The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-19
By T. T. EEWINTG
REpUBLsHED FROM THE DOLLAR NEWSPAPER OF 1si9.

MIN. w HcD he saw Ernest ne
ceased singing, and the dogs bound
ing up, sprang furiously at the in
trader.
"Ho! down" the hunter ex
claimed fiercely, and the dogs
sneaked back in silence to their
former place behind their master.
"You appear to be faithfully
guarded" said Ernest, approach.
ing the hunter.
"Pretty well, I rather think.
Down, Storm!-down, you old
rascal" he replied, speaking to
Ernest, and reprimanding the old
hound for showing his teeth to the
stranger at the same time.
"You have your hounds under
good command"
"Have to keep 'em so-a feller
that beats these hills,'' replied the
hunter, mechanically.
"This is beautiful and pictur-
esque range for sporting," Ernest
continued, endeavoring to draw
this laconically speaking Nimrod
into conversation. "You can enjoy
the one and admire the other, il
you are lover of Nature"
"Tis rough enough, if that
agrees with your idea of beauty
I'd rather for my part it was
smoother. Reynard can double too
often for good sport, and as for
looking at rocks and trees L never
admire it much-though Christi
anna can gaze at such things for
hours together" replied the man
of "horse and hound"
81 believe I have the honor of
speaking with Mr.. Timon Darly?''
Ernest said, inquiringly.
"Well, it's all that's for him, l
guess this offspring of the house
of O'Ferguson replied, laconically,
"and if yon'd like to take a chase
over the hills, why just say so, and
you can soon have one; for there's
something in the wind by the way
that old hound is snuffing the air.
[ never knew him to lie in my
life, and
| And it's uncertain when or where
the follower of the chase would not
have ended, had not Ernest inter
rupted him in the beginning of his
panegyric on the sagacity and
remarkable traits peculiar to the
canine species.
"Thank you, Mr.. Darby. 1 am
sorry other business compels me to
decline your invitation to share the
sport. l believe you are the only
hunting member of the family"
cay" replied the fellow, whistl,
ing to his dogs and conversing with
Ernest by turns; "Christianna, like
yourself, is fond Of looking at rocks,
and hills, and trees"
"Your sister is a very romantic
GIRL" said Ernest, interrupting
him suddenly.
"Christianna," returned the
hunter, laying strong emphasis on
the name, "likes books, and walks,
or rambles, as she calls them, and
such like things; but 1 have no
turn for the like trifling amuse-
mentS.n
"Christianna and your sister are
one and the same, l imagine, "
Ernest remarked, noticing the
peculiar emphasis with which
young Darby pronounced the girls
name.
| It'll take an older head than
mine to tell that" was the calm
reply of the fellow, who, springing
to his feet the same instant at the
bay of a hound, shouted the loud,
cheering cry, "Hark! hillalon
bounding down the glen in pursuit
of his dogs, and leaving Ernest
unceremoniously alone.
"What strange animal of the
human kindW Ernest soliloquized,
as he turned his steps in the OPP
posite direction. "NOthing is IA
source of pleasure or amusement to
him but the discordant notes OF
those hounds, and an occasional
glimpse of the fox. For these he
will forego the fatigue of climbing
hills and descending valleys all day
long, well rewarded if he catches
an occasional glimpse or a remote
sound of the chase"
Thus communing with his own
thoughts, Ernest soon found him
self in O'Ferguson Hall, the real
place of his Observation-Disclosures
conscious of it or nOt-a lover-for
such we must really style the
fascinated youth, as he was not
always aware where he was going,
although in the direct track to his
mistress bower. Such a meeting
now could not but he cOngenial TO
the maiden's feelings, which of late
had strangely been eStranged from