Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-07

r LABEHAhDlEhE nau Come
MI this summer, as usual, to
N spend a few weeks with his
cousin, Mime. Dillaud. The
latter, a widow with two daughters,
Marthe and Lucie. lived in a pretty
country place which she owned on
the banks Of the Saone, not far from
Yillefranche.
Being a bachelor and past sixty. M
Labehardiere greatly appreciated this
stay, with his charming relatives.
And they appreciated no less the
presence of a guest 50 simple and
unaffected and always in good hu-
NOR, for it helped to relieve the
monotony of a sometimes prolonged
season in the country.
This amiable old gentlemen was Of
q curious type. Up to forty he had
lived a life of idleness. Then sud-
denly he had taken to publishing
every year a collection Of apothegms.
which he sent to his relatives and
acquaintances. Although the most
of his thoughts were commonplace or
inconsequential and 1t was unusual
to find anything beautiful or pro-
found in them, his collections made
some impression and won him. in the
circle of his relatives, the title of the
Thinker.
What always puzzled the persons
honored with the little annual was,
first. the regularity Of its production.
showing an inspiration which never
varied, and. second. that nothing in
the Thinkers conversation ever re-
vealed SO constant an aptitude for
thought. Some Of the recipients
even believe dthat the old gentleman
drew his ideas, from a manuscript
which he had accidently discovered
or from some old volume he had pur-
chased at a second hand bookshop.
THE two younger cousins were very
curious on this point. They were
eager to get to the bottom of the
mystery, for they didn't doubt that
their elderly relative had a secret.
with q freedom which their youth snd
charm excused, they often badgered
him on the subject, plying him with
questions which he answered with the
greatest vagueness. Repuised in their
attacks, they never confessed them
selves beaten, and one day they ven
tured to 30 = little further than usual.
revealing to him the slightest suppo-
sitions which some persons were un-
kind enough to indulge in. This ma
neuver bore fruit. Labehardiere, ac-
cused Of plagiarism, was touched to
the quick.
"Ah!" he cried. 'Is that what they
say about me? Well, am going to
disprove the calumny. I. will work
before you. and you will be able here
after to defend me from such an in
famous accusation. Call your mother.
want her also as a witness"
Followed by Nine. Dillaud and her
daughters, he returned to his room.
He seated them about table and
then went to a box. from which he
lifted out green bag-dlled with
wooden objects to judge from the
sound they made-placing 1t on the
table top with the gravity Of q pontin
engaged In q holy ONCE.
He opened the mouth Of the bag and
asked Nine. Dillaud to put her hand
In and draw out n little block. She
obeyed and gave the square which
she extracted to Labehardiere.
ut is your turn now" he said to
Zach If the dau1hters
All three were highly mystifed and
wondered IL the old gentleman was
not playing q trick on them. But he
remained perfectly serious
eve will begin with simple
thought" he said. arranging before
him the three squares. on which were
pasted printed words cut out Of some
|nswspapsr.
He Rad. slowiys
.Hssrt. poiitsnsss. >dsnsvoisnes
with these three words We can maka
a thought This II how II u dons