Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-05

in a more than usually peprcry condi-
tion that morning. He damned the |
coffee, he damned the kidney, he |
damned the bacon, he damned tho cold |
grouse, and tho footman and the |
cream, and Horace and several other
things all vehemently. Horace never
lifted his eyes from his plate. | had
become quito hardened to this kind of
thing; the Generals frame OF mind
never interfered with my own equanim.
ity. | attributed his more than normal
irritahilty to the weather: the morn
ing was sutry in the extreme.
Breakfast over, | went with Horace
to his study, and SGT him the morn
ing's tasks. After this | sought my
own rooin, whore | sat dieosting
treatise on political economy for up
wards of an hour. All mt once the
Generals voice reached my ears. l
looked from the window-my private
sitting-room was on the first floor =
and saw him stamping up and down
the drive, swishing his cane with
savage emphasis and raving inco-
herenty. Whether his conduct was
due to some annoying contretemps,
or merely to his liver having taken
up stingingly inimical line OF con
duct, was, of course, unable to tell;
had had the knowledge forced upon
me that either of these possible causes
was capable of temporarily throwing
the General into mental state not
far removed from that of a dangerous
lunatic. For 20 minutes or so
watched him while he paced back
wards and forwards, voicing his fury
upon the empty air, and striking to
right and left with his cane. Political
economy being hopelessly out of the
| question while the General remained
on the drive, l marked the place in
my treatise and went down to Horace's
| room.
found the boy peepine at his
father from behind the curtains. He
was white as n sheet. Whats hap
pened; - / asked.
20 don't know, Mr.. Harding. L
| think it must be his liver again. Look,
he's getting better now, isn't he?'
The general certainly seemed better
when / peered at him round the cur
| tain. He had tucked the cane under
his arm, and with hands folded behind
| his back. was standing as Though
wrapped in some deep train of thought.
| A few seconds afterwards he looked
at his watch, then he made bee
line for the stables.
He's going for another gallon, :"
Horace said "I'm sure it's only his
liver. He can't keep still for minute
and you know how awful he was
this morning.
Horace returned to his lessons-I
returned to my reading.
At luncheon the General was worse
| /
far worse than he had been at break
fast. Not thing upon the
table escaped his anathemas -anethe-
mas which were shared by his own
eyes and liver, and by the butler and
the footman, and Horace, and all the
flies in creation, one Of whom was
remorselessly persistent in its atten-
tious to the Generals bald pate. The
General always drew the line at myself,
no doubt knowing pretty well what
the result would be il he honored
mo with his abuse. Horace shook
the butler and footman, well seasoned
though they were to this sort of dis
play, went through their duties with
heightened faces ard agitated mien.
l often wondered how the General eyei
managed to keep his servants at all,
until l learned that he paid then
double the wages they could earn else
whore. He was rolling in money.
Horace seIzed the first opportunity
Of sinking out of the room. | fount
him in his study few minutes after
wards.
, Isn't it almost too hot to ride, Mr.
J Harding?" he said. Horace never los
any possible excuse for Sinking ride
! Its too hot for anything" an
) swered with yawn.
Couldn't we stroll down to the lov
meadows and see if we can Kick vi
: some young rabbits in the grass? Will
the state the Governors in today.
don't know what would happen if b.
found me hanging about the house,
Right you are, = said "If Their
aren't any rabbits, we'll sprawl in tn
shade. | felt more inclined TO
I sprawling than anything else. 1t wa
the hottest day l ever remember
So with our guns under our arms W
: started for the low meadows.
$ Horace was the very worst hand wit
gun it is possible to imagine If hi
g charge happened to strike within tire
T feet of a sitting object. 1t might b
considered a rafting good shot,-fo
Horace. His nervousness rendere
him utterly incapable of holdin
!, straight He showed considerable i'm
d provement before left Pimento Parl;
n but at the time Of which am writin
}, it was pretty safe IL to one on
9 rabbit in its seat Is yards, and--wel
81 perhaps a thousand to three on tn
!. same animal running That neat littl
d ashore never failed to inspire me wit
feelings of caution and respect when
| IN N I inu al
S placed myself behind its owner.
e The low meadows, long and narrow
% lay one on either side of tall quic
n hedge. Their surface was dotted ov,
II with many small patches Of nettles an
Y rough grass. disdained by stock hl
y beloved by those rabbits who preferre
~ an open-air resting place TO the e
m bracing atmosphere Of their earth
ie Beginning at the part farthest from I'll
s hedge, we took the first meadow
70 three strips, treading out every pate
likely to hold a rabbit. According
I'd my wont i kept carefully behir
~ Horace. While taking the final str
m my companion kicked into sma
es lump OF bracken not six yards from I'll
th hedge. Out jumped diminutive ra
Il, bit, bang went Horace's gun. If I'll
be rabbit-he did not look much mo
sd than eight weeks old-had been hit
he such u range, his death would ha
he proved very sudden one indeed. b
I'd he was not hit. / saw the charge C
a into the hedge about four feet abo
to bunny's disappearing scut. Hora
ic admitted that the gun went off befo
We it reached his shoulder.
n, A few yards farther on stood
| lordly beech opposite the gate viii
H. led from one meadow TO the 9th,