The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11

church exacted as the price for looking on the glories of the Elevation of the Cross and the Descent of the, Cross.
 Into the soul of Hello, the hungered ragged grandson of a crippled old pauper, there had flown splendid spark of divine fire The little peasant boy, with the dog drawing milk from door to door, walked in a wonderful dream whose god was Ru- bens. The winter cold might pinch the lit tie blue feet, thrust stocl1ingless into wooden shoes, and the winter wind might fiutter the poor, thin garments. but Nello walked in a rapture, and all he saw was the glorious face of the Mary of the As sumption, and he felt the waves of her golden head, and he dreamed of the eter nal light shining on her brow.
 He drew everything, anything, with chalk on the stones. His gaze darkened and his face radiated at the evening glow of sunset or the rose-swept dawns. Often a strange, nameless pain and joy mingled so hotly in his breast that he cried on Pa trasches wrinkled head.
 He did not know it. but the same leaven was working in him that in other times had brought forth Rubens and Jordaens and the Van Dycks and the rest of the wondrous tribe. He whispered to Pa- trasche of his vague, formless longings and dreams; and Patrasche looked at him fondly and attentively, as if he under stood Perhaps he did. Who knows?
 There was only one other to whom Hello could speak of his fantasies. This was little Alois, the pretty. rosy baby daughter of Baas Colgez, the miller, who was the most prosperous man In the vil- lage.
 Little Alois was indeed the richest child for miles around. She had neither brother nor sister, At Kernesse she had as many gilded nuts and Agni Dei in sugar as her hands could hold. When she went up for her first communion her fiaxen curls were covered with a cap of richest Mechlin lace.
 Notwithstanding her wealth, Nello and Alois and Patrasche were together most of the time, playing in the fields gather ing flowers or sitting by the broad wood fire of the millhouse. The miller was a good man, though somewhat stern and he liked the fair-haired, gentle boy.
 But when Alois was 12 years old and Nello was 15 the miller began to think. And one day he came upon his pretty daughter sitting amidst the hay with the tawny head of Patrasche on her lap, while Nello, sitting opposite, drew their pictures on clean, smooth slab of pine wood with a piece of charcoal.
 The miller looked at the portrait with tears in his eyes. It was wonderfully like her, and he loved her dearly. Then he spoke roughly, chiding her for idling there, and snatched the wood from Nello's hands.
 "Dost do much of such folly?' asked he.
 Hello hung his head. "I draw every thing l see,'' murmured he. The miller was silent. Then he stretched forth his hand with franc in it. "It is folly" said he, and evil waste of time. Nevertheless, it is like Alois and will please the mother Take this silver bit for it and leave 1t to me"
 Nello lifted his head and put his hands behind his back. Keep your money and the picture both, Baas Colgez," said he, simply You have been often good to me"
 He called Patrasche and walked away across the fields.
 q could have seen them with that franc" he murmured to Patrasche, but I could not sell her picture-not even for them
 Baas Colgez went home troubledA in mind. 'The lad must not be with AlQis so much, said he to his wife.