Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-21
THE CHILD SPY.

Every ono know Pero Stenne and loved
him too. And how Stepne loved his little
| boyl When the siege Of Paris came, there
| was no school, and tho chil;l was permitted
to play at games with 9th, children.
| One day little Stonna was stopping
down to pick up u piece OF money which
had rolled under his feet u big fellow said
in low tone:
THAT makos you squint, hey? Well, if
you want mo to, will toll you where to
get plenty of then.' .
Tho offer was accepted, and, leading
Stenne aside, he nskc, tho boy to 80 with
him to sell French newspapers to tho
| Prussinns, adding that they could make
80 francs trip. Stcnne Indignantly ro-
fused, and for three days he remained
| away from tho place. Three dreadful
dnysl Ho could neither cat nor sleep At
| night he seemed tn $50 the pile of galochcs
at the foot of his bed, and tho 100 sous
pieces cleaning in the faint light The
temptation proved too strong Tho fourth
day no returned to the gaming place, saw
tho big follow and agreed to 90 with him
Ihey set out ono snowy morning with
sacks on their shoulders and tho papers
hidden undur their jackets When thew
| reached tho Flanders gate, it was scarcely
daylight. The largo boy took little Stcnne's
hand and, approaching the guard, who
had red nose and kindly manner, he
said in whining tone: Please let us
! pass, Kind sir Our mother is sick and
| our father is dead. We are going to SEQ il
| we can find some potatoes in tho field out
| side.'
He even shed tears Stcnno, much
ashamed, hung his head The sentinel
looked at them Il moment, then, glancing
at the dreary, white road, he said, Pass
on quickly, and there they wcro on the
way to Aubersvillcrs How tho big follow
laughed!
Confusndly us in dream little Stcnne
| saw the factories transformed into bar
racks, tho tall chimnoys, piercing the fog,
partially broken off. From time to time
they came upon scntinels. officers who
| were securing the horizon with field
| glasses and little tents wet with snow
standing before dying fires The large boy
know the way and went across the fields
being careful to avoid the military out
posts. notwithstanding his prcca utions.
they suddenly came upon q squad of rifle
| men. The troops were partly hidden in a
ditch which bordcred the Scissors railroad
This time they were not allowed to pass
SO readily, though the large boy told his
story in the most pathetic manner While
| he was weeping an old white haired ser
| geant came out Of one Of the little tents
! and said:
| Don't cry, little fellow. We will let
| you go to hunt for your potatoes But
| come in first and warm yourselves a bit
The little ono looks frozcn'
| Alas, it was not tho cold TINT made lit
tie Stenne shivor SO: it was fear and
shame. Inside tho tent they found soldiers
huddled together around little fire, bak-
Ing biscuits OH tho points of their BAY
onets. They made room for tho children
and gave them drop Of their warm cot
fee. While they wore drinking it an officer
| appeared at tho door, called the sergeant
and after a few words with him in q low
| tone went quickly away.
| boys, said the sergeant on rc-enter-
Ing, there will tie fun tonight We have
found out the Prussinn countersien.
believe Mt last we are TO cup:ure that
| cursed Bourgetr'
| Then followed an explosion of braves
anu shouts. The soldiers tiaEccd and flour
ished their layoncts. Taking advantage
of the tutnuit The boys slipped away On
leaving the trench they saw before them n
plain, Dordcred one sido by II long whito
wall, defaced by bullets. 1t was toward
this that they directed thor footsteps, stop.
ping often, as if picking up potatoes.
Lot us go hack when We get to the
| wall, said Stennc
| The other boy only shrugged his shout
ders and went steadily forward. AL at
once they heard click and saw n gun
pontcdat Thorn.
Crouch down. whispered the large
boy, throwing himself on tho ground.
once down, he whistled. Another Wits
tie answered. They then rose and went
up to the fortiticution Over tho wall thcv
saw two yellow nustaches under dirty
military caps. Tho large boy jumped down
beside the Prussinn
| This is my brother, ho said, pointing
to his companion. Stennc was SO little
| that on seeing him tho Prussian began to
| laugh, and ho was Obliged to take him by
the arm to help him over the rampant.
| Behind thewnll We're oarthworks, fallen
trees and great black bitches In encb
ditch were the Same yellow mustachcs.
| which laughed as the little fellows went
past In one corner was house protected
by trunks of treas. The lower story was
nlled with soldiers playing cards, while
| soup was cooking over "A roaring fire How
! good 1t slnelled, and whit a contrast to
tho camp Of the French ritlcinen! In the
| upper story wore tho officers. They had
champagne to drink and piano to play
on.
When the little Pnrisians entered, they
wero greeted with shouts of joy They de-
liyered their papers to the enemy. Thew
We're given wine to drink, that their
tongues might be loosened. The large
boy amused thom by his odd language and
bis low wit. They laughed buisterously,
repeating his expressions, fairly rolling in
tho Partisan miro that was thus brought
to them
Little Stenne would have liked to talk,
zoo, to show that he WAS not stupid but
something seemed to choke him. In front
him, standing apart from tho others,
was en- old Prussian who seemed to be trv.
Ing to read his thoughts, as the soldier'a
eyes never left his face. There were ten
derness and reproach in tho gaze, as If the |
man had a boy about Stonne's age, and as
If be would have said:
would rather dio than see my son in
such business!''
The poor boy felt MS If a hand clutohed |
ms heart SO that 1t would no longer boat. |
10 escape from his torture, lie drank a
great deal OF vino Soon everything SEEM
so to be going round and round In tho
hn haour n r. TO-