Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-11-29

the head
"Thata better" said Ida, ms she handed
him the second gun.
Another moment and q covey came over,
high up Ho fred both barrels and got a
right and left, and snatching ths second gun
sent another barrel after them, hitting third
biei, which did not fall And then noble
enthusiasm and certainty possessed him, and
he knew that he should miss no more Nor did
he With two almost possible exceptions he
dropped every bird that drive But his
GROWING glory, thing whereof he still
often dreams, was yet TO come.
He had killed four brace OF partridge and
fired twelve times, when at last tile heaters
made their appearance about two hundred
yards away at the further end Of rather
dirty barley stubble.
III think that Is the lot" he said, "rm
afraid that you have lost your gloves. Ida"
Scarcely were the words out OF his mouth
when there wis yell Of mark" and
strong Convey of birds appeared swooping
down the wind right on 10 him
On they came, scattered and rather
"stringy," and Harold gripped his gan and
drew deep breath, Wills Ida, kneeling at
his side, her lips apart, and her beautiful
eyes wide open, watched their advent through
space In the hedge. Lovely enough she
looked 10 charm the heart OF any man, II q
man out partridge driving could descend to
such frivolity, which we hold to DO impos-
sible
Now Is the moment The leading brace
arc something over ifty yards away, and he
knows full well that II there Is 10 be q chance
left for the second gun he must shoot before
they are 1--WE yards nearer
'.Bangp down comes the old cock bird
''BangI' and his mate follows him. falling
with smash into the fence.
Quick as thought Ida takes the empty gun
with one hand and passes him the cooked and
loaded one with the other "Bangf" Another
bird topples head first out OF the thinned
Convey They are nearly SIXTY yards away
now. "Bangr again, and oh, Joy and won-
derl the last bird turns right ever backward
and falls dead as q stone some seventy PAGES
from the muzzle Of the gun
He had killed four birds out Of a single
driven Convey, which shooters well know 20
feat not otten done even by the best driv'
Ing shots
"Brnvorr said Ida II was sure that ZOO
could shoot u you CHOSE"
Yes" he answered. iii was pretty good
work." and he commenced collecting the
birds, for by this time the heaters were across
the field. They were all dead, not runner
In the lot, and there were exactly six brace
OF them just as no picked up the last
George arrived. followed by Edward Cossey
well, never" said tho former, while
something resembling smile stole over his
melancholy countenance That's the mas
terest bit OF shooting that ever ! did Gee.
Lord Waisingham couldn't beat that himself
sixteen empty cases and twelve birds picked
up Why" and he turned TO Edward, "bless
me, sir, u ! don't believe the colonel has won
them gloves for Miss Ida after all. Let's see,
sir, you got two brace this last drive and one
ths first, and q leash the second. and two
brace and half the third, six and a half In
all And this colonel, yes. he has seven brace,
one bird to the good"
There, Mr.. cossey." said Ida, smiling
sweetly. II have won my gloves Mind you
don't forget 10 pay them"
"Oh, ! will not forget, Miss do la Molle, "
said he, smiling also, but not too prettily
ii suppose" he said. addressing the colonel,
"that that last csvey twisted up and you
Drowned them"
"No," he answered quietly. "ali four were
clear shots
Mr. Cossey smiled again an increduious
snile, which somehow sent Harold Quaritch's
blood leaping through his veins moro quickly
than was good for him, and turned away 70
hide his vexation Edward cossey would
rather have lost n thousand pounds than that
his adversary should have got that extra
bird. for not only was be Jealous shot, but
he knew perfectly we'll that Ida was anxious
that he should lose, and desired above all
things TO see him Inundated And then be,
the smartest shot within ten miles round, TO
be beaten 10y middle aged soldier shooting
with strange gun, and totally unaccustomed
to drivingi Why. the story would be told
over tho country-George would see to that
His anger was SO great when he thought of IL
that, afraid OF making himself ridiculous,
without another word he Get OF with his
bearer toward the castle leaving the others
to follow.
Ida looked after him and smiled. 'He Is
30 conceited, !" she said; .he cannot bear to
be beaten at anything"
II think that you are rather hard on him.
said the colonel, for the joke had an unpleas
ant side which Jared on him
AT any rate, she answered. with little
stamp, ''it is not for you TO say So II you
disliked him as much as | do you would be
harl ON him, too Besides, dare say that
his turn is coming"
Tho colonel WINGED. as well he might, bus
looking at her handsome face, set Just now
like steel at the thought of what the future
might bring forth, he reflected that In Ed
ward Cossey's turn did come be was by no
means sure thas tho ultimate triumph would
rest with him Ida de la Molle, to whatever
sxtent her sense OF honor and money in
debtedness might carry her, was no butterfly
TO be broken ON q wheel. but q woman whose
dislike and anger, or, verse still. whoss cold,
unvarying disdain, was q thing from which
the boldest hearted man might shrink
aghaSt
Nothing more was said on the subject, and
they began TO talk, though somewhat con
STRANGELY, about Indifferent matters They
were both aware that IL was a farce, and
that they were playing q part, for beneath
the external leo Of formalities the river OF
their devotion ran whittier they knew not.
AL that had been made clear a few nights
back. But what will you havsl Necessity.
overriding their desires, compelled them
along the path OF self denial, and, LIKE wise
folk, they recognized the fact, for there is
nothing more painful in tho world than the
oatbnrst Of hopeless affection.
And 40 they talked about painting and
shooting and what not. till they reached the
gray old castle towers Here Harold wanted
IA bud her good-by, but she persuaded him
10 come in and have some tea, saving that
her father would like TO say good aighi 70
him.
Accordingly be went into the vestibule.
where there was light, for 10 was getting
duss. and there he found the squire aud Mr.
COSBY. A soon as he entered Edward cozsey
rose, said good night 70 the squire and Ida,
and then passed toward The door, where the
roionel was standing, rubbing the mud OF
his shooting boots As he came Harold, be
slightly If ha