Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-16

became Synonymous with cruelty. 80
on bis high throne. he continued L
exercise his autocratic prerogativs
and cared not what the peopl
thought.
Meanwhile. the Seigneur Desaurac
recovering. became a prey 10 create
restlessness; no sooner was he abb.
to get about, than. accompanied by q
faithful servant. Sanchez. he left ths
neighborhood. and. for q number o
years. led migratory existence II
continental capitals The revolt O
the colonies In America and the new
OF the contemplated departure OF tia
brave Lafayette for the seat OF hos
tiiities. offered. at least, a pretext u
break the letters OF a purposeles,
life. At once ne placed his sword q
Lafayette's disposal. and packed him
self and serYitor-a fellow OF dog
like ideiity-across the ocean. There
at the seat OF wars alarms, in ths
great conflict waged In the name
liberty, he met a soldiers end, IA
from the field OF his ancestors
Sanchez. the man, buried him. and
having dutifully performed this las
task, walked away from the grave
ard out of the army.
During this while the son by tn,
peasant woman, intrusted to an olC
fishwife who had been allowed t.
usurp patch of his fathers lands
received scanty care and attention
Cycn when the stipulated fees for his
maintenance had continued to come,
but when, at the Seigneurs death
they ceased, any slight solicitude on
the caretaker's part soured to aeri
mony. An offspring Of dubious par
entage, she begrudged him his bread
kept him from her own precious
brood. and taught them to address hin
as brat. 'pauper." or by terms ever
more forcible Thus set upon, IRE
quently he fought; but like young
wolves. hunting In packs, they wor
ried him to the earth. and, when he
continued to struggle. beat him to un.
consciousness. ii not submission.
One day, after such an experience
at the hands OF those who had par
taken of the Seigneurs liberality, the
boy. all bruised ano aching, fed tc
the woods, and, with the instinct OF
an animal to hide. buried himself in
It's deepest recesses. Night came: en-.
compassed by strange sounds, un.
known terrors. he crept to the verge
Of the forest, and lying there. looked
out across the distance toward the
scattered habitations. visible through
the gloom. One tiny yellow dot OF
light which he located held his
glance. Should he return? That
small stone hut, squaliG as 1t was.
had been his only remers bered home.
But the thought OF the reception that
awaited him there made him hest
taFe; the stars coming OUT, seemed TO
lend courage to his resolution, and,
with his face yet turned toward the
low long strip of land, spanked with
the faint, receding points Of light, he
fell asleep
The earliest shafts OF morn, how
ever, awaking him. sent him quickly
back into the dark forest where all
=
screens and covers. fearing he should
be followed, and, perhaps. captured
But the second night was like the
first. the next like the secoEd, and the
days continued to pass with no signs
OF pursuit. Punched by hunger, GER
tain of the berries and roots he ate
poisoned him. until in time he profited
by his sufferings and learned TO dis
eriminate in his choice OF the frugal
farse about him. Not that his appe-
tite was ever satisfied, even when ne
extended his explorations to the
beach at night. digging in the sand
with his fingers for cookies, or prowi
ing about the rocks for mussels.
Yet. despite all, ne Rugged to his
breast a compensating sense of lib
erty: the lifting tooth OF autumn was
preferable TO the stripes and tongue
lashings of the cid life; and, If now
frugal repasts We're the rule. hunger
had often been his lot in the past. So
he assimilated with his surroundings;
learned not TO fear the animals, and
they, to know him; indeed. they
seemed to recognize him by that
sharp unsated CLINT OF the eye as one
of their kind. When the days grew
bleaker and the nights colder he took
refuge in corner within the gray
walls of the moss-grown castle OF his
ancestors, the old Seigneurs. No
cheerful place. above all at night,
when the spirits OF the dead seem TO
walk abroad. and sobs. means, and
fierce voices NIL the air! Then. creep
ing closer TO tie fire he had started
in the giant hearth, wide-eyed he
would listen. only at length through
sheer WEAKNESS to fall asleep Never
theless. II was a shelter. and here
throughout the winter, the boy re
n,ainaS