Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-02

No dear but"
"Then If you don't, no one shall-at
least, not tomorrow. Say they shall
not, Gerty."
ooh will have nothing to do with It (;
l only want plenty of game" replied the
lady of the house. I've promised at least
fifty brace, and / am a lost woman If they
are not forthcoming"
"Tben, as l give the prize, shall
make the rules. You are each to have
one gun and one cartridge,
Everybody laughed.
"That will provide a magnificent bag
Of two brace and half, If none of them
miss" said Philip.
"How tiresome you are Well, how
many cartridges do you want each 2"
"say fifty"
"Well, whoever shoots away his fifty
qulckest-will that do Z"
"Hardly. Look here, Fan you make
the cap, and III settle the rules" said
her brother.ln law.
ooh, yes, do"
GAN right. We toss up for beats
every man carries and loads bis own gun,
and has fifty cartridges TO begin with
whoever kills mort birds with least shots
wins the prize. Is that fair -
All agreed that II was.
"FlftV cartridges aren't enough" OBJ
served the Marquis.
s'If any one wants more he can have
them, but you are all on your honor to
declare how many you have expended.
Now, who enters You Weybridge, OF
course"
"Oh, of course"
"And you, Burbridge and Nelsonl
al don't mind" said each"
"Mlllvllle, you'll go in"
''What for Z"
"why, Lady Fanny's prize. Haven't
you been listening 7"
ono not ts what you haYe been say
FNever mind; I'll answer for you. You
do go in, and Captain Smart makes the
fifth all told"
"And yourself six" said Lady Fanny.
"Oh, don't care to enter" replied the
host.
'Tben | withdraw the price" said
Lady Fanny quickly.
She thought she had got out of q scrape
rather cleverly by inviting the prize myth
but that look Of her future lord, full O
threat and jealousy, troubled her. She
knew what a thorough sportsman hei
brother in-law was, and hoped that he
would relieve her of all difficulty by win
ming. Why had he forced the Red Lam
Ger in IL was go like Philip-alwayf
blundering with the very best intentions
''Besldes," she continued, 81 don't
like odd numbers. You never 10 all
together, and how can you divide five
fairly 20
"True for you, Fan. Well, III gs
In"
"And do your best. l will have nc
favor"
"And do my best. What little
tyrant ii is !" the Squire replied, laugh
ing.
The portentous day that was to see til,
great shooting match for Fanny's gift
dawned pretty much as other days have
dawned. The competitors tossed fol
beats and companions, and all the lucl
was with the neblc Marquis. Not only
the best beat, but the worst shot assigned
him, whilst the Red Lancer was paired
with Philip Boucher, whose eye ther,
was no chance Of "wiping" when singl,
birds are up. Every man was placed
upon his honor as to the number of cart
ridges, he used and they were all to meet
fuJ luncheon al certain wood where The
beats Joined. A little boY-Wiilie Bur
bridge, son and heir of ono Of the com
petitors-begped hard TO be allowed Il
follow, and see the sport and thanks Il
the intercessiOn of the Red Lancer, VIII,
was very popular with children, hl
prayer Was partly granted He was tC
come out with the luncheon cart, an'
81 say, Capt. Millvile." pleaded this pre-
cOciOus sportsman, "if you ask william
he'd let me drive where the road Il
straight, and there isn't anything coming
along"
don't know il William was complais
ant. Perhaps he was not for tn
luncheon-cart arrived safely and to il
time.
The principals had been shooting very
steadily. The noble Marquis had Tn
heaviest bag, but the lightest pouch
Phillip Boucher had missed five shot
, and the Red Lancer three. He wuul
have had one more bird but for an acci
, dent.
When luncheon was ovor, and they ha
= lit their cigars, little Willie Burbidg
sidled up TO the Red Lancer, and whis
pcred;
81 say, give us a cartridge :"
"What forl :"
r ''To make a devil"
"a devil, dear ladies, is a sort of hum
BILE irework much esteemed by sma
5 boys. You get some gunpowder, wet il
and pinch it in the shape of a pastilC
1 When dry, you light the point, aud
( flzzos away, throwing out sparks whic
4 generally fall upon your clothes and bur
them. For this reason there is sometime
c a difference of opinion between Juvenile
and their parents and guardians as
! the use Of this pyrotecbnic.)
d "I'll give you one when we get home,
, said the Red Lancer.
s "Oh, but want it now," persisted th
1 boy.
S Then want must be your master, SOM!
cartridges arc valuable TO day-stol
though | think 1 can let you have ont
latter all" pursued the good natured SO
Q dier, beihinking himself of the accider
c before mentioned, by which he had los
D, the chance of killing a partridge ''or
that missed ire"
J "What docs that mean i''
"Would'nt 90 off-here 1t is.
!. "But then il is no USE" pleaded Will
accepting il with Indifference.
b mo use to me-" Millvile replied, risiu
Y and taxing up his gun.
Z "May | venture TO inquire" said llor
Weybridge, "whether that absurd ru
u limiting us to fifty shots is to be persist'
d in"
Ie "No limit was fixed. We agreed to sta
IT with fifty; you can have as many mo
as you please. shall draw anO. her tw
II dozen, and advise you 10 do the same,
ans wered his host.
"That reminds me-" observed the RI
Is Lancer. fthat one Of mine missed fit
ID OF course can have another"
Of "Oh, of COURSE" replied two or thr
le voices.
ST 81 don't sec that" Lord Weybridl
II broke in, "a miss is a miss, anyhow"
IN "Well, it is not worth discussing, sa
$, Millville earelessly.
It 81 wonder why you mention 1t, then
p sneered the noble Marquis; "when mt
3" arc on their honor, there should be !
Or hanky-panky."
st 81 am sorry did mention it, but aft
that last observation, must persist. |
r you remember, Boucher, when we we
10 doubling the hedgerow by the willow
and single bird got up my side {"
Us "Yes, you killed it,"
"With my left-hand barrel the fiji
OF missed fire."
"Well, then, there is Of course an el
X. of the question, as you say So" Tepll
TX the squire. "Here Baker," (this TO I
head keeper,) "giye Capt. Mllyllle
re cartridge, and don't count IL"
II $50 that he is to have fiity-oAe 10 o
fifty % said Lord Weybridge.
in 81 am sure that Capt. Aillyille will
as turn the miss if you wish il, my lord
replied his hosti "but really, amo
to gentlemen"
81 haven't got 1t to RETURN" said