, 1889-08-08

the door opened and Mac Hoyt caught
the words, as he saw her, standing
there with flushed face, which the laugh,
passed his lips, "Yes, | do"
"My daughter, Miss Hettie; Mr.
Thornton. Mr.. Hoyt" and the party
gathered around the table.
"Really, Miss Thwait, when one con-
trastS this with the place where we spent
last night 1t might be in some different
country" said Thornton.
=, sphere, | should say" remarked
Hoyt to Hettie, who was seated near
him, She looked up with smile,
saucy reply ON her lips, which died
away In vexed flush as she thought
how harum.scarum she came riding up,
driving. home the cows, too; one would
think she were cowboy or a wild In
dian or something, and her eyes again
sought her plate.
~ fear though Hettie will not forgive
you for coming to take away her ducks
and chickens, for you must know she is
a famous huntswoman. / Just expect,
though, some day, the child will be
killed with her dreadful gum Mrs.
Thwait was saying.
man? You will forgive us for entering
upon your preserves, but we will
promise not TO take advantage of
your goodness by cleaning them all out;
but perhaps we can get you and your
sister to join us when we do not go too
far from the house. You hunt, too. do
you not, Miss Essie?" said Thornton,
noting with delight how the pink blood
flushed over neck and face as she re-
piled:
"Oh, no; leave that to Hettie, but |
go sometimes just for the pleasure ofthe
ramble"
"Oh, WE'LL" broke in Hettie, not very
graciously, "you needn't be particular
about leaving any birds for me. l al
ways know where to iind them and I'm
not afraid of your getting any too many
unless tell you"
Her mother and Essie looked up in
surprise. Hottie was always delighted
to talk hunting and even If the birds
were few she would never show selfish
ness, particularly TO guest, for she was
the soul of hospitality. Hettie felt her
studiously on her plate filled
with tears, as hot flush crimsoned even
her forehead. Her mother was about to
make some remark showing her aston
ishment, but Essie came to the rescue
by asking Mac Hoyt where they had
been stopping. He turned to her CRATE
fully. Already he was grateful to per-
son for defending one whom he has seen
but few moments. He felt uncomfort-
of her ungraciousness, and In few mo-
mentS the conversation was flowing
smoothly along Hettie, though In
rather shame.taced manner, taking part.
The next morning Hoyt was up before
the sum- for though tired with his long
tramp of the day before, distracting
thoughts had made 'the bird of sleep
chained his dogs, two fine settlers, who
began furious barking at his approach.
Nep and Shot Hettie's hunting dogs,
put in an appearance to make friends
with their canine visitors and Hoyt with
his four companions which lac vainly
tried to quiet, started for the lake.
BE still, you wretch! BRAY you vii,
lian, If you don't stop that noise, I'll
throttle you, Nep- wasn't that what
she called your be still, there's good
fellow" AS stepping soitly, with fur
tive glances at an open window where he
could see muslin cur, in tluttering in
the morning breeze, lie passed down the
path to the lake. The Sky was pink
with promise, and the silver waters of
the lake rippled up and back with n de-
licious murmur, leaving tiny waves in
the smooth sand. The four dogs stimuli
taneously plunged into the water and
began tapping as If they could never get
enough, Nep swimming out and circling
round and round in a most tautiliz-
ing manner to the others that stood
yelping IN the shallower water. In a
moment the noise stopped and
Hoyt caught the sound OF a clear whistle
which the dogs had heard first. Nep
and Shot, with short bark of delight
leapCd from the water and sprang up
the bank, shaking n shower of crystal
drops from them as they ran. Calling
his dogs, who stood ready to follow, to
him, Hoyt waited, for he knew who
must bc coming and in moment Het-
tic appeared, the dogs leaping and bark
ing about her.
"There now, Mop, No, sir, down
dows sayv v' as he would have leaped
upon her, "Iou can't kiss me this
morning / don't want to be mussed
up, Do you know where m going old
fellow?h holding upa trolling hook, at
which he leaped and barked the more /;
And may 60, 100, Miss Hettio?"
for she had almost reached
Hoyt, whom she had not seen.
She stopped and colored deeply, looking
about as though she would run away,
then coming forward, though still flush
ed, +" she answered shyly:
"If you would like to, I'm am going to
get some fish for breakfast"
"You speak confidently. When | go
on such an errand always say try to get
some"
ooh, / always do rcjoined Hettie
quickly. 81 mean there are so many
here one can't help but get all they want,
and | never fish for moro than we want
to use. Fishing isn't like hunting, |
can't bear TO take the poor things out
and see them gasp,-unless you want to
eat them, she added practically; "but
hunting, that different, You see bird
and you just shoot and never stop to
think about 1t. Oh, just love to huntv
Hoyt watched the play of her features
and let her talk.
"Will you take the oars or troll?" she
asked as they reached the boat.
"Well, perhaps had better row; your
arms don't look very muscular"
"Oh can row, " she interrupted with
some scorn. "Why, j always row when
Burt ana Essie and CO."
"And who is Burt?" he inquired, a
jealous pang shooting DER him, as they
seated themselves in the boat, leaving
the dogs yelping on the bank, all but
Nep, who assuredy jumped in, and
stood with waggng tail and lolling
tongue in the prov, Hoyt seated him
self in the stern, with trolling hook and
line, and showed off.
ooh, Burt is our boy"
"lhe tall rather-rather-"
Hettie nodded. 'Yes, that's him,
rather gawky, but he's an awftilly nice
boy. Why, / shouldn't know anything
if 1t wasn't for him.
Hoyt heaved n sigh. ''Happy Burt"
"Oh, you needn't laugh now; mean
anything about hunting and fishing,
and birds, and nature In general. You
the world around them, she remarked
sagely. Hoyt coineided. "The first
summer we came out here" she con-
tinued. "Oh, my you amt looking at