The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-10-05
THE BLUE HOUSE.

who died recently, used often to tell me:
You know, he would say to me, that my
business called me often to the four quar-
tiers of France. ! noticed on one of my
journeys, near the outskirts of Dion.
which is called Blaisy Bas, a little cottage
of strange aspect aud Of still more strange
color.
The first time noticed tit is fully 20
years since then-it was Mt n stopping of
the express train. In the garden in front
of it little girl was play with u doll,
n child of about 10, very fair and rosy,
dressed in q dainty spring dress and with
a blue ribbon in her hair. She was very
pretty. l was not happy that morning
Business had not gone well, and was re
turning to Paris sad and preoccupied
This sudden vision in the tiny garden
Gained me. Was it the beautiful day, the
charm of this little girl and the beautiful
country that ] was looking att | said to
myself, lone must be happy to live here;
no sorrow, no WEAKNESS. And l envied
the little girl her childish carelessness and
gayety.
But the train started to move At the
same time one of the windows of the house
was opened
"Laurine" voice called.
And the little girl went in. Laurine-
the name was pretty, and an hour after
ward in the idleness of the journey
though. of it again, and saw once more
the child, the doll, the garden and the lit
tie blue house. Then all was jumbled to
gethe2, grew faint and was forgotten, the
more because for long time l had no
business In that part of France.
went often to the north of France or
to the east. now to Lille, now to Nancy.
and You understand l had other things to
think of. About ten years passed thus
when one fine day set out for Mnrseil!es,
and on riy return the old memories re-
Turned to me. | took the night express in
order - pass through Blnisy Bas in the
morning. 1t was still there, the blue house,
of we'll faded blue now, and, moreover
it seemed to me that it had less well
cared for less well kept look than former
~, but in the garden a tall girl was seated
she was very fair and with pink ribbon
in her hair. 1t was Laurine. recognized
her at once. Near her was young man,
very preIcssessing and animated. her fanct
without doubt, and around them was the
Same smiling calm, the same peace of
mind.
was positively quite happy, quite
moved myself, and when again the train
started leaned from my window and
waving my hand. nodded my head and
cried:
Farewell, Mile. Lauriner'
The young girl looked at me quite aston
ished. Then the young man. They burst
out laughing, and still from my window |
watched them waving their handkerchiefs
at me. was delighted.
Year after year passed. l was nearly
always ON the Marseilles road, but busy,
very busy. Each time / was forced to gain
an hour or two by taking the fast express
that passed Blaisy Bias in the night with
out stopping. At last one day, less busy
than before, / took the evening train which
stops at Blaisy Bias in the morning How
many years had passed since that little
scene in the garden when l had seen Lnu-
rine with her fiance? Twelve, or perhaps
Is years, don't remember.
This time, when tho train stopped in
front of the little station. there was in the
garden only small boy, with unkcm pt
hair, playing with great dog stretched
on the grass Was not to see Laurine?
was already quite sad, when the little
boy began to call
mamma, mamma, the train"
Then lady stepped out of the house. II
was certainly she, little less fair, but
nevertheless l recognized her mt once, and
looking at her quite tenderly / discreetly
raised my hand to my hat. She answered
my salutation little surprised. She was
indeed always the same, as simple and
amiable as her own life. On departing,
to mark my passage with little souvenir,
tossed an orange to the child in the gar
den, and saw it roll down the terrace fol
lowed by the big dog.
Then came the most eventful period OF
my life. 1t was a short time after this
that l made my great journey to Turkey
so eventful, so full of sudden changes,
that today, after SO many years, | seem &c
speak of dream. How many ups and
downs had before made my little for
tunnel 1t was down there, you know, thai
/ was shipwrecked on the Black sea You
can imagine If in that life thought often
of Blaisy -Bas and the blue house. All
well, on the sinking ship, in that ominous
hour when | was separated from death
only by plank, it was still that memory
that crossed my mind as clear and precise
ms in the first hour. / said to myself
"My poor Jeans this will teach you u
travel around the world II you had beer
willing to live quietly, like your frient
Laurine, in some blue house under the SUI
of Burgundy, such things as this would
not have happened to you either, ="
escaped nevertheless, and have Otter
told you how You know Of the Holland
ship that passed, as though by a miracle
ut the end of two days, when my strength
was spent. At the end of 10 or 20 years
you see, at my age one forgets the exac
dates-I returned to France, and aftel
passing several days in Marseilles tool
for the last time the train for Paris.
had never been ambitious, and the littl'
money was carrying homo would suffice
for my old age. This was then my las
journey, the end of all my adventures.
At O'Clock we arrived at Blaisy Bias
Can you believe mep My heart beat as !
| n vould hurst and | confess that | wa