ADVENTUROUS ANNE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16463, 16 June 1919, Page 8

ADVENTUROUS ANNE

d: lightful story of love AND ADVENTURE.

By E. EVERETT-GREEN, Author of “Defiant Diana,” “Married in Haste,” “A Queen of Hearts,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER VIII. When Anne opened her eyes after a feeling of having slept liice a dead thing for an unconscionable time, it ■was to see that the afternoon sunlight was filtering through the closed blinds, and tliat Mrs. Bellermain was sitting reading in one of the comfortable cuuirs near the window. “Good gracious!—what in the world has happened ?” cried Anno, sitting up suddenly, feeling curiously stiff anu bruised as she did so.

“Oh, my dear child,” spoke Mrs. Bellermain, hurrying to her side, “are you awake at last ? The doctor said you were to have your sleep out. Oh, Anne, dear—to think of that dreadful thing—and how nearly you and Jack ”

Suddenly Anno remembered. “Tell me about Jackl I’m all in a maze. I seem to remember his getting me out somehow, and then a rush through the night in his little car ”

“Yes, yes, yes—you see he saw a light in the sky and ran down and got out his car, and made for the place. And then he heard things; but doesn’t know whether he would ever have clearly understood what had happened or whore you were, only that two of the dogs were there, baying and pulling at his coat, and then ho shouted, and. you answered, and somehow he got you out through a small back window. And as nobody there bad any wits left, and the agent had come up ho ran you back as hard as ho could tear. But you were scarcely conscious when ho got you here, though the doctor said it was only shock and your exertions and that dreadful suffocation. If yon had not been perfectly splendid you in ust have been killed.”

“Only nothing kills me. I am frightfully stiff and sore. 'What about Jack?” she asked suddenly, “Was ho hurt?” “His shoulder was scorched—nothing worse than that. But, oh, my darling child—-tho courage of you 1 Everybody is talking of it 1 You saved those poor children at risk to your own life. One can be thankful now; but really it was not worth that sacrifice.” “I want some breakfast, please,” said Anne, “but I don’t think I’ll got up just yet. And then, dear Mrs. Bcllermain, you and I have got to have a talk.” Mrs. Bcllermain simply loved a talk, and whilst • Anne satisfied tho cravings of her healthy young appetite, her; friend eat beside her, eager to hear what there was to say. “We’ve got to leave Yalchestcr Towers—at least I have—double quick. Shall you mind? Or shall 1 go alone?” “Dear Anno, you take my breath! Whv have we got to leave?” “because if I don’t Jack Raven will fall in love with me—and you know that that cannot possibly be allowed to happen.” Airs. liellermain stared at Anne, hor jaw slightly dropping. Instantly sho grasped the point of Anne's words and felt their truth. Instantly sho realised what a bad turn she would bo doing hor old friends if she were to be the one to introduce into their house a girl who should bo tho cause of ail their cherished plans being overset, and how impossible it would be for Jack on his younger son’s portion to marry a fortuneless girl like Anno Desborough., “That’s what will happen,” said Anne, “and Jack is hot-headed. But ho will marry little Amabel all right if he is let alone and properly managed. So I must go. And we’d better not moot any more. Can you arrange it? Or shall I make my own independent plans for the next little bit and leave you here?" “Oh, no. my dear, I was not staving much longer in any case, and 'I could not think of sparing you. I will say you have had a nerve shock, and we will go off together to Trouville. I am fond of Trouvillc—such a nice, bright place—always something going on there. Leave it to mo. I will arrange it all. I quite see, dear, that it might ho more prudent. And indeed, Anno ; I think very well of you for facing tins danger so squarely, and taking such a sensible view. For many girls would be only too pleased to nave caught handsome Jack Raven ” “Well. I don’t happen to.have any use for him, and ho shan’t spoil his prospects for me. Lot us get away quickly whilst bis shoulder keeps him a prisoner; and probably he will ho quite huffy about it, and forgot all about me in tlie soothing society of pretty Amabel!” Sho hoped to get away without meeting Jack again. Sho had fleeting memories of words spoked ns they had raced together through the night, of a look- in his eyes beneath the brilliant moonshine, of gentle touches from strong, capable hands; and each memory brought a thrill. Sho had faced squarely before the fact that she loved Jack Raven. Now she knew that ho had come very near to loving her—perhaps the Rubicon had never been crossed. But it must not be—it should not be I He would never ruin his chances in life for fieri And so she was going. Sho had actually taken her sent in the -waiting motor. All her adieux (as she had hoped) were spoken, all grateful messages loft for Jack, who had saved her life, and for that alone must not be sacrificed, and Airs. Bcllermain was engrossed in hor endless volley of last words, when suddenly at tlie other side of the car a brown face appeared and Anne turned with a great start to the sound of a voice speaking. “So "you are really off?' Why such speed? I thought ” “For my nerves’ sake,” flashed Anno with her brilliant smile, a catch in her breath, and flush on her cheek, testifying to some grip of emotion. “I am a fragile flower—see breezes must recover mo.” Then suddenly she putout a hand and took bis, “8.8. I want to thank you. If you hadn’t come in tho nick of time. But we won’t think of it.”

