The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-12

1 from the deserted baby birds. How cruel to have left them while they're still hungryw exclaimed Ma ] talie.
 Maurice laughed. "The parent birds are teaching them independence. Just walt and see. The little creatures will start hunt ing forage on their own saccount. Cruelty is sometimes Kindness in dis. guise. It's time they learned to look out for themselves"
 Like me-" murmured the girl. soto voce. reflecting that her at- tempts at independence had proved failure. Perhaps she hadn't start ed young enough?
 One of the little birds suddenly made dart. and capture. A de- lighted chirping broke out from his tiny brethren.
 That's their applause" explained young Danby. "Bravo! young feI- low -me-lad. Go to it!"
 They spent, an amused quarter of an hour in watching the little com edy, and then proceeded leisurely up- stream
 Danby maintained a running flow Of talk for Natalies amusement. He told her of his boyhood days in Pennsylvania. Of his favorite pur- suits. Wild gallops over the fields on his stout little pony. Truant days from school when the urge of prinE and sunshine drove him to the old swimmin' hole" Trout ishing i'll the streams and lakes. 3ird-nesting and ree-climbing.
 They were very happy times" said he at last
 Do you think it's true that school a ara Aro .alie rather dubiously.
 'Oh. I don't know. On looking back at them, as some writer johnny says, we see everything in rosy light. We forget the Latin verbs and the toothache and the measles and the snubs and punishments Neverthe- less. enjoyed those dear old days. What about yourself?"
 "Oh, went to young ladies' seminary that was quite jolly place, and not too strict. We had more games than lessons. Hockey three times a week and basketball the other three. Tennis in the sum mertime. Riding on Saturday aft ernoons. It was quite good fun. When, was IT. uncle took me away and sent me for year to Paris. to q finishing school. They worked me frightfully hard there, at languages and music. ] was glad to get back to New York and come out al though social things pail after Q bit" This with an air of worldly wisdom that amused her vis-a-vis.
 At 12:30 o'clock they found quiet spot under an overhanging willow and flowery bank where they had lunch.
 Natalie spread q white cloth on top of the lunches basket. and on it placed the chic.,~n the rolls and but ter and the pate gras sand wfches.
 The bottle of grape juice and the salad tin were propped against each other on the floor of the canoe.
 They commenced with hard-boileo eggs. The. appetites of both were excellent They ate the eggs and sandwiches alternately.
 Then came the chicken and the salad and the rolls. Also the grape juice.
 Nectar and ambrosia.' murmured Maurice. well content.
 The overhanging willow formed q screen to shut the world away from them.
 A fussy motor launch went by, filled with noisy crowd. It was Natalie who looked up and suddenly cried out:
 Look! Look over therel Those people in the launch The man with tho cigar is that odious little Ossy Oberstein, and the woman next him is Mrs. Desmond isn't it?'
 Maurice followed her glance, and added. grimly:
 '.And the man on Mrs. Desmond:s other side s Mir Farrel Galt.'
 Tomorrow--An Accident.