Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-03-18

| IL WOulu surely crush the dwelllnH IN us
fall, If ever any accursed Labortle presumed
to lay sacrilegious hand upon it.
"Oh. yes, it is pricelcss!" sneered the
carpenter when Luke came to confide in
him all these superstitions. And he scorn
fully added:
But, my dear fellow on no condition
now would give you my daughter; you
are too much of simpleton for nef'
Luke felt his jaws clenching, and went
home again. And one day he saw II young
man. his rival, also cap in hand, enter the
dwelling of Bouise's father
God save mel He is going to ask her
hand" exclaimed Luke. And he gi2ed AT
the pine tree with savage eyes.
Louise, sometimes in the evening, when
the wind was lispiug tender things up
yonder in the slender boughs of the pine
Louise, pensive and pale, would look un
utterahle things in Lukc's direction. But
lo Luke would look at nothing but the
patriarchal pine tree and he would enter
his dwelling again shivering as if the snow
had fallen upon his heart. He no longer
slept. He grew thin. The i'll cultivated
lands yielded but scanty harvests.
The young man-hs rival-was constant
ly going to the carpenters house. One day
Luke said to himself;
"What if it be true after all that ] am
but a simpleton?"
He grew thinner. He became rough and
spoke ungentle words to the oxen. When
Louise's voice reached his ear he started rs
if he had heard the cannon thunder.
One night, as he lay awake, he heard
Louise weeping in the orchard. Another
time he heard-yes, distinctly heard-the
sound of a kiss
AN, the other young man is lcavingp'
Luke leaped up. His eyes were starting
out of his head and he was blowing like a
northeast wind
"Now, then" he said, running to the car
penter's house, "cut it down if you will
give it to you" And thus saying he sank
down into chair
1t was not too late. And Louise wept for
joy. Yes, she would be Nine Luke La
borde. Luke wept also.
And the pine tree? 1t was laid low IA
few days aiterward, and it was Cazade
the carpenter, who managed the affair
Four stout ropes were fastened to the top
of the tree: and two men, with naked
arms and barred Threats, breathing TEN.
pestuously, attacked it with dreadful
force, setting at it with their broad iron
axes, keeping time as they struck.
Luke, trembling, stationed himself Il
hundred PAGES from the tree and king
on at the monstrous murder. he started at
each blow of the AK as if they were strik
ing into his flesh. The tree still stood
erect, with scarcely tremor. And the
fragments of wood which flew from its
open sides came forth yellow, came forth
bleeding, while dilfusng over the murder
ers their invigorating and resinous odor.
One hour-two hours-three hours, and
the axes ate their way. The tree resisted
still. At the sight great drops of perspira-
ton stood on Luke's brow. Yes, he had
seen his father die, and his grandfather
and an uncle, but never had he suffered
anguish like this.
All of sudden the tree sent forth it's
complaint 1t was an indstinct cry at first
brief and almost inaudible. But gradu-
ally increasing in length and gathering
force it grew mournful, causing one to
shudder with horror.
Oh, the cry of the pinel Luke stopped
up his ears. Bitter was the cry; and at
each stroke its whole bulk throbbed mourn
fully, like dying man gasping for breath.
In the agony of death it sent forth a cry.
and was already leaning over.
"Fleel feel' shouted Luke; 1T will
crush us allr'
And he ran-ran instinctively, fearing
that the tree in its fall would stretch forth
its Infatuated branches like elastic claws
and crush in a last embrace all the pyg-
mics who were causing its death. On he
ram
Suddenly long drawn out moan-a
moan in which one seemed to hear the tear
ing away of plant soul. Luke, terrified.
beheld yonder the vanquished pine totter
on its base and making great wind with
its despairing branches fall staggering.
with a crash as of shattered bones.
well, thou simple one!' put in the car
penter with loud laugh, thou seest
plainly that it has not revenged itself"
And Luke discovered with amazement
that the dwelling and it's inmates still
existed.
And on the day of the wedding the pine
tree lay PROSTATE with russell boughs and
motlonless trunks-nor yet did any catas-
trophe happen. And a year later, when
Luke found himself the father of pretty,
rose colored doll of babe, whose artless
glances seemed to make stars dawn in his
heart the lfeless body of the PINE which
was drying in his father-in- laws timber
yard, no longer interfered.
But three years after-powerful saws
had cut up the old tree into goodly beams
fragrant with perfume-a strange rumor
suddenly ran forth. A Spaniard had
brought the cholera into the land. There
were already three victims in the village.
Luke felt his very locks moist with ter
ror. Where is it now-the protecting
tree' The tree which, with its compass
sionate boughs of foliage, dispelled the
noxious miasma Of the skies?
Still another sufferer from cholera. quite
close to his dwelling. Luke shuddered.
"Oh, God" he stammered out, Save us
from the pine tree!''
An insprationl He ran to his father-in
laws dwelling.
Give me some Of it's planks," he said.
81 will make bedstead of them-it will
protect u.s."
81 have no more" replied the carpenter.
"See, this is all have left"
Luke observed certain pieces of white
wood, out of which Cazade was construct
ing a kind of long box
And with these you are making'-
tsked Luke, very pale.
"Canst thou not see' A coffinp
Luke uttered preat crv