Evening star., 1922-06-25
BY w. J. LOCKE


r + +
THE English lady held Jean out eop
the paternAl goodnight. Aristide
kissed the child in her arms. The ac-
tion brought about. for the moment,
. curious and sweet intimacy.
My sister Is passionately fond OF
children" said the elder lady. in smi-
Ing apology.
And your
Il, too. But Anne-my sister-WiN
not let me have a chance when she
is BY"
After dinner Aristide went up, as
usual, to his room to see that Jean
was alive, painless and asleep. Find
ing him awake. he sat by his side and.
with the earnestness Of q nursery
maid, patted him on to slumber The1.
he crept out on tiptoe and went down
stairs. Outside the hotel he CAM
upon the two sisters sitting on Il
bench and drinking coffee. The nigh
was fine. the terraces OF the neigh
boring cafes were filled with people
promenaded up and down the wide
and pleasant avenue.
The ladies smiled. How was the boy?
He gave the latest news. Permission
to join them at their coffee was gra-
ciously given. A waiter brought
chair and he sat down. Conversation
drifted from the baby to general
topics. The ladies told the simple
story OF their tour. They had been
to Nice and Marseilles. and they were
going on the next day to Avignon
They also told their name-Honey
wood. He gathered that the elder
was Janet. the younger Anne. They
lived at Chislehurst when they were
in England, and often came up TO
London to attend the Queens Hal
concerts and the dramatic perform
ances at His Majesty's Theater. As
guileless, though as self-reliant, gen
tlewomen as sequestered England
could produce. Aristide impression
able and responsive. fell at once into
the key OF their talk He has told
me that their society produced OF
him the effect of The cool hands Of
saints against his cheek
A last the conversation inevitably
returned to Jean. The landlady
had related the tragic history Of the
dead mother and the invalid aunt.
They deplored the orphaned state OF
the precious babe. For he was prec-
ious. they declared. Miss Anne had
taken him to her heart
III only you had seen him in his
bath, Janet"
She turned to Aristide. I'm afraid
she said. very softly. hesitating a lit
tle-"rm afraid this must be a sad
journey for you"
He made q wry mouth. The sym
pathy was SO sincere, SO womanly.
That which was generous in him re-
volted against acceptance.
'Madsmoiselle," said he. II can play
= farce with landladies-it happens to
be convenfent-in fact, necessary. But
with you-no. You are different Jean
Is not my child. and who his parents
are I've not the remotest idea"
Not your child?" They looked al
him incredulously.
said he.
Jeans history was related in all its
picturesque details; the horrors Of the
life Of an enfant trouve luridly de-
picted. The sisters listened with tears
in their foolish eyes, Behind the
tears Anne's grew bright. When he
had finished she stretched out her
hand impulsively.
'-oh. call 1t splendid Of you
He took the hand and, In his grace
full French fashion. touched It with his
lips. She flushed, having expected, in
, her English way. that ne would grasp
II.
Your communication. mademoiselle.
| is sweet to hear" said he.
II hope he will grow up to be true
comfort to you. NJ. Pujol." said Miss
Janet.
'I can understand a woman doing
what you've done, but scarcely .
| man." said Miss Anne
But, dear mademoiselle" cried
Aristide. with a large gesture. can
not q man have his heart touched, his
l-his-ses entrailles, enfin-stirred by
baby fingers? Why should love of the
helpless and the innocent be denied
him?"
why, indeed?- said Miss Janet
Miss Anne said, humbly: II only
meant that your devotion to Jean was
all the more beautiful. NJ. Pujol.'
| Soon after this they parted, the
night air having grown chill. Both
ladies shook hands with him warmly
Anne's hand fingered the fraction OF q
second longer in his than Janet's.
| A RISTIDE wandered down the gay
"A avenue into Tho open road and
looked at the stars, reading IN Their
splendor a brilliant destiny for Jesg
He felt, in his sensitive way, that the
two sweet-souled Englishwomen had
deepened and sactifed his love for
Jean. When he returned to the hotel he
kissed his incongruous roommate with
the Eentleness OF a woman.
| In the morning he went round 10
the garage. The foreman mechanician
advanced to meet him.
| well"
'rhsre is nothing TO be done, mon
sieur"
What do. you mean by nothing to
be done'?" asked Aristide.
The other shrugged his sturdy
shoulders.
She is worn out. She needs new