Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-14

% r'f'i as d criticised ana SuHerlnp poet,
but as-well MS the Ronald that all of
them knew and were familiar with-sclf
reliant, CoOd-uaturcd. masterful in his
way, and ever ready with u laugh and u
song and jest, save when there was any
young. lady there, to make him little
more demure and respectful in his manner
Ronald disappointed poet Ronald
suffering agony because wo-for-n-quar-
ter kind of a creature out there in Chicago
did not think well of him; She ventured
to Ii # her eyes little. lie was not look
ing her way at all He was regarding
the shore intently and there was a quiet
and humorous smile on the hard set. sun
tanned face.
There are -blackcocks do
we see them ?"
"Oh yes what handsome birds they
are " she said with u curious sense of re
lief.
"Ay," said he, THE lads are very
friendly amongst themselves just now
but soon there will be wars and rumors of
wars when they begin to set up house
each for himself There will be many a
pitched battle on those knobs there.
Handsome? Ay, they're handsome
enough: but handsome is as handsome
does. The blackjack is not nearly as good
fellow as the grouse-cock, that stays
with his family, and protects them, and
gives them the first warning cry if there's
danger. These rasCals there wander Off
by themselves, and leave their wives and
children to get on as they can. They re
handsome, but they'r ne'er-do-weels
There's one thing the villain has a price
put on his head, for man would rather
bring down one old cock humping Oh the
grass than fill his bag with gray hens
n disappointed poet indeed And she
was SO glad to find him talking in his
usual half-bantering, careless fashion
that he should talk IN any other way was
only wild suggestion Of her own con
science, struck with qualm on the men
ton of Strath- Naver) that she made many
inquiries about the habits of black game
and similar creatures, and was apparently
much Interested; and all the while was
vowing within herself that she would
think no more of the mortifying disap-
polntment she had met with, but would
give up this last day on the loch wholly to
such fancies and quiet amusements as she
would like to look back upon in after
hours.
And a very pleasant day they spent in
this STILL silent, beautiful region, cut off
from all the world, as it were. There
were plenty OF trout, and therefore there
was plenty of occupation: moreover one
or two good-sized sea-trout added to the
value of the basket. Nor was this solitary
district quite so untenanted as she had
supposed. About midday it occurred to
her that she was becoming hungry; and
then the wild reflection flashed on her
that the lunch was in the other bOat-sOme
elBnl llllltS away. one COluueu her per
pleXity, her despair, to Ronald.
ITS my fault" he said, with veXation
very visible in his face. Il should have
remembered. But-but," he added tim
idly, for he was not accustomed to minis
tering to the wants of young ladies, 81
could get We some bread and a drink of
milk. if that would do.
What right here ~
"Nes'
"Why, nothing could be better
"Or / could cook ye one of the sea-
trout, he suggested
She began to laugh.
And | thought we were in wilder
ness-the first people who had ever eX-
plored this end of the Lakeland it turns
out to be land flowing with milk and
honey! Well, so much the better, for I'm
vurry hungry; and if you could get some
bread, Ronald"
They were rowing the boat ashore by
this time; and when they had got to land,
he leaped on to the beach, and presently
disappeared. In little more than Il quar-
ter of an hour he was back again, bring
ing with him substantial loaf of home
made bread and large jug of milk.