The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-28


never had the courage to write to tell
her Wen, he never knew Just
what to tell her. Burette had 80 often
spoken Of his wife in the most at
fectionatc terms. with the picture OF
the battle and of his friends horrible
death ever present in his mind lie had
beer unable Ia describe II TO the
widow. Now she had writtV, for this
same information. She wiot that the
SERGEANT had told her that Gaspard
was the only one who took care OF =
dear husband and she was therefore
very anxious to see him.
Gaspard was deeply moved BY this
letter. lie read it over ten times. ad-
miring the handwriting. and then
passed 1t on to Bibiche and his mother,
saying:
poor little womaa! . She
must he very pretty, judgiAg from
what Surette said . . No doubt
about Il. I'll have to go and see her
. But how will ! over tell her.
once again he could see himself In
the midst Of the terrific gun fire carry
Ing his suffering friend on his back;
he saw Burette dying. he saw him
dead.
well no matter" he concluded.
"I1I have to GO
He also remembered that he was 10
see a Monsieur farinet. professor NJ
the University of Paris. for whom lie
had a letter from Mousse, which he
had been carrying around for three
months.
lie who had escaped with his life
had A s,pretne duty To- fulM Toward
| his two battle comrades. Of whom he
could never think without a feeling
| of intense hatred against the
lie devoted his last day of freedom
! to fulflling this duty.
ON "a beautiful afternoon in June ne
said to his mother. to Bibiche and to
the boy
"Don'tO Stay locked M in here n a
day like this. Come Nong with me
and you can wait for me outside.
The two women cheerfully com
scented. They were proud of walking
! through the streets with their mutt
lated hero. VITO was carrying out ms
Promise bv going to tell their reia-
tiyes how his pals met their death.
When he rang the bell at NJ. Far
| inet's door he was deeply moved. lie
looked at the inscription on the letter
! he carried. professor Of the Faculty
of Letters and wondered what KIND of
man he was about to meet. Tie door
was opened and he found himself face
with n little man. extremely ugly. with
"a long heard. who's neckti was just
as.nuch out ~ place az his glasses.
,;aspard gave him the letter and eN-
plaincd how he came to get II. The
little man read II. while still standing
in the doorway. and then said:
Thanks So he is dead
ives. Ne is dead replied Gaspard
in a sorrowful voice.
But. didn't he tell YOU anything
about intransitv" verbs
"tntran-what"""
Well. don't bother I will
see the publisher
He closed the door before Gaspard
had time 10 reply.
C;aspard went back to his mother
and wife, who were waiting on the
Boulevard du PORT Royal, and said
in utter disgust:
"a tin kind of q fish. How did
Mousse ever get 10 know people like
that What q fool"
The thought of going TO sec Nine.
Rurette. however. made him feel more
cheerful. II lie and his family o
another tramway.
Nine. Burette had moved from the
Avenue du Maine u had gone e
live with an aunt in a little street
back of the Elysee.
The tourney was long and II was
very hot and Gaspard took his fain!l,
into a little bar in the FauhourS Saint
Honore. where there were already Other
soldiers seated at II tables, He or
dered refreshments. spoke for a wfhlC
about the war, and then aid 20 Bihich'
and his mother:
Stay right here. I'll be hack II
fifteen minutes"
lie went out In fine spirits. moving
along quickly on his crutcheS
He reached Nine. Eurette's hom'
a. the End Of the afternoon. at tha
hour Of twilight which makes prett,
women look prettier still. Their eye
seem deeper. their features sweete'
and their charm canno fail to impress
every man. including even a dealer IL
snails.
Nine. Burette was "A tall brunette
and IL is a we'll known fact that bra
nettes always seem III deeper o
ing than other women when they wea
black. Her soft skin n her lon.
eyelashes seemed mad for tears. an
her abundant hair was arranged il
such a way as q give her a sad an,
anguished appearance.
She came into the room and in
trembling voice said.
Monsieur Gaspard how happ,
7 am 10 sec YOU how kind u
YOU to come here"
"Oh Madame it's really tn
: least I can To-
lie found her both young and prett,
!, and the feeling that lie was abou {
, speak to her Of the death OF III
+, pal he loved SO we'll made his hear
beat faster.
. Il see that You too have suffered.
she said quietly.
, 'Oh it doesn't matter wit
, me :"
Wont YOU please take a seat
> . , Take this armchair ar
, you all right there
Her Kindness greatly confused Gas
pard, who could only murmur:
Thank YOU. Madame . than
you I am all right -. :"
She sat right down in front OF hir
\ and said in a trembling voIcc
Y We'll tell me . Just ho'