The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-12-18
CLlFF'DALE WOODS.
BY X. s. HAxsooM.

IL "ss Oh NSDAene, cle9f moTotog Cl
October that ;. large party found them.
solves assembled togsther At Duntou
Lodge. They hid just risen frcm tb.
breakfast table, aud we're engsged, "
discussing theit plans for the dsy. ri.
gentlemen h.d aninouncod their inteni,,,
tions Of taking e. er1ek =. the birds,'
aud the'1sdiea. were loud in their 70,
modstrsnee5 asainst bofug lsft: to thei,
swn devices -. :: -" : - -
ut i sbsssing shims," said Mrs
|Leano1' tho St'ight-eysd, .shasp:toneued
wife Of Tom Iensot, whom you se.
Standing near = window, holding up ,
huotins-assk 70 the light, aud shstine
biz head in solemn :d,sspprobatioa : a
the. lowness of its contents; it'that you
men cannot fad something better to DE-
than 70 k.ll the poor, dear, innocent
little birds. Yeu..re .; set Of cruel
|1wretehss, and I don't mind in tho leas,
telling you so.''
"But, my dear Mrs. Lsunot,": said
her boat, MI. Bent, II have heard you
Say that grouse.pie va, . dish ct to'
the gods. Nov how could this dainty
be obtained ifi we're aot for the noble
,rmy Of sportsmen :"
"Rubbishl Just as though you1
gamekeeper could not kill all the
game you want for table, and eight o'
you going toith to slaughter! Noble
army indeed Ifyot we're not my host
I should sly ignoble."
"Doo't lot that 'contidsration ,estrai1
you," said MI: Bent, spontaneously
"oall me .nything you like, if il viii
help sake the edge off your disappu,nt'
ment. or course it must bore you L
have to do without our society, but il
our case it must be business before
1plessars, my dear msdam;''
Az this speech there .rose perfect
chorus OF derisiou. The pleasure d
their society, torsooth! It via not 70,
that they wanted the gentlemen to for.
go the d.y's cruel sport. They had
letters to write, 20 each and all declared
the hostess exoepted-sn occupation
that would take up the entire day.
r. $50 glad that our society will be no
loss," dr.~led young MI. Boldiog; 81
baye been wondering oil the morning
wbst tho ladies could find to occupy
themselves about in our absence"
= "0b, have you 7" said his wife,
grossly, "Thon if you have settled
that to your satisfaction, perhaps you
will take your gane-bag sod depart. -
"And doh't look for us when you
como back" called out Mrs. Lennot, .,
the gentlemen 6led from tho room.
Tho last one Of them to go .as Mr..
Harry Pleston, bachelor. Close BY
the door was seated = young laay,
dressed 10 tho perfection Of taste, with
eyss Of darkest, deepest blue; aud q
complexion Of creamy vhiseoess.>
"Margaret," he said, pausiue with
bis hand upon tho door, II hope you
will do mo the justice - remember tha.
1 do not 70 Of my own will,> that ]
would much rather. linger BY your
side."
r. ut oan make no msnoss Of differ.
snse to me, in any way" she answered
eoldly, and without looking up.
Mr.. Preston looked disconosRted 70,
. moment, but rallyiug, hs said, in ,
voice almost ~ ecld ~ her own..
"Pardon that l thought for ., mo,
msnt osherwiae. ]" and passed out afts,
bis fellow sposasms.. ..s-..;
Aud now I sm going to tell you VIII
it was that tho ladies we're 30 Indignant
With the gentlemen for their dssertioz
On this partieulsr day.
Ten miles from Dunton Lodge, iu ,
plaoe called CliHdale, was encampsd ,
band of gipeies, aud among them was ,
gipsy woman far-famed as a fortune
teller. Now tho ladies did not mean t,
tell their husbands, brothers, aud lover
tbat they wanted their fortunes told
out they had arranged to 81 on tha'
sslf:same day and consult the oracle
but the gentlemen had frustrated thei,
wsll.laid plans BY announcing, almost
oefo1e they hsd seated themselves .,
tho breskfast-table,. their intention o.
takiag , days sport 10 their own NV
. way tho lsdie, had never before, 4
The gentlemsos knowledge, presumed
to er,ticiss. ,s -.
There is no doubt but that the gen.
tlemeu would have given way q one<
if the ladies' had asked them, but thi,
they had no intention Of doing. They
had istended to trust 70 the chapter ol
accidents 70 be able to get to Cl,&dslt
without arousing the suspicion Of thei1
cavaliers, and now they must siths,
stay At home Or 70 without aa sseors
...s "Apd: wby not I" dsmsuded Mn
Lenuos, 1t this juncture, "there ars NJ
besra on the road to devour us,' and i
will b. much less' embarrassing to liz
ton 70 our fortunes without the ssntls
/ nen'seeJss upon us. Just think vhs
L - ~ ~