Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17


such loving language, it not
to win ones heart?
Old Perraut had dissembed his regard for the
sailor A pity he viewed life so carelessly, the brave
hearted Baldwin. So excellent in many respects, if he
had but little ambition for himself! If he but har-
kened little for the worlds opinon But such mani
Sometimes old Perraut wished that his motherless
Claire would disregard all his worldly homies, fall in
love with the rugged Baldwin, and marry him.
Baldwin himself maintained no such exalted hopes.
fine husband he'd make after his riotous years! But
he had friend, recently detailed to the yard and this
friend he could recommend; and this friend Harty chief
wireless OPERATOR came to be the most regular OF
all Saturday night attendants at old PerrauS store.
1t on Saturday nights that the unmarried foreman
the breakwater job came up to old Perrault. If
YOU stood we'll with the old fellow, likely not he
would ask you to the house of Sunday afternoon, and
then YOU could sit around and rest your eyes the
lovely Claire while she played the piano.
One might think that old Perrault, who casually
picked his company, careless sort of parent; but
So witness his questioning of Baldwin, when it
began to dawn him that this wireless operator
becoming distinguished member of the Sunday after
parties and the bosns mate, who revered old
Perrault but who also thought lot of his friend Harry,
spoke judicously.
Hes all right he replied old Perrault "all right
Yes, l know he used to drink an generally wild
once; but he's that Oh, sure all over that now.
TT was beginning to look like Harry for Perraults son
in law, when Bowen along. Bowen the
expert who to overhaul the wireless plant in the
yard. An easygong but wideawake sort, Bowen, who
seemed to have been everywhere and could talk of where
he had been talk without end emitting to add the
intimate little touches that you never found in guide
books. He captured old Perraut at the first assault
Old Perraut from behind his counter happened to catch
a stray word, listened looked up, and noting the ami
mated features signaed the newcomer to out of
the crowd One minute later he had put the vital ques
ton, Had Mr. Bowen ever been to Paris?
To Paris! Bowen started to touch the end of finger
for every time he had been to Paris.
Old Perrault could not wait for him to finish "And
the Champs Elysees Mr. Bowen you have been there?"
"The Champs Elysees? If had a dollar, Nj seu Per-
rault-"
"Eh?7 The old man wanted to hear him say that
M seu in just that way again. "If you had dol
lar Mr.. Bowen?'
Bowen understood. "Yes if had dollar Nj sieu for
every time sat of those chairs inside the side
wain under the trees, you know, Nj seu-and watched
the go by Talk about auos There the place for
autos coming down from that big Napoleon Arch! Some
arch that, isn't it? 1t assuredly is And down from
there the Place de la Concorde and back again around
the arch and onto the Bos And there's sight for
too To sit out the Bots sidewalk, sieu your chair
almost under the bushes, and watch those cabs and
autos In the late afternoon, coming dark! Count
them? No than you could count fire1ies of an
evening in the West Indies-ike string of light"
Mon Den! Come to the inner room, if you please,
Sir and tell me What good angel that has sent
you here Twenty five years since have my Paris.
And the Tuieries, my friend, is it vet the same?'
"Just the same, NJ seu million bare legged children
with short white socks running wild, and another half
a million nurses with white caps running wild after EN-.
And the Eiffel Tower! But that's since your time,
Nj 'sieu Perraut?"
"Ahh-but have not heard? Continue, continue,
ii you please, Sir You bring strange joy to my heart.