The Washington herald., 1910-07-22
CHAPTER xv-cOntinued.

True" said the sergeaE-. founder
ing a little. but woman should not
stand ALONGSIDE IS not able 10 do IT.
that's the truth. She is being taken adj
vantage of at every turn"
And sometimes" calmly responded
Nine. Marcel the advantage is on her
side. I have managed, during my twenty
years OF widowhood to accumulate
competence. Toni viii not be badly OFF
when I die and when he marries
mean TO make him an allowance equal 10
the income from his wife's dowry."
This seemed sinful waste TO the ser
geant, who thought Toni did not de-.
serve such generosity That superfiuity
of which Nine Marcel spoke he con-
sidered had much better be expended on
a worthy veteran who had served his
country for more than thirty years, and
who would like extremely to end his
days in affiuence. But it was plain that
Nine Marcel had the best OF him in the
| argument that a woman could not take
care OF herself, so the sergeant changed.
his tactics.
But it would be so much more com-
Portable for you. Madame, 70 have pre-
! tector-a husband 1 mean. Toni will
get married and go of. and that will be
the end Of him" The sergeant snapped
his fingers. But a kind and affectionate
husband. a man Of steady habits"
Most men Of bad habits are very
steady IN those habits" replied Nine.
Marcel She was not satirist and her
remarks was the more telling because
OF her sincerity.
You are right. Madame. but mean a
man of good habits. a man who doesn'
spend most of his time at the wine shops,
who has some domestic virtues. / be-
lleve. .Madame, that the noncommss-
stoned officers In the French army are
the finest body Of men in the world for
domestic life. I never knew sergeant.
| or a corporal either for that matter. who
was not a good husband"
Then I couldn't go amiss II I should
| take any one Of them" answered Nine.
Marcel demurely There is a very
nice man, a corporal lately retired. who
has bought out the cigar shop near me
at Bienville. Gossip has linked our
names together. but l had not thought
OF marrying him.
"By no means should you marry him, .
cried the sergeant, realizing that he had
been too general in his concentrations
He is probably after your shop and
after that nice little competence, which
Judge from your words. you have &C
cumulated. No Madame. you could as
pire TO a sergeant-it would be sinful e
throw yourself away on a corporal.
Nine Marcel smiled mysteriously, bu
q good many Of the listeners smiled quite
openly, particularly a party of soldiers
near them. One of them behind Nine
MarceTs back undertook to enact tbs
part Of Nine Marcel while his comrade
mimicking every action Of the sergeant's
managed to convulse all who observed
him as he followed this love scene. The
sergeant folded his arms, twirled his
dyed mustaches, and reflected. He had
not made a single breach in the defense
as yet. He had heard that women were
easily made jealous. so he concluded tc
try it as a ruse de guerre.
For my part" he said. II have con
cluded at the end OF my present term OF
enlistment 10 marry and settle down.
may say 10 you. madame, in strict conf
dence that I have considered the charm:
OF Mile Dumont. the dressmaker. whose
establishment is short way from yours
madame, at BienviIle. She IS a mos
estimable woman. of a suitable age, and
has gwen me some marks OF encour
agement-in fact, I believe II was gen
orally thought among our acquaintance
at the time OF my last visit to Bienville
that I should have proposed 10 Nile. Du
mont before I left. My attentions. ad
NIT, had been somewhat compromising
; had sent her large basket of figs
and one day when / went fishing I alsC
sent her my whole catch, besides having
taken her and her sister on an excursion
into the country and having entertained
them handsomely. 1 thought when I saw
: Mile Dumont for the last time that sh,
seemed a little piqued. and 1 have reason
TO know that she reekons herself rather
iIl-treated by me; but 1t is by no mean:
unlikely that on my return next summed
shall offer my hand TO Mile. Dumont."
. Perhaps you have not heard" re-
marked Nine. Marcel sweetly. ''tha
Mile Dumont was married about twt
months ago 10 Hermann, the Swiss VIC
Iinist. who taught Toni TO play tn
violin.
, This was facer for the sergeant. bu
he carried 1t of better than could be ex
pected.
so she married Hermann. the fiddler?-
D Swiss fiddler! Then she was more cha
grined than I supposed. 1 suspected sh
would do something rash II went ava,
without proposing. Poor, poor creature
t AS for Hermanns teaching your Toni I
play the violin. why madame. Tor
0 could no more play the fiddle than h
5 can command the regiment. Very well
: Nile. Dumont would have been no mattel
for a sergeant I am glad now that
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