Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-09

brought a pair. There exists certain class of sportsmen who appear to have just walked out of a sporting tailor's shop, and to this class Edward Cosey belonged. Everything about him was of the best and newest and most expensive kind possible; even his guns were just down from famous maker, and the best that could be had for love or money, having cost exactly a hundred and forty guineas the pair. Indeed, he presented a curious contrast to his rival. The colonel had certainly nothing new looking about him, an old tweed coat, an old hat, with a piece of gut still twined round it, a sadly frayed bag full of brown cartridges and, last of all, an old gun with all the brown worn off the barrels, original cost, e17 los. And yet there was no possibility of making any mis- take as to which of the two looked more of a gentleman, or, indeed, more of a sportsman.
 Edward Cossey shook hands with Ida, but when the colonel was advancing to give him his hand he turned and spoke to the squire, who had at length finished his letter, so that no greeting passed between them At the time Harold did not know if this move was or was not accidental.
 Presently they started, Edward Cossey at tended by his man with the second gun
 "Halloo! Cossey," sung out the squire after him, 'lt isn't much use your bringing two guns for this sort of work. I don't preserve much here, you know, at least not now You will only get few cock pheasants and few brace of partridges."
 "Oh, thank you" he answered, II always like to have a second gun in case I should want it. It's no trouble, you know"
 All right" said the squire, Ida and I will come down with the luncheon to the spinny. Good-by."
 After crossing the moat Edward Cossey walked by himself, followed by his man and very fine retriever, and the colonel talked to George, who was informing him that MT. Cossey was pretty shot, he was, but rather snappy over it," till they came to field of white turnips.
 Into the details of the sport that followed we need not enter beyond saying that the colonel, to his huge delight, never shot better in his life. Indeed, with the exception of one rabbit and hen pheasant that Topped up right beneath his feet, he scarcely missed, though he took the shots as they came Edward Cossey also shot well, and with one exception missed nothing, but then he never took difficult shot if he could avoid it. The exception was a woodcock which rose in front of George, who was walking down an outside belt with the beaters. He had two barrels at it, and missed it, and on it came among the tree tops, passed where Edward Cossey was standing, about half way down the belt, giving him difficult chance with the first barrel and clear one with the second. Bang! bangl and on came the wood cock, flying low, but at tremendous speed, straight at the colonel's head, most puzzling shot, However, he fired, and to his Joy (and what joy is there like to the joy of a sports man who has just killed woodcock which everybody has been popping atD, down it came with a thump almost at his feet.
 This was their last beat before lunch, which was now to be seen approaching down 8 lane in donkey cart conveyed by Ida and the squire. The latter was advancing in stages of about ten paces, and at every stage he stopped to utter most fearful roar by way of warning all and sundry that they were not to shoot in his direction Edward gave his gun to his bearer and at once walked off to join them, but the colonel went with George to look after two running cocks which he had down, for he was an old fashioned sportsman, and hated not picking up his game After some difficulty they found one of the cocks in the hedge row, but the other they could not find, so reluctantly they gave up the search. When they got to the lane they found the luncheon ready, while one of the beaters was laying out the game for the squire to inspect There were fourteen pheasants, four brace and q half ot cartridges, hare, three rabbits and wood cock.
 "Halloo," said the squire, swho shot the woodcocka'
 ''Wel, sir" said George, i've all had pull at him, but the colonel wiped our eyes, |"
 "Oh, MT. Cossey," said Ida, in affected surprise, ''why, l thought you never missed anything"
 "Everybody misses sometimes" answered that gentleman, looking uncommonly sulky II shall do better this afternoon when it comes to the driven partridges."
 ''I don't believe you will" went on Ida, laughing maliciously. II bet you pair of gloves that Col. Quaritch will shoot more driven partridges than you do."
 'Done," said Edward Cossey, sharply.
 'Now, do you hear that, Col Quaritcha" of gloves that you will kill more partridges this afternoon than he will, so hope you won't make me lose them"
 "Goodness gracious" said the colonel, in much alarm. ''Why, the last partridge driving that had was on the slopes of some mountains in Afghanistan. 1 dare say that l sha'n't hit a haystack Besides" he said, with some irritation, 1T don't like being set up to shoot against people,"
 "Oh, of course," said Edward, loftily, Eff Col. Quaritch does not like to take 1t up, there's an end of it."
 "Well," said the colonel, eff you put it in that way l don't mind trying. but have only enc gun and you have two"
 "Oh, that will be all right" said Ida to the colonel. You shall have Georges gun; he never tries to shoot when they drive par tridges, because he cannot hit them He goes with the beaters. It is very good gun"
 The colonel took up the gun and examined it. It was of about the same bend and length as his own, but of better quality, having been once the property of James de Ia Molle
 "Yes." he said, "but then haven't got bearer"
 'sNever mind I'll do that, I know all about it. I often used to hold my brothers second gun when we drove partridges, be- cause he said was so much quicker than the men. "Look," and she took the gun and rested one knee on the turf, First position, second position, third position. We used to, have regular drills at it," and she sighed.
 The colonel laughed heartily, for it was 8 curious thing to see this stately woman handling a gun with all the skill and quick ness of practiced shot, Besides, as tho bearer idea involved whole afternoon of Ida's society, he certainly was not inclined
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