Part 14 (2/2)

So he did. And when the grandmother and little cousin arrived, they found that the child was Jeanne!

Jeanne started, and her eyes grew big and round.

Margot put her arm about Jeanne's shoulders. Just then they heard a step.

There was Grandmother Villard standing among a group of young d'Artrots.

Grandmother left the group and came over to the two little girls.

She took Jeanne in her arms. She cried.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SHE TOOK JEANNE IN HER ARMS]

And then she said, ”Jeanne, my little one! My own little grandchild!”

The d'Artrots left, and Jeanne and Margot and Grandmother sat together for a long time. They sat silently.

But suddenly Jeanne exclaimed, ”Oh, poor Auntie Sue! I must go to her. I must go.”

Grandmother held her back.

”No,” she said. ”Auntie Sue is all right, Jeanne. She only wants you to be happy.”

”Ah, but how can poor Auntie Sue sell the dresses now, when I am not there to show them for her?” asked Jeanne.

”She will not have to sell dresses any more,” said Grandmother.

”Grandmother will ask Auntie Sue to live with us always, Jeanne, if--”

”If what, Grandmother?”

”If you want her to,” continued Madame Villard.

”Oh, poor dear Auntie Sue!” cried Jeanne. ”She has been kind and good to me. She could not help doing what she did. I love Auntie Sue, and I want her to live with us always and always!”

”You are a good little girl, Jeanne. Your father would have been proud of you,” said Grandmother softly.

Then Grandmother continued, and her voice was husky, ”You have been as brave a soldier as he, Jeanne.”

Grandmother arose. The two little girls followed her to the white dotted graveyard. They knelt before one of the white slabs. Jeanne saw her own father's name in letters before her. She tried to pray and to keep her eyes on those words, ”Paul Villard.” But the letters ran together.

A little breeze seemed to be whispering over and over to her, ”Jeanne Villard, Jeanne Villard--that is your name.”

Grandmother and Margot at last arose. Margot put her arm lovingly about Jeanne's shoulder.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”LET US GO HOME NOW AND PLAY”]

”Come, Jeanne, little cousin,” she said. ”Let us go home now and play.”

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