The Wahpeton times., 1906-11-08
"Yes. I ana every SINGLE bit Of Il

"Yes. I did every single bit Of Il
myself!"
"oh, my dear silly child" expostu.
lated Mrs. Wynne, how can you talk
such utter nonsensc?"
1T is not nonsense" he rejoined,
with blazing eyes. and giving his III.
tie foot stamp; ut is true-true-
true. Do ever tell lies?" His eyes
were dilated. and his round, rosy face
seemed suddenly to have become thin
and wan.
But. dearest boy, you have only
seen It for the first time five minutes
ago. and you know you cannot even
draw straight line. Such talk is not
at all funny"
But 1t is true. true" he stammered,
and his eyes were full of tears. Il
did paint that in a big cold room-the
floor was Of stone;" here he shivered
visibly. "Yes; I can remember it all
right" And he sgazed up at his
mother with tragic face.
Mrs. Wynne returned his look with
an expression Of panied amazement
not unmingled with anxiety. Was the
child's brain affected? She went up
to him. removed his straw hat, and
ran her hand through his curls.
Have you headache, darling?"
NO." and he pushed her away, half
crying. "You think am story-teller,
and won't believe me-" And his lin
trembled.
What is it all about, my little
man" said the professor. "Why
won't they believe you?"
Because" raising his voice almos,
to a shout, Il said painted that-and
did" Here he pointed to the pic.
ture with his small, childish hand-a
hand not large enough to WELD Q
brush.
"You did," assented the professor
"but when?"
"Oh. how can I tell you?" impa.
tiently. TITS all ever 80 long ago:
l forget. I cannot see anything but
the picture. and the river. One day
"a man was drowned by the bridge;
his name was Roco-I remember that
-and-and-if you will look at the
picture at the back, I know there are
three red crosses on the canvas
my mark-yes, my mark"
I'm afraid the poor child has hat
touch of the sum-" said his mother,
turning to us. "He will run about
without his hat" Then to him: Very
we'll. darling, of course; don't I al.
ways believe you? Now come away
with me into the pretty garden, and
we will get out of this gloomy castle
as fast as we can. l don't like it."
Without the smallest reluctance, o,
another glance at the picture, the
child put his hand in hers. and obedi.
emily trotted off down the gallery.
"Strange!" exclaimed the profes.
sor. Zone never quite knows-what
child forgets-or remembers!
must confess I'd like to have the pic.
ture turned about suppose it can be
done?" and he nodded to me, put his
hand in his pocket, and produced a
ten-franc piece.
In remote place like Vidarry a ten
franc piece can do great things. With
but little trouble, and considerable
amount of talk, and busting, the cele.
brated picture of est. George" was
removed from the wall, and there, in.
deed, on the back of the canvas, were
three large blurred crosses in faded
red paint!
You and understand it, colonel
said the professor. I'VE have been in
the east, where people believe, as an
everyday fact, in reincarnation."
The colonel nodded emphatically.
and added: Eyes; but here"
Here the child has had a glimpse. a
flash, of one Of his former lives. He
will forget it: it will never return"
Surely you don't think there's any.
thing in it?" protested Hubert. IRE.
incarnation is rubbish"
The professor merely smiled; he
and the colonel looked at one another
significantly, and the professor re.
piled: Il believe in the evolution of
the body, and the evolution of the
soul. There! think hear Mrs.
Wynne calling" and he hurried to.
wards the stairs.
Out in front of the Chateu we found
Mrs. Wynne. declaiming, with both
arms and a parasol: I'VE shall be
late for the train; we have only ten
minutes"
Meanwhile Bobby, hat in hand, was
chasing butterflies; yes, already the
door was closed, and Bobby was him.
self again.
II say, what time you have been
looking at those ugly old pictures!
he cried, running up to the colonel.
"Just look at my beautiful orange but
terfly! I shall have to keep him in
my pocket till we get home to the
chloroform bottle
"Will you do kind thing, my little
man?" said the professor. "You have
had nice birthday-eh, haven't your"
"Oh, jolly"
"Then let the poor butterfly go. His
life means much to him, and so little
to you."
But it's such a beauty! Welp-
and the child gazed gravely up at the