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

ARE introduced, who never really meet, .
said Pedro, that it seems 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 attentiyely. For
several moments he looked at Pedro
with an unwaverfng stare. and then,
as though suddenly remembering what
he had been about, resumed the lava
torial process. 1t might be mentioned
in passing that Mr.. Jones was a small
brown bear. fat. young and intelligent
Pedro rolled over in the dried yell
low grass, luxuriating~ In it's warmth,
and In the poignant odor of autumn
foliage turned to flame by long abb
sorption of the summer SUM- To the
youth lying in the stubby grass life
seemed just now to hold all too many
possibilities, and he was filled with
sort of self-pity. because he could not
grasp them all.
Although 1t 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
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. 81 am delighted to meet
you!-Thats how they do it, Ell? Now,
. sill &I,.k hoe 60
charm before two others are permit
ted to make an inquiry after the
health What do you think, Mr..
Jones 2"
The bear gave little grunt and
thrust his nose into the boys palm.
"Ah! l 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.
Il liked that GIRL he continued
aloud. you should have seen her, Mr..
Jones: she had red hair. Not horrid
red, but red-gold ike-like joyi All
crisp and curling it was. And such
beautiful pale face. She looked at me,
you must know, but 1 did not dare to
speak, because she would not have an
swered. and that would have been a
tragedy. Why should she speak to
ragged young man to whom she had
never been introduced? OF course,
she would notI wish she had,
though, because 1 liked her
but l could look at her. That was
isomething! There was a line, amigo
mic. from her chin to the base of
iher throat-ahi"
He rolled over again, burying his
face in his folded arms. One long
sigh escaped him. and then ., 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 off a decision regarding it. The
craving to get at the occupation near
est his heart had been gathering
strength these many mouths 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 free2 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
De lnNlSlDl6!
Before his mental vision arose the
phantom of what he would fain inter-
tpret and depict The spires of
icities. smoke from the affairs of COM
merce. 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
Ia 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 day3 All, he
could not; it was impossible! Re
nounce the long. white road that led
to nowhere. yet which brought one to
q new place each hour? Renounce
the 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, or IL they were rich.
procured the privilege of a 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 dreaming I