Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-10
(con tinued from hr.t page.)

received by the old fox hunters as well as
by the young men who were anxious to
get brush. Times were different then.
The oldest and most learned lawyer in our
town led the hounds. and nearly drove
them mad with the blasts he gave on his
silver-mounted horn. Every one who
could get horse was ready for the chase,
and pretty young bride rode boldly by
her husbands side to see what the sport
was that the men were so wild about.
Even tho village doctor had donned his
top-boots and rode out, not to look after
those who came TO grief either in ditch
or near hedge, but to cry tally-ho with
the rest.
1t was late when the chase got off. and
il was night before they unearthed the fox,
and all night long through the marsh and
the adjoining fields came the baying OF
the dogs and the notes of the horn. The
fox seemed old and wary. and managed
again and again to double ON her pursuers,
keeping up the chase in a circuit. She
was fearless, and sometimes when closely
followed she would turn and snail as il in
rage.
Ii was near daylight, and the moon was
not half a half hour high. yet the fox was
not taken. Some of the party, the bride
among them, had given up the chase and
gone home, but still there were many in
hot pursuit. Suddenly they came upon
Black Dick Dinsmore. lie was riding
away from them, but when they called
him, he turned and joined them. His
horse was fresh, but he had no gun; at
any rate he rode side by side with the fox
for some distance, he waiting his chance
to strike her. She seemed for the first
time to be frightened, but even she would
turn and suarl and show her teeth vicious
ly, and then again she would look up
into Dicks face imploringly. But Dick
did not mind her looks any more than
her snarls, and when he got the chance
he threw himself out of the saddle like
q Comanche Indian and made lunge at
the fox. Every one was sure he had
missed her, for she still ran on, but they
noticed she lost her speed, and the dogs
tracked her by her blood.
Just at day-dawn, when the whole par
ty came in by the beach, the fox run un-
der Dilsey Dinsmore s hut. 1t was impos-
sible to get her out without tearing down
the house, which they would have done if
they dared. Tue dogs went nearly mad
with rage and excitement, but it did no
good; the fox was safe.
The strangest part of all was that Dlsey
never came out to see what all the noise
was about, and Dick Dinsome had disap-
peared. Perhaps he did not care to be
seen by his aunt Just then.
Later in the day. when the excitement
had subsidized, the neighbors noticed that
Dilsey's cottage was not opened, and fad |
ing no one answered their knocks, they |
determined to break down the door. For |
tunately some one tried it first, and found |
1t unlocked. The worst fears of the neigh
bors were fulfilled-old Dilsey was dead
in her bed.
The frightened women made quick |
work in getting the corpse ready for bu-
rial and the men did not care to watch
for more than one night in the house they
had long believed the devil to be the mas
ter of. And so old Dilsey's funeral was
the next day.
B 1t was not until after the poor old soul
was resting quietly in her grave that ru-
NOR was bruted about that the woman
who had shrouded her had seen small
wound in her throat. Then the doctor |
was said TO have declared that he would |
have worn the brush in his hat if. when |
he had stopped to kill the fox, she had not
turned on him with such look in her
face like old Dilsey. He was startled
and alarmed, and could not strike her.
And so it came to be believed that the
old woman was prowing about in the |
shape OF fox, and so met her death.
But those who were not so credulous |
wondered why Black Dick did not appear
to inquire as to what had become OF his |
annt's money and they openly said it was
certainly suspicious that Dick should have |
joined TN the hunt close by his aunt's |
house. and that he should have had knife |
in his hand. To be sure. Dick may have |
heard that old Dilsey had lett will eay-
ing everything she hadto Major Jacquette
perhaps she wanted the mouey TO do |
some good after her death; or she may
have had quarrel with Dick, as they
were not remarkably afiectionate to each |
other. AT any rate, Dick Dinsmore was
never seen in that village again.
By Therese's advice, the Major bought
a farm with old Dilsey's money, SO far
away from the river that one could scarce
ly get a peep at it. People said she didn't
want her young husband near the water,
for she was jealous-as yomen are apt to
be-of his first love.
But every one In the village was sure
Murdoch was anchored for life; Tor if his
pretty wife did not keep him, his father
in-law would. for he was far too old and
feeble to carry on the farm. Indeed the
old Major was never easy unless he had
q shilling in his pocket, for fear Dilsey
would come back to earth for one, and |
again curse him for his inability TO pay
her. But tradition gives no hint of any
such catastrophe. but rather that the shil- |
fngs grew to pounds. and the generation |
thatcame after throye on the witch's |
money. EMILY READ.