The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-18
A RACE FOR LIFE.
BY CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER.

Early on the morning of the 23d OF
August, 1877, doe was feeding on
Basin mountain. The night had
been warm and showery, and the
morning opened in an undecided way.
Tne wind was southerly it is what
the deer call dog wind, having come
to know quite we'll the meaning of a
southerly wind and o cloudy sky.
The sole companion of the doe was
her only child, charming little ia " q, ,
whose brown coat was just beginning
to be mottled with the beautiful spots
which makes this young creature as
lovely as the gszelle The back, its
father, bad been that night on long
tramp across the mountain to Clear
Pond, and had not yet returned be
went ostensibly to feed on the succa-
lent lily-pads there. "He fsedeth
among the lilies until the day break
and the shadows fee away, and he
should be here by this hour: but be
cometh not,' she said, lespiDg upon
the mountains-skipping upon the
hills. Clear Pond was too f1r off for
the young mother to go with her fswn,
for nights pleasure. 1t was fash
ionable watering place at this season
among the deer and the doe may
have remembered, not without unea.
siness, the moonlight meetings of
frivolous society there. But the buck
did not come be was very likely
sleeping under one Of the ledgec on
Tight Nippin. Was he alone? Il
charge you, by the roes and BY the
kinds of the field, that We stir not nor
awake nv love, till he pleases"
The doe was feeding, daintily
cropping the tender leaves of the
young shoots, and turning from time
to time to regard her offspring. The
fawn had taken its morning meal,
and now lay curled up on bed of
moss, watching coptentedly with his
large, soft brown eyes, every move
ment of his mother. The great eyes
followed her with an alert entreaty,
and if the mother stepped pace or
two further away in feeding, the fawn
made half movement as if to rise
and follow her. You see she was his
sole dependence in all the world.
But she was quickly reassured when
she turned her gaze on him and if,
in alarm, be uttered plaintive cry,
she bounded to him at oace, and with
every demonstration of Affection,
licked his mottled skin till it shone
again.
1t was pretty picture-maternal
love on the one part, and happy trust
on the other The doe was beauty.
and would have been 50 considered
anywhere as graceful and winning
creature as the sun tha: day shone
on. Slender limbs, not two heavy
Hanks, round body, and aristocraiic
head, with small ears and luminous,
intelligent, afectionate eyes How
alert, supple. free, she wasl What
nntaught grace in every movement
What charming pose, when she
lifted her head aud turned il 10 re-
gard her child You would have bad
a companion picture if you had seen,
as saw. that morning. q baby kick /
ing about among the dry pine need
les on ledge above the Aussble, In |
the valley below, while It's young
mother sat pear, with an easel be-
fore her, touching 10 the color of
reluctant landscape, giving a quick |
look at the sky and the outline of the /
Twin Mountains, and besto wing ey-
cry third glance upon The laughing |
boy. Art in its infancy.
The doe lifted her head a little, |
with quick motion, and lurned her
ear to the south. Had she heard /
something? Probably it was only
the south wind ia the belssms. There
was silence all about 10 the forest. III
the doe had heard anything. it was
one OF the distant noises Of the world. |
There are in the woods occasional
meanings, premoniticns Of change,
which are inaudible 10 the dull ears
of men, but which | have no doub.
the forest folk hear and understand.
If the does suspicious were excited |
for an instant, they were gone as
soon. With an affectionate glance al
her fawn, she continued picking 20
her breakfast
But suddenly she started head !
erect, eyes dila,ed, a tremor in her
limbs She took step and turned |
her head to the south /; she listened
intently. There was sound-a dis
tant. prolonged note, bsl!-.oned, per-
vading the air. shaking the air in
smooth vibrations. I; was repeated.
The doe had no doubt now. She |
sbocklike The sensitive mimosa when
q foots;ep approaches. Il was the /
bayiug Of hound /, was far off, at I
the foot OF the mountain Time /
enough to fy. Time anough to put
miles between her sad sbe hound,
before be should come upon her trail. /
Time enough to escape away through !
the dense forest, and hide in the re-