The Cairo bulletin., 1905-12-24
Leonard Hutt's Vow
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
toriginal.l

loTiBinAlI
Leonard HUT was very conscien
tious young man. Had he been borI
200 years ago he would have been al
anchorite of the most austere type
Leonard lived ia small village will
his widowed mother, to whom he wa
devoted, having little or nothing to IL
with the softer sex. Since he was {
fine looking fellow and had the reputn
ton of being intellectual and a stroni
character, his seclusion was very an
noying 10 the girls OF the place, mos
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
title were delicate. He came back
without the bird, but with very dis
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 1t
the real penance he had taken upon
himself was of far greater moment
than the one he had intended. There
were not less than ten unmarried girls
in the village, and every girl was at
once seized with desire to compel
the penitentiary to 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 in 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 d short distance before him
saw woman lying on the ground. He
hurried up TO her and saw Rebecea
Gordon helpless with sprained ankle.
"Oh, Mr.. HUT" she walled, what
shall do?"
HUT asked with his eyes as express
lively as possible what was the matter.
& "rve either broken or spralned my
ankle" she said
Leonard looked very much enbar-
raised and put his fingers TO bis lips to
Indicate that they were sealed. Rehec-
cas- pretense not to understand his
motion was all the more embarrassing
TO him, but he held to his silence and at
last by pantomlme indicated that he
would carry her home In bis arms. TO
this she objected for awhile. hoping by
complicatlng matters to force him to
speak. But Mt last she gave In, he took
her up and carried her home. He bad
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 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 A 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 aud looked
painfully embarrassed.
II didn't mean 20 intrude, Mr.. HUT"
she said ruefully. Your mother said
you wouldn't be at home for another
hour, and Just came In for n moment
TO get the light through this window"
HUT stood looking 50 much embar-
rassed that he could not say anything
pleasant. while the girl waited. Then
she began TO pout.
81 didn't suppose" she said. that
YOU would mind"
A happy thought occurred 10 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 10y a lot Of
girls. none Of whom confessed to an
other what she was doing. Rebecea
Gordon followed up her attack with
the most persistence. She tried every
salve known 10 druggists for her pre-
tended sprained ankle and sent for
HUT to ask bis opinion Of each one Of
them.
MIR. HUT" she said at one OF these
vlsits-she was lying on couch dress
ed in a becoming wrapper-''if you'll
tell me- Why you made your vow III
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 few minutes
the clock struck L. HUT heavel q
long drawn sigh Of relief
az tina l. ~" he said Two