Evening star., 1918-01-20

question me, I am not going to make
you my confidant.
But you, monsieur, who do me the
honor to read me, and you, madame
will listen to me without laughing al
me, am sure.
Since I am going to confide in you,
must first make little explanation tol
your benefit. Perhaps you already
know what 1 am going to tell you. You
pens at the front. You are sometimes
better informed than we are at the
front. Excuse, then, my presumption
IL believe that l am telling you some
rades and I-all of us, even those who
used to be the most skepticai-haVe pc
come sentimental in the extreme. yes
despite his hirsute, weather-beaten
mud-stained appearance, the poilu Is
an affectionate being, who has need OF
loving and being loved. The poilu
wishes to have woman In his life,
wife or f1ancee, on whom ne can cen
ter his thoughts. The soldier, whe
knows that at every moment deatn Is
lying in wait for him, azores TO cnerisH
hopes and dreams.
All my comrades who have oeen on
leave have come back married or en-
gagged to be married. For several weeks
become a sort of phenomenon. One day
not being able to stand 1t any longer.
wrote to Nine. Mouriez. She USED TO pe
my mothers best friend. I said to her:
Dear Madame: I am going to have
furlough very soon. 1 shall visit you.
From among the young girls you know
pick out one for me. You can then pre-
sent me and I shall try to please"
Some days passed. Nine. Mouriez wrote
me an answer. My request had flattered
too old to have love affairs of their own
they find pleasure which is still de-
licious in occupying themselves with
the love affairs of others. -
II have the very girl for you. Nine.
Mouriez wrote. "She is Renee Bontois.
You remember her, don't you?"
Mon Dieu! Did I remember her? I
took out my stylograph and replied:
Madame. / beseech you, what have
I done that you should wish to inflict
Mile. Bontois on me. She is not wom-
an. She is a crocodile. She devours
everything. She has already devoured
everything-physics. logic. mechanics.
ballistics. languages. philosophy and
mathematics. Mercy. mercy, madame!
Don't offer me as provender for her re-
doubtable jaws"
Two days later I got my leave. My
captain and my lieutenant left the can
tonment the same day that I did. They
graciously brought me with them, to
the railroad station in the company
coach" The coach" Of the officers
of my company is an ancient family
omnibus. All its glass windows are
smashed; all it's springs are broken:
its shafts are patched together with
bits of twine: its superb steeds are
two broken-down horses. which they
tried to paint green last summer, and
which, after some weeks of a dirty
gray. have now turned as white again
as they were originally.
At the station of Vt my captain
and my lieutenant got into first class
car. I. humble private, had a right
only to a third class passage. But
let no one pity me. I am so glad that
I travelled third, class, AS a compan-
ion l had at first only an old priest
with countenance battered by time.
with gray hair. as light as the plu-
mage of tiny bird. Seated opposite
me. he read his breviary. The train
was an accommodation train, stopping
at every little station. At one of them
the door of my compartment opened.
A young girl cast a quick glance in
side, regarded me. and then noticed the
priest. His presence decided her. She
put the tip of her little shoe on the
running board and, with single move
ment, bounded lightly into our COM
partment.
The train started again. Our new
companion for a while looked out at
the countryside. Then. opening her
bag, she drew out some knitting
needles and began to knit. She was
absorbed in her work; it alone seemed
to exist for her. had a chance. there