The Washington herald., 1910-07-22


a sergeant who has seen service for
more than thirty years"
The sergeant eyed Nine Marcsl close
ly. Was il possible that this demure
and correct person, In her neat black
bonnet and graceful mantle. was pok-
ing fun at him?-Sergt. Duval, Of the
dragons. But Nine Marcel looked so
innocent that il was impossible to
fathom her; and just then Toni and
Denise appeared on the scene. The In
slant Nine. Marcers maternal eye fell
upon Toni she knew that something had
happened, and that that something was
good. And presently II was time 10 go
home. and they all journeyed back 10
Beaupre. They walked to their lodgings
together through the soft purple twilight
Of September. Toni went with his
mother TO her room. and. taking her in
his arms. poured out his heart to her.
His mother kissed him and shed few
teaEs as mothers will do under those
circumstances And then Toni had ts
run for the barracks as hard as he could.
About o'clock. when Ire was through
with his stable work and was standing
IN the barrack square, he saw Paul
Verney passing by. Toni stood at at
tention with such look on his face that
Paul Verney stopped and spoke to him.
What do you want. mon enfantg'
he said. after that pleasant form Of ad.
dress with which the officers speak to
their soldiers.
ITO see you, sir. in private, for a lit
Ia ia
breath.
Very well, then, come to my quarters
at ESQ"
So at $50 Toni presented himself at
Pauls CHARTERS. 1t never seemed to them
to be at all strange that Paul should be
sitting at his ease. smoking. in the chair
before his writing-desk, while Toni
stood stffay at attention The sympathy
which bound them was too close for
those trifing distinctions TO count, and
between the officer sitting and the SOL
| der standing it was stfll Paul and Toni
in private. Paul was smoking now, and
/ on his desk, under tho green-shaded
/ lamp. lay a pretty little note He was
composing an answer TO il with as much
care and precision as If II were d report
to the minister Of war. The light of the
lamp fell on his blond head and fair
/ lsh complexion.
AS Paul looked at Toni, he could not
/ but think how Toni was improving by
tsing made into soldier he was GER
, tsinly the best looking young fellow in
Paurs troop.
We'll Toni" said Paul. "out with it.
saw you on the train to-day with
Denise
Toni turned red under his tan and sun
burn. His mouth came open IN a de-
lighted grin, showing every one of the
| large, white teeth. He brought his
/, straight, black brows together and said.
in tone OF intimacy which carried the
officer and the soldier back to the days
when they belonged 10 the great democ-
I racy Of boys and huddled together IN the
nook on the old bridge at BienviIe:
I Denise loves me-" He did not think
it necessary 10 say how much he loved
Denise. Paul rose. and. putting both
hands on TOMS shoulders. gave him a
vigorous shake OF affection.
I am deuced glad 10 hear IT," he said.
IF you don't behave yourself 10 that
sweet girl after you are married I prom
ise you the handsomest drubblng you
ever had in your life. What do you
| think the sergeant will say?''
God knows!" said Toni, dolefully
marry my mother. or marry the shop,
that is. You see his term is ep. sir.
next year. But I don't think my mother
wants TO marry him or anybody else
But would 1t be a good thing if the
sergeant thought it would help his
chances with your mother If he agreed &c
let you have Denise2'' asked Paul, who
| was unusually the soul of candor. but
who like all men, was Machiavellian in
love matters.
That it would. sir" answered Toni
VERY WE'LL said Paul, grinning sym
pathetfcally at Toni, Il shall speak to
the sergeant myself about you. Unluck-
lily the sergeant knows US both too we'll
he used to see US when we were boys
together at Bienville. Still you have been
a good soldier, Toni, and I don't think
anything can be said against you
''Except-exeept-" here Tonis eyes
grew wide and bright with fear. ''ex-
cept about Nicolas and Pierre"
IT hope we shall never see or hear any
thing more Of those two rapscaliiOns
again." replied Paul, and, at all events,
il is not worth while to say anything
about that part Of your life. Toni. you
are, in some respects, the greatest cow
ard I ever saw"
'I know" answered Toni frankly. IT
always was, you remember. 1 can't help
1t. But, at least, I am not afraid OF
horses. nor of guns. nor of fighting, II
an oficer will only stand by me and
look at me very hard
Paul sat down AT the desk and fingered
the little note to which he was compos-
ing a reply. He began to reflect how
much better of Toni was than himself.
Toni was not held back from the girl
OF his choice by any consciousness OF in
equality in worldly position, although a
girl of Denfse's beauty. merit, and for
tune might certainly look higher than
Tent But Lucie Bernard-when Paul
thought of her millions OF francs, her
beauty, and then saw himself, a sub
lieutenant Of dragons. the son OF a mid
dle-class advocate at Bienville. his heart
was like lead In his breast.
''roai,' said he presently, do you re-
member how Mile. Lucie Bernard used
TO look in the old days at Blenville?"
Perfectly cried Toni. Don't I re-
member the day that she talked with
you in the park when I showed you
where she was, and when Nine. Ravenel
tainted. didn't ! tell you so you could
bring the water in your cap? Oh, fe-
member Mile. Lucie we'll She was the
prettiest little lady and she is just the
same now. have seen her several times
since have been here and she always
smiles and mods at me so sweetly.'