The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05

lowing out the line.
lie jour de gioire est arrive"
me sergeant and his men were singing
the "Marseillaise
Captain DAILY proceeded at hand pace
and iismounted at the inn door, very much
at his ease, for there could be no possible
misgivirg about the, insobriety OF the
choir.
A tall, scraggy girl came to take his
morse. He did not admire the look OF her,
but business first. pleasure afterward,' he
renected, and, mindful of his was er,
kissed her on the lips
Gent bon, n'est-ce pas?" he ouerIed
laughingly; and taking him for another of
those gallant il bloodthirsty Frenchmen,
| she led Pious William away.
Inside the inn there reigned an uproar
that even impressed Captain DAILY as dis
orderly. All the crockery and furniture
but one table and six chairs were smashed
to atoms and scattered on all sides. The
remaining table stood In the middle OF the
room. surrounded by the chairs and heaped
up with bottles, which were also strewn
| over the floor; barrel with the bung
| drawn was emptying Its last drops into an
incarnadined milkpail In the corner
| At the table sat a fat and furiousiy in
| toxieated sergeant. and beside him loned
and caroled his men, only less drunk than
he.
.'Soldats!" he beloved. "Soldats de la
belle France, chantez
"L'etendard sanglant est leve est leve,'"
and here catching sight of the captain,
who bad come in quietly and seated him
self at the other end of the table, he broKs
on into a yell: ''Vous, vous la bias. vous
ne chantez point. Jinsite que YOU chantez.
Allons!''
Captain DAILY, nothing loath, chimed in
with
"St. Patrick was gentleman,
And came of decent people,"
which lent itself readily as a figure to the
''MarseiIlaise."
As he gave forth his lay he picked up a
bottle with yellow seal from the litter on
the table, and, gently disengaging the cork
screw from the feverish hands of a trooper.
poured libation to Bacchus down his
thirsty throat co.
''Bedad, twas worth the journey" he
observed. as he pitched the empty bottle
into the fireplace. sm
"Chantez chantezi Jinsfte que vous
chantezi" howled the sergeant, his atten-
ton reawakened by the click OF the glass.
oh, less have yer ne'r been to Donnybrook Fair?
An Irishman all in his glory there
With his sprig Of shiilelah-'
troIled Captain Daily.
AUX armes, citoyens! Former vos ba-
taillons," chorused the Frenchman.
Captain Daily helped himself to another
bottle which he tapped more slowly, to
get better the flavor of the wine.
Suddenly one Of the troopers clambered
to his feet
Mon sergent. mes camarades. la
belle Jacinthe!"
"A la belle Jaeinthei" clamored the 9TH
ers. each draining his flask. and then
crashing it down upon the floor
mo heel taps!'' cried Captain Daily, en-
tering more and more into the spirit of the |
thing. and. emptying his bottle he fumbled |
about for third.
'C'est trop forti" screamed the sergeant
"Vous ne chantez pas; i'insiste que vous
chantez."
"a Twas in Trafalgar Bay
We saw the Frenchran lay,''
,hanted the visitor. feeling himself little
tipsy as he cracked his third bottle 81 It's
The pace that kills" he remarked to his
leighbor. but the man was too far gone !
% do anything but repeat, "Abreuve nos
iiHons," again and again. each time more
oudly and less distinctly than before.
His third bottle turned marine. Captain
Daily reflected that he might now rejoin
MS regiment. but the honest fellow did not
ike to leave the inn without expressing
o the landlord his appreciation of his hos
1itality since he could not better requite
lin for it.
"Ou est lie patron?" he demanded
lie patron, c'est moi" answered the fat
sergeant
lou done est lie tavernier?" asked the
.aptain.
LIE tavernier. c'est MOL" replied the
ergeant; and "Chantez. chantez." he
dded.
Seeing that there was nothing to be
earned from him. Captain DAILY rose care
uIly from the table and equally carefully
walked to the door.
''Ou est la patron?'' he called out to the
hin girl; then he thought she was not
lone.
He shut his eyes. and, opening them
gain again, looked as steadily as he could
D make sure. There was no mistake |
bout it. There. in the sunlight, stood |
all graceful gifl, talking to the one who
ad taken his horse. .
Captain Daily advanced undauntedly and !
milling :
'Dona Jacintha?'' he enquired i
''Senori'' the girl turned toward aim. 5
"a mighty pleasant face We have, my a
ear observed Captain DAILY. /
Suddenly he slipped his arms gently G
round her. kissing her on the ears, eyes. (
heeks and lips. I
His manner was SD tender and his ap- a
earance so brave that Dona Jacintha did d
OF resent the familiarity, and a romance b
light well have been built on it that would S
ave lightened the horrors OF the Peninsu- o
II war had not Captain Daily iEconti- q
emily hiccoughed.
Doua Jacintha's finer feelings were d
rocked. She disengaged herself abruptly :
'Tis all your fathers main fine
ine,'' protested the captain, apologetical- :
, but by no means abashed. /;
At the sound Of the English language :
ISIS Jacintha changed color. and sprang
way from him to the door of the tavern
'Au armesi" she called loudly to the ;
ldiers- But as they themselves had been h
lling it much louder for the part OF the h
~. they took little heed of it. u
"Chantez. manuel. chantezYt Captain r
ally heard the sergeant say. 81 n
Withal the captain reflected that he had n
more time TO lose. Picking his way h
rough an alley to the stables, he found a
Gus William immersed in the consump- n
IN of more hay than was good for him. W
ID in a few minutes they were trotting | ..
wn the village street. g
With a sharp pull that would have top h,
ed Pious William over backward had he in
en- less acquainted with his masters aft A,
wine vagaries. Captain Daily drew rein. Ia
tad luck to it, I've forgotten the bot HI
IS" he burst out.
There was nothing for 1t but to retrace
steps. Captain Daily could not afford
lose FIVE guineas for fear of a bullet or
o. n
This time he approached the inn more 81,
cumspectly' wondering Whether bona sh
cintha had yet succeeded in gaining the m