The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-01

LOOKING haFu at the SfaVei pain as he spoke
There is an-an-old saying, ism there,
that one good turn deserves another?'
And there is fable about mouse ant
a hon replied, smiling. IF this
mouse can serve the lion, be sure he will
do it with alacrity.
Thank you thank you my dear fellow.
| am about to coufde in gou. know
can count upon your discretion.
Il venture to think You may, was my
reioinder
THE fact is--the facts, stammer-
ed my host, with unusual hesitation and
embarrassment. -mean-have-ha ve
you, perhaps, heard it whispered that
that-his Majesty isis hardly what we
in England consider crack shot 2
"A little bird has chirruped in my ear
little song Of which that was substantially
the burden, | replied
Then perchance, the same little bird
has chirruped in your ear another little
song, whose burden is that my Imperial
guest isis scarcely aware of his incfi
ciency?" smiled the Marquis.
The little bird has not omitted TO do
so, / answered.
We'll, to put the matter before you
plainly. he continued, dropping his jocu-
lar tone and speaking with evident serious
ness, the Emperor visit to me, although
private and unofficial, may be fraught with
important state consequences. But it is
absolutely essential that he should be kept
in good humor during his stay Now, as
you doubtless know his Majesty temper
is, to say thiks sAgfeeiy of the most
equable description. And, if he shoots
badly, it is certain to put him out serious
". So want somebody really crack
shot, and you, my dear fellow, are the
best Of the lot of us-to kill his birds for
him. My suggestion, therefore, is that
you should fire simultaneously with him
at the same birds he lets fly at; you will
hit them and he will take the credit This
is what is done, 1 understand, at his own
shooting parties-of course, without his
knowledge which probably accounts for
his believing himself to be such dab shot.
I Z :; VIII you do me this favor 2
concluded the Marquis anxiously, almost
pleadingly.
looked straight at him. 1t seemed to
me that he quailed little as he met my
gaze
Next gun on his left-close to him.
| murmured. You then, also, my lord,
know that my life is insured r.
rs it? | didn't known, upon my
soul, cried the Marquis; adding quickly,
There shall be no risk-not the smallest,
assure you.
My little bird chirruped to me in a
different strain :. replied
'SAh! But your little bird was not in
my confidence have thought the mat
ter out have made my plans carefully.
Come up close to me. Leaves and blades
of grass have ears, he said, looking eau
tiOusly round ''Let me whisper some
thing to you.
He whispered for about two minutes,
hurriedly, eagerly My countenance re
laxed as [ listened. [ nodded, I smiled,
| chuckled
You are born MachiavelIi my lord,
/ told him.
s'Tut-tut 1t is simple enough plan
to have evolved The difficulty will be in
its execution. The most trifing indiscre-
ton might ruin everything make
matters thousand times worse than they
would have been originally Now, my
dear fellow, what do you say? Are you my
man p
''One question before [ answer, | re-
joined IF all risk is thus absolutely an
nulled, why am l selected for the post of
honor?
Simply for this reason-the best of
you are the finest shot of the
party. reckon you as ten kills hun
-ls.--sl--l-ss~-4.,+llan Morden, who cnrtain,y
stands next to you.
.'You Aatter me- | murmured, pro
prirna But what he said was quite true,
and | knew it.
"Come-are you my man?' he repeated.
Relying on what you have confded to
me- am, l answered with decision.
He shook me warmly by the hand.
The compact was sealed.
Shortly. afterward we shooters made
start of it. A drive of about two miles
brought us to the edge of the home moor,
upon which we were to commence opera
tons. We were soon marshalled in line
by the head keeper, acting, of course, under
from the Marquis His I'm
perial majesty had the place of honor in
the center, his host being on the right, and
your humble servant, as arranged, on the
eft. | took my place first of all at the
usual interval, but as we advanced
;tealthily narrowed it down until | was
within dozen PAGES of the Emperor,
Carefully did [ keep my eye on that au-
gust parsonage. Whenever his gun went
% his shoulder providing the bird he was
inning at was anything within my range)
up wentmy gun also Bang-bang-went
jdf weapons simultaneously. | was in
form, better even than my own
,est standard | didn waste many cart
-idges, l can tell you 4 smile of sublime
satisfaction wreathed the imperial dufer'
ace saw he had no suspicion, but that
II, or nearly all, the grouse / killed were
he victims of his own deadly aim.
'Ha! Desc grouse, l heard him ex-
;laim, to my great inward amusement.
'Dey are potty birds to sEoot-dam
,otty
s'Your Majesty would find any birds
ootty to shoot, responded an equery,
Who was walking at his side, with obsequi
'us gravity.
Whether the fellow had smoked our
game for keeping his imperial master in
,ood conceit with himself / don t know
If he did he was a most finished courtier.
For anything more perfectly natural than
he expression of solemn, stolid admiration |
in his fat face never saw No wonder, |