The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26
THE LITTLE SPY.
Translated from the French Of Aiphonse Daudet Ter
the Chicago Inter Ocean.

bis name was Stenne-ittle Stenne.
He was child Of Paris, pale and sickly, per
haps ten years old, perhaps ffteen-one can
never tell about those midgets. His mother
was dead; his father, an old soldier Of the ma
rines, took care of an open square in the quarter
OF the Temple. Babes nurses, old ladies, with
camp stools, and poor mothers knew and adored
Father Stenne They all knew that under that
fierce mustache the terror of dogs and loafcrs,
iurked tender, good -hearted, almost rnotherly
smile, and that to call it forth one had only to
ask the good man how was his little boy. He
loved his boy SO dearly.
With the SIEGE Father Stenne's square was
closed and guarded and the poor man, COM
PEELED to keep up constant surveillance. passed
his life among the deserted shrubbery alone,
without smoking, and saw his boy only at night,
late at home. And you should have seen his
mustache when he spoke of tho Prussians.
A siege 1t is so amusing for the boys No
more school Vacation all tbs time, and the
street like fair ground.
The child was out till night, running the
streets. He accompanied the battalions of the
quarter as they went to the rampant, choosing By
preference those which had good music, and, in
that matter. young Steene was Thoroughly at
home. He could tell you very well that the band
or the Ninety sixth was not worth much, but
that in the Fifty fifth they had excellent one
At other times he watched the military drill; and
then there were the parades.
When little Stenne was neither at the rampant
nor at the bake-shops you were sure to find him
at the game of galoche, famous game which
the Breton military had brought into vogue
during the siege Of the Chateau dEau. He was
not playing, of course; it required too much
money. He was content with watching the
players with all his eyes.
One especially a big boy in blue jacket, who
staked nothing less than one hundred sous, ex-
cited his admiration. When that one ran you
conld hear the crown pieces jingle in his pocket
One day, as he picked up coin that had rolled
to the feet of little Stenne. the big boy said to
him in low voice,
THAT makes you squirt. hey9 can tell you,
if you like, where to find them.1
The game ended, his friend led him away into
a corner and asked him to go with him to sell
newspapers to the Prussians at 30 francs trip
AT first Stenne refused, with great Indignation
and allowed three whole days to pass without
coming again to watch the game Three terrible
days. He neither ate nor slept AT nights he
saw heaps of goioshes heaped>a at the foot of his
bed, and hupdred-sous pieces, cleaning brightly,
spinning in the platter The temptation was too
great On the fourth day he returned to the
Chateau dEau, saw the big boy once more and
was beguiled.
They set out one snowy morning with linen
bags their shoulders, and newspapers con-
ceaied under their jackets. When they came to
the "Gate of Flanders" it was hardly daylight
The big boy took Stenne by the hand, and. going
up to the sentnel-a sedentary brave with a red
nose and good-natured look-said to him with the
voice of beggar:
Let us pass out, my good sir-our mother Ia
ILL.,; papa is dead. I want to GO with my little
brother to biek up potatoes In the field
He was crying. Little Stenne, overwhelmed
with shame, hung his head. The sentinel looked
at them moment, then east glance ont over
the deserted aud whitened highway.
PASS at once" he told them. ard turned
away. There they were, then, on the Auber-
villier road. The big boy was the one that
laughed.
Confusedly. as in dream. the little Stsnne
saw mills transformed into barracks, harricades
deserted. hung with wet rags tall ehimneys
eleaving the fog and rising into the sky, empty
and shattered. Occasionally sentinel some
hooded officers looking into the distance with
Eyeglasses, and little tents soaked with melted
snow, with dying fires before them. The big
boy knew the way, and went across the fields to
avoid the sentries Without being able to avoid
II, however they came to an outpost of sharp
shooters. There they were, with their little
cabins, huddled in the bottom of trench full
sons. This time the big boy repeated his
story in vain they would not let them pass.
But while he was waiting from the gate keep
ers hat came an old sergeant. white haired and
Come youngsters! We won't cry" he said.
''You shall go to your potatoes; but come in
first and warm yourselves. That little scamp
looks frozen"
Alas! 1t was not with cold that little Stenne
was trembling, 1t was with fear and shame. In
the guard house they found few soldiers
erouching about a feeble fire, real widows fire,
in the fame of which they were thawing biscuit
on the ends. of their bayonets. They crowded
together to make room for the children. They
<l1nn, 3Dars oxaA q off ;1a
they were drinking an officer came to the door,
called to the sergeant spoke to him in low
tone. and went away quickly.
Boys" said the Sergeant returning with
radiant face, ''Y aura du tabac tonight We
have surprised the cue of the Prussans We will
take it back from them this time, that accused
Bourget!"
There was an explosion of laughter and ap
plause. They danced, they sang, they polished
their saber bayoBets, and taking advantage of
the confusion, the boys disappeared.
Having passed the trench, there lay before
them only the plain and At the foot of a long
white wall pieread with loop holes, 1t was
toward this wall that they advanced, stopping
at every step to make pretense of picking up
potatoes.
4Let us go back. Let us not go there" en-
treated little Stenne again and again.
The other shrugged his shoulders and kept
straight on. Suddenly they heard the click of
s'Lis down. whispered the big boy, throwing
himself on the ground.
Onee down, he whistled. Another whistle
came in answer over the snow They advanced,
crawling. In front of the wall. level with the
earth appeared pair of yellow mustaeAes
under dirty cap: The big boy ieapsd into
trench beside the Prussian
''Esris is nay brother" said he. indicating his
companion.
Stenne was so little that at sight of him the
Prussian began to laugh, and was obliged
to take him in his arms 10 lift him ND to The
breach.
On the other side of the wall there were great
mounds Of earth, fallen trees, black holes il ths
same yellow mustaches which laughed as the
children passed. In one corner was q gardeners
home, easemated with tree trunks. The lower
story was full of soldiers PLAYING cards asd
making soup over great clear fire. II exhaled