The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-21

as though it were an ola acquaintance.
When. the party of ladies and gentle
men was complete, Jacques insisted on
RECALLING them all with vermuth and
ordered the waiter to give one to his an
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 amiablc nudge with his elbow,
making some joke about leaving it be-
hind. Impassively the tree waited OH
the sidewalk till they started, when it
followed the conveyance at quick trot.
Leaning over the window, jacques
watched it. Once he gave little cry of
terror as heavy vehicle crossed it's Dath.
and he thought it might be run over
but it escaped.
What i'll the world is the matter with
your" exclaimed his companion in sur
prise.
Don't trouble about me. 1t is only
my apple tree'-
Your apple tree? Why, what can you
mean?"
But Jacques did not explain.
at the station the tree did not pet lost
jacques began to feel himself cruel in
trotting the poor thing so far. He was
growing attached to it really. He was
soon treasured, for it galloped beside the
tram like an outrider attending the car
rage of sovereign
Ohiy 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 treeY' he
asked her laughingly.
Apple tree! Apple treev They began
to chant it to the tune of u popular song.
lmprovising 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 he
attendant tree. - '''
Some one proposed row on the river.
mo, nor cried Jacques, "Perhaps he
may not know how to swim"
"Whoy"
"My ap"-
Apple tree! Apple tree! 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 if aud
1t seemed to him that the tree had no OH
lection to the water.
me boats set off, and the apple tree
followed jacques kept on the alert
ready to hold outa helping hand-he was
SO fond OF his tree!
In the evening ut dinner Jacoues i'm.
bibcd recklessly, and he did not FORGET
10 iiihG glass of champagne over his
apple tree. He grew very tipsy and
quarrelsome.
u am tired of you ALL" he cried to his
trends You bore me ineXpressiblyl
shall leave You and go off by myself
with my apple treer
ihey laughed good naturally 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-
minated and ashamed, for he was stag
gerlnS and stumbling, while the sober
tree Slid OH erect and firm.
jacques zigZagged along in n tenlora-
Die fashion nearer and nearer to the wa
Ter edge. Feeling the necessity of sup
port, he sided up to the apple tree.
You are my friend" he said. "Let
me lean on you"
lie threw his weight against the tree,
but ms body encountered the empty air.
lie lost his balance, rolled down the
steep declivity into the river and was
drowned.
The tree, left to itself, returned to the
held from whence it came.-Translated
ErOm the Frcnch For Romnncn