was close on thirty.
They were walking among the stray t
ling visitors to the little place. A $
wheeled two fat infants in
baby carriage. A ridiculous-loO
tile man with waxed mustaches was C
pproaching them. Maisie opened her S
mbrella and held 1t over Frank-the /.
elton was instructive and demon
rated her unconscious maternal at q
tude toward him. He linked his tt
I'M through hers, but he did not take -
lie umbrella; he was far away, COM
Osing. Even Malsie was forgotten
IT a moment. is
Maisie heard an exclamation behind
r. and the fat little man came pant :
g toward her. She heard him blow
6 and painting. "Meesl Meesl" no
as calling. He was evidently O.
renchman.
Maisie turned round. The little. man
as standing before her and in his
md he held--that absurd mass Of sea,
owth which she had flung away upon W
e beach. She must have let II fall o
to her umbrella, and, when she E
'ened 1t, 1t had slipped out upon the. y
ardwalk. Maisie felt furious. -
Yes. dropped that" she said icily. -
sut It 10 Of no value to me. Keep, a.
monsieur, II 1t interests, you" u
The fat little man looked quixxIcal. Id
1T her.
"MademOiselie Is, without doubt q tt
he inquired blandIy. III
Something In his tone arrested Fl
aisie's angry answer. There was 4 W
range look In the little mans eyes. il
what Is it?" she asked. =
"Ambergris," said the fat little man.
he basis of perfumes. The mos
liable Of the seas gifts. am a
Runner, mademoiseIle. l buy heem."
How much?" asked Maisie. IA
Il CIV you-t'ree t'ousan' dollars"
ID the fat little man.
That was the only time Malsie ever
'lded Frank for whistling.