The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-10-27

nary's games of besique. But there's
no denying that this will be following
the rules much more closely. Nc
doubt OF it,
''Captain, you are fickle." There
after, the habitues of the cafe saluted
the captain thus on the occasion of his
visits, which from that day grew few.
er and farther between.
The poor man had not foreseen all
the consequences of his good deed. The
suppression of the matutinal absinthe
had been enough to cover Pierrette's
modest expenses, but, alas, many
other reforms had been necessary to
meet the costs Of his bachelor menage.
The child tried to prove her apprecia-
tion of all his kindness by her zeal in
serving him. Already the appear
ance of his room had changed materi-
ally. The furniture was polished and
put in order, the hearth was decent, the
tiles shone and the spiders no longer
wove curtain before the the "Deaths
of Poniatowski'' which occupied the
corners. When the captain returned
home, the perfume Of cabbage soup
greeted him from the stairs and the
sight of the steaming dishes ON the
coarse white cloth, and the fowefed
china and the shining table service
gave him a fierce appetite. Then
Pierette would profit by the good
humor of her master to confess some
secret ambition. They needed and
irons for the CRATE in which she built
fire every day. or mold for the
cakes with which she had such great
success. And the captain, who had
to smile at the child's demands, and
who felt himself being gently reformed
by the joys of his little home, promis-
ed to think about it, and the next day
replaced his regalias by some penny
cigars, hesitated before an offer of five
points Of ecarte, and denied himself
his his third book or second char
trense.
Yet the fight was certainly long and
cruel. Many day when the time
approached for an accustomed vichy
or soda, which a parched throat almost
demanded, the captain was obliged to
make most heroic effort to withdraw
hand already Grasping the beak of a
beautiful duck at the inn. Many a
time his dreams took him into the
company offs king turned up or a
quatorze or quint. But he always re
turned bravely home, and as he grew
more and more found of Pierette with
each sacrifice, he grew nearer and
nearer to her. And she grew very
dear to him at length. She was no
longer his servant. One day when
she was standing near the table, re-
spectfully calling him Monsieur" he
seized her by both hands and said
fiercely, first of all, kiss me, and then
sit down, and after this call me Thou
"a thousand thunderbolts!'
To-day the work is accomplished.
Meeting child has saved this man
from disgraceful old age. He has
replaced his vices with a young and
tender passion. He adores the little
cripple who hops about in this COM
Portable and well-furnished room to
serve him. Already he has taught
Pierette to read, and now reviying the
penmanship of the sergeant major days,
he has made some copies for her, and
his greatest delight is seeing the
child absorbed in her work of writing
an interminable adverb in ment, and
making an occasional blot, which she
removes with her tongue.
His one cause for regret is that he
will die with nothing to leave to his
adopted child, and now he verges up
on miserliness. He boards his money
and only INDUCES himself with tobacco
in order that Pierette may clean his
pipe and light it for him. He is count
ing upon buying little shop later,
where Pierette may spend the rest of
her days in peace and quiet, carefully
treasuring somewhere in the little back
room an old cross of honor hanging on
the wall as reminder of the old cap
| tain.
Every day they stroll along the for
tiiications. Strangers who pass look
ompassionately at tie old soldier
spared by war, and the crippled child,
and the captain feels himself moved to
tears, when one of them says, as they
pass:
Poor f:,thert The daughter is
pretty though, in spite OF it'-N. +.
! Home Jour, ri.
Judge-What brought yon here!
Prisoner-An automobile, your hon
! or.
"Oh. it did, did it? And | suppose
YOU paid the driver?"
mo, your honor; thought perhaps
you would give me something so l
could pay him."
"I'll give you ten days.
Would you just as lief give it to
the driver, your honor?''
A society woman is one who has
! learned to smile like politician.