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

be busy nursing the wounded paw OF
their animal. At sight and smell Of
his familiars Mr.. Jones trotted up.
eagerly shifting as he came. Old Mia
aroused herself at his approach.
Pedro, you have let him loose
again. oh, careless one!" she cried;
some day he will betray you and
be of! or, worse yet, stolen"
Gross Old Nita!" 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 60
ing off by yourself, we have only TAX
en- in few pesetas all day."
you know very we'll, Aged One"
responded Pedro. that you take in
as much alone as with me. or very
nearly. And as for going off! :.
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 patois
English. the language of the road.
sometimes slipping into French, some
times back into Spanish, their talk
being as polyglot as their origin.
Nov, do you want to hear. eh?" Pc
dro asked. addressing the company.
IF SO, l 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 plan to get others 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, dont!" cried Pedro.
why do you say these things on this
night Of all nights? l cannot endure
it! Call me evil names, and abuse
me, rather! Please! 1t is almost too
hard for me to do, and yet 1 must!
Amigos! 1t is for myself only that
a ~, NJ aiming notion will NOT haI n
you. alas!"
He buried his face in his hands, and
for a moment there was an astonished
silence. Such an outburst of emotion
on the part of their joyous Pedro was
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 1t. Pedro
of my hearth"
mo, moi" he cried, raising his head.
II have not sinned, but I have seen
q line-an exquisite curve from an
oval chin to the base of white
throat"
"Ah! In Lowell" exclaimed Rico and
Anna simultaneously.
mo; again mol" cried Pedro. II do
not love 1t, but I've got to paint til"
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. Il am going to
be an artist, a painter. Don't you
understand"
The little group stirred relievedly.
This was nothing so terrible, after all.
Then for a 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?"
"The trouble comes because shall
have to leave you all" said Pedro
sadly. 81 must go to the city, where
can have the right things to work
with, and rs-colors-colors! l
must learn about them. 1t will be
hard, but l can do IT,
go away! Leave them!" Such a
clangor as they raised!
81 have tried not to do this" no
said as soon as they let him speak,
but l can't help it. The art-it
bosses me now!"
But where shall you go?" asked
Nita.
"To New York; 1t IL nearest" re-
piled Pedro.
"And how will you liver" from Car
los.
II do not know"
who will teach you?" queried Her.
mania
II do not know"
And those colors, where will you
get themr- asked Anna.
oct do not knowo