Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-23
FAIHi:RLEsS CHILDREN OF
fR nee.

Like its noble owner aud their au:
cestcrs. Chateau dc Boic had retained
It's grandeur. 1t rose ma iestically on
thar beautiful par: OF France which
faced the Loire River. Years ago "a
he Boic had been knightcd by Louis
NJ. ana his descendants still kept
and st.tcly drawing rooms. The town
Of All mad boosted that the King
himself had often visited there. Even
II that were not so. said the towns
people. the chateau was the Statclicst.
lis master the most gallant and its
mistress the most beautiful in the
Crouched in corner OF "a dim closet
with doll almost as big as she was
herself a six-yeaI-old girl raised her
three years older brothers.
What is it. Jean: Wh-where is
, Her childish form trem-
clasped closer. Why are they making
such fuss
Ear already at he keyhole, the boy
An hour ago their mother had hid
den them in ono of the secret closets
but still tho harsh shouting OF the
drunken t;crmans grated on their cars
Exhausted at last. the two children
dropped TO sleep.
When they awoke 'he noise had
stopped. lean de Hoic pushed The
filled his childish eyes with terror
on the floor where German spear had
made her fall. beautiful Madame de
Boie lay dead. In drunken stupor
large German was OH the gilt sofa
which Louis Nj had sat on. Aaother
:r, from his place on the floor.
The legs OF elegant old chairs cracked
IN merry blaze i'll the marble fire
place. Wine had run over the velvet
covered noor and glasses were scat
tered about everywhere: lean covered
BACK IN the corner. afraid 10 believe
The horrible truth. For n few minutes
he stared at The dark door, then the
fss .sl lnI Il Len, III ~
checks. He told Celeste TO follow him
quickly and not 10 say word with
thc big doll claspcd close TO her heart
she tiptocd after him, unable TO un-
dcrstanu.
The morning sun had just pceped out
through the pearl clouds when two
down the country road to Nj 4
German met them on tho road
Give that here" he commanded
Fear stood back in the childish ey,s
and all the strength she had was put
III me me tishtcning arms about the doll.
Win ringing laugh, if a bolster
man grabbed il from her and threw
IT over on the cliff OF the Loire. Again
he laughed and passed on down the
road.
marguerite! On my beautiful
Marquette, lean sobbed little celeste
while The big wistful tears wcllcd over
cottage Of kind old Madame uart
Under heI protection they suffered the
priVaiions OF the fleeing French rcru-
gees With other little orphaned
children Of France. for their fa Their had
given his life for France at the Marine
they were taken into the French War
Orphans Home. 1t was nearly a wear
before Celeste got over The loss or
Marguerite. and that when iltilc
American friend sent over Il doll almos,
as pretty ana nearly as big. Due TO
America. tho French children roi
enough TO cat. but they have To piav
I'm the snow to keen from frcczins
Even after the close of the war thoy
VIII need our care. The debt we ovc
them for their fathers can never he
paid. Ncxt TO Franco they love tho
great land or freedom across tho sea
better than any other.
This war has brought France and
america close together, and il il he
Gods Will may tncy ever stay 40.
POCAHONTAS WRIGHT