The Washington herald., 1910-07-21
Copyright. 1907.
D.. Appleton & Co.
CHAPTER xIv-COntinued.

lnefSf Salu IOnl EOSGlSHlys cHuChLiS his
mother under the chin, with the ser
geant just across the way for he will be
retired just as my time Is up. You and
he might elope some fine day. and then
come and fall down on your knees and
humbly beg my pardon"
I certainly shall If I elope." replied
Nine. Marcel. smiling.
The sergeant is hard HIT" continued
Toni. Let me see, you had supper with
them the evening you came-that was
Thursday. Then the next morning the
sergeant sent you in a melon for your
breakfast, and in the afternoon, when
you were sitting in the public square. he
Joined you. ! saw him sitting on the
bench beside you, but he sneaked of as
soon as he saw me coming-that was
Friday. Then Friday evening he put
Denise up to asking you to take a walk,
and you fell in with him. so Denise tells
me, and he walked home with you And
to-day"
Just then. tap came at the door and
the sergeant. with his beautifully waxed
and dyed mustaches appeared. He car
ried in MS hand large nosegay, and
without seeing Toni, bowed low to Nine.
Marcel and said:
Madame, viii you honor me by ac-
cepting this little offering?"
Nine. Marcel advanced, smiling, and
accepted the nosegay shyly. Toni mean
while, had slipped behind a screen which
concealed the stove.
How very charming you are looking
to-day, Madame No one would dream
that you had a son as old as Toni. You
should represent him as your younger
brother" said the sergeant CALAMITY and
quite unaware Of Toni behind the screen.
For all Nine. Marcel declared she never
meant 70 marry again, nevertheless, she
was woman. and the sergeant's CON-
pIiments tiekled her agreeably. so she
smiled coyly at this and declared she
looked a hundred.
Nonsense" cried the sergeant. you
don't look more than twenty-five. And,
by the way, Madame, my sister and my
daughter are making up a party for to-
morrow-I am of duty for the whole
afternoon-and We should be very pleased
II you would join Us in little excursion
by the tramway 10 very pleasant place
about two miles from here, in the c0un-
try. There is an inn with garden. and
We can take our luncheon with us and
order the wine from the inn. We shall
start at o'clock, and we shall hope to
have the pleasure of your charming COM
pany."
That was too much for Toni He sud
denly emerged from behind the screen
and said, grasping the sergeants hand
with effusion:
Thank you. thank you. sergeant. so
much. We viii accept with pleasure. I
think can get OF, too, by applying to
Lieut. Verney"
The sergeant scowied at Toni Here
was a pretty kettle OF fish He had no
notion OF having him with their party,
but there was now no help for it. The
prospect was charming for Toni. The
sergeant. he felt sure, would devote him
self 10 Nine. Marcel. and then Toni and
Denise would be left to themselves
only, what was TO become Of Mile. Duval ?
Toni knew the Golden Lion well, also its
garden. and orchard. and it was full of
little sequestered places where he might
have a quiet word with Denise except
for Mile. Duyal But Toni was a strate-
gist Of no mean order. and If he once
got Denise in the garden Of the Golden
Lion he thought he could see her for d
few minutes alone. So the party was
made up for the next day if the weather
should permit. Toni. too, could get of
after parade, which was at o'clock,
and everything seemed most suspicious,
except concerning Mile. DuvaL
AS Toni walked his beat that night, for
he was doing sentry duty. he began 10
turn over In his mind various plans by
which he could get rid OF his prospective
aunt-in-law. and suddenly a brilliant
idea came to him. He knew Mile Duval
was mortally afraid of snakes; It was
true it was hardly the season for snakes
being the middle of September. but this
would make no difference to Mile Duval
who shuddered even in January at the
thought Of snake. Toni, therefore, laid
his plans, and the next morning he con-
trived to get of for an hour and went &c
Mile. Duyal's lodgings.
Denise was out, and Mile Duval was
reading the weekly religious newspaper
which was her sole literary recreation.
''Nademoiselle." said Toni. in a low
voice. so that his mother on the same
floor. might not hear him, this after
noon. I believe, we are all to go for an
excursion to the Golden Lion and have
tea in the garden. I want to ask you. as
a favor, not to mention to my mother
that the place is full Of snakes of all
sorts. I have been there often, and ]
have never gone In my life that did
not see a snake. and sometimes half s
dozen. in that garden. They are not al
all dangerous. but If my mother saw one
It would alarm her so much. and don't
wish her to know that there are any &c
be seen"
"Aw-aw-aw:" Mile Duvsl shrieked
You may take your mother if you like
Toni. but nothing on earth would induce
me to go"
Toni could have Rugged her on the
spot. but he began to urge her.
Pray, Mademoiselle, don't think OF
/ remaining behind. The snakes are per.
fectly harmless, assure you. Most Of
them are the little green garter snake:
that are as harmless as the garter yoJ
wear around you leg"
This speech caused Mile. Duval tc
/ blush, and she said sternly:
Toni. your language and allusion art
most improper. At ali events. 1 am re
solved not to go to the Golden Lion this
afternoon"
ut will annoy the sergeant very much
/ If you don't 60 and If he knows thai
! it is on account of q few little ,gartel
snakes he will laugh at you for the res
of your life. particularly as it IS nov
! September and they are not very active.