The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-21
AND
WON

ltc otSal FLAWS VI tue M1SAAhO. LIZ
wounded man groaned for moment,
fhen he, swort like a trooper. His
right arm was one bloody pulp.
He was carried TO the mouse, and
as the men were carrying him across
re yard the servant girl, Jeannins.
at the door. She had been
scared b. the sudden stopping Of the
,hresher
What is the matter?"
1T is the master who got his arm
crushed IN the thresher"
She looked at the bloody stump and
began TO sob aloud.
1t seems to hurt you a lot more
than it hurts me-" the wounded man
said, systematically.
They wanted to put him to bed,
and he refused
Put me in the armchair near
The window"
He was placed in the large. clumsy.
uncomfortable armchair. Jeannine
brought linen rags and wanted to put
a bandage on.
They won't do any good, Jeannine,
lust tie something around what is
left and then tell Jean to hitch up and
90 for the doctor. Let him tell the
doctor he must be here before sun
down and cut off my arm. Patchwork
won't do here"
Then he said to the others: Nav
YOU just 90 back to work. It's no use
to stop everything because l have lost
an arm. The thresher costs enough
money to hire, anyway"
When Jeannine and the others had
gone, Chaguy began to think. He was
strong powerful man, who cared
nothing for the pain. The accident
was unfortunate, but the results still
more serious. By working from dawn
to dark he had been able to do with
out a hired hand except during the
harvest time, even though he had. 90
acres The two mares that we're now
resting in the stable had been as
tireless' as he, but in the future he
would not be able to plow He would
have to get hired man and that
would cost him at least 500 francs a
year. How was he to make that
money?
When he had reached this poiAt he
was filled with remorse for not having
kept a promise given a dying person.
It was his wife who would not die UNI
iii she was satisfied she had arranged
everything so that her death would
mean the smallest possible loss. Dur
ing her long illness this thought had
worried her Her fear did not arise
from the thought that the heritage
should be scattered, for she had no
children, but from love of the soil TO
which she had devoted the work OF
her life,
At last she found a way out. and
said to her husband; "Chaguy, have
thought it all over. You are only 80
and not fit to remain a widower. first
because you are too young. and next
because a farm without a housewife
does not amount to anything. YOU
must marry Jeannine. She has been
with us ten years and never given any
cause for complaint She is young and
strong and willing and that makes M
for the fact that she can bring NO dow
ry. Promise me to marry her and
can die in peace"
Chaguy had promised, but he had
/ always put of the matter. Not thai
he was blind to her robust beauty OIL
her quick hands, but he was always
thinking Of what improvements h,
coould make II he were to marry I
widow or girl with money. And thu
three years had passed and he WA
still a widower,
His blood was boiling now when h
thought of himself with one arm, a
only to weed turnips. Who woulC
marry him now? Nobody-not ever
Jeannine He would have to have
stranger cultivate his farm, his incom,
would go down, the value OF his farm
would deteriorate and his saving
would disappear That arm would cos
him pile of money. II he had onl.
kept his promise-then he woul,
hare had Jeannine; but OF course sh
would leave him LOW too.
He turned a little in his chair. Blu
almost howled with pain. He looke'
through the window across the field
1t would take many days to plow then
land here he was sitting doing moth
ing.
Suddenly he heard a voice In tn
stable-it was Jeannine: Hello, Gray
get up now-come on now. Charlotte!
What did that mean? Did Jeannin
intend to pillow? That would neve
work, although she had tried ofte
enough in fun. Gathering all hi
strength he succeeded in raising hin
self, and as he looked through tn
window, he saw Jeannine making tn
first furrow,
Chaguy stared at her as II b.
WllCheu lHen the TEARS Cdule lhlo III
eyes as he exclaimed In despair, "0l
my Cod"
When she came back near the hous
Chaguy, with the almost super-huma
effort, raised the window and calle
out: "Oh, Jeannine!"
yes, master Don't know how
plow?'
81 can do 1t no better myself-bu
oh, Jeannine, you are a splendid cir
What a pity have lost my arm, or
should ask you to be my wife"