The Spectator., 1914-11-13

Qearned in Paris), to the accompani- ment of uproarious applause; and the harvest was rich, thrown clinking into the apron of Old Nita, one of the little | troupe to which he belonged. An! those were the gay nights!
 Past the last few months his thoughts flew back to journeyings far and wide: white roads of Lorraine, a theatrical little village near Naples, where Mir. Jones had worsted rival in combat for honors on a market day; Holland, where the bear had stolen the little wooden shoe from the tulip | selling girl, and where they met the gigantic Beau-Jean, and he, with his wife. Guneviere, and the great, grizzly KokO had joined them. That made a company of six. for already there was Rico, his bear and his Anna, and Nita-that wicked Old Nita, who danced the "coQuette" herself when they, bears and all, went late one | night to the Bal Bodin in Montmartre. How funny she had looked. dancing, with her shapeless old mouth a-smil- ing!
 Tramp steamers! The smell of them came sharply across the autumn wind. Weeks of motion and of stench, | and then at last the dying of the en- gine-throb. the crowding and the jos tling. and the great rush out upon the shore of some new land. On such a voyage 1t was that Carlos and Herma- mia had joined them, bringing a cin- namon bear
 Where had not these eight been what roads they had travelled together under sun and moon!
 This host of memories Pedro felt in their essence, in a single breath. as it were, bereft of detail save for some picture-of small incident or two, | trivial, but never to be forgot. The | heart of that past life he held for a moment in his own. No! no! he could not give 1t up. And yet. this other call, which had been with him. it would seem, since birth, was now grown too strong for resistance Be fore his eyes he must see the thought of his heart depicted by the labor of his brain and hand He must paint! He was an artist. an artist.
 q will go!" said Pedro shudderingly. Then, as if shedding the past. he | squared his shoulders.
 "Come!" said he to the animal. We shall return to camp and tell them l x1yh fn In
 Not until he was within a hundred yards of the road did Pedro realize that he had been trespassing on what now evinced itself to be country estate of some pretensions: and at this point the fact was made manifest by the sight of a cedar and fir hedge. Near by was closed gate. fianked by pillars of old brick and soapstone, giv- ing access to a narrow footpath which wound along at the base of the hill he had just crossed.
 Apparently he had been dreaming | section of the place. The sloping ground which lay between him and the hedge was smooth and soft, and tempt | ed by it, MT. Jones lay down and rolled little way. Then he got up and trotted on some distance in ad- vance of his master. The road was very near now. and there came a sound of pattering footsteps from 1t and the swish of light garments. Through the somber evergreens Pedro could see a gleam of white. moving swiftly. Then came the noise of heav- a man in haste at that. Then a wom' an screamed, her frightened cry ring ing out sharply.
 The bear. moved to curiosity by the sound, plunged through the hedge and disappeared, and Pedro, grasping his stan like a cudgel. set on down the slope at a run, reaching the hedge only moment later than the bear. The fragrant branches whipped across the boys face as he rushed past emerging breathless upon the high way. A dramatic scene awaited him.
 Down the road thoroughly fright ensd tramp was speeding from the ter rifying and wholly unexpected appa' rition of the bear. a cloud of dust en- veloping his mortified retreat. Close to the gateway. her purse clasped fran tically to her bosom, stood a girl. be- wildered and alarmed-a girl whom the last sunbeams bathed in glory. gleaming on her hair that was red gold. liko joy" And to complete the picture. there stood Mir. Jones. erect upon his hind legs, his tongue lolling out and his clumsy paws waving from her to Pedro.
 IL was an introduction.
 That she was almost as much frightened by the bear a by the tramp. whose attempted robbery the animals sudden appearance had frus- trated. was clear. At sight of Pedro she screamed again.
 ''Oh! the bear! Help help! Oh, take him aWayi" ahe cried