The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-06
1.-TWO O'clock" says Arthur. "whst In

Arthur, all excitement. Keep quiet,
Bee, and don't you STIR. Come In behind
this tree All, that little wretch, Chariel
what 10 he setting up his pipe forf BE
quiet, YOU impertnent little APPEL" snarls
his brother between his teeth.
Charlie continues To yell, yell, yell: Ar
thuris getting furious; suddenly comes "a
soft rustling, "A gentle pit pat on the NOISY
path he puts out his hand and touches
Beatrix. She has seen 1t already, the
timid creature, all confused, trembling
and suspicious, creeping along the quiet
opening which may prove n shelter from
agony and death.
Hal What IL thnti Something unusual
something dangerous1 A piece of red
among the green, sparkle among the
Dare she venture oni One slender limb
Is extended, the graceful head Is thrown
upward, the scared eyeballs search the
prospect.
The ambuscade covers motionless. Ar
thurs fingers on.the trigger; there comes n
shout from above, aud the doe bounds for
ward to her fate,
That shot needed not much of the sports
mans skill. Within ten yards of Beatrix
she lies MORALLY wounded, the poor palpi-
Eating sides heave more and more family,
the mouth opens and shuts In spasms of
agony.
Bee cannot look, nor speak, nor move.
"I'll soon settle you, my friendl" cries
the happy hunter, taking out his knife.
ION, Arthur, don'tl'
"What3 you needn't look. It's all right.
Put the poor animal out of its pain"
"Oh. do let IL alOnel let IL die in peace"
A scepucal laugh rs he steps forward
she puts her hands before her eyes, and
rushes into the wood.
where Is your sisterr'
It's Blount who has come up. joyously
excited. milne is n buck, and the sweetest
little head you ever saw If Sir Charles
Will give II me- mean to have IL stuffed"
" buck, is it, heard you. thought
you were going to have all the luck. When
II wasn't right akd left, thought they
must have moved Off and that II was that
little fool Charlie who had done i'll But
the critter knew better" says he, In high
good humor.
4" But where IL your sister,"
"She has made of, I do believe. She
would not stay to see the coup dc grace
Well, IL the governor does his part, we shall
have done n pretty good mornings work.
Were the heaters near your"
"Only once-that fat footman of yours
holding out nobly; aud OH you should
hear him call; the slow pOmposity with
which he gives II forth, and his strut, strut,
strut aiong-but no notion of giving in.
lie cant be "A bad fellow"
"Gcorgef ON, by no means, but should
have thought too much of a swell for this
work. Now for luucheon-it is ut the
keepers; aud we have earned 1t, Harry,
and no mistake"
" But where is your sisterr
" ON, she viii turn up; she's all right"
Bother these girls! what u nuisance they
arch "COme along"
"She can't 90 walking about the woods,
you know, with all these guns about, and
IN that brown dress too. We must find
her"
You look, then. must go on and see
that all Is ready Just wait minute here,
aud she Is sure TO make her appearance
Gan miss the Way
ON, dear. no. Besides, she knows II hut
you hli better come with Inc. stop, I'll
call. See. halloa!"
" am here" comes low voice from the
fern, not far of.
And what did you give us such fright
for. then? Here were we Just going off to
hunt for you; nj least Harry was. Come
out here. you goosel We are gong in to
luncheon"
Isis the creature dead Arthur"
" Deadf Ages ago. Come out, / saw"
she has been crOucilng on The wet
ground behind NOISY rock, and comes
forward with slow steps and curlously
white face.
well" exclaims her brother, IL did
not think YOU had been such "a sillvl You
have Deen az II hunt often enough before"
" never SAW one Killed, aud | never Will
come ont agalu!" cried poor Beatrx.
Harry Blouut is looking mt her, aud sud-
denly he sriZes her arm, and exciaims,
Take care. Miss Grdeme" But he Is too
late; the color has AL left Bees face, and
she has sunk down sick and faint ON the
pathway.
What Is TO be done1
Arthur whistles in his CONSERVATION.
Blunt lifts her IA his arms, and the two re-
gard each other with gaze of mute and
helpless appeal.
Arthur has brandy. hut no water-it is
whiskeY, by the way. rs he Is Obliged to
confess; but do they dare to give her this z
IL she were to cnukel Neither of them
knows what might happen, aud Arthur
looks at the bottle ana snakes 1t, and
thinks he would like mouthiul himself,
but pu's II back in his pocket again.
Til tell YOU what. Harry, IA run for
the Keepers wife. You hold her there,
and | shdn't be gone mnute"
ON he scainpers, thankful TO be free
while poor BiOunt AWKWARD and wretch
cd Is lett with his helpless burden.
" She i very pretty he thinks. Poor
grill What "a SHAME IL was to bring her,
aud how happy and Jolly she was about
coming Ii was the sight OF the blood, |
know. just when She was tired aud famlsh-
lng. Now vino is to take her homer Not
/. must have one try in the next pass.
ON, she Is coming round, Is sheY'
Yes; she opens her eyes, draws breath,
and puts her hand To her forehead. nom
winch Harry has removed the hat.
suddenly lac tWlgls her around with We
locity putting himself between her ewes
aud thc sd sight that had unnciYcd her
before, and with the motion the maiden
begins 10 feel something strange IN her po-
sltlOn.
Her senses return and She rises to her
feet.
How thankful Bount Is 10 hear foot
steps comngl for Arthur has met Sir
Charles, ana the boys, ana keepers, all ON
tneir way 10 the cottage.
The doe is speedily removed; aud Bea-
trlN, whom her brothers regard with awe,
Is comfortei and cXhurted by her father.
"A sportsmau's daughter. and can't
stand a shot Beel VINO would have be-
lieved 1t OF your What Will mamma say :
We must get you home somehow, us soon
as we have mad something to eat. One of
the boys must 20 back with you"
But when the time comes Bee declares
that she will go atone.
In the dead silence ana downcast ewes
with which her fathers proposition was
received, size read the blow he was intlct-
ing.
She is quite able to walk, she knows the
way, and she Will he rs sale IN keeping to
the track ns Il in their own grounds.
" really think she may. What do you
say, Arthur Everybody is out on the
hill with Us, and weare ali up above. That
Is To say, if you are sure you won't be
frightened or anything, Betty; and mind
you keep to the track. Don't let mamma
put the blame on mo If any harm comes to
you. 1t Is your own fault if nythng hap
pens"
" Let me see Miss Graeme home"
Every one stares at Harry, Miss Graeme
herself included. Every one laughs mt the
idea 1t is MS hunt. lie is the stranger