The Washington herald., 1910-07-25

that gay ne saw Nicolas and Pierre a
dozen times at least. and they always
flashed him hooking glance which he
understood perfectly well and which gave
him a feeling as If a red-hot iron hand
were clutching at his heart. for Toni
was OF an imaginative nature
He did not see Denise that day, and
spent another sleepless and horror-strick-
en- night The next morning 1t occurred
to him, as u means OF escaping Denise's
tender and searching eyes. as well as the
hateful company OF Pierre and Nicolas,
that he might possibly sham illness and
be sent to the hospital He did not
need 10 sham, however-he was in a
high fever and the surgeon swore at him
for not reporting before. so he found a
temporary haven OF refuge IN the hos
pital There he spent several days. The
doctor, who was clever young fellow.
was a good deal puzzled by the case. He
could not make out whether Toni was
malingering or not. He evidently wished
10 be considered ill-at the same time
there were indications about him Of his
being really I'll. II he had not had the
reputation Of being an admirable SOL
der. the doctor would have suspected
Toni had done something wrong. and
was in hiding, as it were, in the hospital.
The sergeant called 10 see him and was
rather rough with him. considering that
nothing was the matter with Toni.
DO you think I would lie here and
tske all these nasty messes II there were
nothing the matter with me?" cried poor
Toni
There was indeed something very Sc
rious tho matter with him. but It was
kind OF suffering which not all the doc
tors instruments and medicines could
reach. Denise. with her aunt, called
twice TO see him, but both times Toni
feigned to be asleep as soon as he dis
tinguished their voices. and II was
against the rules TO disturb him.
A week passed. on the second morning
Of which he found a long. sharp knife
under his pillow. and al the end OF that
time the doctor turned Toni out OF the
hospital. much against the latter's will.
He had then 10 resume his duties, OF
course. and affect cheerfulness as well
as he could. He succeeded rather better
in the last respect than might have been
expected, and Denise only saw in him
the weakness and lassitude which she
thought were due to his recent illness.
On the day fortnight after Paul Yer
ney's wedding. he returned with his
bride-the honeymoon OF a subIeutenant
is inevitably brief The very next day
the practice march was to begin. and
Toni did not see Paul Verney until the
next morning. when the troop was form
ing IN the barracks square.
The rcsiment marched out with colors
flying 70 do a practice march OF two
days duration. Paul was riding at the
head OF his troop. He was a fine horse
man and had a good military air. and
everything about him was splck and
span as becomes an officer.
Toni. who was at the end Of the file
got good look at Paul as he cantered
along by the side Of the troopers and a
look OF affectionate intelligence flashed
between the two young men. Toni saw that
Paul was truly happy-he was, in fact,
always happy when performing his nil
itary duties. because he was a born SOL
der. apt at obedience and ready at com
mand. In the same file with Toni rode
Nicholas and Pierre.
They passed out OF the town on the
dusty highroad. their helmets cleaning
in the sun and the steady tramp OF their
horses hoofs sounding like thunder on the
highroad. and raising great white dust
like pillar OF cloud by day. Crowds OF
people ran out TO see them. and cheered
them IS they passed. The day was
bright and warm, but not hot enough 10
distress either the men or the horses.
They kept on steadily until noon. when
there was an hour Of rest and refresh
ment. Again they took up the line OF
march. a cool breeze was blowing and
It was as pleasant a June day as one
could wish for marching. Toward 3
o'clock. as they were passing the out
skirts OF a wood. Toni put his hand 20
his head and reeled in his saddle. His
horse kept on steadily In the ranks. L
was very well simulated, and Paul rode
up and caught Toni by the arm.
You had better drop out" he said
and rest a while by the roadside and
rejoin when you feel better" Toni
touched his cap and said: Thank YOU.
sir" and slipping out OF his saddle. led
his horse to a grassy place under a tree.
where he sat down and mopped his face.
He looked quite pale and weak. but the
surgeon, when he rode up. gave him a
sharp look. made him drink some wine
and water out Of his canteen, and said:
You Will be all right in ten minutes. ."
and rode on.
Ten minutes passed. and twenty. and
thirty. The regiment was out Of sight.
TOMS troop was a part OF the rear
guard. The dull echo OF thousands Of
hoofs Gtin resounded afar off. but all
else was quiet in that shaded woody
spot, with farm-houses basking IN the
sun, the highroad cleaning Whitley. and
the railway beyond making two streeks
Of steei-blue light in the distance. Toni
with his helmet of. and his horse
browsing quietly near him. sat on the
ground under the shade with the glarinE
midday light around him, and waited for
Paul Verney who he knew would return.
No lieutenant in the regiment looked so
closely after HIS men as he. Presently
Toni heard the galloping OF a horse and
the rattllng of a saber In its scabbard.
and there was Paul riding UP. He swung
himself of HIS horse and came I'D to
Toni and said:
Il came back TO see what was the
matter with you thought you would
have rejoined By this time"
Toni made no reply, but raised his
black eyes to Paurs blue ones and they
were so fup Of misery that Paul invol-
UNFAIRLY put his hand on TOMS shoulder
and asked, What Is it?"
Toni tried TO speak. but the words
would not come. Paul, putting his hand
In his breast. drew ont a small flask ~