The Monitor-register., 1897-12-17


keep him from starving, and he is thrust
into prison without much ado. Bah! it
is a strange world!'
He tossed his hammer down, and it fell
with a crash.
"Oh, I've heard about the beggar and
his loaf BEFORE" said Silas, shut I never
believed in him. We have hands to work
with and can always earn our bread by
honest toll. You're out of humor Ber-
nard. Come Caleb, we must be off.
Good-day, Pierre"
"Good-day," answered Bernard. with
out looking at them.
That night he took a bundle from his
cupboard and went stealthily into his
small garden. Digging a hole in the
yielding ground, he deposited the bundle
in it, then filled it up, packing the earth
SO tightly down that it was impossible to
discover it had been recently disturbed.
Little Pierre lay asleep in the inner
room, but some noise awakening him, he
crept from bed and peeped into the shop
! just as his grandfather returned.
"Go to bed!' Bernard commanded
sharply, as he closed the outer door,
"What are you doing here ?"
81 thought l heard a noise" answered
the child.
$50 did I, and l went to see what
caused it. 1t was nothing. Go to bed
again, and l will make yegxa:kite, a
marvellous kite. which you may fly to.
morrow
"Oh, will you, grandfather? Jolly j!
Now I'll go at once, = cried the delighted
boy.
A smile curved Bernad's; lips, as he
gathered together the materials for the
kite. It took several hours to complete
it, but when finished, it was indeed a
thing of beauty. 1t was full four feet in
heighth, and there were many colored
papers used in its construction; a fringe
adorned the outer edge. But the tail
was the most wonderful of all. A long
string formed the foundation, and upon
it We're fastened pieces of cloth of gradu-
ating lengths, the longest being at the
top, and tapering down to a mere shred
at the end. Each was twisted in the
centre, the ends being allowed to fly; but
SO closely were they put on the string
that scarcely any part of it was visible.
Little Pierre rose early the next morn
ing. His impatience was so great that
@SgNNcely contain himself anti
h~AgtAndfaoinser should give him the kite;
out he dare not express his wish, as Ber- |
nard seemed excited and nervous, an un-
usual thing with him. The boy wond- |
cred why he stood at the door SO long.
gazing a~nxiously about. returning to his
work only to repeat the performance a |
few minutes later. At last he turned to |
the expectant child:
Come" he said, "you shall fly the
Aite."
"Oh, is it not beautiful p Pierre cried,
clasping his hands in admiration when
the wonderful thing was held up for his
inspection.
He was wild to touch it, but Bernard
would not permit him to do SO, and babe
him bold the cord while he held the kite
aloft himself. Soon it aoated upward, |
4tha taiA-Gssembling a fook-ef4hirds asitl
stfafgh tered in the breeze. @
"You are Pierre Bernard. | b-s,ieyKa
said some one. II
AS Bernard turned quickly, he came
face to face with two>men.
That is my name," he answered.
What is your business with me2n
One OF the detectives, for such they
were,Seyed him sharply as he said:
"We bayeforders to search your house,
Bernard" 50
.'For whatP"
"We are looking for a necklace which
was stolen from Mrs. Benton"
'And do you suppose l have it ?' de-.
manded Pierre, with a great show of
anger. SLOW dare you accuse me of
stealingl But go-search the house
and if you find it"
LIZ hhLohoQ WIFI d Qar6l laugh, |
"The old fellow takes it cody" said
one of the men. but come-let us get
the business over with" And they went
toRwork.
Meanwhile, Bernard was apparently
MISUNDERSTANDING kite. and laughsd loudly
it rose higher snd higher, the long tail
"nrYing and twtching like a snake.
-ay it began tt descend, and a
saade of excitement was visible in his
3, while little Pierre cried out in dis.
may:
"Oh, grandfather, it is coming down
Ind will get caught in those %trees!"
I'VE will prevent that" said Bernard,
with a turtive glance toward the house;
and he loosened the cord.
SsBut the kite steadily descended. 1t
hovered over a tree for a few seconds
then fell, the tail becoming entangled ip
'he branches. Bernard gave the cord a
sharp pull, and the kite dropped at his
Little Pierre ran and picked it up.
The ia il is broken, grandfather, " he
Exclaimed. son, why did you hide these
pretty beads? See"
lie spoke no further, Bernard, with an
'ath went forward and snatched the kite
rom his hand. At the same instant one
If the detectives who had approached q
lnnoticed, tore it from him. 4
"Ah! We were not mistaken after Q
ILL.," be said, holding up the tail for his
ompanion's inspection. Beneath each &
luster of the tW listed rags was a small /
luster of pearls. 8
Bernard seemed subdued for an in ]
he sprang savagely at his 8
randson. t
sit is all your fault, you rascal!" he
ried in a fury. b
Il am sorry," said the boy, his eyes y
Hating with fear as he hid behind. the v
len. Il
Pierre fought desperately, but was at t.
lst overpowered and handcuffed. The a
ties tail was carefully examined and Il
remain der of the gems were found b
pom it. u
"Very clever-very clever indeed"
aid one of the detectives, who lived in tt
le city and knew the shoemaker by q
'putation. "You are an expert at the vi
But the tail was a triae too K
savy for the kite" ~
Demands ans wer was a soowI. +,
"ob, don't take grandfather awayy" q,
led Pierre. "He is my only friend.n d,
ar will take oara os = -