The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-11-06
The Impossible Boy
By

(learned 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. All!
those were the gay nights!
Past the last few months his
thoughts few back to journeyings far
and wide: white roads of Lorraine, a
where Mr.. 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 stencil,
and then at last the dying Of the en-
gine-throb, the crowding and the JOS
Ting, and the great rush out upon the
shore of some new land. On such a
voyage 1t was that Carlos and HERNIA
MIA had joined them, bringing Gin
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
1t 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 it up. And yet. this other
call, which had been with him, 1t
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
Il will go!" said Pedro shudderingly.
Then, as If shedding the past, he
squared his shoulders.
"Come!" said he to the animal. 1--WE
shall return to camp and tell them
what we are going to do"
Not until he was within hundred
yards of the road did Pedro realize
that he had been trespassing on what
now evinced itself to be a 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 a closed gate, flanked by
pillars Of old brick and soapstone, CIV
ing access to narrow footpath which
wound along at the base Of the hill
he had just crossed.
Apparently he had been dreaming
away the afternoon upon the farming
section of the place. The sloping
ground which lay between him and the
hedge was smooth and soft, and tempt
ed by it. Mr.. Jones lay down and
rolled a 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 =
sound of pattering footsteps from It
and the swish OF light garments.
Through the somber evergreens Pedro
could see CLEAN OF white. moving
swiftly. Then came the noise of heav-
Ter tramping-a mans step this time
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
staff like a cudgel, set of down the
slope at run. reaching the hedge
only a 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
ened tramp was speeding from the ter
rifying and wholly unexpected appa-
rition of the bear, 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 alameda girl whom
the last sunbeams bathed in glory,
cleaning on her hair that was red
gold, like JOY" And to complete the
picture, there stood Mr.. Jones, erect
upon his hind legs, his tongue lolling
out and his clumsy paws waving from
her to Pedro.
1t was an introduction.
That she was almost as much
frightened by the bear as by the
tramp, whose attempted robbery the
animals sudden appearance had frus-
trated, was clear. At sight Of Pedro
she screamed again.
"Oh! the bearl Help. help! oh,
take him away!" she cried.
"Abas!" said Pedro sharply. address
ing his pet. But Mr.. Jones did not
ohov inmediafolv ond FOR a ynorcant