The Cairo bulletin., 1909-01-24
LOST AND
WON

A shril blast from the whistle and
a cry The thresher stopped and the
workers rushed to his side. With the
greatest difficulty they succeeded in
getting him, their master, Chaguy. out
OF the steel claws OF the machine. The
wounded man groaned for moment,
then he swort like trooper, His
right arm was one bloody pulp.
He was carried to the mouse, and
as the men were carrying him across
the yard the servant girl. Jeannine,
appeared at the door. She had been
scared by the sudden stopping OF the
thresher
What Is the matter?"
1T is the master who got his arm
crushed In the thresher"
She looked at the bloody stump and
began 10 sob aloud.
1T seems TO hurt you lot more
than 1t hurts me" the wounded man
said. phlegmatically.
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
bandage on.
They won't do any good. Jeannine,
Just tie something around what Is
left and then tell Jean to hitch up and
go for the doctor. Let him tell the
doctor he must be here before sun.
down and cut of my arm. Patchwork
won't do here"
Then he said to the others: Now
you Just go back to work. It's no use
TO stop everything because | have lost
an arm. The thresher costs enough
money to hire, anyway"
When Jeannine and the others had
gone, Chagny began to think. He was
strong. powerful man. who cared
nothing for the palm. The accident
was unfortunate. but the results still
more serious. BY working from dawn
10 dark he had been able to do with.
out a hired hand except during The
harvest time, even though he had 100
acres The Two mares that were now
resting in the stable had been as
tireless as he, but In the future he
would not be able TO pillow. He would
have 10 get hired man and that
would cost him al least 500 francs a
year How was he to make that
money?
When he had reached this point he
was filled with remotse for not having
kept a promise given a dying person.
10 was his wife who would not die un-
til she was satisfied she. had arranged
eyery Thing 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 DC scattered. Tor she had no
children. but from love ~ the soil 10
which she Rad devoted the work OF
her life.
Al last she found wsv out and
said to her husband "Chaguy. I have
thought IL all over You are only 30.
and not fit 20 remain a widower. FIRST,
because you are too Young. and NEXT.
because farm without q housewife
does not amount 10 anything You
must marry Jeannlne She has been
with Us ten years and never given any
cause for complaint She Is young and
strong and willing and that makes ~
Tor the fact that she can bring no dow
~ Promise me 10 marry her and I
-an die in reace"
Chaguy had promised. but he had
slwsys Put Of the matter. Not that
be was blind 10 her robust beauty or
Der quick hands. but be was always
q what Improvements he
co0uld make ~ he were 20 marry q
Eldow or girl with money. And thus
ihree years had passed and he vas
5til a vidouer
His blood Vas boiling nos when be
thought q himself vita one arm. a.
1nly 20 weed turnips. Who would
marry him Row. NobOdT-not even
Je6nnIne. lie would have 70 have
stranger cultivate bis farm. bis income
would 20 down. the value q bis farm