Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-27
We BE D OR BREA AK 10

The shutters stood open all day, and log
fire, cracked on the sittingroom hearty
while Miss Alice's vases brimmed over with
golden-rod and chrysanthemums.
Then school had commenced, and Trix and
Tessie found the wider circle of life that 1T
opened to them very new and charming.
Trix took" immensely with her class
mates from the first. Tessie was petted and
loved by her teachers. In short, the ma
chnery that had cracked SO harshly in the
beginning seemed to have been oiled into
working order at last.
Even Aunt Prue opened her blackberry
jam for luncheon and had jelly cake for tea.
But though six weeks had elapsed since
Trix's business" letter had been written.
no answer had yet arrived, and amid her
new pleasures and duties, TriX very often
grew restless and inpatient at its long de-
lay.
81 can't imagine why papa doesn't write"
she said, for the fortieth time, to Miss Alice.
And for the fortieth time Miss Alice had
replied:
Patience, my dear. A soldiers time is not
always his own. lie will answer soon, l am
sure"
81 never saw any one change as Miss Bea-
trix has done lately" said Dorcas to her mis-
tress. Shes got so quiet and manageable
a SPELL
Under rein, rather" corrected Aunt
Prue, with grim nod of satisfaction. "Pve
| broken her in-thats all"
But Dorcas was right.
| 1t was a spell that bound Trix, and Miss
Alice was the good fairy who had cast it
upon her. Long. walks through the autumn
woods, pleasant talks by the fireside in the
evening, tender little rebukes and loving words
of cheer were leading Trix where Aunt Prut
might have tried in vain to drive her.
Trix was not broken in, but love was guild
| ing her unconsciously into ways of wisdom.
Love, however, was not the check with
which Aunt Prue sou,ht to rule
Just as winter hides his frowning face fol
awhile behind autumn skies and autumn
sunshine, so during these quiet and peaceful
| days storm was catherine that was soon tc
burst upon their golden calm.
1t was bright day in October. Trix was
walking home from school, arm in arm with
her favorite classmate, Rita Van Ness.
Tessie had gone to spend the evening with
Lima Groot, so her sister felt free to stop fol-
awhile at Rita's old, tree-shaded home by thu
park, and look at the pretty little pony
that had just bcen ADDED to the Van Nes
stables.
she had just bade Rita goodbye at the BIZ
stone gate, and, with the bunch of fall flower
that Mrs. Van Ness had gathered for her
was turning her steps dutifuly homeward
when her name, coupled with shifting sob
She turned quickly to fird Lie. in a gol
geons city costume of blue lawn and yello,
lace, beside her.
Dress de good Ian Miss Trix, Is cotche
you at last. rs been watchin' an a-waitiI
more'n three weeks, | reckon"
you've caught mel" said Irix, rather ii
dignantly. "You better say I've caught you
why didn't you come to the house? I've sen
half dozen messages to you"
"Nebba got one" declared Lie shakin
her head solemnly. Deed Miss Trix, did
MT; an rs feared to come to de house, co
Miss Prue if she cotch any more OBJ u
Uncle Eph is now"
''She couldn't-she daren't!" said Trix, hot
ly. "How's poor Uncle .Iph. Lize?"
Bad" said Lie, with another gloom.