Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-27

w uAt | SalQ J0 you then say HQW3' cried Michau. f1ercely, an almost canine curl of his upper lip showing his strong. white teeth. sT will never, par Dieu. set foot on your land never!"
 Then" retorted Le 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 very middle of my field ?''
 l will die where l am" snarled Michau. And he meant 1t. Never in the history of the canton had Antoine Michau broken his word. When Le 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 noun tain on which Michau and Le Hardy dwelt, but he had forbidden Le Hardy to be seen on his property. All of this because of an ancient feud between the Michaus and the Le Hardys
 Therefore, it may be imagined what M1chau felt when fate, pleasantly 1r0nic, sent an avalanche which de- posted the Michau cottage in the cen ter of Le Hardy's little farm.
 It had happened just before day. break that very morning. Luckily for Ie Hardy himself his own cottage was not damaged, it being on the edge at one side. His astOniShment when he discovered the plight of the irate par ent soon gave way to glee when he thought how neatly Micilau would be forced to forswe himself But Michau had no such intention. As he could not fly nor lay a bridge across and as his provisions would not last two days, he grimly prepared to starve, an ar rangement which Lempriere, Le Hardy's special friend, advised the lover to encourage.
 For when the old fox is dead of his own folly,' chuckled Lempriere. 'tis thou who shall console the pretty Jeanne Marie
 But Le Hardy, eating his own am pie meals, could not enjoy them for thinking of Michan's rapidly dimin- ishing larder On the noon of the second day he filled a tray with food and carried it himself to Michau's door.
 .'svoila, mon voisin,' said the young fellow d-temperediy. Thou must not starve. I will share with thee whilst thou remainest in thy chicken coop. Thou art welcome to it.'
 "Au diable with thee and thy well come!" yelled the enraged Michau, and there descended on Le Hardy's head a perfect shower of porridge, poached eggs and bits of bread Lempriere from a safe distance doubled himself up in his efforts to suppress his con- vu1sive joy.
 Now wilt thou believe me?" asked be, as the lover hurriedly retreated-
 To his surprise the young man burst into a fit of laughter.
 What tableau," he said, holding his sides. After all, though. one must admit the old rascal has a spiritl
 That night Michau slept but i'll. Hunger gnawed at his vitals till he rolled in agony; but he chung sullenly to his determination Over and over he repeated to himself that the neigh bors should see of what stuff Michau was made! Common sense did whis- per in his ear that such course was to leave the field free to Le Hardy, but though he groaned his teeth and ad mitted it, yet he had no thought of yielding.
 Dawn came, and the old man arose and tottered out on his tiny porch. There a surprising sight met his view.
 Le Hardy was standing close beside the steps, panting and resting on the handle of a broad shovel From the steps to the outer edge of the field which marked the confines of Le Hardy's property ran a 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, leaning on the nearest railing to hide his weakness.
 ''vraiment," smiled Le Hardy, good humoredly as ever, T have turned thief. mon voisin, and have been thiev- ing all night This trail of earth which you behold" he waved a hand toward it.
 Nom de Dieu-of course, I see it! What of it?"
 Tt came from thy garden, mon voisin. I chose it there that you might coo ha in 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
 Rather" said Le Hardy, coolly, twas because wished thee to leave thy trap. Tiens, mon voisin. you swore never to set foot on my land. We'll there is thine own land-mayest walk away on it when thou dost please
 The unprecedented senses of the prisoner went afiush with joy. Here was a dignif1ed method of exit-he was saved.
 Reaching for his cane he stepped coldly down and walked along the fresh prints that stirred Le 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? Thou wouIdst have had a clear coa&t to win the girl had I died, and thou couIdst have proved the offer of food to me"
 T hope I am mann said Le Hardy, proudly. And as a man I wage fair fight, when fight I must. I love thy girl shall strive to gain her. But I will never stoop to take a mean advan- tage of one thrown at my feet by