The Washington herald., 1910-07-20
Copyright. 1907.
d. Appleton Il Co
CHAPTER XIV.

Denises superiority to him, and the fact
that she might justly aspire TO something
far beyond a private soldier. He was the
Toni Of old, and, like the great Napoleon.
he reckoned that If he wanted thing.
il was his already; and, instead OF
shrinking from the idea of Denise's inn
pressive fortune of 10000 francs. he was
glad she had so much. and wished that il
was moTe-not that he meant 10 squander
IL or that he loved Denise for it. He
would have loved her just as well with
out a franc. Nor did he love her any
better for having it, but he did not con-
slider that the lo000 francs placed any
barrier between Denise and himself. AND
then from the first moment their eyes
had met on the night of the ball in the
public square. that old, sweet feeling Of
being cared for and protected by Denise
had stolen into his heart. Toni wanted
wife to protect him from other people
and from himself-that was the long and
short of 1t. As for Denise. her nature
had shaped itself 10 the idea - looking
after Toni and she wanted to give him
ell the buns and good things in life.
with Paul and Lucie this was exactly
reversed. Lucie felt the most charming
sense OF protection in Paufs strong arm
and strong sense.
Toni courted Denise assiduously. and did
the same by Nile. Duval and the ser
geant. and succeeded. in the course Of
time. in winning grudging respect from
the sergeant. That stern warrior knew
too much about Tonis boyhood to ac-
cept him at his own value, but his per-
feet knowledge Of the voltige was an ir-
Fesisuble recommendation to the SER
geant. and moreover. there was no deny
ing that Toni was good soldier. atten-
tive TO his duty. lie had not once been
punished since he had Joined; and this
was remarkable record even for the
best Of soldiers. Then Toni stood well
with his sublieutenant. This counted for
something with the sergeant: neverthe-
less. he remembered how. in the old days
at Bienville Toni's black shock and
Paul Verney's blond head were often
close together. and these youthful friend
ships have a strong hold on many men.
StH. Paul Verney was not the man 10
overlook the sins OF a conscript. and the
sergeant was forced TO admit that no
fault could be found with Toni so far.
He had begun by suspecting TOMS In
tentions toward Denise. but his suspicious
had been completely lulled 10 sleep. chief
~ By Denise herself. This young person.
who rarely raised her eyes from the
ground and might have posed for a
statue Of Simplicity knew perfectly well
how TO throw dust ia the sergeant's eyes.
Concerning Toni. she never allowed him
to be mentioned without some disparag-
Ing remark, such as. THAT ridiculous
Toni" OF That absurd creature" She
called attention 10 the fact. which every
body knew. that Tonis nose was snub.
She also observed. what nobody else had,
that Toni slouched when he walked and
was very ugly. Toni, in truth. was the
most graceful fellow in the regiment, and
handsome inAhis black-eyed. black-browed
way Denise would scarcely admit that
Toni knew how to ride, but even this
did not put the sergeant on his guard.
She openly complained that Toni did no.
know how to dance and waltzed all over
her feet when he danced with her in the
evenings in the public square. When in
her fathers presence, and Toni was
there. Denise treated him like a dog. He
was the only person living TO whom she
had ever shown any active hostility, but
the mild. the gentle Denise would take
him up on the smallest provocation.
yawned at his jokes. laughed when he
told Of his discemforts and contradicted
most of his assertions.
Nile. Duval. who had become a great
friend Of TOMS lectured Denise on this,
and even the sergeant told her that he
thought she was rather hard on poor
Toni At this Denise shrugged her Shout
ders.
He's such a bore" she said II al
ways recollect him as a dirty, greedy
little boy at Bienvine. ( believe he i.
/ just the same
/ Now, Toni certainly showed neither OF
those traits at present, but Denise would
not allow word to be said in his favor
Toni, however. strange TO say, did no
appear TO be discompcsed by this con,
duct of Denise's. but Joined the DIVA
party two or three times a. week wher
I they sat, on the pleasant evenings. il
the public square listening to the music
and invariably asked Denise to dane.
with him. He even had the assurance
when 1t grew cool in the autumn even
ings. to come TO their lodgings. and i
was here that Denise's neglect of him In
spired the sergeant to demonstrate will
her
Toni had the superlative impudencc
even 70 bring an occasional bag o.
roasted chestnuts or some little cakes I,
Denise. for Toni was q connoisseur II
cakes. but she invariably declared tina
they were very bad of their kind. Thi
same Denise, when she and Toni danced
together, would whisper in his ear. "B,
sure and ask ne TO dance at least twict
more, or, tripping along the street
would meet him and. lifting her prett,
eyes TO him, would say, Toni. when ar
you coming 10 see US againg"-but sucl
Is the nature Of woman.
Early in September Nine. Marcel ar
ranged TO come to pay Toni visit, a.
Toni could not go TO see her, and Ton
engaged lodging for her in the sam
house where Nile. Duval and Denis
lodged.
What do you think, aunt?" CRIED
Denise. on learning this from the land
lady. that impudent Toni has dared L
engage a room for his mother on Ii,
same floor with US"
the sergeant happened to be present
He had grateful recollecuons of Nine
Marcel, the neatness of her shop and tn
thriving trade she had as well as tina
iady's personal charms.
Denise, said he. you gibe at Ton
entirely too much. and as for his mother
a most estimable woman is Nine. Mar
Gel. and an old friend and neighbor. an
] desire that Won treat her with 10