The Washington herald., 1910-07-20
THE SECRET OF TONI
By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL.
uhof Of The Victory The spigly Romance Marsse~ SC

piled the sergeant tartly. He is q good
soldier and seems 10 have reformed COM
pletely. and you must show him some
respect while his mother Is here at least.
Do you understand me. Denise?
Denise understood him perfectly, only
the sergeant did not in the least under
stand Denise.
Il was on an early autumn afternoon
that Toni met his mother in the third
class waiting-room at the station When
he took her In his arms he felt himself a
little boy again. Nine. Marcel was not
much changed, except that her hair. Of
satin bIackness like TOMS when he
had last seen her, was now amply
streaked with gray.
Mamma, mammal cried Toni, kissing
her. while the big tears ran down his
cheeks. your hair is gray and it is !
who have done IL
NO. no. Toni" cried Nine. Marcel.
who was kissing him all over his face.
and, who like most mothers. was unwili-
ing to admit that the prodigal had been
at fault, your mother is growing old.
my son; that is It.
/ She was still handsome, though, and
| very well dressed IN her black bonnet and
silk mantle, and looked quite the lady
Toni felt proud Of her as he escorted her
through the street, carrying her bags and
parcels on his arm; and Nine Marcel
felt proud OF her handsome young soldier
with his trim uniform. for Toni. under
the guidance and recommendation OF his
corporal. had developed into a model Of
soldierly sinartness in dress. Toni
showed his mother Up stairs into the neat
room he had engaged for her, and Nine.
Marcel slowed away the provisions she
had brought for herself and Toni, be-
ing a thoughtful soul. Then Toni sat tn
his mothers lap as he had done when
ne was little boy. and told her every
thing that had happened 10 him. except
| about Nicolas and Pierre. He Wes try
ing to GUST those two villains from his
mind and to shut the door on that ter
rible secret that he shared with them.
He told his mother about Denise and
Mile. Duvak and Nine Marcel, knowing
Denise TO be the most correct of young
girls. with 1000 francs as her fortune,
rejoiced that Toni had fallen in love
with her. for it was clearly impossible
that Denise or any other girl, could
resist her Toni, now that ne was clean
and was doing his duty.
After a while, tap came at the door.
and when Toni opened 1t. there stood
the sergeant, got UP as If he were on
dress parade under the eye OF the general
himself his mustaches beautifully waxed.
not only waxed but flagrantIy dyed a
shining black. He greeted Nine. Marcel
with effusion, and then said:
I came TO request that Nine. Mar
Gel viii have supper with US tonight.
She has not yet made her arrangements,
perhaps. and my sister and my daughter
will be most pleased. 1 am sorry, Toni,
that can not ask you, but you are due
at the barracks"
Il struck Toni that this was a scheme
for getting him out Of the way He
saw something in the sergeant's eve
which indicated very deep interest in
Nine. Marcel, and then recollection came
surging over Toni Of the proposition
which the sergeant had made some few
years before. to marry Nine. Marcel for
the purpose Of thrashing the little boy
who hid trembling under the counter
Toni was too big to thrash now, but the
sergeant always appeared TO him TO be
: about nine feet high. Toni did not ap-
prove Of the match IN the concrete. but
in the abstract, as the sergeant's ad-
vances TO Nine Marcel might result 10
the advantage Of Toni and Denise. Toni
determined TO encourage him. He felt
sure that his mother, like most mothers,
was more In love with him than with
]
/ jilt him for the finest sergeant in tho
French army. So Toni. on his way to
the barracks, turned over things in his
mind, and determined 10 forward the
seTgeant's suit UP to a certain point
Things turned out very much as Toni
had anticipated The sergeant had
reached that time of life when he began
to look forward to his retirement He
had saved up something and. by his s.s-
5 ter's thrift and generosity, Denise was
provided for, but the idea Of Nine Mar
I cells large. warm. cheerful kitchen in
winter. and shady garden In summer
would be extremely attractive to a re-
tired sergeant on half-pay And Nine.
Marcel was extremely comedy. there was
! no doubt about that. and not given 10
! / scolding like Mile. DuVal
AS for Nine Marcel. she saw through
the sergeant in forty-eight hours, and
= what she did not see Toni enlightened
her upon
Mamma" said he. some days after.
+ when the two were in the privacy OF
Nine. Marcers room. Il think Sergt.
, Duval wants to marry You"
For answer. Nine. Marcel blushed up
, to her eyes and replied:
Z For shame. Toni I have no idea Of
. marrying again"
! I didn't say you had" replied the willy
I Toni Il said the sergeant wants to
$ marry you, or rather think he wants
! TO marry the shop. But he doesn't want
to marry mel am too big TO thrash.
But. Mamma" he continued. coming up
TO her and putting his arms around her
' waist. species Of lovemakinE which
2 mothers adore. you mustn't throw the
! sergeant down too hard; at least, not for
the present. because I-T'-here Toni
blushed more than his mother and
: grinned bashfully, because I want 10
/ marry Denise. never told you this be-
q fore"
e mere was TO need 10, Ionis FepileO
his mother, laughing, II have seen It
| ever since you were ten years old. and
: l think Denise wants TO marry you"
o At this TOMS black eyes danced.
II think so, too" he said, with his
own inimitable naivete. For all she is
so bashful she has told me so great
!. many times. with her eyes, that is
. And it would be an excellent match
I for you, Toni replied his mother
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