The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-15


verney.
AS the two flashed past. followed by the !
groom. Toni almost cried aloud In HIS
agony OF JOY and pain. but he dared not |
run after them and call to them. They,
OF course, knew that he had run away
from Bienville because he was thief.
That theft OF a franc was perpetually
gnawing at TOMS heart. The sight OF
Paul Verney seemed TO show him the
gulf between them. Toni stood, leaning
on the wall. his head hanging down, his
mind and soul in a tumult. for long
time. until presently the sound Of clock
striking through the open window Of the
keepers house aroused him TO the knowl-
edge that II was almost time for the cir
Gus to begin. He ran nearly ell the way
to Beaupre, for he worked as honestly at
his trade Of a circus rider-only IL did
not seem like work 20 Tomas Paul Yer
ney did at his as a sublieutenant OF cav
airy.
But ali that day. though the perform
ance. during the intermission. and at the
afternoon performance and In the even
ing, when Toni went back to his little
lodging in the village. the vision haunted
him. Lucie and Paul looked so young. so
happy, so fresh, so Innocent They had
not behind them anything terrifying.
Neither one OF them had ever stolen any
thing, unless it was the others heart.
They had no Nicolas and Pierre to make
them stand watch while thefts were being
eommitted-to make them lie In order TO
shield rascally proceedings-always TO be
threatening them with exposure.
Toni was so tormented by these
thoughts that he lay on his hard little
bed in his garnet lodging, wide-awake,
until midnight and then he was reused
from his first light sleep by pebble
thrown at his window. Toni walked.
started up in his bed and shuddered.
That was the sign that Nicholas and
Pierre wanted him. They were his mas
tiers; he knew it. and they knew 1t. He
got up obediently. however. slipped on
his clothes. and went down the narrow
stair nolselessly. Outside were his two
friends.
Come along" said Nicolas.
Where are you going7' weakly asked
Toni
I'VE viii tell you when we get there, )"
replied Pierre, with grin.
There was no moon, and the night was
warm and sultry although It was only
May. Toni followed HIS two friends
along the highroad. Nicolas and Pierre
spoke to each other in low voices and
Toni easily made out that they were en-
gagged on a scheme OF robbery. At this
his soul turned sick with horror. He had
never robbed anybody Of a single cen
time except that one solitary franc
which he had taken from his mother,
but ne knew more about robberies than
most people. The bare thought OF them
always frightened him inexpressibly, but
he continued trudging along without
making any protest.
/ Presently they came 70 the stone wall
around the park OF the Chateau Bernard,
over which they all scrambled and made
straight for the chateau. Everything
was quiet about It. and apparently every
one was asleep, except In one room on
/ the ground floor. There were some 81
/ gantic luxuriant lilac bushes. now in all
/ their Story OF bloom and perfume, and
under these the three crept Never again
could Toni smell tho lilac blooms with
out being overcome by a giekening recOl-
/ lection. The window was open, and
within the small and iuxuriously fur
nished room they could see an old lady,
very splendidly dressed and man OF
middle age. Toni ct once recognized her
from the description which Paul and
Lucie had given him so many years
!
tall, and handsome. and sterner in as
pect than both old Marie. who sat by the
monument at Bienville. and the monu-
ment itself. She was by far the grand
est-looling person Toni had ever seen,
and he did not suspect that she was as
great a coward in her way as he was in
his. Courage is a very variable quantity
and subject 20 mysterious ebbs and tides
Some gold and bank noes were on a
table. before them. and the old lady was
saying, weeping a little as she spoke;
II think you have behaved to me most
cruelty. Count Delorme. Whatever So
phie's faults were. you got ct least. the
benefit OF her entire fortune. which you
squandered in your five years OF mar
riage. Now you come here, when my
little Lucie is at an age to be damaged
by raking up this old story about So
phie, although you promised me. II I
would give you 1000 francs a year. that
you would never show yourself in this
part of the country
II am obliged to show myself. &"
responded Delorme. a thin Tipped.
] hawk-eyed man, who looked the villain
he was. What are 1900 francs a
year? My cigars cost me almost as
much as that. And as for Sophie's for
tune-well, woman like that was dear at
any price. If had not got it. Ravenel
would. and I should not think that you
would be particularly proud Of him as a
grandson-in-law."
Il am not" responded old Nine. Ber-
nard weakly. and then summoning some
thing of dignity. added, ''but venture TO
say that he is a better man than you are,
Count Delorne At least, he has been far
more considerable of the feelings OF
Sophie's family. and has kept himself and
her in the strictest secIusion, nor have
they asked me for a frame. think, also,
that the Ravenels still have many
/ AtShuS' Ni4AS ain hOt aware VI SlnelS
one that you have. Count Delorme.''
In answer TO this. Delorme coolly pick
ed up the notes and money, and. without
counting either. stuffed them in his
pocket. Nine. Bernard made faint pro-
test. There is much more there" she
cried. than 1000 francs I did not mean
TO give you all But Delorme, rising and
taking his hat. walked out of the room.
and let himself out OF the house by a
small side door
Toni knew then what his friends were
up to. The three followed Delorme
| ,h.A,,oh a.. -..Y. NJ s.z-.-fs.. hnrs-s