The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-12
CHAPTER VII.
Copyright. 1907.
d. Appleton & Co.

In the summer Paul Verney came home
from boarding school He was much
taller and broader than he had been be-
feelings. He hated dirty. idle boys In
same kind. brave. gentle Paul He was
oyerjcyed 10 see Toni again, and the two
lads. OH meeting. Rugged each other, or
rather Toni Rugged Paul: for although
Paul was tender-hearted. he was uadem-
onstratlve and felt the dignity of his
fourteen years and his two terms at
boarding school, Not 50 with Toni. who
had no sense Of personal dignity what
ever.
Al once their old relations were estab-
lished and the two lads spent many hours
together. as they had done in summers
past. cuddled together on the abutnent
OF the bridge, and telling each other long
stories. Paul of his experiences at board
ing school, and Toni, stories of what
Jacques had told him, and what Her
mann had told him. and what the horses
told him. and what he meant TO be when
he was man. He confided to Paul the
charm Of learning TO play the violin. and
shocked Pauis honest soul by the frank
acknowledgment that learning the violin
was a means to avoid going to work.
But this made no difference in Paui's
feelings. He hated dirty. idle boys in
general. but loved the dirty. idle Toni.
and. being by nature correct, methodical
and orderly. he adored the two most un-
conventional creatures ever put into this
world little Lueie Bernard and Toni.
IN due time Lucie also came for her
annual visit, accompanied by the rood
en-faced Harper. the nursery goverhess.
Luele sometimes passed Paul in the
street, and always bowed and smiled at
him in the most captivating way. which
caused Paul's face to turn scarlet. and
| sent his boyish pulses galloping. He con-
/ hded 10 his mothers ear that Lucie had
arrived. and for the fortnight that she
stayed he haunted the park every after
noon. He was now promoted to long
trousers. and felt his dignity very much.
He longed for an opportunity 10 talk
with Lucie, but as the case often is, all
/ the arrangements for private interviews
| he'd 70 be made by the lady. Lucie was
| an ingenious little person, and not easily
/ daunted. and 1t was not many days be-
fore she managed to escape from Har-
! pers eagle eye, and from Nine RaveneI's
gentle supervision. and 10 come upor
Paul, walking soberiy along the path
and secretly wishing for her.
How do you do. Monsieur yerney?
said Lucie, dropping him pretty little
/ courtesy. How tall you arel'
Paul bowed and managed 10 say:
You. too. have grown, mademoiseIle'
Indeed 1 have. answered Lucis
briskly. and next year my hair is tC
be plated
She shook her rich. brown locks thai
hung down TO her waist, and were TIED
/ halfway with bright scarlet ribbon
and Paul thought in his heart II was 9
/ shame 10 hide such beautiful hair In s
plat, such as little Denise DuvaI wore
| and the tailor's children: and he much
preferred Lucie's hair hanging free, with
the scarlet bow bobbing up and down.
And then, the dancing scarlet bow
seemed, in some way, to match her eyes
which had a CLEAN Of fire in them and
which were always dancing and fun Of
life. and her little. sensitive mouth. which
was always smiling
Il hear you have been to boarding
school,. said Lucie.
Yes, mademoiselle," answered Paul
quite timidly. as il he were the young
lady. and Lucie the bold and arden
sutton.
Il suppose you think yourself quite {
man"
"oh, no, mademoiselle. I am only DO.
yet"
II don't SO to SCHOOL, have masters,
said Lucie. and visiting governess wh'
comes 10 the Chateau Bernard to teacl
me geography and history and things
but let me tell you, Paul, Luei'
dropped into confidential tone and cam'
quite close to Paul. and put her rosl
lips TO his ear. II don't like TO learI
anything except English and music. Eng
lish Is no trouble at all because Sophi
always spoke English 10 me. and l low
music, although il is very hard work
but Sophie made me practice on tn
piano until I can play ii quite well. bu
for the other things-I don't care whethe
I know them or not. Ny governess sos
and complains to grandmamma that
won't learn. and then grandmamma send
for me and seoIds me, and then I kis
her and tell her I win do better, and tina
makes grandmamma happy-but I don
care to learn out Of books. Paul-that i
the TRUTH like to read stories, but the
won't let me read stories, not eve
Sophie"
Paul looked at Lueie and sighed heav
lily. Was she another Toni. masquerad
ing in girls clothes? He could not un
derstand. TO save his life. these chiidre
who did not like to study and learn, an
why they would not try to please thei
gtAernesses and parents by trying. no
. could he understand why the two being
destined 20 be nearest 20 HIS soul shoul'
be so different in these respects from hi
ideals Paul could not fathom this, bu
il troubled him very much indeed, an
forthwith he said few words to Luci
something Ike those he had said to Tom
, ''Oh, madem0iselle, one ought to lear
indeed one should--paTticularly II you
grandmother and your sister Sophie wis
you to do 1t. ] don't mind learning i
the least-T am going into the army, an
ii don't study md can't pass the arm,
: examinations, I shall have 10 be a clerl
or something of that sort-my parent
are not rich, you know-so I must lear
all I can"
IRA la Ia" cried Lucie stopping in tn
path and doing a skirt dance, fluffin
her voluminous little skirts up and dow
f as she had seen a young lady do at tn
: circus; you are a hoy, and you have
learn. Who was that black-eyed, dirt
T little boy I saw walking with you on tn
street the other dsyg''
5 THAT was Toni" answered Paul, an
r proceeded to tell who Toni was.
And Is he fond of learning. tooa