she set forth briskly for the chateau on this afternoon. She was free
until bedtime, and during this contemplated call on the countess she
was determined to learn what the young Count Marchand looked like.

On the edge of the town she spied an automobile approaching, and soon
recognized Henriette Dupay behind the windshield. Ruth stopped and
waved her hand. For a moment she thought the French girl was
disinclined to stop at all.

However, Ruth did not propose to give Henriette an opportunity to show
any unfriendliness. She liked the girl and she understood that the
whole matter would be smoothed over in time. The reason for Aunt
Abelard's uprooting would become apparent to the French people, and
their momentary feeling against the Americans would change.

Henriette's face was quite flushed, however, when she stopped her car
and returned briefly Ruth's greeting.

"How is Aunt Abelard?" the latter asked. She told Henriette how she
had chanced to be present when the old woman was forced to leave her
homestead.

"Ah, Mademoiselle, she is heart-broken!" declared Henriette, quite
eschewing English now. "Yes, heart-broken! She arrived at our house
with only two pullets. All the others were stolen by the Americans,"
and the girl tossed her head angrily.

"How about the forty francs she was given in lieu of the pullets?" Ruth
asked, laughing. "Did she tell you about that?"

"But yes," returned the French girl, rather taken aback. "But that was
given to her by Major Henri Marchand. He is so good!"

"True. But it is probable that she will make application to the
American officers and will be reimbursed a second time," Ruth said
dryly. "As far as the pullets go, Henriette, I believe they are a
small loss to Aunt Abelard."

"But her house! Her home!" ejaculated the French girl.

"Of what use would that be to her had she remained and there should
come the bombardment that everybody says is coming? The German shells
may tear her cottage to bits."

Henriette shrugged her truly French shoulders. She evidently did not
believe in the threatened bombardment. The guns of the front had been
quiet for two days.

So she nodded to Ruth rather coldly and drove on into town. But Ruth
went away smiling. She was quite convinced that Henriette and her
family would soon find out their mistake, and then they would be on
friendly terms with her again. The Latin nature is easily offended;
but it is usually just.

S