Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-28

laughter round the vedette fire with shower of repartee that would have made her fortune on the stage of the Chatelet or Folies Marigny. And ev- cry now and then her glance wandered to the shadow where the horses were tethered.
 BahI Why was she always doing him sefvice? When they were quite gone, she came softly to him. She could not-see him well in the gloom, but she touched his hand.
 "Dieu! How cold you arei He is gone.''
 He could not answer her to thank her, but he crushed in his the little warm, brown palm. She felt quiver shake his limbs.
 .Is he your enemy?" she asked.
 "No."
 "What then?"
 ''The man I love best on earth.''
 "Ahr She had felt a surprise she had not spoken that he should flee thus from any foe. "He thinks you dead, then?'
 "Yes.'
 1"And must always think soF' VI
 "Yes" He held her hand still, and his own wrung it hard, the grasp of comrade to comrade, not of man to woman 'sChild, you are bold,s gener- ous, pitiful; for Gods sake, get me sent out of this camp tonight. am: powerless."
 There was that ih the accent which struck his listener to the heart. He was powerfess, fettered hand and foot as though he were a prisoner; nights absence, and he would be shot as deserter. ''I will try,'' said Cigarette simply, without anything of her au- dacity or of her vanity in the answer. "Go you to the fire! You are cold"
 ''You have ingenuity, compassion, tact; you have power here, too, in your way; for the love of heaven, get me sent out on some duty before dawn! NThere is Biribi's murder to be avenged they give tse errand. to meg' ;S,
 She thought a moment.
 sWe will see,' she said curtly. eI think I can do it. But go back, or you will be missed. I will come to you soon."
 She left him then, drawing her hand quickly out of the clasp of his.
 Cecil mechanically returned to the fire at which the, men of his company were cooking their welcome supper and sat down near them, rejecting with gesture the most savory portion which with their customary love and care for him they were careful to se- lect and bring to him. He sat like a man in a dream, while the loosened tongues of the men ran noisily on a hundred themes as they chaffed each other.
 f.He said once that he would take my hand before all the world always, come what would" he thought. 'Would he take it now, I wonder? Yes; he never believed against me-"
 And as he thought the same anguish of desire that had before smitten him to stand once more guiltless in the presence of men and once more bear untarnished the name of his race and the honor of his fathers shook him now as strong winds shake Q tree that yet is fast rooted at it's base though it sway awhile beneath the storm.
 'sHow weak amp he thought bit terly. What docs it matter? Life is so short, one is a coward indeed to fret over it. cannot undo what did. cannot if I would. To betray him now! God, not for a kingdom if had the chance! Besides, she may live still And even were she dead, to tarnish her name to clear my own would be a scoundrel's baseness - baseness that would fail as it merited. For who could be brought to believe me now?''
 As he sat with his head bent down and his forehead leaning on his arm, while the hard biscuit that served for plate stood unnoticed beside him with the food that the soldiers had placed on it, he did not hear Cigarettes step till she touched him on the arm. Then he looked up. Her eyes were looking on him with tender, earnest pity.
 'Hark, I have done it,' she said gen. tly. ''Bqt 1t will be an errand very close to. death that you must go on"- l Ec raised himself erect eagerly.
 ''No mdtter for that. Ah, mademoi- selle. how can I thank you?,' :
 'sChut!, I am no Paris demoiselle," said Cigarette, with dash of her old acrimony. 1Ceremony in a camp! Poufi You must have been Q court chamberlain once, weren't you? A | great thing have done certainly Got you permission to go and throw a car 1 tel at old King Death; that is all! There! griffes-de-fer is coming to you. That is your summons"
 The orderly so nicknamed approach l ed and brought the bidding of the gGsl- eral in command of the cavalry for Cecil to render himself at once to his presence. These things brook no sec ond's delay in obedience. He went, with a quick adieu to Cigarette, and the little Friend of the Flag was left in his vacant place beside the fire.
 And there was pang at her heart.
 '.Ten to one he goes to his death" :" l she thought. But Cigarette. little mis