Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-09

tamarlsk and orange aHd pomegranate, I and, balancing herself lightly on the sill for q second, stood looking i'll at the chamber.
 .IIo, NJ. le Marquis! The zouaves have drunk all my wine up. Iill my keg with yours for once-the very best burgundy, mind. I'm halfAafraid your cellar will hurt my reputation"
 The chamber was very handsome, I hung and furnished in the best Paris fashion and all glttering with amber and orniolu and yclvets. In it half Il dozen n--officers Of the cavalry 1 were sitting over their noon breakfast and playing at lansquenet at the same table. He whom she addressed. M. le Marquis of Chateauroy, laughed and looked up.
 "Ah, is it thee, my pretty brunette?. ?. Take what thou wantest out of the ice pails''
 "The best growthw asked Cigarette, with the dubious air of caution of connoisseur.
 "Come!" said the marquis, amused with the precautions taken with his cellar, one Of the finest in Algiers. | pretty one. Only pay the toll"
 Where he sat between the window and the table he caught her Ill his arms and drew her pretty face down. Cigarette, with the laugh of saucy child, whisked her cigar out of her mouth and blew Il great cloud of smoke i'll his eyes. She had no particular fancy for him, though she had for his wines. Shouts of mirth from the other !. men completed the marquis dlscom- ffture as she swayed away from him and went over to the other side of the table, emptying some bottles uncer- emoniously into her wine keg-iced, 4 ruby, perfumy claret that she could not have bought anywhere for the bar x racks.
 "Thou art not generally so coy with thy kisses, petite,' cried the marquis.
 Cigarette tossed her head. | T don't like bad clarets after good! Bel-a-faire-peur You are no beauty. after him, MT. Colonel"
 l Chateauroy's face darkened. Hewas colossal limbed man, whose bone was iron and whose muscles were like | oak fihers; he had q dark, keen head like an eagles, the brow narrow, but very high, looking higher because the close cut hair was worn off the tenn ples, thin lips hidden by heavy curling mustaches and Il skin burned black il by long African service. Still he was fairly handsome enough not to have muttered so heavy an oath as he did at the vivandiere's jest. I "Sacre bleui I wish my corporal were shot! One can never hear the last of him."
 E Cigarette darted q quick glance at him. "Oh, ho, jealous.'' thought her quick wits "And why, I wonder?' 1 .'you haven't a finer soldier in your chasseurs; don't wish him shot for the good of the service" said the Viscount I de Chanrellon, who had now Il com lunand of his own in the light cavalry, of Algiers. .If had to choose whether l be backed by Bel-a-faire-peur or I by six other men i'll the skirmish, I'd choose him and risk the odds.'
 Chateam,oy tossed off his Burgundy with ' contemptuous impatience.
 "Diablel That Is the nonsense one always hears about this fellow, as if he was Il second Roland or Il revivified Bayard! sec n3thlng particular i'll him except that he's too fine gentle man for the ranks"
 I .'F'ine? Ah,' laughed Cigarette, "he made mo bow this morning like Il court chamberlain. and his beard is like carded silk, and he has such worn-, I nIl's handsi But he is fire eater too"
 "Rather," laughed Claude de Chan re1lon, as magnificent n soldier himself I as ever crossed swords. II said he l would eat fire the first time saw him. l I wish I had him instead of you, Cha teauroy; like lightning in a charge, and yet the very man for dangerous bit or secret service that wants the soft :. ness Of Il panther. We all let our tongues go too much, but he says so llttlel-just word here, Il word there- when one's wanted-no more. And he's the devils own to fight"
 The marquis heard the praise of his corporal, knitting his heavy brows. It was evident tho private was no favor ite with him.
 'gThe fellow rides well enough" he said, with an affectation of careless ness. "There, for what I see, is the end of his Inarvels. l wish you had him. Claude, with all my soul"
 "0h-he!v cried Chanrellon, wiping tho Rhenish off his tawny mustache. 'ssHe should have been captain by this .Lif | had. Morbleu! He is n splendid l sabreur-kills as many men to his own .I sword as could myself when 1t comes to q hand to hand fight; breaks horses in like magic; rides them like the wind; has hawks eye over open country; obeys like clockwork. What more can you want?''
 E "Obeys! Yes,' said the colonel of chasseurs, with a snarl He'd obey without word if you ordered him to walk up to q cannon's mouth and be blown from it, but he gives you such q I fine gentleman glance as he listens that one, would think he commanded the I regiment"
 But he's very popular with your men toog'
 "The worst quality Il corporal can have. His idea of maintaining discl- l pline is to treat them to cognac and give them tobacco"
 "Parbleu Not q bad way, either,