Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
LEONARD HUTT'S vow.

devoted. having little OF nothing TO do
with the softer sex Since he was
fine looking fellow and had the reputa-
ton of being intellectual and strong
character. his seclusion was very an
noying TO The girls of the place. most
of whom would have been very glad of
his slightest attention.
During the shooting season HUT
went off into the woods TO get bird
for his mother. whose health and appe-
tite were delicate. He came back
without the bird. but with very dis
tressed mind. What had happened no
one knew. but the news was soon
spread over the village that Leonard
HUT was doing some sort of penance.
He had sworn TO taste nothing but
bread and water. not to attend any
sort of amusement and not TO speak.
How long this self imposed deprivation
was TO last was not known
Now. if Mr.. HUT had only known il
the real penance lie had taken upon
himself was of far greater moment
than the one lie had intended. There
were not less than ten unmarried girls
i'll the village. and every girl was ut
once seized with n desire to compel
the penitentiary 10 speak to her. Not
one OF them but would have regarded
the effort of any other TO make him
break his VOW as an objectionable sin
Each considered that i'll her own case
there were exceptional reasons except
Rebecca Gordon. who had no con-
science in the matter and who began
laying traps from the moment she
heard of the vow.
one afternoon Leonard was walking
along a road when he was startled by
a cry and Il short distance before him
saw woman lying on the ground. He
hurried up TO her and saw Rebecca
Gordon helpless with a sprained ankle.
oh. Mr.. HUT" she walled, what
shall dog"
HUT asked with his eyes as express
lively as possible what was the matter.
1--WE either broken or sprained my
ankle" she said
Leonard looked very much embar-
raised and put his fingers to his lips To-
indicate that they were sealed. Rebec-
cas- pretense not to understand his
motion was all the more embarrassing
To him. but he held to his silence and at
last by pantomime indicated that he
would carry her home in his arms. To
this she objected for awhile. hoping by
cOmplicating matters to force him to
speak. But at last she gave in, he took
her up and carried her home. He had
no sooner turned his back on the house
than she danced to- the window. shook
her fist at him and declared that she
would yet break down his resolution.
No sooner had another OF the girls.
Alice Waters, heard OF the young mans
vow than she began assiduously TO cul-
tivate his mother with a view to effect
ing an entrance to the house and laying
siege To him. When Leonard reached
home after his adventure with Miss
Gordon he went into his library and.
tired and fretted. threw himself ON n
lounge cough admonished him that
some one was in the room, and. looking
about him. he saw Miss Waters sitting
by window. She had been sewing
but had dropped her work and looked
painfully embarrassed.
II didn't mean To intrude. Mr.. HUT"
she said ruefully Your mother said
hour. and / just came in for a moment
TO get The light through this window"
HUT stood looking so much embar-
raised that he could not say anything
pleasant. while the girl waited. Then
she began 10 pout.
81 didn't suppose" she said, that
you would mind
A happy thought occurred TO the per
secuted man. He went for his mother
who did his talking for him. and Miss
Waters retired discounted.
For two months Leonard HUT walk
ed into pitfalls set for him by lot of
girls. none of whom confessed to an
other what she was doing. Rebecca
Gordon followed up her attack with
the most persistence. She tried every
salve known To druggists for her pre-
tended sprained ankle and sent for
HUT TO ask his opinion OF each one of
them.
Mr.. HUT" she said at one OF these
visits-she was lying on a couch dress
ed in a becoming wrapper-"if you'll
tell me why you made your vow I'll
never ask you another question"
HUT groaned and said nothing.
Tell me- she pleaded with her red
lips as well as her eloquent eyes.
Hutt's eyes were on a clock that
stood on the mantel In a few minutes
the clock struck II. HUT heaved a
long drawn sigh Of relief
my time is up" he said. Two
months ago i was shooting ia the
woods Seeing a movement in the
bushes | fred and was shocked to hear
a human cry. Throwing down my gun,
ran TO the spot and found that had
wounded a young girl. carried her
to her home and called a doctor, who
said that she would recover. but must
remain in bed for two months did
not consider IL right that one who suf-
fered by my fault should suffer alone
L made a VOW to last while she was
laid up"
Miss Cnrrinu fhrax Off an a f1har "a