A FOREIGN ADVENTURE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 15

A FOREIGN ADVENTURE

It was a beautiful day on the shores of a little lake in France. In the centre of the shining, still waters was a little island, iyhich in the winter was called "The Forsaken Bride," because it looked so forlorn with brown bare earth, and in the summer "The Fairies' Look-out," for it was so green with grass that the beautifully shaded wild flowers looked like little fairies standing on tiptoe to look into their own mirror, the lake.

As it was the latter season it was no wonder that June Marlowe drew a deep breath of satisfaction as she glanced around her. June was 16, and as her parents were rather poor she could hardly believe her good fortune when a rich friend had chosen her to be a companipn for her daughter on a visit to France. They had arrived a week/ago, and already June and Diana felt as though they must never leave it"., Diana had just gone to order ices, and June was left alone. She was silting on the promenade on a red and white striped deckchair which had a sunshade attached to the top. Many people were walking on the beautiful white promenade, from which could be seen the quiet restful panorama.of the little lake. : Small wonder that so many people sought the quiet seclusion of this liny French town when they tired of the hurry and bustle of Paris and London. - ,

"What shall we do this afternoon? I vote we^hire a little boat and go to the island and bathe on the other side; it will be beautiful." June looked up as she heard these words. Her eyes encountered a tall, slim girl of dark complexion, whose age was nearly 16, and four months less than June's.

June leaned back in her chair daintily sipping the iced drink which Diana had brought back for her. V "Well, I don't know," she said slowly. "I think it.will be hot." She paused. "I 'know," she then said quickly, '"let jjs go into the.town and hunt around the old curiosity shops: I have been, dying to ever since we arrived here."

"Yes, that is a jolly plan," agreed Diana. So it was arranged. June was correct in her surmise that it would be hot in the afternoon, for as.they set out on their exploit the sun streamed down on their big Leghorn straw hats and fuji silk dresses. They had-parted from Mrs. Matthews, Diana's mother, early after lunch, with many cautions from that lady, for the interior of the small town, though very quaint, was not all that could be desired for two girls without escorts. The warning, however, did not affect their blithe spirits, and ihey set out gaily together. By following the main road inland for about five minutes and then turning into various byways they soon found themselves .in the centre of one, of the oldest of little French towns. As they, were strolling along one of the dirtiest and most unkempt streets,-Diana caught June's arm in a grip of exciement. "Look, dear, there's a fortune-telling shop," she whispered eagerly. "Shall we go in?" . -

MADAME DE CHALMONDELEY, /■■■■' ''-■,•:■■ :■; FORTUNETELLER. : :

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE; FEES MODERATE.

June's French was limited, so Diana, who had spent all her schooldays in a college where she had been taught languages, deciphered it for her. When Di had finished June laughed. ' : ; . . "I say, that is absolutely spiffing—-no,- I mustn't say that,", she broke off hurriedly; "but anyway; it will be something of a;change. ;~ Have we enough money?" she asked. They emptied their purses and' whenthey had counted the contents found they had three 10-franc pieces and four 20-franc pieces. Having decided that this should cover all expenses they crossed the road to the little shop doorway.

So absorbed in counting their money had they been that they had quite failed to see. a little old "shrivclled-up man" pass on the other side of the road twice, or to observe the dirty curtain at the gririiy window above the door flick back into place as they crossed the road. ; ' When they entered the shop, it was so dark that at first they could not make out anything, but as their eyes grew accustomed to the semidarkness they found themselves in a little room which was hung with thick tapestry on which was worked all kinds of mystic signs. A towering old lady slowly advanced to meet them, gabbling French "50 to the dozen," as;Di whispered to June. Then as she perceived they did not understand it she stopped, and said slowly, "Ah, yes, it is the Engleesh leetle geerls; they want fortune told?" she inquired.

"Oui," answered Diana.

"Come, leetle geerls, follow me," and she led them into a darker, smaller room which led off the outer chamber.

; "Heavens, I wonder whether we?ll ever get out of here again," said June, trying not to let any fear into her voice. Diana only squeezed her hand in reply. ;■'_;■..'■' ■ '■"'■'... .'.':■ :'.\..'.'.;: ."'. ': : '. ..V S .-'■;.."■ ' "Etos-yous pfetes, mes jeunes filles?" the old woman asked in her native,tongue...'... '. '.; : „.... _ ■ "Je suis prete," answered Diana. ... .. . . The old woman beckoned to her to sit in a low divan-like chair and seated herself on a stool at her feet.

Both girls jumped as a slow hissing sound came from Madame de Chalmondeley's lips, and Diana turning involuntarily to the woman found a pair of beady, sparkling eyes fixed upon her. She gasped with a stifling noise and called "Ju —" then lapsed into unconsciousness. June jumped up and ran to her friend's aide. "Di, Di, what has happened? ' Oh; goodness, where is she?" This to the empty room, for madame had suddenly disappeared, leaving' the half-distracted girl with, her unconscious companion. She lifted Diana's head on to her lap and fanned her pale face. At last, with a little gasp of relief, she saw that the eyelids of her friend were fluttering, and presently she came round. "What—why,where am"I?" she asked, sitting up suddenly. "It's all right, dear," soothed June; "you fainted, you know." Diana caught a shuddering breath. "Ugh. those eyes, they were terrible," she muttered. "But come, we must go quickly," and leaning on June for support she walked to.wards the door. Once they were out of the shop it was the matter of only a quarto of an hour for them to reach home. As they reached the gale they were met by Mrs. Matthews, who was quite alarmed when she heard their story. When they went into the house, Mrs. Matthews said, "My dear girls, there must have been a reason for the Frenchwoman to hypnotise Diana as she did."

Diana and June thought for a while, and Di happened to glance down at her dress. "Why, I see," she exclaimed, "she has stolen that diamond"'brooch of mine, mother, and June, did you bring our purses?" June shook her head hopelessly. "No," she replied. "Never mind, dear; you were lucky to have come out of there safely." June and Diana agreed with her, and took heed of the .warning, for they did not go "curio-hunting" again.

"DAISIES." At eveniita when I 10 to bed, And often while I'm dreaming so. I see the stirs thine overhead; Across the sky the moon will 10: They are the little daisies white It is a lady, sweet and fair. That dot the.meadows or the night. Who comet to father daisies, there.