The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-14

A short, bulky. bullet headed young
man, wearing mustaches like an inky
toothbrush. bounced forward with a
clatter and saluted.
And Capt Zagaie!"
A lean, melancholy. poetical looking
young man. his chin embellished with
n blond virgin beard cut s~wallowtail.
fiulting toward them made a graceful
and languid gesture of acknowledge
ment.
Then cried Major Houppe-Houb,on-
Mere to the two companions in a voice
like the rasp of a tough plank at the
sawmill:
'Ahumph' Brrumph. Stack arms.
Break ranks"
And finally to Mr. Pengwynne with
q total change of manner-that is.
ever so gently:
Sir, France is your hands"
Trapped" Kissed Mr. Tuebal in the
ear Of NJ. %Fripponet. And the two
forces, like ~unacquainted awkward
children smitten with usefulness,
siding together mingled warily. 4
prolonged patter of applause ran
round the circle Of spectators.
AT the bottom of the village street
stood the homely but commodious
Taverne des Bons GarconS. In a
%twinkling this retreat was hardly to
be seen for the Maritimes and Monte
Nancoans that swarmed round IL.
While they We're struggling in by
doors n windows the colored lights
r.Ppled forth throughout the gardens
and a brass band. occupying the band
stand. with scarcely a preliminary
squeak or toot. ~servilely burst forth
viii the "Marseillaise." Into the blus
velvet skyrockets thrust graceful
lines Of fire and lowered g~orgeously.
The Tzigannes, or the terrace Of the
Cafe Supcrbe, sent forth a Hungarian
rhapsody. The palm groves We're full
Of laughter, melody. and handclapping:
the Hotel des Deux Hemisphercs
buzzed with delighted and
echoed with the pop of corks: Mr.. PEN
gwynne n Mr.. Tuchal were ordering
a wonderful dinner for a major and
two captains; and on the deserted
lawn NJ. %Fripponet was fevcrishly di-
recting the larceny of s~ixscore stacked
rifles.
The air in the Cafe des Bons Gar
cons became oppressive: invaders and
defenders. clutching bottles and plates,
sailed into the open. IN the ground.
with forks and cups half raised thcy
gaped at the fireworks. \ %conCourse Of
feminine Inhabitants, lured III by the
unifoNns. drew near with the futter-
ing indecision of inquis'tive squirrels
Compliments began to rattle round
them. Could these pretty. witty little
artillerymen be ogres9 Who could pre-
serve a frown or keep a straight face
before such cunning raScals?
Nom dun chat. it was TIM we
came to Monte Nanco,"
THE reason there are no good stars
to be seen in these parts. the girls steal
them for eyes
This is good wine: il lacks just on
thing-a kiss between every two sups."
What tiny waists; YOU could put
your arm round them twice"
That music makes one want to
shake his heels What do YOU say, lit
tie pigeon"
That's it. \ dance"
And they made a ballroom of the
tavern yard. There were not enough
girls: part of the artillery danced with
the gendarmes and the fire depart
ment,
The army of defence now DomDardcd
the invaders with cognac. But in III"
exercise of CUTIE. il was necessary to
respond to challenges Of brandfshing
glasses. The inhabitants of Monte
Vance felt their apprehenslon> slip
ping from them; the foreigners ape
peared each moment more like broth
org anlhta..s hoo, -, o, ,,,,,
taclc. Excitement banishIng. at last.
al hereditary reverence for the well
kept landscape, the prinC,pallty Of
Monte Nanco was flled with Wild pro-
ceSSions-Gendarmes uhos" customary
minionS of propriety) stamping arm
in arm with their foes across the grass.
humping into trees, losing thcmSolv IS
in s~hrubbcry. beyond such obstruc-
tons falling into their companions
arms again with the glad cries of long
lost friends, and. locked in some good
comrades embrace, tumbling, with
amiable oathS, into the pretty flower
beds.
The brass band stuck bravcly to It's
post, the visitors, encouraged by tn"
inhabitants, stormed the band stand
and desired to play all the instru-
ments. a party of artillcrymen as
sumed control of the fireworks, but
their technical skill was in some way
g~rievously impaired. With "A rocket
they set fire to the awnings If the
Cafe Superbe. The fire department,
beside itself at finding "A genuine
cause for being. amid frantic enthusi-
assn put out the flames, at the same
Coutiuued on Sirfeeuh Pane