Evening star., 1922-06-25

finite barrenness of the plain, the
ridges on either side, the long,
straight. endless road cleavtnS
through ehis abo,nination of desola~
tion.
To walk through it would be a task
as dep, >ssing as. mortal could exc
cute. But to the speed-drunken mo-
torist it is a realization Of dim and
tremulous visions Of Paradise. What
need to look to the right or the left
when you are swallowing up free
mile after mile Of dixzying road?
Aristide looked neither to right nor
left. and knew this was heaven at
last
CUDDENLT, however. he became
~ aware Of a. small black spot far
ahead in the very middle of the un-
encumbered track. AS he drew near
it looked like great stone. He
swerved as he passed 1t, and. looking,
saw that it was bundle wrapped in
a striped blanket. It seemed so odd
that it should be lying there that.
his curiosity being aroused. he pulled
up and walked back few yards to
examine it. The nearer he approach
ed the less did it resemble an ordi-
nary bundle. He bent down, and 10.
between the folds Of the blanket
peeped the face Of a sleeping child.
He stared at the baby, then up
and down the road. then swept the
horizon. Not a soul was visible. How
did the baby get there? The heavens,
according to history, have rained
many things in their time: bread,
quails, blood, frogs and what not;
but there Is no mention of their ever
having rained babies. 1t could not,
therefore, have como from the clouds.
1t could not even have fallen from the
tail Of a cart, for then it would have
been killed, or at least have broken
it's bones, and generally been rem
dered a different baby from the sound,
chubby mite sleeping as peacefully
as IL the Golgotha Of Provence had
been its cradle from birth.
1t could not have come there ac-
cidentally. Deliberate hands had
laid it down. in the center Of the
road. too. Why not by the side,
track Of laundering automobiles?
When the murderous intent became
obvious. Aristide shivered and felt
sick. He breathed fierce and honest
anathema on the heads of the fiends
who had abandoned the babe to its
doom. Then he stopped and picked
up the bundle tenderly in his arms.
The wee face puckered for a mo-
ment and the wee limbs shot out
vigorously, then the dark eyes opened
and stared Aristade solemnly and
wonderinEly in the face. So must
the infant Remus have first regarded
his she-wolf mother. Having ascer-
Ing to be devoured, 1t began to cry
Justify. showing two little white
specks of teeth in the lower gum.
Mon pauvre petit, you are hun
gry." said Aristide. carrying it to the
car rackeG by the clattering engine.
II wonder when you last tasted food?
II only had little biscuit and wine
TO BlVo you, Dut. Al2S tHeTc HOtI-
ing but petrol and corn cure, neither
Of which, believe. is good for babies.
Wait, wait, mon cheri, until we get
to Salon. There promise you proper
nourishment'
i \ *
LIE danced the baby up and down in
his arms and made half-remem-
bored and insane noises, which event
ually had the effect OF reducing it to
its original calm stare of wonder
ment.
VOLTA" said Aristide. delighted.
Now We can advance"
He deposited it on the vacant seat.
clambered up behind the wheel and
started. But not at the breakneck
speed Of twenty miles an hour. He went
slowly and carefully, his heart in
his mouth at every lurch of the
afflicted automobile, fearful lest the
child should be precipitated from its
slippery resting place. But. alas! he
did not proceed far. At the end Of
a kilometer the engine stopped dead.
He leaped out to see what had
happened, and. after a few perplexed
and exhausting moments. remem-