Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-01
Leonard Hutt's Vow
[Original.]

Leonard HUT was u very cOnScien-
tious young man. Had he been born
200 years ago he would have been an
anchorite Of the most austere type.
Leonard livc,i in a small village with
his widowed mother, to whom he was
devoted, having little or nothing to do
with the softer sex. Since he was a
fine looking fellow and had the reputa-
ton Of being intellectual and u strong
character, his seclusion was very an
moving to the girls of the place, most
Of whom would have beer very glad OF
his slightest attention.
During the shooting season HUT
went off into the woods to get a bird
for his mother, whose health and appe-
tite were delicate. He came back
without the bird, but with 4 very dis
tressed mind. What had happened no
one knew, but the news was soon
spread over the village that Leonard
Hutt 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, il Mr.. HUT had only known it
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
ono seized with q desire to compel
the penitentiary to speak to her. Not
oAe Of them but would have regarded
the effort Of any other to make him
Dredk his VOW as an objectionable sin.
Each considered that in her own cast
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 & road when he was startled by
q cry and a short distance before him
saw a IN lying Oh the ground. He
hurried up to her and saw Rebecca
Gordon helpless with u sprained ankle.
"Oh, Mi. HUT" she walled, what
shall L do?"
HUT asked with his eyes as express
lively as possible what was the matter.
give either broken or sprained my
ankle" she said.
Leonard looked very much embar-
rassed and put his fingers to his lips to
indicate that they were sealed. Rebec-
1ry, ~,@, ,,1+ - 49, 1;e,
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 rms. 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 n 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
NSS " hlhl. III =
home after his adventure with Miss
Gordon he went into his library and,
tired and fretted, threw himself on a
lounge. A cough ~adnonished him that
some II was in the room, and, looking
about him, he saw Miss Waters sitting
by Il window. She had been sewing,
but had dropped her work and looked
painfully embarrassed.
81 didn't mean to intrude, Mr.. HUT"
she said ruefully. your mother said
you wouldn't be at home for another
hour, and 1 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 to pout.
g" didn't suppose" she said, 'that
you would mind"
A happy thought occurred to the per-
secuted a He went for his mother.
who did his talking for him, and Miss
Waters retired discounted.
For two months Leonard HUT walk
cd into pitfalls set for him by Il lot of
girls. one 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 bis opinion of each one Of
them.
MI. HUT" she said at one Of these
visits-she was lying on Il couch dress
ed i'll a becoming wrapper-"if you'll
tell me why you made your VOW III
never ask you another question"
HUT groaDed and said nothing.
'Tell me-" she pleaded With her red
lips as we'll as her eloquent eyes.
Hutt's eyes We're on Il clock that
stood on the mantel. In q few minutes
the clock struck II. HUT heaved a
long drawn sigh Of relief.
MY time is up" he said. 1.-Two
months ago l was shooting in the
woods. Seeing Il movement in the
bushes | fired and was shocked to heal
a human cry. Throwing down my gun.
ran to the spOt and found that had