Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-13
(.9lNCS

brightly "Zat is where. oui. oui like it
much. Jaime beaucoup"
Irlx stared blankly, and handed her the
lemonade for another sin
y al quatorze ans" continued Annette, af-
yer she had refreshed herself for a moment.
you" ' 'No
ou are forty years old?" repeated Trix,
drawing long breath of amazement as she
ga2ed at her companions rosy face and flowing
hair.
MY br'zar hes seventy years, and nv sees
ter ninety" continued Annette plunging into
English with more confidence "My seester
has lett school. | leave school ven | am nine
ty, too"
should think you might" said Trix, in
amused wonderment; and then sudden light
nashed upon her, and she burst into a hearty
laugh' ou mean nineteen, don't you?"
Oul, ou, ninety" repeated Annette, un-
conscious of any mistake. "My br'zar has a
dog', she continued, feeling no doubt, that
tne lemonade demanded an extra effort at So
claplllty. He is very high, he talks loud, he
bites very much; and my seester has a bird
that bites, too"
"A bird that bites?" questioned Trix.
oul' om," laughed Annette, clenching her
pretty white teeth. "ike dees. My god
mother give me an adieu ven | leave her.
sae;.1! 9he iofe me so that she weep very much
Maman u,eu She say take zat you may not forget
IA fish-ball" exclaimed Trix.- her inter.
preetng skill quite baffled at last.
Om, said Annette, 'it is her, my fish
ball. Come and see"
And she pushed, open one of the painted
panels behind, and disclosed a double state
room,. full of all sorts of giriish belongings.
travelling wraps, and rugs, and pretty hoods,
such as only French fingers could have fash
"A A green parrot that looked quite equal to
wicker cage from the ceiling, while Annette,
tendeTly uncovering basket near by, dis
played globe of goldfish.
See my fish -bali!' she said. proudlv
irlX knelt down to examine the pretty, gilt
terlng creatures, while Annette fed them With
crumbs or and both were too much interested
w., ~ mo1ice any Signs or sounds without, until
tney were suddenly startled by the thunder
OIL q cannon, almost beneath their feet.
sudden alarm. "p ~
Annette,s tie ry only answer was a shrek of de-
turned the fish globe, and its inmates were
fnutterlng and .gasping about the stateroom
noor, Whle their owner wrrlng her hands and
lamented in French above them
II took some time for Trix to repair the
mischief she had done-to gather up Annette's
slippery treasures and replace them in the
globe which she had to refill from the toilet
stand near by. '-'e ''iie'
1t was fully ten minutes before Trix was
aroused to the fact that something had han.
pened while she was thus engaged
-, mere was throbbing through the steamer,
IKE tne steady pulse of great heart: there
was life, movement around, beneath, above
her. "No'U
She sprang up on the sofa to look through
the little round window of the stateroom, and
recolled with cry of dismay
q wi borfc cbo loI Ia
before was far behind her. A broad belt of
Wlnd-sWept waves was widening every moment
between her and the shore
oh: we're going!-where are we poinp?"
she cried, excitedly.
ing, Let US go up on deck and bid Americs
adieu We are going back to La Belle France
-h9me f to our own France"
ITO France" repeated Trix. as like n wild
thing she sprang from the stateroom into the
gllded passageway and then out upon the
"Oh1 I must go back. ! must go back"
said Trix, desperately 'T cannot 20 to
France" ~ '"
But there was no ear to hear her. Strange
voices were speaking in strange language
around her, as she stood amid the throng that
paced the steamers deck, gathered in groups
art, or leaned upon her railings, casting their
last looks at the rccedng land
Such a feeling of helpless despair came over
Trix. as had never numbed her bold, brave
heart before
For the shore was already at least tbreo
miles distant: the great screws were threshirn
the waves into foaming track that widened
every instant, as, with all flags hutterinq in
the western breeze, the steamer swept proudly
down the bay.
TO BID CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY