New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-16
SinlOnet


dsrning by the dormitory window. But
why, then. is he not in bed?' Simonne--
tranquil and French--repled: Because
he is i'll and in the infirmary. One does
not desire the others to catch his sore
throat-perhaps a sickness coming. But
he is lonely in the nfirmary, naturally. the
poor little one, so keep him here with
me-" Simonet fondlcd her dress with n
fevered hand, and turned pathetic eyes
to me. without Simonnc l am lonely
he said.
OF ALL the treats provided by the can
~ teen ladies for the children--cinema.
circus, or cakcs-Simonet much preferred
a visit to the Jardin des Plantes. This,
it is true, included frequent refreshment at
the cake stall, near the gate, and the nlline
up of infant refugees with sirop, and fizzy
waters, and pain d'6pice; but that was
only part of the JOY Of the garden. tic
would swagger along in his brief blue
caroie, valiant in his defiance of the Wild
est of wild beasts But once within sight
of a homesck bear or two, prudence would
counsel him to sing rather smaller. He
would sidle against the skirt of Made
moiselle the Blue-N eil-in-Charge, convinced
that he would make an acceptable addition
to any hungry animals meal. "A leopard
is always ravenous," he would suggest
fearfully. "He could so easily eat little
boy. capote and all" Simonet was willing
TO impart various surprising fragments Of
natural history when he visited the gar
dens, even to the private conversation OF
the beasts He was persuaded that If you
cal, a peacock coaxingly by the name Of
Len he will spread out his tail and parade
proud and pleased before you; and he spent
much time kneeling in front of the wire
incIosure trying his utmost to charm the
sulky fowl But he never had any success.
Leon would drag his tail ungraciously
on the ground, uttering harsh refusals TO
be magnificent, and Simonet was fam 70
rub the gravel sorrowfully off his smart
&c knees and demand: But Why won't
they show their tails when | call them
what they like so much"7 His favorite
game was to tie q toy balloon to his but
tonhole and race headlong down the gar
den paths, pursued by the Blue-Veil-in-
Charge. Il am an aviator chased by a
ZeIpelin,r he would shout Naturally !
cannot be caught. Presently, turn and
shoot. Plus dc Zeppelin" His method of
shooting" was to turn suddenly and
snatch at his pursuer's hand, and perhaps
kiss it. Then he would say, with the ire
sistible warm note in his voice: II am
content with mademoiselle."
CONSTERNATION reigned in the can
" teen when an uncle from Brittany
appeared and laid claim to Simonet, whom
he called Charles Frederic. But he was
genuine and good uncle, a sea captain just
back on his ship from the ends OF the
earth, which was sufficient reason wGy he
had not looked for his nephew before.
Now he proposed to take him home, and
adopt him. to be brought UP with hls own
family, at least, until such time as the
child's own father might return from the
wal. Simonet's departure WAS looked upon
as a calamity by all but himself.
Simonne wept for a whole day, and at
the last moment Simonet struggled i'm
patiently from her embrace. at is agree
able to have an uncle he announced. Il
AM glad TO go to Nantes. My uncle calls
me by my own name, Charles Frederic,
When | am bigger ! shall be a sailor like
my uncle And we are going to drive TO
the station in taXi-auto!" "Never agar.
shall love d ckild," wept Simonne. All
arc ungTateful and wiring the heart Never
could | care for another as for this one
who cares nothing for me. Not my own
child could be so dear. Always he must
be first, the ungrateful little one. He for
gets. but | Neutrality-suspicious. SimOrct. "
Smonet quite forgot to say "Goodby' to
his companions, or to the canteen ladies.
He was smiling as they drove off IN the
taxi-auto, and, no doubt, he had slipped a
hand warmly into his uncle's and was as
surfing kim Of his content. VI. g.