New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-03-03

bramblcs had fastened them
selves to the blackened trunks of the
trees; the dead leaves lay about in
heaps and the wind scattered them over
the troubled surface of the pond or
heaped them on the iron benches, for
gotten in the depths of the garden
"Alasl' sighed the Marquis dc Lii
gncul, as he drank his coffee. "When
shall we see again the flower beds and
the lawns of other days-your rose
plots and your yoke-elms? This morn
ing thought I was walking in the
park of the Sleeping Beauty"
what would you have?" answered
Nine. Plessis. "Once the outdoor
workers are gone nature rcasserts her
mastery. have nobody any more. The
farm laborers, the gardeners, the
coachman, the chaufeur-all arc at the
front. have left only two old nurses,
and | can't ask them to take up the
spade and the rake"
"And that boy in whom you were so
interested, your godson. the son of one
of your farmers, who in the daytime
dug the flower beds and in the evening,
in the stable, studied history and al
zebra by candlelight? Badn? Bodn 2"
"Baurin' A fine boy, intelligent and
Industrious, of excellent character, far
above the humble position of his par
cnts."
II remember your admiration for him
and that you even went so far as to
hold him up as an example to your
son.
"Frankly, will you tell me il you
know a better example,"
ooh. You understand my ideas. A
peasant is never anything but a peas
ant. The most educated of them has
everything to learn from even the most
frivolous of US"
"A1istocrat!"
Communist"
"Well, my good friend, this little
peasant has been fighting since the be-
ginning of the war, and he has shown
his quality at the front as he did at
nome.
you do not surprise me. One of my
coachmen has the military medal, an
other the Croix de Guerre. I am the
first to applaud when they reward these
brave people as they deserve to be re-
warded. But that is long way from
inviting them to my table or talking
with them on a footing of equality. /
should bore them as much as they
would bore me. Life with people like
ourselves is matter of thousand
shades of thought and feeling; and
such things are not self-taught Tact,
you see-tact. But that represents five
generations"
IL believe you exaggerate. I have
two letters here from that boy which
are perfect. May be you are aston
ishcd that I preserve them. But for
me the smallest message coming from
those who fight is precious relic.
Listen to them and tell me if you have
ever read letters more dieni6ed, more
sober or showing more delicacy OF feel
ing"
The old lady got up, took from
drawer two yellowed envelopes and re-
seated herself before the IRE. N. de
Ligneul installed himself in a chair
facing her and said:
Il shall be glad to listen"
"At the Front, Oct. 6.
Madame: Pardon me, please, for
not having written you sooner. It is
neither laziness nor ingratitude on
my part. | should never be able to
forget the kindness which Madame
has always shown me. But the first
days of the campaign were trying. My
regiment had rough test. We have
had hardly any time for anything but
marching and fighting. Nevertheless,
b. !, Al.
chateau, less to regret the change
from its tranquil life than to ask
with concern how Madame was get
ting along in the big, almost empty
house and to recall with thankful
ness the counsels and encouragement
which she has always lavished on me.
81 ought to tell Madame that after
The Battle Of the Marine I met NJ le
Comte de Chasserang. who is lieu
tenant in the 18th Chausseurs"-
Yes, my cousin Chasscrang!' inter
rupted NJ. de Ligneul.
He would doubtless not have re-
membered me. and | should certainly
not have presumed to recall myself
70 him. Though wounded, he refused
20 let my men carry him to the rear,
and | thought that under the circum-
stances it was right for me to insist,
accepting our aid"
Good, very good" said NJ. de
Ligneul, in an approving tone. Give
ne this young mans address, 80 that I
may send him something"
CAS- for myself, I have been we'll.
have had the good luck not to be
wounded, and my captain has recon-
mended me Tor the military medal
dare not ask Madame to send me
news of herself But I should be
very happy to receive such news, and
I pray her to accept the homage of
my respect and my unalterable devo-
ton. BAURIN, Sergeant"
Isn't that a perfect letter."
at is the letter of a good scrvitor,
respectful, grateful, but Of servitor
none the less. Those awkward turns
that speaking of you in the third per-
son!"
"Let US go on to the second, which is
written in February, 1916-a simple
note"
MADAME: J was touched at the
thought that Madame should have had
&c come to the hospital 10 get news OF
me. My wound was less serious than
they believed it to be at first. They
have saved my leg and ! have been
able to resume my place in my rcgi-
ment. 1t would have been very agree
able TO pass some days of my con
valescence at the chateau. But know
ing that Madame had returned to