Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-07-11


TRY it, retorted Antonio,
Again the soldier laughed.
"Nou buster WE'LL" he said. "Come,
old man, you waste your rage ON me; |
am good natures self. Besides, my pur-
pose is an honest one. doubt if YOU are
fit company for this young woman.
When | find that You are will most
humbly beg your pardon. am soldier
"A true son of France. In this maid
see a cuuntrywOman of mine, whom
duty, at least, compoIs me to protect.
DO not look sour. When, in the history
of France did the brave ever desert the
fair? Any way, il it has happened, it is
not going to happen now. ! shall take
this maiden to her homes You shall lead
the way, if you know it. Once there, if
her parents bid you welcome, you may
slap my face with yonr Hat hand and |
will not resent it,
"Let him do it. Father Antonio, said
Ninette. "What he says sounds fair,
"les, it sounds fair but its only II
devils trick. This villain wants to lind
out your home.
"Do not believe him" said Tia, soldier
to Ninette. "lruly | am sincere. 1t
would be against my manhood to leave
you with this old beggar unless | know
he has Il right"
"But he has" she answered. "ilc
lives with Us IN our poor home.
"Ah, girl that excuse hassered many
IA maiden when danger threatened her
lover. | cannot believe that the roof
which honors itself by sheltering you is
also disgraced by this ragged pauper, eN-
cept that the mischief has already beca
done and that you are living alone with
him in shame"
Ragged" she exclaimed, inpatiently;
'why, | am scarcely less SO.
But your beauty idealiHcs yours.
They are made invisible 10y your face,
while this old Vagabond is not 50 favor
| ed"
lie looked at her in rapt wondcrnent,
entirely failing to understand why. in
her innocence, she only saw lnsolence in
| his allusion to- the old mans rags. lie
doubted If she was fuil-witted. 70 the
grossly minded there is no innocence
save in imbeciles and i'll babes
While he was staring at her, half in
pity and half in contempt, old Antonio
was more active. He had crept noiseless-
ly and unnoticed to the soldiers side and
his fingers were reaching ont for the i'm
pudent fellows sword. Suddenly the
old artist chtched the hilt and snatchcd
the coveted weapon from its sheath.
"Now, sir soldier, he cried, ''you shall
dance while fiddle"
"t'ive me back my sword, old man, :"
said the soldier. ''Surey you will not
lake my ipStinU 40 ilISY'
"Oh, no; why should |? Ii was most
excellent josting, and only puts me in hu
NOR for a Jest or two myself. Now, Mn
cite, hurry home, and | will keep this
Jolly soldier here until you are out of
harms way. If he does not stand still
RI ,un him Hfongh and with his own
blade, That's another Jest and one
which can be appreciated even by those
who wear no uniforms.
Il think you are wrong, Father Anto-
Mo. | am sure he meant us no harm,
though it was not respectful of him to
speak rs he did of your rags"
The soldiers eyes moved from the girls
face to the old mans
Tell me, he said, III this woman is "a
fool. Her eyes seem bright enough, hu
she talks as if her wits were dun
$50 far as sinful knowledge is concern
ed she is a child, said Antonio. III you
and your fellow soldiers tarry here long,
though, I've no doubt she will become AS
apt as the other women you know.
A look of compassion came over the
soldiers face.
What Il pity to have her find out the
truth" he said, with sigh.
eyes said Antonio, land that iswhy |
took your sword.
You were right, said the soldier Il
never saw such woman before. TO he
honest, | did mean her harm, she is SO
beautiful But tyou could not make me
injure her now--even with the point Of
that sword at my throat.
"Do YOU mean it, asked the old man,
eagerly.
II swear it on my honor as a soldier.
You have a right to doubt me, though; |
deierve that"
II believe you," said Antonio; Il can
see truth IN your eyes, Here is your
sword.
"Ciive me your hand first.
The two men clasped hands, and then
Antonio slid the sword back iuto the
sheath he had taken it from.
Nnette watched them vaguely, as if
she had grave doubts of their sanity.
Then she picked up Antonio's pencils and
album and put them in his pouch. The
sketch which he had made of her could
not be found though Antonio and the sol
der helped her look for it.
The soldier. amazed and bewilderel,
sat down by the pool in silence. Near
his hand was The wreath which Ninette
had made of the leaves and dead flowers.
He picked it up as tonderly as if it had
been living thing, while reyerent tears
came into hls eyes.
Antonio and the girl moved quietly
away.
France is worth fighting for, after
| all " nuttprpl the soldier Cone suCh