The Green Forest tribune., 1913-05-30
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PONPON'S STOLEN KISS
By ROB M'CHEYNE.

LaTlO were ugnIIy yelled ln the mlSJS of Indian summer. In the air was that langirous warmth that steals into the veins and lulls the brain to dreams and reminiscence. The giant cataract could be heard faintly, a drowsy, dis tant hum of monotony-a sound that seemed to peryade everything and reach the bewildered brain, strangely associated with the heavy odor of grapes, full ripe; the rich clusters hanging everywhere.
 It is only by some such psychologi. cal analysis, whether scientific or not, that an explanation can be found for the startling fact that Fanchette, go- ing home from the days picking, al- lowed Ponpon the jester, the clown, the great laughing roystering Ponpon, to imprint upon her pretty, upturned, scralet lips, kiss, thinking all the while it was Antoine.
 And such a kiss! A group of gay young girls turned at the sound, only to see the demure Fanchette, blushing to be sure, but smiling in serene un- consciousness of the fact that it was Ponpon who had slipped up behind her and tipped her chin back, as Antoine sometimes did, when he was not too serious.
 So, that is the way when Antoine is 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 at him.
 You have excellent taste, Antoine, I swear her little chin is as soft as ze breast of Ie perdrix." He burst into loud guffaw. Here is La Grig- non"-he had given the dark-eyed girl this nickname because she was tall as a maypole, and it had stuck because she was pretty as one-"she will tell you; she saw Fanchette kiss me"
 ''Yes, and think it is outrageous of her"
 Ponpon was not prepared for this, as he had no idea anyone had seen him, and had called La Grignon into it only to tease Antoine. So he quick ly ran off to join another group. But Antoine was silent and his companion udu uO CuduC6 u pOAoOh hAo hA1A0 against her rival.
 FaHchette entered the yine-covered cottage and kissed her mother with the happiest of faces.
 'Ah, lsy little Mignon, I see you have made up your quarrel of last night with Antoine" 7
 Yes. mamma, he slipped up behind I n t11n r,1. ma, it was so good of him. I know I was in the wrong last night and I shall tell him so when he comes to. night"
 But Antoine did not come. The next day Fanchette noticed a differ ence in the way the girls treated her.
 Day after day of the balmy Indian summer passed away and Fanchette. no longer in doubt of the worlds in- justice went about her work with sad little heart What had she done? Poor Fanchettel She knew nothing of the world as yet. She could not under stand.
 One day, late in October, she was sitting on the stone wall, her eyes of across the valley and her thoughts in far-off Gascony, when Ponpon came upon her.
 "Poor Fanchette!" he said banter ingly, ''she is ze last of her illustrious race and it makes her to mourn. Come, let me kiss away that sad look"
 q hate you! I hate you! I hate everybody" she burst forth.
 4+-t fto This is serious. Te1 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 word said:
 You will save Ponpon dance to- night?"
 The girl shook her head.
 "Fanchette! Do not be so ill-tem- pered"
 "I'm-Tm not going" sobbed poor Fanchette.
 Not going? Not going to. the beAs- Ra5s neSs 9 an ba the danoe 69ss FD a Wny and ck'o-lanterns. Not going to the hal. lowe'en party? Fanchette! Fanchette! If 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 she shall go," he said, and with the aid of Fanchettes mother he finally persuaded her to go at the last min. ute.
 Of course her appearance, and with Ponpon, set the busy tongues wag- ging; and her tall rival hit upon merry plan that all the girls applaud ed. They would send poor timid Fan. chette into the great empty barn where where they had fixed up the big swing like a ghost swaying back and forth in the darkness, and when she screamed they would all have good laugh.
 The crowd gathered about the low. CT door, as the girl slowly mounted the ladder. As she removed the band age and saw the grinning pumpkins and the great ghost she could not sup press little gasp.
 'Fanchette," exclaimed voice.
 "Antoine!" She ran toward the ghost and threw herself into Antoine's arms.
 After they had sat swinging bliss fully together for some minutes, Fan chette said, Antoine, I was. in the wrong when we quarreled; I forgive you for saying SO"
 It was easier to forgive than to ask