Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-03-30
Comedy % the Noofs.
VI POAC1YZ1vG STORY
>HE Afternoon, sun had dipped be-
hind the broad shadow q the
Ruchill and the strath below was

Ruchill and the strath below wal
~ plunged In shadow. It had beer
@s one Of the halcyon days which
nometimes fall on the borderland OF au
Iumn and winter, when the sun shine'
with summer brilliance from cloudles
Ky, when the now sombre Landscape
takes a younger and a brighter aspect
and to the worn out heritage there comes
touch OF fresh life. But now. as tn
cold line Of shadow mounted the hiilsid'
and the suns heat died from the earth
the harsher feeling Of the late season as
Ierted itself and there was shiver II
the air betokening frost. The stream
IN the valley had lost Its sparkle; colo
and colorless it's waters looked as they
flowed full-lipped between their banks o.
dry gray bent; and even the hills were
scarce relieved from monotonous gray
ness by the bright patches OF withereo
bracken, the soft green turf of the burn
side, and the clumps of dark pine which
dotted their slopes.
The shepherd of Kingsmuir arose lazily
from the messy bank where he had beer
reclining He was returning from one OF
< his rare visits to the nearest marker
town, and, as the way was long and the
heat had been oppressive, he had sat
himself down by the streamside to rest.
But now sunshine and the chill OF even
Ing reminded him that he must be getting
on his way; so, wrapping his plaid more
tightly around his broad shoulders ne
prepared to resume his long journey Be-
fore him in a struggling line the flock OF
sheep he had that day bought at the
market solemnly cropped the roadside
turf, flanked by two shaggy collies, who
watched in jealous rivalry TO prevent
their straying; and the shepherd, as he
surveyed their broad, we'll fleeced backs
was filled with much content.
"Meg-Don-away by wide," he cried
IL the mysterious, language Of herdlng'
But as at the order, the obedient dogs
scampcred off in a hairy whirlWind to
recall stragglers and trim the flock Tor
the march, something in the stream at his
feet caught the shepherds eye and made
him bend cautiously lower. For the shep-
herd, though in many ways an exempla-
~ subject and strict observer OF the
laws Of tho realm, made one exception.
The salmon laws. he held. were iniqu1t-
GUS, and there being few things IN the
world he loved better than salmon, he
saw no reason why he should not capture
them when and by what means he chose
The close season had begun, and on the
lower streams the batiffs would be keep.
ing strict watch for the unwary poacher.
But here it was different. One such gen.
tleman I have heard did, in fit OF over
zealousness from duty. penetrate these
Businesses, but from his fate his sue
cessors took warning, and OF late years
these moorland streams and been little
overlooked
=. SCI it was with small fear Of Interrupt
ton from that quarter that the shepherd
took ont: his hooks for the capture Of
the goodly salmon which lay invitingly
In a convenient part of the stream. He
was an old, experienced hand, and adj
vanced confidently expecting an easy cap
ture Warily he approached the stream
and arranged his tackle, and very skill
fully he worked his hooks upward. But
the salmon was a cunning fish, and re-
sisted the efforts to land him. With each
failure the shepherd grew the more de-
;termined, till at last, in the heat of the
chase he became oblivious to all else.
90 engrossed was he that he did not no.
tice q short, thick-set man approach and
!, stand watching him with grim smile.
:. The newcomer seemed strangely out of
place in his surroundings. In his appear
snce there were none of those marks
which cling to the dweller in the hills
and distinguish him from other men. He
!. had the air Of one who had strayed from
the smoke of a mining country into the
midst of this great hill land: at any rate,
he was certainly not a shepherd He was
short and squat, with bull neck and an
unlovely countenance unimproved by a
: most vicious cast in his eyesight; and the
leer which disfigured his face when the
shepherd. his perseverance at last re-
warded, drew his prize to land and at
length turned round gave him a mos,
sinister aspect.
The shepherd eyed the stranger with
some establishment. He had not heard
him approach, and his silent behavior was
ominous. But 1t was ridiculous to have
any fears on the score Of so Insignificant
q person; so, nothing daunted, he slipped
the salmon into his plaid and grit himself
again for the road. AS the other showed
no sign of addressing him, he felt bound
In civility to venture remark.
"Extraordinar' fine weather tor the
back-end," he said, affably." s@
There's naething wrang wi the wath-
err" answered the stranger, srndely. "1ts
fine and clear for seeing poachers.''
The shepherd whistled softly. Gould
this man be?- T..
:, "Is 1t possible" he said slowly and de-
liberately-"can you be what they ca a
bailiff?' ..
.'As Yell sumo find out" Y
'Ay, man! Div ye ken, I never saw a
bailiff afore, and I've ay wondered what
they were like. But I thocht they would
nit on bigger men for the job. bod! ]
took We for that new tailorbody that's
come to the muirs.
The bailiff was sensitive, and at the
suggestion his eyes flashed. ''Tailor!' he
began, with snort Of Indignation, but
checked himself "In the meantime" he
continued, with forced politeness. "I'll
trouble We for your name"
"And what If I dinna tell ye?" asked
, the shepherd sweetly. -..
"It'll be the waur for yourself! I'll just
haze to follow ye."
"Aweel. It's gey lonesoe bit o the road
anyway, and I'll be name the waur o your
company. We can haze crack on the way.
Ye see," he continued, as they set of to.
gether, II Gamma afford to gang to the Jail
s. q