Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-23
oPrRnnT raoe sY TtE eoea3 -nERRill C.


child and Beppo. unconsciously ne had
dropped It. but this he did not now
explain. Il didn't bring one"
Didn't bring one?"
NO" said the boy. flushing slightly
And not a bone or scrap in the
larder! NiggardIy fishermenl A small
enough wage-for going to SEA and
helping them"
"Oh. | could have had what want
ed And they are not niggardIy!
Only forgot"
Forgot" The man lifted his hands.
but any further evidence OF surprise
or expostulation was interrupted by a
sudden ebullition in the pot
Left to his thoughts. the boy stepped
to the window: for some time stood
motionless. gazing through a forest
rift at the end OF which uprose the
top Of an Aladdin-like structure, by
an optical illusion become part OF
that locality; conjurors castle In
the wood!
The Mount looks near tonight.
Sanchez"
"Near?" The man took from It's
took the pot and set 1t on the table.
Not too near TO suit the governor.
perhaps!"
And why should IT suit him."
drawing stool to the table and sit
ting down.
Because be must be so fond oil
looking at the forest"
And does that--please him."
How could 1t fail to? Isn't it a
nice wood? Oh, yes, III warrant you
he finds II to his liking. And all the
lands about the forest that used to be-
long to the old Seigneurs. and which
! tho peasants have taken--waste lands
they have tIIled-he must think them
very fire TO look at, now! And what
huhbub there would be. II the lazy
/ peasants had 70 pay their metayage
and fire-tax and road-t ax--and all the
other taxes-tha way the other peas
/ ants do-to him"
What do you mean
Nothing" The mans jaw closed
like a steel trap. The poFridge fl
burned"
And with no further word the mea
proceeded, The man. first to finish
lighted bis pipe. moved again TO the
fire. and. maintaining taciturnity
that had become more or less habit
uaI. stolidly devoted himself TO the
solace OF the weed and tine compan
ionship OF his own reflections Once
or twice the boy seemed about &c
speak and did not; finally however
he leaned forward, a more resolute
light In his sparkling black eyes.
You never learned to read, San
| chez"
AT the unexpected question. the
smoke pufged suddenly from the mans
l.ps Not l."
Nor writer"
The man made rough gesture
"Nor sail to the moon" he returned
derisIvely Read? Rubbish Write,
What for? Does it bring more fish
to your nets?"
"Who--could show me how to read
and write?"
"You2" Sanchez stared.
why not?"
Books are the tools OF the devil!'
declared Sanchez shortly. There
was a black man here today with q
! paper IA writ, l think he called it,
| or service of some kind anyhow
1t must have been In Latin" violently
Tor such gibberlsh. | never heard
and"
The boy rose People who cani
road and write are low and Ignorant
"Eh2 What's come over YOUR"
My father was gentlem9n
Your father'--yes--"
And Seigneur.--"
"A Seigneur truly!"
And / mean to be one!" said IN,
hoy suddenly. closing his lists,
oh. oh! SO that's it?" derisively
You. A Seigneur? Whose mother
who could teach me?" Determined
but with trace OF color on his brown
cheek, the boy looked down.
"Who?' The man began to recove
from his surprise. That's not s,
easy to tell But II YOU must know
we'll, there's Gabriel Gabarie. for one
poet OF the people. He might do 1
although there's talk of cutting OF
his head"
What forG"
For knowing how TO write
The lad reached for his hat
where are you going2'
J To the poets"