“No, wo won’t. And, A.A., it seems to me that you are very little able to take care 'of yourself. , Now suppose ” But what she was to suppose never transpired, for Mrs. Bellermain was stepping into the car, servants wore arranging the dust wrappers, and Anne only just waved a hand as the oar glided from beneath the sheltering porch, and out across the courtyard into the sunshine beyond. But the light in Jack’s eyes seemed to go with her still, and she 'kept saying to herself over and over again, “I did right—l did right! I ought not to see Jack Raven again. Oh,

for over so long! lam not going to forfeit my own liberty, nor to spoil Ins life for him.” A day later and Mis. Bcllonnain was enjoying vastly the life and gaiety of the most lively French resort—the plage of Trouvillc. Anne'cast care behind her, and revelled in the sunshine, the fresh sea breezes, the animation of tho lively scene, the delights of the bathing "in those laughing, limpid waves. She was a splendid swimmer, and her feats hold watchers breathless. She would dive from tho raft, swim opt and out ond out, till Mrs. Bellenuain wos ready to ring her hands in dismay. lint -there wore, always boats hovering about to assist the more daring bathers; and presently Anne would scramble in, sit like a mermaid on her rock for a while, and thou splash softly overboard, and back again to shore. Here on tho glowing Bonds she would shake out the masses of her splendid bronze-gold.hair, and as she sat drying it in the sun, girls would, crowd about her, hogging her to give them lessons in diving and swimming, and sitting round her in a circle, fascinated bv her stories, emulous of her feats of strength and agility, were eager to follow whatever silo would lead, and to make of hor their idol and ideal. Anno loved girls and adored little chjidrcn, who also clustered about her, and simply shrieked and shouted for joy when' she carried them on her back into the sea. and swam out with them to tho raft. Airs. Bcllonnain would sit watching tho pretty play on the shore, Anno with her crowd of satellites, and sometimes she heaved a little sigh as she remarked to herself, “That dear child ought to have a husband a bairns of her own, and 1 think she sometimes fools this. Only just now she is full of tho poy of her splendid youth and new-found freedom, and she does not want to put her head under any yoke. But how adorable sho is with those babies! Dear mo! it is good to be young and strong and all alive!” And later she would sit under tho shadow of her tent, and watch Anne organising a sort of sand gold with the youngsters of both sexes. Boys were quite as much hor slaves as their sisters ; and the way in which she hit the balls amazed the young Fronchics mightily, and secretly astonished the English contingent, though they were careful'' to take, the achievements of their countrywoman very much more ns a matter of course.

In tho evening there was generally dancing in the big saloon, and Anno woudl bo mobbed by big boys all clamouring for a dance. These amused her vastly more than the elder men, or the dandified habitues of the place; and it was good to watch the abandonment of gaiety to -which she gave ■herself up; and every night as she wont to bed she told herself more and more triumphantly, _ “No, Jacjk Raven, my heart is”not seriously aching for yon, though you are an attractive creature, and if tilings were otherwise . But as they are I am not going to wear tho willow, or eat out my heart, or follow-any of

those mediaeval pastimes of the nnemancipated woman. lam going to have a good time, and enjoy it to the top of my bent; and I call Trouvilie quite charming.” “A lottery ticket Mademoiselle, a lottery ticket I” cried a gay voice along the plage one day. “Messienrs et Mesdames, lottery tickets for one franc each! And the chance, of such prizes 1, ■ A fine lottery—Oh, very fine ! Do not lose the. chance—lottery tickets—lottery tickets!” The vendor was doing a roaring trade amongst the laughing crowd upon, the plage. Anne, sitting in the suit and drying her hair, watched and laughed with the rest. “Only one franc, Mademoiselle—only on® franc—and perhaps a fortune to bo won. Ah, Mademoiselle has luck in her eyes! She must certainly buy a ticket!” Anno laughed and shook her head. “Are not lotteries naughty gambling things?" she asked of the little court around her; but they disclaimed eagerly. Oh, it was just a lark and every--body did it ; and when the lucky numbers we.ro drawn—why it was the greatest fun. Ane Mademoiselle had the lucky face —she must certainly take a ticket! So Anne, laughing still, produced a small coin demanded of her, and received a ticket with the number inscribed, “4444.” They all shouted at sight of it, declaring that purely that might be a lucky number.. But Anne tucked the ticket into her little bag,, and an hour later had forgotten the entire incident. It was, therefore, with extraordinary astonishment that a week or two later she found herself swollowed up in a dancing and excited crowd of youngsters, who all shouted at her at once, deafened her at first, and ‘ afterwords struck her dumb by the magnitude of their revelations. “Your number, Miss Anne! Your number! It’s the top one of all — 4444—and you' get ten thousand pounds.” And they all started dancing around her and crying at the top of their voices, “Ten thousand pounds —ten thousand pounds I Our beautiful Anglaiso has won ten thousand pounds!” Anno could scarcely believe it! She hardly know whether she stood on her head or her heels. But the father of one of her most ardent youthful admirers came up to explain in his polished French, that Mademoiselle really was the winner of this sum, and that with her gracious permission he would go with her to claim it, as ho, was accustomed to this kind of thing and knew the ropes. That same evening Anne sat in her room with a cheque book of the Credit Lyon liaise, upon her table in front of her; and creditel to her account there ■was the sum of ten thousand pounds. “What next?” breathed Anne softly to herself. “But what next?” (Continued daily.)