The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-01-22
HOW MICHAU KEPT
HIS vow
CLINTON DaNGERFIELD


cried Michau iiercely. an almost canine
curl of his upper lip showing his strong
white teeth. Il viii never. pardieu.
set foot on your land-never,'
Then" retorted lie Hardy coolly.
you are likely TO remain where you
are forever. monsieur For how can
you escape from your house without
setting foot on my land. seeing that
last nights ayalanche hsIs set your
cottage in the very middle OF my teld:''
Il will die where amr' snarled
Michau. And he meant it.
Never in the history of the canton
had Antoine Michau broken his word
When lie Hardy had besought Michau
10 give him the latter's golden haired
Jeanne Marie the angry father had not
only posted the girl of 10 her aunt in
the village below the great mountain
on which Michau and I.c Hardy dwelt.
but lac had forbidden lie Hardy TO be
seen on his property.
All CT this because of an ancient
fcud between the Michaus and the lie
HarGys.
Therefore it may be fancied what
Michau felt when fate. pleasantly iron
ic. sent an avalanche which deposited
the Michau cottage in the center of
lie Hardy's little farm.
1t had happened just before day
break that very morning. Luckily for
lie Hardy himself his own cottage was
not damaged. il being ON the edge AT
one side His asionishment when he
discovered the plight of the irate par
ent soon gave way TO glee when lie
thought how neatly Michau would be
forced TO forswear himself But Mi
cliau had no such intention. AS he
could not fly or lay a bridge across
ana as his provisions would not last
two days. he srimly prepared TO slarve,
an arrangement which Lemprierc. lie
IIardy's special friend, advised the low
er to encourage.
For when the old fox is dead of his
own folly" chuckled Lempriere. its
thou who shall console the pretty
Jeanne Marie
But lie Hardy. eating his own ample
meals. could not enjoy them for think
ing of Michau's rapidly diminishing
iarder. on the noon of the second day
he filed tray with food and carried it
himself TO Michau's door.
VOLTA. mon voisin." said the young
fellow good temperedly. Thou must
not starve. / will share with thee
while thou remainest in thy chicken
coop. Thou art welcome to it,
"Au diable with thee and thy wei
COME" yelled the enraged Michau. and
- II H.. a
perfect shower of porridge, poaehed
eggs and bits OF bread. Lempriere
from a safe distance doubled himself
UP in his efforts TO suppress his conyul-
sivc JOY.
Now witt believe me-" asked be as
the lover hurriediy retreated.
To his surprise. the young man burst
into a fit of laughter.
What a tableau"' he said. holding
his sides. After all. though. one must
admit the old rascal has spiritr
That night AIichau slept but i'll. Hun
ger gnawed at his vitals till he rolled in
! agony. but lie chung sullenly 10 his de
! termination. Over and over he repeat
cd himself that tie neighbors should
see OF what stuff Michau was made.
+ COMMON sense did whisper in his ear
that such Il course was TO leave the
field free TO Ie Hardy; but. though he
ground his teeth and admitted it, yet he
had no thought of yielding.
Dawn came. and the old man arose
and tottercd out on his tiny porch.
There surprising sight met his view.
Lc Hardy was standing close beside
the steps. painting and resting on the
handle of broad shovel. From the
steps TO the. outer edge of the field
which marked the confines Of lie Iiar-
dy'S property ran a narrow trail of
fresh soft earth richly dark and about
an inch thick
What DEVILS folly hast thou Gone
now" snarled the Gaunt old man,
leaning on rhe nearest railing to hide
his weakness
"'Vraincnt." smiled Lc Hardy good
humoredly AZ ever. Il have turned
thief. mon voisin. ansl have been THEY
ing all night This trail of earth which
YOU behold'-- lie waved a hand to
ward it.
Nom de Dieu-of course see it
What OF ii;''
1T came from thy garden. mon vol
sin. chose it there that you might
see the difference in color distinctly
My land along here is lighter and not
so rich"
PROM my garden. scelerat." easpcd
the old man. ''Huw hast ,iiou dared
Twas because you had me- trapped
here. coward"
Rather" said Il Hardy cooliy
. TWAS hrcaUSc wished thee 10 leav,
E Thy trap. TieaS. anon voiSiu. you SNyor,
never 10 set foot on my land. Wcli
Iierr l. tliirc own land. Mayest vail
= away on il when tiinu doSl please
The hunger c'uudcd senses OF thu
a prisoner wen, ailush fJr joy. HIcr'
r. WAS "a dicn'.icd method Of exit. IL
o was saved.
e Rcaching Tor hlS cane he steppc,
u .,cldly down and walked along th'
4 fresh tran. lis fcchir Zee; making il
+ regular prints that stirred Ic Hard!
to fresh pity.
At the edge of the path he pause,
Il AMI turned io the man who followe,
| him
Il why dld>t tlou do This for me
I Thou wou!dst have had clear coas
: 10 win the girl had died. and tho
colldst have proved the Offer OF Zoo
5 20 me-
'I hopc I aln A man. said lie Hal