The Washington herald., 1910-07-27
CHAPTER xx.-COntinued.

/
thrust upon one 1t made the prospect Of
the riding school seem less attractive to
Toni He rot only began 20 feel that the
! separation from Paul would be harder
than ever, but from Lucie also. and the
little baby Paul. In some unaccountable
way this little morsel of humanity had
stolen It's way into TOMS heart. SO much
so that when the baby preferred TO play
with Jacques in preference TO all the ex-
( pensive toys which were layished on him,
Toni actually tied Jacques around the
! baby's neck and made a solemn gift OF
/ II TO him. 1t seemed almost Incredible
TO Toni that he could give Jacques away,
but it was TO him very like the bestowal
OF a splendid heirloom on a child who is
TO carry on the traditions Of a great
/ family
As for the sergeant, ever since Nine
/ Marcel had sold her piece Of ground he
/ had treated Toni as a SON. When Toni
was made corporal. he could command
his own time much more than when he
had been a private soldier but Denise
| ike most brides, was so taken up with
/
that she had very little time to hestow
on Toni Toni never having questioned
her authority in his life. quietly submit
ted TO this.
last the great day drew near--it was
| OILY a week off-the day OF TOMS mar
riage. Toni expected to be frightened to
death. but Paul warned him that II he
showed the white feather he should have
the Compromised cutting as soon as he
returned from his wedding tour. The
sergeant also suspected TOMS courage
and kept a stern eye on him in the last
day or so before the wedding but Toni
maintained his courage and declared The
only thing he dreaded was the march uT
the aisle OF the church and back again
in which apprehension he did not stand
alone among bridegrooms Although Il
was only the wedding OF a corporal and
the sergeant's daughter. il was to- bt
quite a grand affair, chiefly through the
exertions Of Lucie, who dearly loved e
make a gala out OF everything and par
ticularly out OF Tonrs and Denises mar
riage She had bestowed presents or
them with a lavish hand and Paul, on
Of his small pay and allowance. had
given Toni a handsome gold watch.
The great question Of the honeymoon
and where it was 10 be spent came up
BENZ a corporal. Toni could get a shor
leave-how much he cid not know
The next day Toni laid his case befor,
Paul when he and Lucie were at break
fast in the garden. The boy could nov
toddle about. his dark. bright eyes Xix
his mothers. He was fonder than eve
of Toni and liked to be carried on hi
strong arm. Toni was holding the babl
thus and he was clutching Jacques de
votedly in his little hand Lucie sug
gested a whole week but Paul shook hi
head at the mention Of a weeks Ieav,
for a corporal.
1T would be very unusual" he said
Lucie said nothing at all bat waeT
Paul had gone of. went Up, and, takins
the baby out Of TOMS arms and layin.
her soft cheek against little Paurs vose
leaf face. said to Toni:
i think I can manage it,"
And she did. in a manner preciser
like Lucie. She dressed herself in he
prettlest gown and hat, took her Whit
lace parasol and. getting into a carriage
went in search Of the colonel OF IN
regiment When she found him she pour
ed out the story Of Toni and Denise an,
al about BienviHe, including her child
ish love affair with Paul And then sh
went on and recounted with such inim
liable dronery her efforts 20 wiring al
offer out OF Paul. his horror at he
I 4 - I,4--
the perplexity which a Frenchmai
always experiences in his love af
fairs with an American, that IN
colonel burst out laughing and agree,
70 do anything Lucie should ask. an,
what she asked was one whole week o
leave for TOMS honeymoon. The colone
also promised 10 protect LucIe from
PauTs wrath when he should hear hov
Toni's leave had been obtained. This wa
needed, for Paul scowled and growle'
that women should not NEEDLE with sucl
things TO which Lucie promptly agreed
except when it should be sopse affair il
which. like this. a woman was deepI.
interested
Mile. Duval hankered. very much 10 z
on the honeymoon with Toni and Denise
but having heard thai Paris was a yer.
sinful place, she doubted the wisdom o
trusting herself there even for a visit
Toni cOntrived 20 make her understan,
that Paris was a great deal more sinfu
even than she suspected it 20 be. tina
there were few churches and the mean
OF salvation were limited. and finally con
|, WINGED Nile. Duval that she would risl
her souls salvation by venturing in tha
wicked town