The Washington herald., 1910-07-18
Copyright. IsG.
D. Appleton 4 &c.
CHAPTER xII-continusd.

and when, In the old way, Toni took
Jacques out of his pocket and showed
him. 1t was as II seven years passed away
into mist and they were boys together.
But at last Paul was Obliged to dismiss
Toni, who went back TO his quarters
with a heart lighter than It had been
for seven years.
And he was 10 see more Of Paul than
he had dared to hope. for Paul had
promised TO arrange that Toni should
be his soldier servant The present In
cumbent was not exactly to PauPs lik-
ing and he was only too glad to replace
him with Toni.
There was work waiting for him, and
that, TOO, under Sergt. Duvars eye.
and Toni did It with the energy of man
who is determined on pleasing the father
Of his beloved. No one would have
recognized. in this smart. active. natty
trooper. the dirty Idle Toni of his boy
hood Sergt Duval. however, was a
skeptic by nature, and he waited TO see
moro of Toni before reversing the notion
he had formed OF that young man. He
had heard something. on his annual
visits 10 Bienville. of TOMS fondness for
Denise. and. when she was in short
frocks and plnafores. had sometimes
tokee her about II, but Denise. who
blushed at the least little thing, would
hide her head on her fathers shoulder
end almost weep at the idea that she had
even glanced at boy.
Toni was longing 10 ask after Denise
but he dared not AS soon as he had a
moments time to himself-and a recruit
lately joined has not much leisure-he
wrote a long letter 70 his mother. He
did not write very well, and was a reck-
less speller. but that letter carried un-
told happiness and relief with 1t to the
Widow Marcel at BienvilIe. His duties
as Paul's servant began at once Toni
was not overindustrious, but II he had
TO work for any one he would wish to
work for Paul
And then came radiant time with
Toni--a time when life seemed 10 him all
fair. He managed 70 put that secret
horror OF Nicolas and Pierre out OF his
mind as they were out OF his sight. He
got his mothers forgiveness by returs
had had OF Nicolas and Pierre. and en-
ioyed the sight and the occasional society
OF the two beings who. with his mother.
were nearest to him Of the world-Paul
Verney and Denise He dared not men
ton Denise's name 10 Sergt Duval. who
preserved the most unfeeling reticence
about her toward Toni. The sergeant had
no mind to encourage the attentions OF
young recruits just out of the circus,
to his pretty daughter with her splendid
dot OF ten thousand francs.
Toni. however knew that the time OF
his service would come 10 an end in
year. and then he would be able TO carry
out that beautiful scheme that had haut-
ed him during his circus life. He would
become an instructor in a riding-school
and earn big wages. as much as 80
francs the month, and meanwhile he
would lead so correct a life that even
Sergt. Duval would be forced to approve
OF him. AL these resolutions were very
much increased by the first sight he
caught OF Denise. It was about a fort
night after he joined, and during that
time he had kept his eyes open for the
lady Of his love. Although Sergt. Duyal
had quarters at the barracks. Denise and
Mile. Duval lived In lodging In the town.
and Toni did not have many opportuni-
ties OF going into the town. One Sunday
evening. however. a beautiful August
Sunday. Toni found himself standing in
the public square where the band played
merrily and one OF those open air balls,
which are so French and so charming.
was going on. Ranged on benches
around were the older women. and
among them Toni at once recognized the
tall, angular, black figure Of Mile. DuvaI;
and whirling around In the arms of a
handsome dragon with beautiful pair
OF black mustaches. much finer than
Tonis was Denise. Toni's heart jumped
into his mouth. his soul leeped into his
eyes. 1t was Denise. Of the acacia tree,
and the buns, OF long ago.
She was as blond. as modest. as neat
as ever, but far prettier. Her fair hair
was twisted up on her shapely head. on
which sat a coquettish white hat She
wore 8 white muslin gown. with the
short. full shirt much berufBed. Denise
a
frowned sternly on such unbecoming
frivolities as trained gowns for ser
geant's daughter.
Denise had developed into SIS much of
a coquette as Lueie Bernard had been,
only IN a different direction. Lucie
achieved her conquests by a charming
boldness. a brWitching unconv entionalIty
Denise Duval succeeded in attracting the
attention of the other sex by demure-
ness and quaint propriety which were
immensely effective in their way.
Toni. having some instructive knowi-
edge OF this. determined 10 proceed with
great caution and military prudence. He
would strive to carry the fortress OF
Denise's affections by gradual approaches
and not by assault. So, in pursuance Of
this plan. he walked up to Mile. Duval
and making low bod said:
Mile. DuvaI, may recall myself to
your memory? am Toni Marcel. the
son OF Mime. Marcel. OF Bienvine. and had
the honor OF knowing you when I was
boy"
Mile. Duval gave him one grim lock.
and then cried out:
"Oh. I know you very well. Toni You
were the worst boy in Bienville and as
dirty as you were bad. Oh, how much
trouble did you give your mother
This wss not a very suspicious begin
ming for young man who wished to be-
come the nephew-in-law Of the lady he
addressed. but Toni was not deficient In
the sort Of courage which could take him
through an emergency Ike that. He only
said hypocritieally, and with another bow
and a sigh of penitence:
'Ah, Mademoiselle. every word that
you say is true. know l was very
naughty and very idle. and my mother
was far too patient with me. gave
her a great deal of trouble. but hope to
be a comfort to her in the future.
had 8 letter from her only yesterday In