The Washington herald., 1910-07-29

ItJvlCluS Ak the utalu OF MS IetlOW-nan,
when that felIow-man had worried and
troubled him as Pierre and Nicolas had
done. He kept on thanking God in his
heart. and even whispering his thanks
as he ran.
He took the short way back 10 his
lodgings. In the same street. only few
/ doors of. was a small church. The
/ lights in most Of the houses were out.
All was quiet-the church and houses, as
well as the people, seemed asleep TOMS
pious instincts rose up and possessed
! him. He must 90 into that church and
/ thank God for himself for Denise, for
| Paul, and for Lucie. He crept up the
steps and quietly tried the door. but II
was locked. Toni had a jackknife in his
/ pocket. and the lock on the church door
not being worth much. he deliberately
piled II open. and stepped softly into the
church II was dark and damp. and the
! fagstones were very cold. but far OF
before the little altar the sanctuary lamp
glowed brightly A sudden remembrance
\ overcame Toni Of Nine Ravenel not dar-
/ Ing 70 sc far IN the church, and he hon ,
estly reckoned himself a much worse
person than Nine. Ravenel, so he fell down
on the cold stones OF the aisle, just with
/ In the door, not on his knees but on his
! face. and thanked God and all the saints
/ that Pierre and Nicolas were dead He
I recalled with an agony of remOrse that
when he was boy he used to run away
on Sundays instead OF going to church.
and felt himself the chief Of sinners be-
cause he had not listened with the strict
est attention and the deepest satisfaction
/ 70 long-winded sermons. He began 10
sob and pray aloud in his ecstacy OF
gratitude, and promised more things to
the Most High than the greatest saint
that ever lived could have performed.
he repeated every prayer he knew, but
I as his repertory was not extensive. he
had 10 say them over again many times.
The stones were hard and cold as most
stones are, but Toni thought them a
bed Of roses. He did not know how long
he had lain there but presently sheer
fatigue brought him 20 his senses. Il
occurred 70 him that Denise might be
anxious about him. but he was in that
exaltation Of piety which made him
rather exult in being uncomfortable him.
self and making Denise uncomfortable.
too-a rot uncommon condition IN ma
lures like TOMS. He had been there
more than an hour when he heard
light step behind him and turned. There
was Denise with her hat and jacket on.
She tiptoed up to him and whispered in
his ear:
y went out in the street 70 look fer
you, Toni. and cav the church door
open and you lying here. What are you
doing?"
Thanking God"' responded Toni out
/ loud. Down on your knees. Denise"
Denise, very much astounded at this
newly developed piety Of Toni's did as
! she was bid. having been riously brought
] up At the end OF a few minutes she
rose. but Toni was obstinate He wanted
20 stay in the church all night on his
knees. Denise. determined 20 find ont
, what allied him, spoke 20 him with that
tone Of gentle authority which he had
5 never resisted since they were little chill
) dren together. walking hand in hand az
Bienville. She dragged Toni out Of the
church. stumbling along in the darkness.
, and he shut the door carefully. They
were only step or two from their lodg-
ings. and climbing Ut to their two little
rooms. Toni took Denise in his arms and
poured out the whole story Of Nicholas
and Pierre. sobbing between times. and
laughing. ike one possessed. Denise
wept-she saw nothing to laugh at-and
actually expressed some pity for the two
lost souls OF Nicolas and Pierre. This
seemed really impious TO Toni
The recital did not take long. and then
, Toni. taking his cap. said:
I must run now, as fast as I can, 20
the Chateau Bernard. ". Paul must
know this"
/ Denise did not detain him, and he ran
softly down stairs and took his way
/ through the dark streets and along the
deserted highway until he reached the
: ark Of the Chateau nernard. He climb
. cd the wall and walked swiftly through
the park until he got TO the chateau.
, standing white and stately upon its broad
2 terraces. II was then quite 1 o'clock in
the morning The sky had cleared and a
; great hObgOblin moon was looking down
on the church steeples OF the town. Wis
r ibie afar of. Toni knew the window OF
- Paurs room II was on the first floor
above the ground floor. and al a corner
he knew the only way 10 awaken Paul,
( without alarming the house. was 10
throw pebbles at his window. but there
8 were no pebbles 10 be found. He remem-
{ bered. however. that Paul was a light
e sleeper, and going under the window
E Toni called out softly a dozen times
{ ul-Paul-monsieur." Presently the
) window OF the room came open. and he
z heard PauTs voice asking softly:
Who is that2"
t 1T is J." whispered Toni creeping IN
5 der the window. Come down
I In a few moments a small door under
the window opened noiselessly. and Paul
, came out in his trousers and shirt. Toni
caught him around the neck and whis-
, pered in his ear:
Q They are dead. Paul. both OF them
q They we're fighting on the railway track
, when the Paris train came along. I saw
D them both quite dead"
Z Paul knew at once whom Toni meant
great wave Of gratitude welled up In
! his heart. He did not, ike Toni, drop
r on HIS face and weep and fall into a
paroxysm Of piety. but he felt his release
) from the sentence OF death pronounced
= against them both. as much as Toni did
, Then we are saved. Toni. from that
3 knife thrust in the heart or that blow
! on the side Of the head" said Paul quiet
t ~ Thank Cod"
[ 7 have told Denise" whispered Toni.
now you GO Paul. and tell madam
? Just then a light shone in Lucie's win
? dow. She PASSED into Pauls room. and