Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14

tell. All, you're looking OF the notice
NV wife brought IL down from town yes
terdey. There's chance for making
money now F"
"what do they want 'em fora" said
Mr.. Weekes.
"what do they give for 'em, you
mean," said Mr.. Pogson, with some con-
tempt
"what do they want 'em for ?" an
swered the barber, sinking MIR. Pogson's
question. "Why, you haven't got any
pretty daughters, Mr.. Weekes, or you'd
know that by this time. Look at that
there owl on. the bonnet Why. bless
YOU, It's all birds now with the ladies in
london-and in the country too, for the
matter O. that. Birds on their hats and
birds Oh their dresses; and very pretty
taste, too, in my opinion. What's pref
tier, now, than birds Think OF their
songs, Mr.. Pogson. and all their pretty
ways Why, when you sees EN- a fiut-
terlng about on the ladies' hats in town
Won could Almost believe as you was out
10 the country seeing the little creoters
a-flying round you and singing And
nov it's al owls. take it. Such soft
ness o feathers. you see, such wings,
such"
But what1l they pay for EN- ?
asked Pogson, impatiently, tired OF the
BARRIERS talk.
Clancy prices, sir. fancy prices,
said the barber: "why, there'sa forum
in that placard There's birds o para
disc selling III town-so my vile tells
me-for 30 guineas apiece, and there's
kingfshers and woodpeckers fetching
mint o. money. / tell you even black
birds and such like brings in something,
for they lodges EN- up with other birds
wings or dyes 'em red and green, as
pretty as can be. And now bere's run
on owls, you see can't get enough OF
'em. Half a sovereign apiece for the
best ones, ! think it was she told me.
IL pigs is down, Mr. PogsOn, why owls
is MP. YOU see. Want a shave then ?
Come along gentlemen, I'm free. "
"There be scores on 'em in Truerne
Wood" said the pig-dealer again to
Weekes, as he preceded him into the
shop, but catching sight of Oliver, who
had shrunk away from the pair, and
stood at little distance riyeted by the
BARRIERS speech, Mr.. Pogson added,
"There's that old tree by the ride,
divers armchair, the Highileld folks
calls # there's owls there now, and
Young uns as well, I'll be bound. Amt
there nov, old soft-bead ?" And he
made q playful cut at Oliver with his
sapling as he went up the steps.
The old man WAS seriously alarmed.
That these two men would be ready to
meddle in the wood for the sake of few
puueas, or even few shillings, If they
hal the chance, he knew very well ana
the fact OF the placard being there on
fair day was quite enough to set all the
oun-owners III the neighborhoOd owl
| hunting. As be turned away from the
window he caught sight OF The tall form
/ of Mr.. McNab saunterlng through the
fair. and regarding It's various folhes
| much as grown-up man looks at the
frolc OF pack OF children just let ont
of school. He went after him quickly,
and touched him on the arm.
"Mr. McNsb Mr.. McNab !" said he
with earnest andimplorlng eyes. there s
mischief up there; there's mischief IN
the BARRIERS shop There a placard out
for a thousand owls, and they're gong
to shoot 'em in lruerne wood
"They might do waur, said the keep
er. not at all taken aback.
"Tis hard as LunnOn folk can't leave
us alone, continued Oliver with rueful
face. THEY'LL cut the wood down next
aud burn it for charcoal; I've heard talk
on it afore now. But I'll beln my grave
before then, if so be as my prayers be
granted.
"They Wilma do that" said the
keeper dinns fash your auld head with
sic notions. And we mamma haze the
owls killed DOT either, or we'll be over
run with rats IN year or two. When
the cat s awa-Ye ken. But what for is
a this about owls, | wonder ? are they
gaun clean dotted III Lunnon, then
And leaving Oliver, Mr.. McNab walked
up to the BARRIERS shop, and after looking
at the milliner's window, he went in. and
did not come out again while Oliver re-
NAMED in sight.
The old fellow waited awhile, and
walked about the fair, but he saw no
more of McNab, and mad to turn his lace
homeward without word OF reassu-
rance. AS he passed through the ner-
row passage, thronged with hard-faced
men and boys, which divided the pens
of crowded pigs aud sheep, 1T made him
vince little TO see Mr. Pogson. his
ruddy face still ruddier. and his sunken
little eyes sparkling with drink and with
nnwonted expectations of wealth, cut
ting at the hind-quarters OF his new
ly-bought pigs with the sap1ng,
shouting in hard voice to greasy
friends, and looking at every one
who came near him as Ii they
had better mind what they were about.
For old Oliver he had Il profound con-
tempt and as the old man passed INN
he caught the pig that was nearest HIM at
the moment such cut with his switch
that its sdueaks resounded through the
street it tried to escape over the backs
of its fellows. who all with a loud chorus
Of squeaking rushed TO the further side
of the pen, which so pleased Mr. fog-
son that he turned TO the old man with
a wink. as if TO say, "Now you SEQ the
proper way to treat animals. But OIL
yer had passed on quickly.
III.
Old Oliver trudged down the road
from the little town on the hill, with his
fairiDg under his arm, thinking OF his
old wife sitting in her chimney corner.
and of the old days when he bought the
pretty young farm servant her first far
ing. in that same town and on that very
same day in May, some five-snd-forty
wears ago. Straight before him were the
Cotswold hills, and on their slope he
could see the spire of Highheld church,
and further down and nearer was the
great dark mass of Truerne wood, hiding
the hamlet where he had lived all his life.
The sight of the wood made him think
of the owls, and he unconsciously quick
ened his pace, as if to make haste and
see that all was right with them as yet.
Down the long sloping road he went,
and then turning off by bridle-path,