The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02

"Stil, think the switch tender lives some
where near here and he ought to have a
fire. II the lady wouldn't mind walking
step or two. Here, Sabatier!"
A second lantern approached.
Go and see II the switch tender has
fire in his house.,
Fortunately, he did have. The Cen
ern was more delighted than II he had
won a battle or finished the last strip OF
his famous afghan.
| He returned to the compartment. made
! known the result OF his search, and a moment
| later the three travellers, stamping their
! feet to got off the snow that ha I'd accumulated
| beneath their shoes, stood before glowing
fire in tho little house while the switch
tender piled the dry logs upon the flames.
Tho Queen took her scat close to the
grateful warmth, and throwing her rich
| cape over the back OF the little straw
bottomed chair. she pulled Oh her long
gloves and looked about her.
1t was the room Of a peasant. The floor
was rough and uneven, punches Of onions
hung from the backcned rafters, an old
nun was suspended by two nails above the
fireplace and few lowered plates stood
on table against the wall But the young
queen attention. NdS hAcu dIOIl q VI bio
Of wicker work, half hidden by the curtains
Of the big bed. from which came the COO
ing of an awakened baby.
The switch tender hastily left his fire
and turned to the cradle, rocking it gently
$50 to sleep again, little one. go to sleep.
, There's nothing to be afraid Of; these are
some friends of papa's.
His was the voice Of a good father this
man with the hardened skin and the bald
pate of St Peter the bristly mustaches
of an old soldier and the two deep lines
which told OF sorrow.
as that your little daughter?" demanded
the Queen, interested
Yes, madame, it is my little Cecle. She
will be years old next month"
But has she no MOTHER inquired her
Majesty, ho'itating, and as the man shook
| his head, You are a widower!"
| But he shook his head again, Then the
! Queen, mitch touched, rose from her seat
and approached the cradle. The little girl
T, had fallen asleep again. hugging wooden
dog tightly to her breast.
Poor child" she murmured
as it not sad Maclume?" said the switch
! tender, in heavy voice which broke
slightly. "Sho could not have had much
! heart. a mother who would leave her baby
I at that age But, after all, it is my own
| fault that she left me.
/ II did wrong to have married a girl so
much Younger and gayer than but l
| loved her so-and / should not have left
her to go alone to the city. But how could
/ | dream that she would leave her baby?
WAS it not cruel' Well! it means that I
shall have to bring her up all alone, poor
/ little thing. 1t is hard, too. because Of
my work.
! "Often in the evening | have 70 leave
! her crying and hungry when | hear the
| train whistle but during the daytime abe
! is "a good as gold, the little jewel. and l
can take her with ne and she never gives a
cry when tho eng come laundering
| along.
/ Yesterday ] held her with one arm
while l turned the switch with the other
hand, and she only trembled when the OK
press went by. Bat the hardest part
you see, i, 10 make her dresses and bonnets.
! It's a good thing ! got acquainted with
needles and threads while was corporal
in the Houaves."
But that is too difficult for you, my
man." said the Queen. Listen, ! should
! like to help you. There must be village
near by, with some good woman in 1t who
would take charge of your daughter. II it
| is only question Of money
But the switch tender shook his head.
/ NO, no, Madame, although you are very
! kind. am not proud, and would accept
Anything gladly that would help my little
/ Cecle-but I can never let her he separat ed
from me- never! Not even for an hour"
"But why?"
Why" replied the man sorrowfully.
Because will trust no one but myself
! to teach this child to he what Der mother
ne"cr was-a good woman! But, pardon.
| wi you be so good as to rock Cecile for a
moment? They need me on the road"
No one ever knew what the young Queen
of Bohemia was thinking about on that
winter night when, for nearly an hour,
daughter. At last. when the door opened
and the guard came to say that tho rain
was once more ready to start, her Majesty
laid her pocketbook. full of gold pieces.
in one corner of the wicker cradle. and be-
side them the bunch of violets from her
| belt
The General had barely time to match
his woods when they finally arrived in
Paris, for scarcely had they reached there
when the Queen turned around and went
home. After this she rarely went away
again, but spent all her time devoting her
self to her sons education.
The wi,hered governesses and stately
nurses whose large bonnets cast 40 wide a
became more sinecurists And II there are
still kings in Europe when the little vladis-
las grows up, he will he what his father
never can be, good king.
Already, at the age Of s, he is very popu-
lar, and when he travels with his mother on
The good trains of Bohemia and sees, stand
ing BY tho door of the royal compartment,
switch tender with baby on one arm
and flag in the other hand, at sign
from his mother. the young prince always
blows the lit lie girl kiss
Philadelphia Judges Puzziing Signature.
| From, the PH.sburo Gazette.
| dIStinpuiShcd looking man walked into the