Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-24
LOHIER, THE HUNTER


still used their power there lived
young man named Lohier. BE wa
d. good looking and not without wit
but the poor fellow had one misfor
tune. He never succeeded when h
went out hunting, and yet he OBJ
stinately persisted in hunting all tn,
same.
What was rare thing among
common people at that time, Lohiel
had pretty home of his own, the
gift Of generous lord whose life
ne had saved. 1t was made up of q
cottage beside little pool full Of
fish, few acres of land and moor
where doubtless there was plenty OF
game under the broom and the
briers. This moorland was the tor
ment Of the poor mans life. 1t was
in vain that he set out at the break
of day, his rife on his arm and his
, dog, Pataud, at his heels, to beat
the bushes until evening. Rabbits
and hares slipped away between his
| feet, while the partridges and the
little birds few up before him with
out hurrying, as if they knew his i'll
luck,
There is no need to say that the
people Of the village laughed loudly
when they met Lohier with his emp
ty game sack and Pataud lowering
his ears. But when he came homo
the unfortunate hunter had even
a worse reception. His wife, Paul
cite, overwhelmed him with her re-
proaches.
Usually Lohier bore it all with
| good grace and was only bent the
more on going hunting.
However, one evening he came
back in a bad humor after having
spent in vain his whole provision Of
powder. He found at the cottage
his cousin William, who was wait
ing for him with all his mates to |
ask him to his wedding. After the
first compliments Paulette brought |
out jug Of cider, which put every
one in a good humor.
,rSee here, William" cried Lohier
while they were drinking each 9TH
er's health, "what present do you
wish me to make you for your mar
riage"
His cousin answered jokingly:
"Oh, Pm not hard to please. Just
bring me few fine pieces Of game
for the wedding breakfast. That
will be easy for hunter like you"
This displeased Lohier, who be-
came quite angry as he saw the 9TH
er smiling. SO, striking the table a
heavy blow with his fist, he said,
Don't you believe that if l wished
to take the trouble / should be as
good hunter as any of you ?"' II
"Prove it, then," answered the
young man, who was much amused
at his anger. t
THAT'S easy enough" retorted
the imprudent Lohier, carried away y
by self love. "If after two days I =
do not bring you six rabbits and c
twelve cartridges shot with my own s
hand l will give you my house and
property without any conditions" a
Agreed they all cried. And a
he young men came one after an D
,ther to take the open hand of Lo- c!
lier as sign of the agreement. h
Then they all went away.
Paulette laughed no longer. AS b
DON as William and his compan- q
ons had disappeared she filled the D
louse with her lamentations and Ii
overwhelmed her husband with her tc
approaches. "Do you wish to have CO
IS ruined? ?" she said, weeping. d,
After two days we shall be beg
ars without a roof to our heads, al
Or you are too clumsy to win this sv
bet" in
Lohier answered sharply, though pr
t heart he trefnbled, asking him eli
IF how he should get out of this I
I'll plight ir
With the morning he set forth, fr
,companied by his faithful Pataud, pl
no said plainly in the language Of m,
ogs, Here We go again to miss our
ime." WI
The first days results showed that er,
le wise Pataud was right. Not an wi
limal with fur or feathers had lu,
zen touched by the shots of Lo- III,
err He did not dare go back to pa
e house, where nothing awaited In,
m but the complaints and re- Phi
caches of Paulette.
"My poor comrade," he said to
S dog as he shared with him the .
of his bread, 81 think we cir
all have to get used to poverty. Do
morrow / shall certainly have lost
e property which / risked so fool mel
lly." wiz
When he had finished his frugal ma
al the fresh water Of a spring foo
billing up from gray rock allow mo
him to refresh himself. Then he
etched himself out sadly on the .
ers, where sleep did not delay -,
ding him. s sn'
It was near midnight when the nee
inter- awakened with a start. He car
8 stupefed at the sight before Eln
a. In the midst of deep dark 'tls
IS, for the moon did not shine gln'
t night, the gray rock had grown nrel
1inous, while the water Of the ADO
ing sometimes blue and some eng
es rose color, seemed to sparkle