The herald., 1894-03-29
gave it a little smile of acknowledgment

ab InOuBn IL were an ola acquaintance.
When the party of ladies and gentle
men was complete, Jacques insisted on
regaling them all with vermuth and
ordered the waiter to give one to his ap-
pie tree, though it seemed to sketch a
gesture Of refusal with its boughs. The
waiter, who did not understand, looked
angry.
AS they entered the carriage to drive
to the railway station Jacques gave his
tree an amiable nudge with his elbow,
making some joke about leaving it be-
hind. Impassively the tree waited ON
the sidewalk till they started, when it
followed the conveyance at quick trot
Leaning over the window, Jacquos
watched it. Once he gave little cry of
terror as heavy vehicle crossed its path,
and he thought it might be run over,
but it escaped
what in the world is the matter with
your" exclaimed his companion in SUI.
prise.
Don't trouble about me. It is only
my apple tree s--~
Your apple tree? Why, what can you
meanr' ...-.p.s.s, rs.
But Jacques did not explain. SH'
At the station the tree did not get lost.
Jacques began to feel himself cruel in
trotting the poor thing so far. He waa
growing attached to it really. He waa
soon treasured, for it galloped beside tha
train like an outrider attending the car.
riage of sovereign.
Only Jacques was so absorbed in
watching it that he neglected his friends.
and one of them-a lady, who liked him
-reproached him gently for his preoccu.
patton.
You are jealous of my apple tree?" he
asked her laughingly.
apple treel Apple treel'' They began
to chant it to the tune of popular song,
improvising words which they thought
appropriate. Jacques really feared they
might hurt its feelings, but it did not
seem to mind.
The chosen spot was reached. The
day sped ON in mirth. Jacques was wild
with merriment, never losing sight of his
attendant tree.
Some one proposed row on the river.
mo. nol' cried Jacques, perhaps he
may not know how to SWIM"
"Whor'
''My ap"-
apple treel Apple treel What is the
joke? Do explain"
jacques Redeemed little. These peo-
pie could not possibly understand. He
looked at his tree as if to consult it. and
1t seemed to him that the tree had no OBJ
lection to the water.
The boats set off, and the apple tree
followed. Jacques kept on the alert,
ready to hold out "a helping hand-he was
SO fond of his treel
In the evening at dinner Jacques i'm
bibed recklessly, and he did not forget
to fling glass of champagne over his
apple tree. He grew very tipsy and
quarrelsome.
II am tired of you allr' he cried to his
friends. "You bore me inexpressiblyl
shall leave you and go off by myself
with my apple treel"
They laughed good naturedly and tried
to keep him. The ladies looked ANNOYED,
but off he went.
1t was night now and very dark. He
went along the steep bank, still accom-
panied by his tree. He felt horribly hu-
inflated and ashamed, for he was stag
gering and stumbling, while the sober
tree slid on erect and firm.
Jacques zigzagged along in deplora-
BILE fashion nearer and nearer to the wa.
ter's edge. Feeling the necessity of sup
port, he sidled up to the apple tree.
"You are my FRIEND" he said. "Let
me lean on you"
He threw his weight against the tree,
but his body encountered tho empty air.
He lost his balance, rolled down the
steep declivity into the river and was
drowned.
The tree, left to itself, returned to the
field from whence it came. me.-Translated
From the French For Romance.