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

| Diana Clark looked at him tor a
full minute before she replied. Here
was man who was going out there
to break into those bevies of which
the Hodges had written to the Judge
about. Then the spirit of the true
hunter flashed up. She smiled invol-
unfairly a very sweet smile it was,
perhaps trife of comical regret in it,
and said: Straight ahead two miles.
I am going there myself"
ooh 1 beg your PARDON said
the young man. "You are going to
hunt today, too, 1 see."
"Yes," replied Diana.
WELL" responded the somewhat
embarrassed sportsman, II don't want
to cut in and spoil your sport. I've
an invitation from Mr.. Hodge to come
out and take day at the quail" he
added.
"After ALL" he went on, "we're
all good fellows who love field sports,
and you are very kind to give me the
direction. Ny name is Tom Wilson,
and I don't see why we can't hunt
the farm together. Of course, if you
permitted me, l should prefer to give
you the best shots"
"You are very generous as to that, !"
said Diana. "My name is Clark,
and have heard my father speak of
you as being very good shot,
Judge Clark" said Wilson. de-
lighted. "I met the Judge in the
North one fall after canvasback.
So the two carts drove down the
road towards Hodges. As they
reached the next hedge the girl, who
was driving ahead, drew up with an
exclamation. There sitting comfor-
tably in the hedge was splendid bevy
of quail, fully twenty birds, big and
handsome.
"I would like about fifteen shots at
that bevy," said Diana.
"Wel1," said her companion, "you
take fifteen shots first and then III
begin"
'All right" responded Diana, as
she jumped out of the cart and hitch
ed her pony before Wilson could come
forward to assist her. The two dogs,
who had been making frantic efforts
to get acquainted, now came forward,
and after minute or two soon star
ted into the covey. The quail had
slipped through the hedge and were
in pasture, overgrown with scatter
ed grass. They skirted the hedge
and soon Rex stiffened to a point
Diana stepped forward and the bevy
rose. She picked an outside cock
quail with her right hand barrel and
he came down stone dead, the feath-
ers flying from him in cloud. With
her left hand shot she covered bird
which was swerving over the hedge
and was sure she had scored. Wilson
went around the hedge with his dog
and found it all right.
'I vQpder if that was an accident"
he thou to himself. Hang me if
she di, CIV down on that bevy
1;ke a 1t must have been a
Chance shot, that last pfrd', he mus
ed. The bevy had crossed the hedg
and had gone into the corn field
Diana and Wilson climbed fence
and Wilson's dog whir1ed to "but
ton-hook" point almost as soon as h'
struck the field. The bird got uE
and flew straight through the corn
AS the stalks were very much broker
down it was an easy shot and Diana
nailed it without any trouble. Will
son smiled pleasantly and said, "three
birds in three shots; you're doing
we'll, Miss Clark
AS the corn grew higher there were
tufts of grass here and there and in
these the dogs made several points.
Diana missed the first single and then
made Wilson sad and anxious by kill
ing four singles and three sets OF
doubles. awful, awful" he muir
INJURED, "why, this girl can give me
cards and spades and beat me at this
game" Diana fifteenth shot was at
cock bird which flushed wild and
behind her. She whirled and caught
him at good sixty yards and he came
down with broken wing. A short
chase by Wilson and the bird was cap
tured, making fourteen quail in fif-
teen shots. AS Diana's experience
in the field covered eight years Of
steady practice and the shooting was
comparatively open it didn't seem
marvellous to her, but to Wilson it
verged on the miraculous for a wo-
man. They hunted the farm togeth
er and Wilson called to pay his re-
spects to the Judge and Mrs. Clark.
Particularly Mrs. Clark.
Afterward the Judge said it was the
biggest bag Diana ever made or ever
would make-39 quail, seven rabbits,
and a hundred and sixty eight pound
man. For Wilson married her in the
spring. The groom's present to the
bride was a figure of Diana with the
regulation NEUROLOGICAL pose and fig
ure, but with a shotgun in her hand
instead of bow. On the base of the
statuette was the inscription The
times change, and we have change
with them. ."-Co1wlght, 1900, Daf1
| C-ko.., D,,LLeLs.~ r.