Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-08-05

, half the pheasants We ought; ;and I told
Macfarlane so to day. He didn't like
it bit. You're not strict enough
either, about the preserves, Adam; the
! beggar5 know that, instead of proSecu-
ting them for having fat hare In their
pockets, you'll believe any cock-and.
bull story of 1t having jumped in of its
own accord, and let them off scot.free.
L can't see the use of game laws, fol
my part, If they're not TO be enforced. -
The speaker is Anthony Barre. The
three brothers, Just returned from
pheasant-shooting in their own woods,
are seated round their Widespread table
in the waning light of the October af-
ternoon, doing ample justice to the
Vlands before them. Fine men truly
are the three brothers, the two elder
Adam and Anthony, gigantic of limb
and stature, the youngest, Adrian, of
less powerful build, but 1.-the and active
and sinewy as a panther. Assembled
there, clad in rough suits of velveteen
with CATERS of untanned leather and
heavy shoOting-bOOts, their untrimmed
boards reaching far down their massive
chests, their appropriateness of the
! nickname they have earned in the
country Is very apparent although,
despite their uncouthness, their loud
laughter, their uncultured habits, na-
ture has set her ineffaceable stamp of
gentle birth upon them
81 can I help it, " answers the eldest
brother, III response TO the remark that
Anthony has just made. Upon my
soul, | caanot find 1t in my heart to be
hard on the poor beggars for helping
themselves, If they're hungry, TO any
wild creature, furred or feathered, thai
! the Almighty has made Sit for food
A pheasant or a hare more or less is OF
no such great consequence TO us, after
all; and think of the spite and ill-will
one brings oneself by being too severe,
Old liarcOurt would never have had
hts rickS fired if he hadn't Great
heavens, what's uhat?''
He pauses suddenly in his speech,
the brlmmlng silver tankard he holds
arrested midway between the table and
hlS lips, his eyes fixed in amaZement
upon one of the large arm-chairs on the
hearth, over the back of which appears
at this junction rough and very yell
low mass of curls. framing pair of
large innOcent gray eyes that are sur
veying the three brothers with an ex-
preston of the utmost perplexity and
disappointment.
''Oh, please" says the intruder,
scTambling down from her hiding-place
and advancing with the courage of de-
spair TO where the three men are sit
ting petriied with astonishment at this
invasion of their privacy-''oh, please
Will you forgive me for coming here
like this-for indeed l did not mean to
be naughty! l wanted to see If you
really were the three bears, the same
as in my book. BRIDGE said you were
and, when L got here, you were out,
and L came in by the window; and the
supper looked so like the picture; and
| climbed into one OF the chairs and
pretended to be Golden Hair, and wait
ed"
The small voice is choked with a sob
which is drowned by the uproarious
laugh.e- OF freda's listeners; while
Adrian, who has an undisguised fond
ness for children, hits the small tress-
passer on to his knee and places a huge
bunch of purple grapes before her with
one hand, while with the other he wipes
away the child's tears adroitly with his
own silk handkerchief. /
Don't be frightened. little one; the /
three bears won't eat you this time, | |
promise you," he whispered encourag-
ingly; while Adam and Anthony, great |
ly diverted with what they call the I
''pluck of the little creature" press I
every dainty on the table upon their /
unwonted visitor, and soon draw from /
her full account of the circumstances 4
that have led to her appearance at the 4
Den.
Il must go home To mother now,'
she announces at length, sliding down .
from Adrian's knee, while she holds up
a cOnfding face to his rough beard for
a kiss. II shall tell her how nice and
kind you are-not bit like bears, but
better and gOOderl Yes, will come
and see you again some day soon; and''
slipping her hand coaxIngly INTO
Adrian's-''l Will let the little bear
walk down the avenue with me, be-
cause, although | am not frightened,
it is rather dark, and because like hlm
a little the best, YOU know!'' /
Winter is gone. A long hard winter
it has been, and a damp unhealthy
sprlrg has succeeded it. Round about
just as the primrOses are
peeping forth from the brown earth,
low anguish fever finds its way, claim
ing here and there a victim, and max
ing the householders curious concern
ing the quality of their drinking water,
and especially particular respecting the
condition of their dus: bins and similar
sanitary matters.
1t Is wild wet evening, more like a
night in January than one in April, and
Adrian Barre is seated in the library at
the Den, mending a whip-lash by the
light OF reading lamp. Save for the
presence OF two fayOrite dogs, brown
and an Irish setter, which
lies watching him with faithful intelli
gent eyes, he is alone, for his brothers
are absent attending hOrSefair In a
county, and are not expec-
ted TO return for some days. Near HIM
and looking strangely incongruous
amidst the litter of straps. bits of leather
sporting papers, and the like with which
the table Is strewed, stands china jar
large white hyacinth just
opened into perfect bloom, its scented
breath perfumIng the whole room with !
ielicate fragrance; Adrian himself has
brought in the flower from the green
house to-day, intending it as gift for
Freda.
Since her first memorable visit Miss
Iolden-Hair has paid the three bears
many an afternoon call during the win
er, always sure of welcome from her
strangely chosen friends, who indeed
7ied with each other to gain the fore {
most place in her favor, and who after
/ time grew fond enough of the little s
,hild to await her coming with sort t
If anxiety, as some change and varia-
ion in their rough unsoftened lives.
Oflate however these visits of Freda's !
lave mysteriously ceased, and, as five I
weeks slip by and she still remains in /
7islble, the three brothers comment a '
rood deal OH her absence, and act 50