El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-04
By Henri DuveTn0is-
tLw~ HAT is your Manner
NA/ 'Maschedruc."
rur. r.---,rso,- -eFcrr

NJ 'Maschedruc."
The brigadier raised his
head. 1t was difficult to believe the
bearer Of such a name innocent espe-
cially when he possessed a low fore
head, pointed ears and heavy jaw
He was dressed in rags.
perhaps you did not take the purse.
The lady gives an entirely different
description of the thief, but try to get
another pair Of trousers. do you under
stand? One sees the skin Of your legs
everywhere. You may go now"
And Maschedruc went away with
sDarl- Why should he have stolen
purse? He was alone in the world, had
never tasted liquor; water was good
enough for him. Besides. there were so
/ few ideas in his brain, that the idea Of
| stealing had never occurred to him.
! Thieves are not so poorly dressed. He
was just q Partisan vagrant who knew
nothing Of Paris but the PLACES where
one may sit down on a bench to eat
some scrap of unenticing food and
where one may sleep without being dis
I turbed.
Look out there, you bundle OF rags"
An automobile almost touched him
and Maschedruc hurried his steps. For
the first time In his life he had ven
tured into Rue de Ia PaiX, and had been
arrested in a crowd when lady com
planned of having had her purse stolen.
He went hOmeWard, toward his sOrdid
avenues full Of foul doors, ending in a
trampled down field The setting was
in harmony with his silhouette. Nobody
noticed MIN here IN spite OF mis- rags
his dirty face and his gnarled cane
But while he was on his way
strange faintness OTercame him. When
tiOn he felt like a hungry animal that
has for a moment tasted the horrors Of
a cage. He was hungry and hot and
thirsty and his feet hurt him.
Then the idea came TO him TO 90 into
a museum. It would be cool and rest
ful in there. Since he had felt the
hand Of the sergeant de Vile on his
collar, he was struggling with strange
problems-they had no right to arrest
him, they could not forbid him to so
into a museum, for the museums be-
long TO everybody. The injustice he
had suffered had made him think OF his
rights He went inside.
First he felt like lying down In the
shade on top Of an Egyptian sarcOpha-
gus and 90 to sleep there. But one
must not sliced either on the benches
or in the public libraries or In the
squares Of museums He knew that
much He might as well sleep walk
he found himself in a picture gal
lery, where it was less pleasant than in
the cool and quiet story below, but he
was alone here, too, at least. he sat
down and tried to keep his eyes open,
so as to keep well within his r4gnls-
And for the first time in his lie, ne
looked at a painting.
1t was q pastel from the eighteenth
century and represented young glrl
with beautiful mouth cruel eyes ana
an innocent forehead Her waist was
Of red silk and her hair was tied with
a simple ribbon Her whole expression
spoke Of the pleasure Of living, the JOY
Of being young and Mascnedruc nau
the mad idea to send her kiss But
he did not know how. his awkward
lips touched his Clenched fist To look
at her seemed TO him strange JOY.
He had never really looked at anything
before, never felt like looking at any
thing neither illuminated windows, nor
the show cases Of the jewelers., nor the
money displayed in the windows or me
money changers, nor even at women
He had never seen anything but the
road in front of him, nor been con
sciOus of anything but Of his feet that
hurt him. Now the idea Of stealing en-
tered his mind, the instructive Idea OF
a child, that takes what il wants. IL
was only a moment He took down the
painting, hid it under his cape and
walked out slowly.
The museum seemed all asleep and
no guards stopped the TagranL once
outside he picked up a piece Of paper
and wrapped up his booty Not Tor a
moment did he think Of selling it. No.
He had a vague feeling that he wanted
this painting, and he took II. BuI
where was he to put it, He bought
some newspapers in the evening ana
sold them on the bOulevards. making a
little over three francs on the transac-
ton and hired a "cubicle" for the night
in an obscure lodging mouse As soon
he was alone, he took down the MIR
rOr hanging on the wall and pHlg the
painting in its place Then ne took
bottle of brandy from his pocket and
. In
until he was nearly out Of breath, ne
took a piece of chalk and drew mus
tache on the pOrtraitIhe erect seenee
so funny that he laughed as ne naQ
never laughed before. Then he thought
of the unusual luxury Of a bed, looked /
at it. then at his dirty clothes, turned
out the light and laid down on the
floor, where he fell asleep Immediately
He did not wake UP until about
o'clock next morning, when the sunlight
called him back to life instead or the
usual baton of q policeman he en-
loved the happiness Of being all alone
in a real room. Then he shuddered.
This disgusting figure with the DLOou-
shot eyes and tangled hair that he saw
in the mirror standing against the wall
next to him, was that really nee he
remembered the painting.
His paintingl
He said good morning to it and felt
strangely sad. The young girl smiled
at him through her musuache- seized I
with reno he took a towel and
wiped away the mustache
Now, my beauty, you have had your
morning shavel"
He sat down on the edge Of the bed /
and looked at the painting. It was as I
If his eyes were thirsty and that the I
sight Of this young face relieved their |
thirst AIaschedruc began to nod at |
the picture, little friendly mods.
you might at least answer me- he /
said.
The portrait indeed seemed to respond !
to his greetings.
Everybody else used to shun him, but /
this young girl actually smiled at him. /
She smiled to him. to him alone for he /
had carried her off and she belonged to /
him alone now 1t was as If there !
were a bit Of contempt in her smile. but I
what did that matter. She was his and I
his heart sweIed with the pride and 4
joy Of possession
He searched the inmOst recesses OF !
his brain for endearing words long - /
forgotten. strong and tender words TO /
express his love.
Il