The Dolores star., 1913-08-29
PoNPoN's STOLEN KISS


he vsins and luIls The brain 70 dreams
and reminiscencs. The giant cataract
could BE- heard family, drowsy. die
tant hum q monotony--a souad that
seemed to pervads everything and
reach the bewildered brain. strangely
associated With the heavy odor Of
grapes, full ripe: the rich clusters
hanging everywhere.
II 10 only BY some such psychologi'
cal analysis, whether scientific or not.
that IN explanation can be found TOR
the startling fact that Fanchette. 90
ing home frem the days picking. a.
lowed Ponpon the Jester, the clown.
the great laughing registering Ponpon.
70 imprint upon her pretty. upturned.
scseIst lips. kiss. thinking all the
while It was Antoine.
And such . kiss! A group Of gay
young girls turned 1t the sound. only
to see the demufe Fanchette. blushins
70 be sure. but smiling In serene un.
consciousness Of the fact that Il was
Ponpon who had slipped up behind her
and tipped her chin back. - Antoine
eOmeumee VIZ, Nueu We Wes NV wv
serious.
80. that 10 the way when Antoine
10 not here!" And she turned back
to wait for Antoine.
When he came up Ponpon was hang.
ing over him. casting all manner OF
jibes ct him.
"You have excellent taste. Antoine.
I swear her little chin II - soft %
re breast Of le perdrix." He burst
into loud gufIaw. "Here 10 Ia Orig.
non"-he had given the dark-eyed girl
this nickname because she was tall ~
maypole, and It had stuck because
she was pretty ~ one-"shs will tell
you; she saw Fanchette kiss me-"
"Yes. and ! think II ID outrageous
Of her"
Ponpon was not prepared for this.
10 he had no Idea anyone had seen
him. and had called La 0rignon into
II only to tease Antoine. 80 he quick
ly ran on to Join another group. But
Antoine was silent and his companion
had no chance to poison his mind
against her rival.
Fanchette entered the vine-covered
cottage and kissed her mother with
the happiest Of faces.
"Ah. my little Mignon. I see you
have made up your quarrel Of last
night with Antoine"
"Yes. mamma, he slipped up behind
we - ] was walking home-O. man.
ma, II WAS % good Of him. know
I was In the wrong last night and !
shall tell him % whom he comes to.
night..
But Antoine did not come. The
next day FAnchetts noticsd dl6er.
snce In the way the girls treated her.
Day after day Of the balmy Indian
summer passed away and Fanchstte.
no longer In doubt Of the worlds In
Justice went about her work with sad
little heart. What had she donsi Poor
Fanchette! She knew nothing Of the
world % yet. she could not under.
stand.
One day, late In October. she was
sitting on the stone wall. her eyes on
across the valley and her thoughts In
faroR Gascony. when Ponpon came
upon her.
poor Fanchette!" he said banter.
ingly. ''she h " last Of her iliustrious
race and II makes her to mourn.
Come. let me kiss away that sad look."
Il hate you. hate you! ] hate
she burst forth.
"Fsnchette! Dear little Fsnchstts.
This 10 serious. Tell Ponpon."
Fanchette only shook her head and
winked the tears back. For . long
time the good hearted fellow who had
worked all the mischief regarded her
In silence. then. unwilling to leave
without Q word said:
you will save Ponpon Q dance To-
nighti"
The girl shook her head.
"FAnchette! Do not b % ill-tem.
pered."
T'm--I'm not going" sobbsd poor
FAnchette.
Not goings Not going to the beeg
party that the boss gives ~. Why.
there will be dances. and games. and
jack'o-lanterns. Not going to the hal.
lows'en partyi rnchette! FancLette!
n you do not hold the water In your
mouth you can never get married"
But the girl wouldn't smile and poor
Ponpon went away sad Of heart. "But
phe shall Co." he said. and with the
aid OF Fanchette's mother ~ Auslly
persuaded her 70 90 1t the last min.
nts.
OF course her appearance. and With
Ponpon. set the busy tongues was.
gins: and her tall rival hit upon .
merry plan that al the girls applaud.
ID. They would send poor timid Fsn.
rhstts into the great empty barn
where where they had AGED up the
BIG swing like . ghost swayins back
and forth In the darkness. and whom
shs screamed they would al have .
good laugh.
The crowd gathered about the low.
nr door. - the siri slowly mounted
lhs ladder. A. she removed the band.
nse ana naW tho RrinnlnG DWnpklno