Gilpin observer., 1917-10-18
A Messenger


on the aspect Of sheltered spring
time nook, enjoying a mildness
which was as premature as it was
charming.
A soldier who came from the d.
rection Of Montparnasse, had stop
ped and was gazing at big tuft Of
anemones.
"well. soldier, are you looking for
bouquet"
The soldier raised his eyes. 1t was
the proprietress, a young woman with
brown hair and grayish eyes, which
sparkled with candor and confidence.
"a bouquet? No." he answered in
voice composed and almost drawl-
ing. "But. you see, 1 am a gardener
by trade. And love flowers.
"Are you Nine. Bertha Maret" he
added, glancing at the name written
across the glass door.
"Yes, I am. But why do you ask?"
"My name is Antoine Lavaud and
l had last year in my section conf
rade whose name was Maret."
"Ah! Won't you come inside?" said
the young woman, with little start.
He followed her into the shop.
fresh and fragrant, smelling of earth
and flowers. He took off his coat
but remained standing. He was short
in body, thick-set, with round head
set on rounded shoulders, and coun-
tenance extraordinarily pock-marked.
In his little eyes there was an express
sion shrewd, peaceable and winning.
"what was your comrades first
name?" the young woman asked
brusquely.
"Louis, I believe. Yes, that was It:
Louis Maret--a big blonde, very
good-looking fellow. Do you know
him?"
SIS 1t long time since you saw
him last" she said, ignoring his Ques-
ton.
"Oh, it must be several months. You
see, was wounded"
After pause she declared:
81 am not acquainted with the per-
son you mention. If that is what
you wish to know, now you know It,"
She turned away to arrange a mi
mosa. Her fingers trembled as she
touched its fragile leaves. The soldier
went away.
Some days afterwards he returned.
, Very quietly he entered the little
shop.
| Excuse me II I disturb you," he
said to the young woman. "But the
other day, when spoke to you about
this Louis Maret. I believed annoyed
you. didn't mean to do So"
She fxed her gray eyes squarely
on him. He had the air Of an honest.
well-meaning man, and, after all, she
could not suppress her desire for
news.
II was quick the other day." she
said. 'But, you see-Louis Maret-
well, he was my husband. For five
years he made me very unhappy. I
i endured everything, you
understand. When he left me, four
years and half ago, I felt almost
like an old woman. I had suffered
so much. He went away three times
and three times pardoned him. We
had a fine establishment and a busi-
ness which was doing well. He sQuan-
dered all that had and left me on
the street with three children, the
youngest only two months old. Since
then nothing-not a word. The money
that didn't care about-but the 9TH
er things. I believe that 1t amused
him to torment me. He saw to
It that I should know all about his
misconduct. When I was delivered
OF him for good I succeeded In for
getting him. Now. for me, 1t is
finished. That is why told you
the other day that didn't know
him."
Eyes. understand" said Antoine
Lavaud, as placidly as ever. "When
we were together he told me. with
out going into details, that he had
behaved very badly toward his fam
lily. Probably he was sorry. Down
there one refects-one changes, you
see."
"Nonsense," she answered, shrug-
ging her shoulders. "Why would he
have changed7 Yes. When the war
began, believed that he would
come to see me before going to the
front. That he would write me a
line. at least. But no. And when he
came back on leave he looked up the
woman for whom he left me the last
time. I know him. But 1t is all the
same to me now. 1t Is finished.
have my children to raise, and my
| occunaf tim is a hard 0na There arp