Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-16


 ceiye the lash they merit.'
 How he hates his corporal!'' thought miladi, while she laid aside the white king once more.
 "Nay," interposed Chateauroy, recov- ering his momentary self abandon ment; ''since you like the bagatelles do me honor enough to keep them"
 "Oh, no; offered your soldier his own price for them this morning, and he refused any" Chateauroy swung round.
 "Ah! You dared refuse your bits of ivory when you were honored by an offer for them?''
 Cecil stood silent. His eye met his chiefs steadily. Chateauroy had seen that look when his chasseur had beard ed-him in the solitude of his tent and demanded back the Pearl of the Des- ert.
 The princess glanced at both Then she stopped her elegant head slightly to the marquis.
 Do not blame your corporal unjust ly through me, pray you. He refused any price, but he offered them to me very gracefully as a gift, though, of course, it was not possible that I should accept them so."
 .'The man is the most fnsolent fe1- low in the service" muttered her host as he motioned Cecil back off the ter race. "Get you gone sir, and leave your toys here or I will have them broken up by hammer" The words were low, that they should not offend the ears of the great ladies who were his listeners, but they were coarsely savage in their whisper ed command, and the princess heard them.
 "He has brought his ehasseur here only to humiliate him." thought miladi with the same thought that flashed | through the mind of the little Friend of the Flag where she hid among her rhododendrcns. Now, the dainty aris- tocrat was very proud, but she was not so proud but that justice was stron- ger than pride. '
 "Wait," she said, moving a little to- l ward them, while she let her eyes rest on the carver of the sculptures with a grave compassion. though she address l ed his chief. "You wholly mistake me. laid no blame whatever on your cor l poral. Let him take the chessnen back with him. I would on no account rob him of them. can we'll understand that he does not care to part with such masterpieces of his art, and that he would not appraise them by their worth I in gold only shows that he is a true artist, as doubtless also he is a true soldier
 The words were spoken with gra- cious courtesy, the. clear, cold tone of her habitual manner just marking in them still the difference of caste be- l tween her and the man for whom she interceded, as she would equally have interceded for dog who should have been threatened with the lash because he had displeased her. That very tone struck a sharper blow to Cecil than the | insolence of his commander had power to deal him. His face flushed a little. He lifted his cap to her with a grave reverence and moved away. s'I thank you, madame. Keep them, if you will so far honor me-" The words reached only her ear. In another instant he had passed away down the terrace steps, obedient to his chiefs dismissal.
 "Ah, have no kind scruples in keep 1 ing them, madame,' Chateauroy laugh ed to her as she still held in her hand 1 doubtfully the white sheik of the chess l Arabs. T will see that Bel-a-faire- peur, as they call him, does not suffer by losing these trumperies, which, believe, old Zist-et-Zest,, a veteran of ours and wonderful carver had real l Iy far more to do with producing than he. You must not let your gracious l pity be moved by such fellows as these troopers of mine. They are the most l ingenious rascals in the world and know as we'll how to produce dramat- ic effect in your presence as they do how to drink and to swear when they are out of it.'
 t'Very possibly" she said, with an in dolent indifference. .'But that man was no actor, and never saw gen tleman if he has not been one.'' I Like enough,'' answered the mar quis. T believe many gentlemen come in our ranks who have fled their native countries and broken all laws l from the Decalogue to the Code Napo- leon. So long as they fight we'll we don't ask their past criminalities."
 .Of Whatscountry is your corporal P
 T have not an idea. I imagine his past must have been something very black indeed, for the slightest trace of it has never that know of been allow ed to let slip from him. He encoura ges Ethe men in every insubordination, buys their favor with every sort of stage trick, thinks himself the finest gentle man in the whole brigades of Africa and ought to have been shot long ago if he had had his real deserts.''
 She let her glance dwell on him with a contemplation that was half con- temptuous amusement, half unexpress- ed dissent.
 T wonder he has not been since you have the ruling of his fate," she said, with a slight smile lingering about the proud, rich softness of her lips.
 ''So do I.''
 There was gaunt, grim, stern sig nificance in the three monosyllables that escaped him unconsciously. It made her turn and look at him more closely.
 "How has he offended you?' she asked.
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