The Washington times., 1913-12-22
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER /.
-HERE were two girls on the strip
of grass outside the Cafe Tardot.
One of them, brown and strongly
built with thick, black hair
burned at the edges by the sun, full
lips, and large dark eyes which sparkled
like sypsy's, was swinging an old
driver. following through in perfect
style with all her weight and strength.
Well, what do you think of that,
Msrthe? II that had been a ball!'' She
threw up her hand in an expressive
gesture
Msrthe leaped up from the grass and
reached out for the club.
Let me have a CO." said she
She took up the driver and began TO
waggle at a dandelion.
Tne May sun made little shimmers of
heat dance for joy on the crisp turf Of
the links and threw the shadows of the
children sharply behind them onto the
wide dusty road which climbed I'D from
the cafe until it breasted the head
land. beneath which the sea Tapped
softly on the warm sands, and then ran
quickly down the other side into Wine
reux.
Each Of the eaJdies WAS about eight
cen ears of age, children of the labor
ing class, whose one duty in life was to
get early to the links IN the morning
weekdays or Sundays, wet Or fine, and
hlIng back the greatest possible num-
her of francs every week. But while the
dark one, Jeanne, showed her origin in
eN cry Tine of her tanned face and -f,y
the manner in which she spoke and
JnoN ed. the fact that the other girl was
a caddic seemed Incredible
Narthe's blue print frock. dsrned
stockings and thick boots looked curl
ousir Hrong-a mistake. She wore them
with an air. And when you saw her
fac you began to marvel
pure oval ii was. with a tiny. pink
hpped mouth, straight, short nosc,
sky-biue ewes. and hair of a rich. soft
gold that disobeyed all bows and pins
and broke into irresistible kinks and
Curis. The ha nds that gripped the cIuh
though nearly as brown as Jenpie's
Nere smau and delicate and. unlike the
other girls. clean.
When she smiled the corners of her
eyes crlnkled and her teeth tiny and
regular, we're almost transparent. 1t
was as II You had caught some fairy
or mermaid amusing herself by playing
al being a mortal.
At the very least you would have be-
1IcVed her' chsngeling, belief
strensthened by the curIously refined
linos Of her face and the impish CLEAN
She took her stance with intense and
minute care, swung from the HRS until
The head OF the club was over her up-
raised left heel drove with amazing
strengthened sent a great chunk OF
grass flying into the road
We'll hit cried Jeanne, sarcasticaIIv
"iappinG her hands. She was quite a
striking girl. one whom you would have
turned Your head to look at in the
street, but by the side of Marthe she
became almost unnotlceable.
Marthe held your eyes. You waited
10 sec what she would do next. as if she
1nlsht "naIIee into something else at
any minute OF even vanish altogether.
She had forgotten golf now and was
gazing At the EilI with parted lips as IL
~ some ~ ondorfUl thing. Jeanne saw
iaN expression of excitement in her face
ID turned to look also.
II Was something wondcrful-a car
liage, an open TiOture de place. witIs two
horses, and luggage beside the driver.
and a StraW-hatted passenger-the first
swallow Of summer. the first hint of
BeW season. 1t was sufficient to make
not only these two children excited. but
10 bring Anne. TardOt to the doorstep
Of the cafe on hearing the EXPLANATIONS
little plump woman was Nine. Tar
dot. OF very cOTnfOrta uIe proportions. i'm
hos'. upper lip vou perceived the signs
Of promising mustache. HeI character
"as reyeal'd by her garments. Her re
NcaT a black skirt. but her habitual
Cheeri1ess Of disposition. the love of do
ing things ana seeing life. in however
small MY. which made her the pro-
prietress OF cafe. caused her 90 as
sumo gay m4uve blouse.
Here he comes" she cried The
N"rH first ~ the year. and he comes 10
-" and not TO TN" hotel down yonder.
j Is good
The carriage eagerly watched bv
trcse thrc" vc~y different people. rum
bed down the I'm a. its tireless wheels
with a noise resembling thunder. to tbc
accompaniment OF pistOl-shot crackiuys
Of the drivers whip.
An Englishman.'' said Jeanne in
low voice.
Marthe said nothing She was taking
sn the top half of the new al rival as the
carriage drew uD with flourish and
many CALCULATIONS on tho part of the
driver in front Of the Cafe Hardot. She
Temainel silent when the EngIishman
got - ~ud the bottom i.a!f Of him
proved be in brown SoliinS knickers
10 nl@tc' his coat and brown stockings
end shoes.
But when Nine Tardot, with all the
grace and curiosity Of a marquise as
she Thought descended one step and
said "Bonjour. Mr.. Leyden, welcome"
Narthe edged forward one OF two PAGES
and listened with all her eaIs-
The Englshman raised his hat, went
Up the steps and held out his hand.
"Eoninur madame" he SAID Here !
am at last The train was ha.f an hour
late from Boalogne.H His French was
a. fluent rs madame's.
Madame burst into lamentations OF
sympathy and ushered her guest with
great pomp into the cafe.
Then Marthe returned to the strip Of