ELSIE'S VACATION




CHAPTER I.


Captain Raymond went back to the hotel feeling somewhat lonely and
heartsore over the parting from his eldest hope, but as he entered the
private parlor where his young wife and most of the party were, his look
and manner had all their accustomed cheeriness.

He made a pleasant remark to Violet, fondled the little ones, and talked
for a few minutes in his usual agreeable way with Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore
and the others; then glancing about the room, as if in search of someone
or something, asked, "Where are Lulu and Gracie?"

"Why, I thought they were here," Violet answered in some surprise,
following the direction of his glance. "They seem to have slipped out of
the room very quietly."

"I must hunt them up, poor dears! for it is about time we were starting
for the _Dolphin_," he said, hastily leaving the room. A low sobbing
sound struck upon his ear as he softly opened the door of the room
where his little girls had slept the previous night, and there they were
down on the carpet near a window, Gracie's head in her sister's lap,
Lulu softly stroking the golden curls and saying in tender tones,
"Don't, Gracie dear; oh, don't! It can't be helped, you know; and we