The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-27
and Arms.

confinement In the %stufest of stuffy rooms.
he had rushed out with his simple painting
implements and had chosen the widest,
most open part of the seashore. where the
cliffs were smooth and fiat enough TO make
canvases for his genius.
Bare-headed, with his shirt sleeves rolled
up, his shirt open at the breast. that he
might get all the pure, fresh, inviEOiating
air he could, he was plying his homemade
brushes with clever. rapid strokes. the
light of a great a~rt-love in his eye, and 4
restless, unsatisfied hungering at his heart.
A mans step crunched over the shfngle.
drawing nearer and nearer to the lad. He
did not look up, however, from his work.
for Paul Renouf's soul was too full Of the
voices that inwardly spoke to him to note
the roll of single stone beneath the foot
OF q passer-by.
1t was only when q deep. rich voice which
he knew and loved SO well sounded in his
ears that he turned to see Anureas Dupuis'0
weather-tanned face beaming upon HIM
Dupuis was a prominent skipper.
"Ah, capitanne!'' cried the lad with .
glad eagerness of welcome. How glad 1
am to see you!"
And 1. you. Paul." replied the schooners
master, smiling.
why, when have I been away so long
before. Paul?'' he continued. TT il close
upon four months this timer
1T has seemed four years to me, Cap
tain said the lad, with a sigh.
Andreas noted the sigh. smiled slightly. in
an encouraging way; then asked: 'What
have you been doing. Paul, during the four
months? What has happened that the
months-which have been like rapid passing
minutes to me-hav seemed like years to
your
Eth, POUR exclaimed the lad that 10
it-it IL tat which frets me so-you live the
life which you love. and. therefore. to you
the hours ny swifter than Jean Bardell's
carrier pigeon. But to me-, ali, me; what
are those same hours like? They are like
our countrymen who are the soldiers in
occupation Of AIgiers. and who, misbehav-
ing themselves, are made to drag about the
f~orty-pound, sixty-pound or more. boulst.
which 10 chained to them. Like q lark In Q
cage. they can only look at the sun and the
sky and break the heart in longing for
liberty.
"And that is my life, AndreasI am the
boulet-burdened convict soldier-I am the
Gagged lark, and to all three of us time ID
torment"
An expression Of bitterness passed over
the lads face; then. as a wild. restless,
hungry longing leaped into his fine eyes. he
cried: Oh. Andreas Dupuis. I've been
wicked enough Of late to go to yonder clih,
when the tide is high. and the free. cool
waters rush up the face OF the rock and
stretch briny arms TO me. to half decide to
cast myself down into their welcome en-
brace, for death 0hough I am 80 youns)
has often seemed preferable to the slavery
I have to endure"
Then. with q touch Of unconscious quaint
meas. he added: ''The priests tell US that Sin
made clothes necessary; that until Adam
and Eve sinned neither of them knew that
they were naked. I wish they had NOT
ainned. There would have been no need for
clothes-my father would not have been Q
tailor, and I need not ave been bound
to sit glued to q board all day. with the
smell Of beeswak and hinged cloth under my
nose. poisoning the little fresh air thai
comes through the tiny window"
Almost breathless with disgust and IL.
element, he paused.
Andreas Dupuis regarded him for . mo-
ment In silence. As he did 60. the memory
az tie eyes. the face Of the boys mother
came up before him. as they had looked Al
him when she had said: IF ever you car
serve my boy. Andreas. promise me that
you will do 80 for my sake"
] Ths tths .AAa surely come when Fan