The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-01-09

lived in the front or MS house. he
had never in all. these years gone to
the rear where he might have looked
out upon the garden. The garden, he
argued. was Betty's. and not Eel his
eyes should pry upon. the paths. the
shade. the flowers or the vines in sum-
mer; on the broad. unlocked reaches
of the snow. the frozen pool Of the
fountain in winter. He would deny
himself even one glance owe the high
wall which he had built. giving to her
the most part Of the ground.
He was thinking along these lines
when the vision of that little boy with
the violin entered in and took quiet pos
session Of his mind: That little boy
seemed to him in his fantasy to be
standing near Betty. All. to be sure!
That was because the little French
lads eyes were blue and his curls
dark. his cheeks bursting in bloom Of
rose. his lips coral. OF course. What
odd fancies u man can have!
But again the next day and the next
Peter Van Zandt searched the street
for the little boy. At last he espied
him. running as fast as his small legs
could tear. but coming to a sudden
halt. cap off. as he beheld Peter Van
Zandt.
quite GREATNESS.
Good morning. sir. You are in a
hurry. You are late"
mo. monsieur. am early. but / am
running way so that Stradivarius
can't follow me-"
Indeed. Stradivarius is a playmate
Of yours. i take it-another little boy?"
mo, monsieur. find no boys here
yet to play with. Grandmamma says
by and by it will be different, but now
my playmate is grandmamma and also
the pussy CATS
SIS Stradivarius a pussy cat?" Peter
inquired. wishing ardently to know, to
commune with this child and feeling
awkward and ill at ease with the per
feet novelty of his situation.
.Yes. monsieur. There is also Ole
Bull and Paganini." y
Every nice. l am sure. May I walk
along with you. sir, to Signor Prati's?'
Eyes, monsieur. If you will. They
have these names because. grandmam.
ma says, their ~singing-at night. you
know. in the garden-is much like the
way my violin cries when l punish it
with my bad playing"
II see" MI. Van Zandt found the
little French boy adorable and enter
tanning both. land your grandmam-
ma is your playmate? For an old lady
that is remarkable, sir"
"Oh. monsieur" The lads round
eyes opened to their widest. Grand
mamma is not old. not at ALL" he
laughed a little. "Oh, but no! You
should see her play with Paganinf!
Figure to yourself. monsieur. She
runs for him with a ball and string.
quite like ! do"
Els it possible?:" Mr.. Van Zandt's
Imagination took shape with the old
lady in the brocade and kerchief trip
ping somewhat stif1y for the edifica-
tion of the pussy cat and the. boy.
"And what is your name. sir, may I
ask"
The child looked at the man askance.
with the unconscious appraisal of
childhood. Then he answered frankly.
''Pierre de la Quereau. monsieur"
'"Pierre." repeated Mr.. Van Zandt
with a smile.
Eyes. monsieur. For the English, it
is Peter. Grandmamma calls me Peter
sometimes. Monsieur my father was
the Marquis de la Quereau, but grand
mamma SAYS there are no marQuises
here"
"And your father:'- Why did Peter
Van Zandt question this stranger lad:
No matter; he did.
The child raised his cap from his
head and stood still. us gone.
sieur. to look for my mamma" His
bonny eyes were gazing up, up into
the clear blue Of the November sky.
Mr.. Van Zandt took OF his hat, and
for a moment the two stood barehead-
ed. silent. in the leaf strewn walk Of
the old parade ground.
You n adame your grandmaln-
ma, then. are al; alone. sir?"
YES, monsieur. except the cats."
Except the cats? Would you like
to call you by your title?-for the
title is yours. sir, in this country as
we'll as In France"
mo. monsieur" He shook. his head
vehemently, and Mr.. Van Zandt's face
expressed the query which his lips did
not frame. The lad felt this. He was.
to be sure. but a young lad. only sew
or SO. but perhaps precocious from
always having lived with grownup
people.
ut fs like this. monsieur. There is
grandpapa." He spoke softly, tenderly.
"Ah. yon have also your grandpapa.
That Is good
The little boy shook his head al Wig
orously as before. but. no. monsieur.
we have not. He was an American
gentleman. both Of him. One of him
Ia also gone away Again the child
up: again both man and boy
rod thoir hoa6o fnr a mnmanf'c 81.