Evening star., 1922-06-25

Aristide otherwise than raSh! dao
prudence been his guiding principle
through life he would not have been SELL
ing corn cure for the Maison Hieropath.
and consequently would not have dis
covered the child at all.
! In great delight at this satisfactory
settlement Of little jeans destiny, he
started the ramshackle engine and drove
triumphently on his way. Jean. fatigued
| by the emotions OF the last half hour,
slumbered peacefully.
THE little angel" said Aristide
The sun was shining when they
arrived at Salon. the gayest, the most
coQuettish, the most laughing little
| town in Provence. It is a. place all
| trees and open spaces and fountains
and cafes and sauntering people. The
only thing grim about it Is the solt-
tary machicclated tower in the main
street. the last vestige of ancient
ram parts; and even that. close
cudd'ed on each side by prosperous
houses with shops beneath, looks like
! an old, old, wrinkled grandmother
smiling amid her daintier grandchil-
dren. Every one seemed to be in
the open air. Those who kept shops
| stood at the doorways The prospect
augured well for the Maison Hero
path
ArtistiJe stopped before a hotel,
disentangled Jean, to the mild inter-
est Of tho passers-by. and. carrying
him in. delivered him into the arms
of the landlady.
Madame" he said, this is my son
I am taking him from his mother
who is dead. to an aunt who Is an
invalid. So he Is alone on my hands
He is very hungry. and 1 beseech
you to feed him at once"
The motherly woman received the
babe instinctively and cast aside the
travelling rug in which he was en-
veloped. Then she nearly dropped
him.
Mon Dieu! Quest-ce que c'est que
ca?
She stared in stupefaction at the
stocking cap and at tho long flannel
pajama legs that depended from the
body Of the infant around whose
neck the waist was tightly drawn
Never since tho world began had
babe maSqueraded in such attire
Aristide smiled his most engaging
smile.
my sons luggage has unfortunate
ly been lost His portmanteau
pauvre petit was 50 small. A poo,
widower, did what I could. 1 an
but a mere man, madame"
Evidently" said the woman with
some asperity.
A RIsT1DE took; a louis from hi
"A purse "If you will purchast
him some necessary articles Of cos
tume. while fulfill my duties towart
the Maison Hieropath Of Marseilles
which I represent, you will be doinl
me q kindness" Tho landlady tool
the louis in a bewildered fashion
Allowing for the babys portmantea,
to have gone astray. what, she asked
Ihad become of tho clothes he mus
have been wearing? Aristide en-
tered upon a picturesque and reaiis
tic explanation. Tho lansllady wal
stout, was stupid. could not grasl
the fantastic
Mon Dieu! she said. ITO thinl
that there are Christians who dres'
their children like this!' She siShe<
exhaustively, and. holding the gro
tesous infant close to her breast
disappeared Indignantly to admins
ter the very greatly needed mother
ment.
land after q well earned de5eunel
went forth with the car into th'
place des Arbres and prepared Il
My his trade. First he unfurled th'
Hieropath banner. which fioated
proudly in the breeze. Then on !,
folding table he displayed his col
lection Of ointment boxes (togethel
| with pills and . toothache kille
which he sold on his own account
land q waxed model Of q human foo
on which were grated putty corn
!, in every stage Of callosity.
I AZ soon as half . dosen idlers col
tlscted he commenced his harangue
when their number increased he per
formed prodigies Of chiropody on tn,
Iputty corns, and demonstrated th,
proper application Of the cure. n
| talked incessantIy Ill the while.