Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
What Happened to Franeee.
BY EIAzARETu pRoNpFoor.

1
| or celluloid. Edith's mother was sensible
| enough to postpone the Possession of q
handsome doll-a doh OF bisque face, real
hair and movable eyes-until Edith was
| wise enough and strong enough 10 keep II
| from tumblng on the stone sidewalk
When Edith was seven years old she
plead so hard to have a real doll her moth
| er said she should have her wish gratihed
So on the happy birthday morning a beau-
| THU doll bearing the name of Juneau
| smiled at. Edith when she took her place
| at breakfast Juneau was not the name of
| the doll. but the name OF the maker OF the
| most expensive dolls In France Grandma
| gave this splendid creation to Edith and
as II TO make up for all the years the little
| girl had been consolng herself with rag
| babies had bought the handsomest doll In
the toy store.
Edith was almost beside herself with Joy
II was worth waiting for-this magnificent
| creature. Long curls OF natural hair hung
4 on each side OF her face; brown eyes with
| real eyelashes smiled at Edith. and when
| the doll was put TO sleep mace ner look
dressed as only the French people can
dress dolls 1t wore a light blue skirt OF
| shimmertng satin. and bodice of the same
was laced over blouse Of soft fine lace. A
| baby bonnet was on her head. with blue
rosettes on either side. Blue slippers and
blue socks adorned her feet while real kid
gloves OF the same color fitted her dim
| pied hands.
play with-to do anything but be. looked
at, but mother told her she was for
! use-use. however. different from that Edith
had given to her ragged and common pre-
decessors. They had been left out in the
rain all night. been thrown in the bath
tub. eaten by the big dog, In fact all or
them had come to some most tragic end
Mother reminded Edith Of their narrowing
fQt aa 1, hX x-aV of
clared nothing of the kind should happen 10
this elegant doll. No. indeed Edith meant
to treat her as If she were queen upon
throne.
The morning after Ediths birthday she
was holding Frances (the new doll was so
named because she came from France).
Tom, Ediths brother called her to come
into the garden and see a turtle he had
discovered under ~the piazza. Edith knew
that under the piazza would not be
proper place to bring the elegantly attired
Frances so Frances was put down upon
a stool and told to sit there until her mis-
tress returned. Edith was asking a good
deal of Frances, for the stool was of the
variety used as camp stool-the kind or
stool that Is always folding up when one
wants 1t to remain open. and getting tan
gied when wants it to fold UP. The
last glance Edith had Of her treasure before
she ran down the steps was most crafty
ing. There the darling sat. just If she
were having her picture taken. Poor
Frances, you were too lovely for such an
end. You deserved a better fate than to
lose your life In the mad. hungry chase OF
a greedy cat after poor, little thin, half
starved mouse.
1t took far less time for the tragedy to
be enacted than 1t does TO tell about It.
Ediths cat by name Honey, was hungry.
This condition was nothing unusual for
Honey. for he would eat any time of the
day or night. Edith's mother had tried
time and time again to reduce Honey's APP
petite to condition OF satisfaction. but
.,itl,n o., I'll I1nr do
Honey was desperately hungry. although
he had eaten two saucers of cream, most
of Edith's breakfast food, the heart and
liver of a chicken being prepared. for din
ner, a robin and several other tidbts by
way of entrees. AS ne lay doing on the
piazza a too venturesome mouse sped before
his very eyes. thinking no doubt he was en-
joying a nightmare. The mouse did not.
know Honey. Nothing to eat ever got away
from him. Up he sprang, and the chances
of mousie's ever getting home were about
ten to one. Frances trembled with appre-
hension. The mouse, feeling the power of
Honey's eyes upon him. trembled. too. and
dashed under the stool, hoping by a short
cut to reach safety.
occasion Honey dashed after the mouse
and q scrimmage took place in the most
dangerous part of the stool, right where the
two cross sections meet. to part company
the next minute OF course the stool folded,
and Frances tumbled to the floor to become
a silent but agon1Zed witness of what was
to follow first a Witness then a participa-
You remember the stool was a camp
not be stopped In time TO avaid hitting 1t.
chair-warranted to fold on every possible
tor IN the drama.
Honey's fighting blood was I'D. After he
recovered from his first shock he made IN
ms mind that he was not going to be
cheated out of an extra course like that.
But where was the mouse? II had heer
there minute before Instead Of the
mouse was the doll. Truly beautiful OBJ
Ject, unused Honey, but not to be compared
VIII ma mouse. even II It was thin, half
starved one. -'"
When Frances fell down the mouse ran
up. hiding for minute beneath the fold of
frances shimmering satin gown. Honey
smeit MIN plainly, but could not locate
him. Just when he thought he had him
where he wanted him. mousfe few from,
his hiding place and covered beneath the
secret places OF Frances becoming rinelets
honey discovered that trick. and SELLING
FRANCES curls in his sharp claws Frances
like Samson of old, was soon shorn Of her
locks. "
Robbed Of this safety. mousie looked for
another hiding place. This time she saw
In the underside of Frances back a bole
ABOUT as big as a quarter. 1t had been
mace to allow the passage of the string
mat made 1t possible for Frances to say
mamma mann ana papa Mous!e did not care
what 1t was intended for. The minute his
termed eyes fell upon 1t he knew that he
mad found port in a storm-hls storm.
quicker than wink he had squeezed his
his position Of refuge had the laugh on
Honey. VA
Honey was furious! Do what he could he
could not get at the mouse who was as
snug as bug In rug To all Honey's roll
ings and pawings, and clawings and coax
ings. mousie remained safely protected in
Frances department of the interior.
As to Frances, she was a sight Hairless
eyeless for her eyes had fallen inside to
keep mouste company. dress torn and al
most shredded. no wonder Edith tore her
hair and called for mother in such agonized
tones that her mother thought she was
dead. at least nearly dead would be nearer
the truth, for Of course she could not make
noise If she were completely dead Frances
was tenderly lifted up. cried over, sighed
over, and every one wondered how the ac-
cident occurred The fall was easily ac-
counted for, but the wigIess. eyeless condi-
ton was mystery. Honey wisely held
his own counsel. Some deeds are too dread
full for words. The truth remained a mys-
terry until the>next day.
Edith's mother, the next morning drove
to the dolls hospital. where injuries OF all
sorts are cured. The head doctor at first
thought there was no hope for Frances. To
put her in condition would cost so many
dnl hot To-