Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-01-15
THE VOW THAT
MICHAU MADE,
He Kept 1t, Too; Though He Had
to Be Aided.
BY CLINTON pANeERFlELp.


cried Michau tiercely, an almost canine
curl Of his upper lip showing his
strong white teeth. 81 will never,
pardieu, set foot on your land-nev-
err
"Then," retortod lie Hardy coolly,
you are likely to remain where you
are forever. monsieur, For how can
you escape from your house without
setting foot on my land, seeing that
last nights avalanche has set your
cottage in the vcry middle Of my
feldY
II will die where | am" snarled
Michau. And he meant it.
Never in the history of the canton
had Antoine Michau broken his word.
When lie Hardy had besought Michau
to give him the latter's golden haired
Jeanne Marie the angry father had not
only posted the girl off to her aunt in
the village below the great mountain
on which Michau and lie Hardy dwelt,
but he had forbidden lie Hardy TO be
seen on his property.
All of this because Of an ancient
feud between the Michaus and the LIE
Hardys.
Therefore it may be fancied what
Mlchau felt when fate, pleasantly iron
ic, sent an avalanche which deposited
the Michau cottage in the center of
LIE Hardy's little farm.
1t had happened just before day
break that very morning. Luckily for
lie Hardy himself. his own cottage
was not damaged, 1t being on the edge
at one side. His establishment when
he discovered the plight of the irate
parent soon gave way to glee when
he thought how neatly Mlchau would
be forced to forswear himself But
Michau had no such intention. AS he
could not fly or lay bridge across
and as his provisions would not last
two days. he grimly prepared to starve.
an arrangement which Lenpriere. lie
Hardys special friend advised the low
err to encourage.
"For when the old fox is dead of his
own folly" chuciled Lempriere "'tis
thou who shall console the pretty
Jeanne Marie"
But lie Hardy, eating his own ample
meals. could not enjoy them for think
ing of Michaus rapidly diminishing
larder. On the noon OF the second day
he filed q tray with food and carried
it himself to Michau's door.
"Voila, mon voisin,' said the young
fellow good temperedly. Thou must
not starve. l will share with thee
while thou renainest in thy chicken
coop. Thou art welcome to it,"
"Au diable with thee and thy vel
Gomez yelled the enraged Michau, and
I a fen ~ n
perfect shower OF porridGe. poached
eggs and bits Of bread Lempriere
from safe distance doubled himself
up in his efforts to suppress his convul-
sive joy.
Now wilt believe me?" asked he as
the lover hurriedly retreated.
To his surprise the young man burst
into fit of laughter.
What tabIeaur' he said. holding
his sides. "After all. though. one must
admit the old rascal has spirit!'
That night Michau slept but Ill. Hun
ger gnawed at his vituls till he rolled
in agony. but he chung sullenly to his
determination. Over aud over he re-
peated himself that the neiGhbors
should see of what stuff Michau was
made. Common sense did whisper in
his ear that such course was to leave
the field free to LIE Hardy; but though
he ground his teeth and admitted it.
yet he had no thought of yielding.
Dawn came. and the old man arose
and tottered out on his tiny porch.
There surprising sight met his view.
LIE Hardy was standing close beside
the steps. painting and resting on the
handle of broad shovel From the
steps to the outer edge of the field
which marked the confines of lie Har
dy's property ran narrow trail of
fresh soft earth richly dark and about
an inch thick.
"What DEVILS folly hast thou done
now?" snarled the gaunt old man, lean
ing on the nearest railing to hide his
weakness.
"Vraimeut.", smiled LIE Hardy good
humoredly as ever, II have turned
thief, mon voisin. and have been thiev-
ing all night! This trail of earth which
you behold''- He waved a hand to-
ward it.
Nom de Dieu--of course l see it.
What of it?'
"It came from thy garden, mon vol
Slu. L C0OSe IL IUeTe luul you ullSul
see the difference in color distinctly
My land along here is lighter and not
so rich"
"From my garden. scelerat" gasped
the old man. How hast thou dared!
Twas because you had me trapped
here. coward"
"Rather," said LIE Hardy coolly.
"'twas because | wished thee to leave
thy trap. ITEMS, mon voisin you swore
never to set foot on my land. Well
there Is thine own land. Mayest walk
away on it when thou dost please"
The hunger clouded senses of the
prisoner went afush for joy. Hero
was a dignified method of exit. He
was saved.
Reaching for his cane. be stepped
coldly down and walked along the
fresh trail, his feeble feet making IT.
regular prints that stirred lie Hardy
to fresh pity.
At the edge of the path he paused
and turned TO the man who followed
him.
''Why didst thou do this for me?