Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-22
CHAPTER ".
NO doubt the most absurd thing
. I could have done after the

AOAS NY SdAV06 dSdAu WAlu Iue 1uIou-
ton Of painting. and that is what I
did. At least. I resumed my camp
stool and went through some Of the
motions habitually connected with the
act Of painting.
In fine. ! sat there brush padding
my failure like an automaton and say
Ing over and over aloud: what is
wrong with him? What is wrong with
him?"
I came out Of my varicolored study
with start. caused by the discovery
that had absentmindedly squeezed
upon my palette the entire contents Of
an expensive tube of covalt violet.
The turpentine rag at least proved
effective. l secured away the last
tokens of my failure with it. wishing
that life were like the canvas and that
men had knowledge Of the right ce-
lestial turpentine. After that clean
ed my brushes. packed and shouldered
my kit and. with final imprecation
upon all sausage sandwiches, took up
my way once more to Les Trois Pr
geons.
Striding along at good gait and
chanting generously, ION Linden when
the sun was low" left the rougher
boscages Of the forest behind me and
emerged just at sunset upon an or
derby fringe Of woodland where the
ground was neat and unincumbered
and the trimmed trees stood at polite
distances, bowling slightly to one an
other with small, well bred rustlings.
stood upon Quesnay ground.
Before me stretched a short, broad
avenue of turf, leading to the chateau
gates. A slope was terraced with
strips Of flower gardens and intervals
Of sward, and against the green of q
rising lawn l marked the figure Of
woman pausing to bend over some
towering bush. The lady upon the
slope was Nine. d Armand, the inspira-
ton Of Amedee's monster has much
20 live for.''
Once more this day Endorsed that
worthy mans opinion. for, though
was too far distant to see clearly, !
knew that roses trimmed Nine. OAR
mand's white hat and that she had
passed me no long time since in the
forest.
had come far out of my way. 30 !
fetraced my steps to the intersection
Of the paths and thence made for the
inn by my accustomed route. Not far
along the road from where came into
It stood an old. brown. deep matched
cottage. a branch of brushwood over
the door prettily reckoning travellers
to the knowledge that cider was here
for the thirsty, and as drew near l
perceived that one availed himself OF
the invitation. A group stood about
the open door, the lamplight from
within disclosing the head of the house
filing cup for the wayfarer.
The latter was most mundane and
elaborate wayfarer indeed-a small
young man very lightly made, like q
Jockey and point device in khaki. put
tees. pongee cap, white and green
stock, knapsack on his back and a
bamboo stick under his arm. He spoke.
though with detestable accent, In a
rough and ready, picked up dialect Of
Partisan slang, while Pere Baudry
contributed his share of the converse
lion in slow patois. AS both men
spoke at the same time and neither
other said. it struck me that the dia-
logue might prove unproductive Of any
highly important results this side Of
Michaelmas. Therefore. discovering
that the very pedestrian gentleman
was making some sort Of inquiry con-
corning Les Trois Pigeons, l came to
4 halt and pronered aid.
] "Are you looking for Nine. Bros
sard's?" asked in English.
The traveller uttered an exclamation
and faced about with jump, bird
like for quickness.
Say" he responded in voice Of
unpleasant nnsality, finally deciding
upon speech, you're 'Nummeric'n, amt
your"
EYES," I returned. II thought
heard you inquiring for
4sWell, M friend. you can sting me-"
he interrupted. with condescending
popularity. my style French does f.
them camels up in Paris all night.
But down here don't seem to be gud
enough f'r these sheep dogs. Any
way, they bark different. I'm lukkin'
Ter u iloteii called ii;eei Les T-c!s p!senns"
pointed to the lights Of the inn
pickering across the fields. ''Yonder
beyond the second turn Of the road"
.'Oh. amt goin' there tnight! It's
too dark t see anything now" he re-
marked. olives and the choo-choo
back t little ole Trouville fr mine:
] on'y wanted to take q LUX at this
pigeon house joint"
''Do you mind my inquiring," said.
what you expected to see at Les
Crois Pigeons"
sWhy," he exclaimed a. Il astonisf-
"a at the question. I'm a tourist.
maxim pedestrum trip t all the reg
~, sights" and. inspired to eloquence.
he added as an afterthought, "as it|
were"
..But II You VIII pardon me-" said.
swhere did you get the notion that
Lee Treis Pigeons II one Of the regu-
lar sights?
Amt It in AL the history booksY
s1co: /: don't think that It is men
l3oned in any Of the histories or even
~ guidebooks."
.sLook a-here." hessaid, taking stepl
.neafef ~. Tin oinest, now. on your
ueld. didn' more'n half them Jeanne