Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-20


of the compartments pile so high that, tt
the astonishcd gazer, it seemed almost fablec
wealth.
There was ten-dollar note on the top
Just such crisp, new note as Aunt Prut
had given her a few days ago.
81 could take 1.-THE temptation flashed
like lightning through Elias mind-'1 could
take it, and there are so many she would
think she had miscounted. She would never
know!"
Almost breathless with the excitement o
the moment, Ella glanced around. No on,
was visible-there was but One to see-and
the weak, tempted girl had never been taught
His knowledge or His fear.
She put out her hand to seize the note
when sudden sound in the hall made her
heart leap. wildly, and snatching the coveted
prize, in desperate haste, she thrust it into
fam glided noiselessly from the room.
An old colored man stood at the bend of
the stairs, holding huge fowerpot, in which
grew a rose in full bloom.
What do you want?" asked Ella, sharply,
ash she nearly stumbled over the stranger
and his flower pot in her guilty haste.
Il axes 70, pardon, miss, was the respect
Il answer. 1T was so dark at this turn hyar
| got sort of lost, but de gempeman at de
doah toll me to keep right long up to Miss
Irix Talbot's ROOM, rs Uncle Eph, from the
manor, miss-one OBJ de family servants dis
little business OBJ my own, an Chloe an me
thought Miss TriX 'ud like to hab dis we're
rose. 1t growed on de ole missus' grabe an
we lowed de chillun would like to hab it
hyar"
This is the room you want" said Ella,
knocking at her cousins door.
There was no sound within She called !;
there wa was no response. Pushing open the
door, Ella saw the room was empty. Aunt
Prne's wing-chpped bird had flown!
1he whole picnic party had been thorough
" astounded by Trix's sudden appearance
When she explained matters though, the big
boys. grinned sympathetilcally at her escapadc.
Jessie looked frightened and the doctor very
grave indeed.
"Oh, Trx," said Tessie, clinging to her sis
Ter as IL the danger of separation still threat
ened them. Suppose You had been carried
OIL ..t1 to 1E France, sure enough?"
Well suppose | had" said Trix, with a
bitter laugh. 'It wouldn't have been SO bad.
guess cue, mo- nobody would have cared very much"
fully, II would, you know! have been griev-
you look like it," said Trix, drily.
And to tell the truth, Tessie with her silver
crown and daisy chain, had rather festive
appearance for mourner.
There was hard glitter in Trix's ewes and
stern lines about her mouth that told of the
strong nervous excitement she had been keep
ing down for the last two hours, for it had
seemed. to her for awhile that there was no
hope OF escaping from the steamer speeding so
swiftly out to sea. But Annettes sister had
explained matters to the captain, who agreed
to set his little stowaway on shore at Pilot
Point.
"It is unfortunate-veryu unfortunate" said
Doctor Groot, shaking his head gravely, while
an the twinkle seemed to have gone out of
his eyes. Come, children, we must 90 home
right now, We must take Beatrix back to
her aunt" "
And, then they all returned to the picnic
ground, where Mrs. Grout heard the story
with many German Zach" of dismay. while
she fed the young runaway on plum cake and
ice cream, and Frederick and Franz harnessed
up the big horses, and all prepared to return
home.
Perhaps the children were tired. nerbans =
was the knowledge that there was a little
culprit among them, returning to receive sen.
tence; perhaps it was only the tender smell
Of the deepening twilight, that made the
going home so quiet and subdued, in com,
morning. ~
The shadows grew darker One by one
the stars trembled out into the deep blue al
The August sky, while far down on the hori
zoT the s.f moon 10 th hung like golden globe
full. There was neither smile nor song on he,
lips tonight. But some gentle influence had
fallen upon her, noiselessly as the dew upon
the flowers. NPo'
She clasped her little sisters waist closely
while her black eyes softened with n mis-,
that in other eyes might have melted inf"
tears. -"''
1t had bedh hard day for Trix, but IL wa,
ending in sweetness and peace, and wbeT
the wagon drew, up at Trevor Square, sh,
was prepared pnpSa t? be as pentent prodigal al
81 will not go in," said Doctor Groot n,
he lifted the sisters out at Aunt Prue's door
"You, will do better without me. Remember