The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-05-12
A MODERN DIANA.

cit seems funny to me-" remarked
Mrs. Clark, "that Di doesn't act like
other girls, instead of chasing into
the woods with gun"
Her lord and master, to whom the
remark was addressed, 1o1led lazily in
an old fashioned hickory rocking
chair and laid aside the weekly paper
to answer.
"Well, what could you expect when
you named the girl Diana?" he said.
Wasn't that lady huntress And
didn't she scandalize the rest of the
gods and goddesses by taking her
bow in hand and tramping around in
the timber after deer 2"
''Deer, indeed" responded Diana's
mother, ''it is more likely that she
was gossiping with one of those dis
reputable Sibyls who used to hunt
those parts. So far as Diana's name
is concerned, she never would have
taken to hunting if you hadn't en-
couraged her to go with you when
she was child. And when she was
II and you bought her that little gun,
it was easy to see that she had caught
the fever from you.''
Judge Clark resumed his paper
with cautious air and vouchsafed no
reply. 1t was true that he, an ardent
sportsman, had encouraged Di, when
she was little girl, to go with him
ducks and jack-aipe; and after she
grew UP she too, SO naturally to the
sport that the Jutse was secretly very
proud of her skill She learned all
about the habits 6 NJ - - s.,,aii
game, but the BIZ, : ~. and ny sn;rno1s tre % :,
the woods. marsh6 ord saids cha -
could tell any Il. t.le o lo....N-Sa ~ birds 5,
I their flight at long distances. Sh
knew the different trees, the plants
flowers and vines, and altogether sh
had knowledge Of outdoors not pos
sible to be gathered from books.
She was a good shot, too. 1t hat
come naturally to her, for her fathe
was an expert with the shotgun. 1
gave him the greatest pleasure posi-
BILE to take some man along with hi
daughter and give the lady the bes
opportunities but after Diana haC
killed half dozen birds straight, sin
giles and doubles, the affable shootel
would begin to wonder where he came
in. He would notice that the Judge
was shooting right along and not ex
tending any more courtesies to hi.
daughter than he wonld to any gooc
shot. Then light would break il
on his perception and he would begir
to try to catch up with his compan
ions in the number of birds. But in
variably, with the slight advantage
gained from the start, the girl would
keep ahead, and at the end of the day
the father and daughter would have
the biggest game.
Then the Judge would chaff hi:
companion about letting woman
beat him, much to his daughter S EN-
barrassment, and the man would, o.
course, promise to do better next
time.
On the day that Mrs. Clark gave
voice to her remark about Diana, the
girl was three miles from the little
county seat town driving rapidly to-
ward what was known as the Hodge
farm. Quail were reported as being
very plentiful there, and she was hur
rying to be certain of getting into
some of the bevies before they were
shot into and scattered. She was
driving sorrel pony, and in the cart
was her fathers old pointer, Rex
Her gun was sixteen guage, six
pound cylinder and splendid weapor
for the purpose. She was a girl o.
as many moods as an April day anc
with much the same charm. The
dog was as anxious to get to the field.
as she was and evinced determine
ton several times of jumping out O
the cart and hurrying ahead. Blu
the sharp warning of his mistress re
strained his eagerness.
Finally the red barn of the Hodge
farm hove in sight and twist of ths
whip over the pony's back made hin
spurn the roadway dust more vigor
ously. 1t was early enough to b,
sure, but the earlier the better foi
anyone with longing to see a gooc
dog draw down to point hard anc
fast by some bunch of weeds or fence
corner. At the corner of a willow
hedge where another side road came
into the main highway there was Z
second road cart standing still, the
driver of which was evidently uncer
tain as to where he was. He was al
that minute up on top of rail fence
nearby, and was shading his eye.
while looking to the west. In hi.
cart was red setter dog, gun, anl
all the paraphernalia that distin
guishes the hunter. He was dressed
in a regulation suit of brown ducl
clothing and appeared to be young
fellow ofsome twenty-six years. Ht
caught sight of the girl and sprane
from his perch. Lifting his cap ht
hailed her and said: ''I beg mil
lion pardons, but can you tell mt
! where the Hodge farm is?"