Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-09-12

eagerly shifting as he came. Old Nita
aroused herself at his approach
Pedro, you have let him loose
again. oh, careless onei" she cried;
some day he will betray you and
be on or. worse yet. stolen
Gross Old Nitai" replied Pedro.
stepping into the lighted circle and
smiling at her. He is too fond of
me to run away-aren't you, old fell
low. Ell? What's to eat?" he inquired,
STOPPING over the kettle. Greens! Is
that all?"
There is rye bread-a single loaf"
responded Nita. Thanks to your go
ing on by yourself, we have only TAX
en- in few pesetas all day."
You know very well. Aged One"
responded Pedro, that you take in
as much alone as with me. or very
nearly And as for going on! :.
Well. have something to tell you. but
all must hear. Let us gather together
first, and eat"
So far the conversation had been in
Spanish, the native tongue of these
two. Now. as the conversation be-
came general. they fell into a patois
English. the language of the road.
sometimes slipping into French, some
times back into Spanish, their talk
being as polyglot as their origin
Now, do you want to hear. Ell ?" Pc
dro asked, addressing the company.
IF SO, I shall tell my plan
Beau-Jean replied first, in his deep,
husky voice.
Let the little one tell his notion.
The plans of Pedro have brought
many a laugh, and so many a coin
from the crowd on the market street"
My shoes will not stand another
mending," said Hermania- 'If Pedro
can tell a plan to get others 1 will
heed"
THE lad has wit; did he not con-
ceive the praying trick for Koko?"
mumbled Old Nita. Come, child.
what has thy brain devised now to
help us?"
"Oh, don't, don't!" cried Pedro.
why do you say these things on this
night of all nights? 1 cannot endure
it, Call me evil names. and abuse
me, ratheri Pleased 1t is almost too
hard for me to do, and yet 1 mustI
Amigos! 1t is for myself only that +
am planning-my notion will not help
you, alas!"
He buried his face in his hands, and
for moment there was an astonished
silence. Such an outburst of emotion
on the part of their joyous Pedro was
a thing undreamed of by any of them
Into the silence the voice of Old
Nita broke tremblingly.
Hast thou sinned, even as I. that
thou weepest so? What is it, Pedro
of my hearth"
he orio al n iS
al have not sinned, but 1 have seen
oval chin to the base of white
throat"
"Ah! In Lowell" exclaimed Rico and
Anna simultaneously.
mo; again MOI" cried Pedro. 81 do
not love it. but I've got to paint it,"
There was another interval of puz-
zled silence, broken this time by Beau
Jean.
"Oh, little Pedro" said he, what do
you mean by paint it'?"
Just that" said Pedro, striving to
conquer his emotion 81 am going to
be an artist. painter. Don't you
understand"
The little group stirred relievedly.
This was nothing so terrible, after ALL
Then for few moments all spoke at
once, voicing their relief. Hermania's
query made itself evident above the
clamor of the rest.
But why does this distress you so?
Always, always you have made pic
lures. Pictures of US all, of every
where, of everybody; always, always
scribbling little pictures upon bits of
paper! Where is the trouble?'
1.-The trouble comes because I shall
have to leave you ALL said Pedro
sadly. 81 must go to the city, where
1 can have the right things to work
with, and colors-colors-
must learn about them. 1t will be
hard. but / can do it,
"Go away! Leave them!" Such
clangor as they raised,
Il have tried not to do this" he
said as soon as they let him speak,
"but 1 can't help it The art-it
bosses me nowi''
But where shall you go?" asked
Mia.
ITO New York: it is nearest" re-
piled Pedro.
"And how will you nve7" from Car
los
IT do not know" ~
who will teach your" querfed Her
mania
Il do not know"
And those colors. where viii you
get them2" asked Anna.
II do not know"
~And knowing nothing. you are yet