The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-09
Copyright. 1877.
D. Appleton & Co
CHAPTER III-COntinued.

The colonel knew the Widow Marcers
boy and disapproyed OF him on general
principles. but did not suspect the little
scamp vas hidden behind the gooseberry
bushes which the colonel passed as he
walked up and down the dark path. AS
no turned to pass the third time, he
heard TOMS shrill. boyish voice piping
out:
''Ycu know, Jacques, saw Il ALL
was watching Capt. and Nine Rave
pei, and saw Capt RaveneI when he
got up and went away-and then the
young officer came along. and Nine.
Ravenel wasn't looking his way at all
she was looking down with her hands in
her laps. and don't think she even saw
the lieutenant until he came up 10 her
quite close and said something impudert
20 her, and then Nine. Raveners face
got as red as red could be. and the lieu-
tenant pumped himself down as close
20 her es he could and threw his arms
around the back OF the bench. and Nine.
Ravenel looked scared to death and
Jumped up. and then Capt Ravenel came
and caught the lieutenant by the collar
and threw him on the ground and wiped
his foot on him, and you know. Jacques.
you saw just as I did"
The colonel stopped suddenly 10 his
walk. and looking about saw TOMS 1T
tie black head among the gooseberry
bushes. He did not see the other boy
with whom Toni was talking. but he un-
derstood well enough what Toni meant.
Then Toni kept on:
Jacques, I tell you. Nine. Ravenei
wasn't even looking at the lieutenant,
and know she hates him by the way
she pushed him of when he sat down
by her"
The colonel walked around the goose
berry bushes and there sat Toni on the
ground, but Jacques, whom the colonel
innocently supposed to be another boy.
was not IN sight. being then in TOMS
pocket.
so, my lad" said the colonel. you
saw the fight between Capt. Ravenei
and Lieut. Creoi?'
But Toni, looking up at the colonefs
short. soldieriy figure and determined
air, was seized with one OF those sudden
panics which often overcame him. He
could not have said a word 10 save his
life, with the coloners keen eyes fixed
OF him. SO. jumping UP and Selling hold
OF Jacques in his pocket, Toni ran as
fast as his legs would take him 20 the
garden gate. through the narrow street
l. attic
and did not feel safe until he was tucked
in his own bed with Jacques under the
pillow 10 keep him company.
II was the habit OF the colonel 70 take
a walk in the park very early every
morning directly after HIS breakfast cof-
fee, and it was also Capt. Ravenefs
practice TO pass through the park at the
same hour. His, however. was not a
pleasure stroll, but was for the purpose
OF taking TO the post-onice some hun
dreds OF envelopes which he addressed
every day for a pittance, with which 70
exc out his half-pay. The two men had
been friends in past days, although the
colonel was much older and higher in
rank than Ravenel. but they passed each
other morning after morning without
word being exchanged. Ravenel gravely
saluting the colonel. and the colonel
slightly returning the bow. and each man
felt a tug at Ms heart for the other man.
Col. Duquesne was a great stickler for
the nnoralities, and Ravenel's fall had
been to him terrible shock. He under
stood what little Lucie, and Paul Verney.
and Toni did not understand In the least.
the particular thing which had befallen
Nine. Ravenel II was the old, sad
story OF a villainous husband TO a sensi-
tive and dependent woman. Of man a
thousand times better than the husband
loving the wife silently. Of hearing her
uniustly accused in his presence. and
even suffering the indignity OF a blow.
That blow drove Sophie Delorme into
RaveneTs. arms. It seemed 10 her, IN
the horror and shock OF the moment,
as II there were no other place for her.
She could not go to her grandmother,
Nine. Bernard. who had arranged the
match between Sophie and Delorme and
and who had shut her eyes stubbornly to
the wretehedness Of the marriage. Apart
from Nine. Bernard, Sophie was singu-
larry alone in th9 world. Her fsmall
fortune had been squandered by De-
lorme. She loved Ravenel because she
could not help II. and so these two poor
souls, like goodly ships driven against
each other by storms and hurricanes, 10
their destruction, this man and this wo-
man were driven together. driven to
the moral law, driven by the
iron hand Of fate into a position, the last
on earth that would have been expected
OF them.
The victory Of passion and despair over
honor had been brief In three weeks
they recoIled from what they had done
Delorme had promptly begun proceedings
for a divorce and Ravenel had besought
Sophie 10 repair their fault as far as
possible in the eyes of the world by mar
rying him as soon SIS the decree of d.
vorce should be granted. But Sophie
was a deeply religious woman and it
seemed to her an increase Of wrong-do-
Ing TO marry Ravenel. There was but
one way out of it and Ravenei, by en-
ploying one of the best ecclesiastical
lawyers in France. discovered that there
we're certain teehnicalities in the religious
that Delorne had not complied
with, and it was possible to have the
marriage. religious as well as>civil, an
nulled. Only then did Sophie consent to
marry him. For her he had sacrificed |
his position in the army. his standing in
the world and his modest fortune, and |
had done it as IL 1t were a privilege in
stead OF a sacrifice.
No woman OF Sophie Rsvenel's lofty |
deals could fail TO appreciate this. but |
neither could she forget that she had
fallen from her high estate. However |
ihe might strive 10 be happy. Ravenel |
Gould not but see that she would live |
md die conscience-stricken woman. |
She made no moan. however. but secretly |
.ook on herself the whole sin. Ravenei |
hA 4.t