Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08

reaching him.
.since the fire he has been excitable and
easily moved" she explained, as If defend
ing herself or husband. ANY one can in
fluence him. Three years ago, when he had
his share Of the subscription money to rec
ompense the rescuers-some S6OO-he gave
and loaned 1t all away. S. 81 at time. to
comrades"
Did she imagine was bringing her more
subscriptions?
MY husband will try to prevent him
from distributing as he did three years
ago." she said. Having taken part in an
impressive ceremony Of medal awarding
and money distribution, he got 1t into his
head that his 5000 made kind OF trust
fund for him to lay out to the best ad-
vantage among the needy"
She showed me her accounts. The latter
day mama seemed to be amounting to
more than $500. with letters still coming.
Loafers Waiting for the Hero.
During this time five honest Paris work.
ingmen had slouched into the wine shop
asking for Desjardins. They sat down and
ordered nothing-waiting for Desjardins.
He came.
He came flushed and enthusiastic. With
enthusiasm the five honest workingmen
greeted him: There's Desjardins!" Bon
Jour-. Desjardins!" ''Desjardins. here.
monsieur come to see your "Desjardins.
they are going to photograph your
heavy-joweled loafer TRANQUILITY did
Desjardins' ordering-four bottles of red
wine with the seal on. Shortly he called
up four others, and Madame Barrie nom
chalantly stood the empty bottles in a
mass of other empties isolated in a corner.
They are all my empty bottles!" laughed
Desjardins shamefacedly. Madame keeps
the count that way"
Madame changed the subject by asking
for news. Her husband lifted his eyes in
melodramatic despair. Like the five. he,
too, was heavy and husky-in fact, Desjar-
dins looked a child among them Then,
boyishly bright and laughing, intense volu-
Bile, anna BILE, conciliating, explanatory and
at the same time triumphant Desjardins
explained:
1.-The project of police told me I could
have anything 1 asked fori''
"Good!' said madame.
Il can be janitor l can be museum Gus
todlan, or park guard. or huissier, or mes
senger-'
IAN good places-with pensions at sixty
said the lady. "A huissier wears a silver
chain round his neck"
Il can have work in the municipal nurs-
eries-I rather fancied that-among the
plants" continued the impractical hero.
Also, l can be a municipal customs in
spector-a high place and the uniform is
very neat
''Of course you chose thatv exclaimed
Mamade Barrie; but her burly husband
raised his two shoulders In despair Tell
what you chose" he grumbled.
With an expression of utter triumph on
his good-natured face Desjardins pulled a
brass plaque or ticket from his pocket 1t
bore the number 1867 and the encircling
word, commssionaire
Mon Dieu!' cried Madame Barrie. The
five honest workingmen forgot to gulp their
wine. "Sapristi, you've done for yourself
now!" said one.
Chose Bootblack's Stand.
Yes, he had done for Enthusiastically
chosen the most miserable job in the gift
of the prefecture, a bootblack's stand, with
a brass number, and the right to run err
rands.
But chose what I wanted!' pleaded
Desjardins. He defended his choice plant
lively. Il want to be commissionaire. 1
want to be my own master. 1 want to
run all day in the open air. And they have
given me the best stand in Paris-the
Round Point of the Champs Elyseesv'
YES" murmured Madame Barrie, 1.-The
twenty aristocratic ladies will pass by you
in their carriages
A week later DtsJardins called on me to
get a copy Of the photograph that 1 had
taken He was laughing, gesticulating, de-
lighted.
i've a special reason to want the photo
graph" he said confdentially. Its for
young person!
''One of the aristocratic girls has found
you out at last?" I asked. of course. she
will be glad to have your pictured"
mo, no." he exploded, 'ft is for my
girl, monsieur: 1 am going to be married:
she is brunette with eyes like little suns
and dimple in her chin! 1 met her three
days ago at the laundresses ball with her
mother, and we are to be married next
week! I have already bought 900 francs
worth of furniture"
You're going it, said. surprised that
he should have kept so much together.
Money still comes in," he laughed
Yesterday 1 got three letters with 100
francs in them!''
Have you rented an apartment"
asked.
mo; I have sent the furniture to ner
mothers" replied the impractical hero.
The Death Of His Romance.
Two months passed in which 1 saw no
more Of him. Then, one morning, at the
Round Point of the Champs Elysees, some
one came running behind me. calling:
Monsieur! Monsieur
1t was Notwithstanding, voluble, trf-
umphant.
Everything is going finer he said lob
serve how well I'm dressed. I've gone into
business and am doing well!'
"Glad to see your wife keeps you SO
neat" said.
"No-o-o," he hesitated. Then he broke
out confidentially: You see, monsieur. 1
did not get married. / found out that the
girl didn't really love me. 1t was just her
mother who made her take up with me for
my money. In reality she cared for an
other man; and when 1 found that out l
told them to go and be happy"
"And your 800 francs worth of furni-
ture?" I asked.
IT told her to keep IT, he replied shame
facedly. "It reconciled her mother to the
other man, you see. The girl was very
grateful to me, assure you"
"And you have gone into business alone!'
I said. What business
why, my commissionaireship! set up
the stand last week There is my box ana
chair! There is my hottie for carrying
heavy packages! All complete! had just
enough money left to make the installa-
tion."
often. after that. I stopped and chatted
with him at his stand.
He grew thinner and paler. Concerning
the business, he answered eyasively, but
always optimistically.