The Van Buren press., 1895-11-30
HIS CHINESE WALL.
by MARY DAWSON.

Bl MARY DA6sON.
The ARTISTS Court" is very far out
of the way, on the extreme borders of
the Latin Quarter. And if, when you
visit Paris, your apartments are ON the
''Champs," you have probably never
dreamed of the existence of such an
arpondissement.
The court from the outside is little
20 look at--only a long extent of dreary
prisonlike gray wall, at one end sur
mounted by a headiess bust of julius
Caesar, with plaster cast of Bonaparte.
In somewhat better condition at the
other.
In April of 'e3 Ned Wilkes and his
wife, young married people, moved into
the court. They rented numeral
vingt-neuf. 1t is from them that | had
this story. l
During the first three days after NOV
ing in Mrs. Wilkes made little ruflled
curtains for the easement windows.
Shcspersuaded Ned to plant their own
little parterre in myosotis and pansies.
And she took EN- inventory of the
neighborhood.
81 know the names of everyone in
the court, Ned, DEAR said Mrs. Wilkes.
'I've spoken with all the women"
"How about the girl in twenty-six?'
Ned asked, lazily.= 81 thought you
couldn't make her OUT
"Oh, I've spoken with her since then.
She's very nice. A little queer, but
nice. She's from the west at home
Miss Chandler"
"And the fellow in twenty-seven.
That odd crow" continued Wilkes.
''Do you know who he is?"
81 had forgotten him." she answered
"I don't even know his name. He looks
nice, too. Queer, but nice"
"You said that about the girl in
twentyRix," said Ned. ats bit of
coincidence that the girl in twenty-six
and the fellow in tsyenty-seven should
be both queer but nice. They ought
TO fall in love with each other"
The following morning Mrs. Wilkes
"bonne' went out TO the little village
of Clamart To attend the funeral Of u
deceased relative. Wilkes was obliged
personally to extract the household
water from the court hydrant a job of
which he was not fond. 1t was in no
gentle mood that, having rolled up his
sleeves, he took pail in each hand and
tucked heavy cruche under one arm.
The pump stood in the shadow of the
Echoolhouse wall.
When Wilkes reached the pump he
found some one before him-the man
from twenty-Seven, the odd crow.
His hair, long and black, was blown
In all directions about face at once
odd and ugly, beautiful and interest
ing. He wore loose black trousers and
the white blouse of an art-worber. And
he stood some six feet in a pair of
French house slippers with redwood
Innings. He looked up as Wilkes de-
posted his burden and smiled In d
friendly manner,
''You've taken number twenty-nine,
haven't you?" the stranger said. 'We're
pretty close neighbors. My name is
Penroyd-Waltham B. Penroyd, New
York state"
Wilkes exchanged his own name and
birthplace. after which Penroyd ex-
tended long white paw, ana they
shook hands.
you've got too much TO carry" OBJ
served the new neighbor, glancing at
the various vessels. Give me that
jug; III see it home for you"
Wilkes demonstrated, but the neigh
Dor was firm. "Come ahead!" he cried.
"Like as not your wife is waiting for
the water. j haven't any wife, Wilkes.
wish l had
He carried the heavy cruche and set
it down on the doorstep of number
twenty-nine.
"Come in and see us some time" said
Ned.
THANK you," he answered, earnestly.
II have otter seen tempted to since
you moved in
We'll, il temptation comes again,
don't resist it," said Ned, laughing.
He came the following afternoon.
Ned and his wife were sitting as usual
upon the stoop. Ned himself was more
than half asieep. The kitten, drowsy,
too, splawled across her masters knees
IN an ecstasy of purring. Suddenly the
latch OF the gate snapped. Ned drew
himself up and passed a hand across
his eyes in bewilderment. That styI-
ish-looking fellow could not be Pen
royd?
Sut Penroyd it was. He had dis
carded the loose pantaloons and the
blouse Of his working hours. He now
blossomed forth in 8 tasteful, perfectly
fitting suit Of dark material. His long
hair had been brushed back within
bounds and the red-lined slippers ex-
changed for patent-leathe- boots. with