The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-11-06
CHAPTER |.
OF lntroductlons.

bIo iutIOuuCeu, VINO never really meet,
said Pedro, that II seems q pity those
who could meet have to wait for an
Introduction, eh?"
Mr.. Jones stopped licking his front
paws, and raised his head, the tip of
his nose twitching attentively. For
several moments he looked at Pedro
with an unwavering stare, and then,
,as though suddenly remembering what
he had been about, resumed the lava
tOrial process. 1t might be mentioned
brown bear. fat. young and intelligent
Pedro rolled over In the dried yell
low grass. luxuriating In its warmth,
and In the poignant odor of autumn
foliage turned to flame by long alb
sorption Of the summer sun. To the
youth lying in the stubby grass life
seemed Just now to hold all too many
possibilities, and he was filed with a
sort OF self-pity, because he could not
grasp them all.
Although It was only mid-afternoon
he had already stolen away from Beau
Jean, Rico and the others, in order
to fight out the battle OF an impor-
tant decision In privacy. But now
that he was alone with his problem
and his bear he found himself afraid
Of the former. and to put off the evil
moment when he must think in good
earnest he talked to the animal. The
lad reached out a slim, brown hand
and took up one of the newly laved
paws.
"How do you do, Mr.. Jones?" said
he solemnly. II am delighted to meet
you!-That's how they do it, Ell? Now.
call 1t silly that some one has to say
a charm before two others are permit
ted to make an inquiry after the
health! What do you think, Mr..
Jones?"
thrust his nose into the boys palm.
"Ah! knew you would agree" ex-
claimed Pedro. He gave the crea-
lures ear an affectionate tweak and
then spread his slender length upon
the ground again.
aloud, you should have seen her, Mr..
Jones; she had red hair. Not horrid
red, but red-gold ike-like Joy! All
crisp and curling 1t was. And such a
beautiful pale face. She looked at me,
you must know. but l did not dare to
speak, because she would not have an
swered. and that would have been a
tragedy. Why should she speak to a
ragged young man to whom she had
never been introduced? or course,
she would not! wish she had.
though, because l liked her .
But I could look at her. That was
something! There was line, amigo
milo, from her chin to the base Of
her throat-ah!"
He rolled over again, burying his
face in his folded arms. One long
sigh escaped him, and then a second,
for the mention of that beautiful line
from breast to chin had reawakened
his subdominant problem-the prob
lem OF his future, and of his life work.
Happy as he was. he could no longer
put OF decision regarding 1t. The
craving to get at the occupation near
est his heart had been gathering
strength these many months past and
was now straining at the leashes of
his will, tearing him from one dearly
loved way Of life to another, scarcely
tried. yet which called him ceaselessly.
Was he to continue free-(a mere
dancer of bears) but free? Or should
he at last become a painter, chained
TO his work by ties as strong as those
which held his bear. for all they would
be invisible?
Before his mental vision arose the
phantom Of what he would fain inter-
pref and depict The spires Of
Gties, smoke from the affairs of COM
MERGE. teeming multitudes of men
and women. Shops, lights, color,
movement, broad boulevards adorned
by the equipages Of the rich; narrow
alleys where the poor jostled and bar
tered at push-carts in the murky flare
Of lamps; visions Of broad roof-tops,
spreading acre on acre, mile on mile
a veritable ocean of roofs stretching
far as eye could see, covering more
pain and passion than the heart could
know. more colored with Joy than the
hand could depict.
But how could he let go the inf
mite variety of every day? All! he
could not; 1t was IMPOSSIBLE! Re-
nounce the long. white road that led
To nowhere, yet which brought one to
q new place each hour? Renounce
che nights spent beneath the open
heavens: the sweet summer nights
among the meadow flowers; the win
ter twilights. when he and the bear
covered down together in the hay Of
. lonely barn, OF II they were rich,
procured the privilege of q tavern
Kitchen with the spoils OF the eve
ning's performance! Oh, blessed days
OF journeying among simple adven-
lures. tramping all through the noon,
or loafing long hours and dreamingl
Now. 1t was = group of children. laugh
ing for. gles at Mr.. Jones' dancing.
thaU n rurfc.so croud In a onrdfd viI