Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-17
6 &e&e@,@&7SV,N'&eVS%eY9 '
( Comedy Of the MOOrS
= By William Buchan. &
AAuA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES A8A9

THE afternoon sun had dipped be-
hind the broad shoulder of the
Ruchill, and the strath below was
plunged in shadow. 1t had been one
of the halcyon days which sometimes
fall on the borderland of autumn and
winter, when the sun shines with
summer briIliance from a cloudless
sky, when the now somber landscape
takes a younger and a brighter aspect
and to the WORKOUT heritage there
comes a touch of fresh life. Bat now,
as the cold line of shadow mounted
the hillside and the suns heat died
from the earth, the harsher feeling
of the late season asserted itself, and
there was 4 SILVER in the air betoken-
ing a night of frost. The stream in
the valley had lost its sparkle; cold
and colorless it's waters looked as they
flowed full Tipped between their banks
of dry gray bent; and even the hills
were scarce relieved from monOtopous
grayness by the bright patches of
withered bracken, the soft green turf
of the burnside, and the clumps of
dark pine which dotted their slopes.
The shepherd of Kingsmuir arose
lazily from the messy bank where he
had been reclining. He was returning
from one of his rare visits to the near
est market town, and, as the way was
hnpn
sive. he had sat him down by the
stream side to rest. But now sun
down and the chill of the evening re-
minded him that he must be getting
on his way; so, wrapping his plaid
more tightly around his broad Shout
dcrs. he prepared to resume his jour
ncv. Before him in a struggling line
the flock of sheep he had that day
bought at the market solemnly
croppcd the roadside turf, flanked by
two shaggy collies, who watched in
jealous rivalry to prevent their stray
ing: and the shepherd, as he surveyed
their broad, we'll flceced backs, was
filed with much content.
"Mcg-Don-away by wide," be
| cried. in the mysterious language OF
berdinq. But as, at the order, the
obedient dogs scampered off in a
hairy whirlwind to recall stragglers
and trim the flock for the march
something in the stream at his feet
caught the shepherds eye and made
him bend cautiously lower. For the
shepherd. though in many ways an
exemplary subject and strict observer
of the laws of the realm, made one
exception. The salmon laws, he held
were iniQuitous; and there being few
things in the world he loved better
than salmon, he saw no reason why
he should not capture them when anC
bv what means he chose. The clOst
season had begun; and on the lower
streams the bailiffs would be keeping
strict watch for the unwary poacher
But here it was different. One sucl
gentleman. have heard, did, in ii
of overzealousness for duty, penetrate
these Businesses; but from his fat
his successors took warning, and o
late years these moorland stream
had been q little overlooked.
So it was with small fear OF inter
luption from that quarter that tn
shepherd took out his hooks for tn
capture of a goodly salmon which la,
invitinglv in a convenient part of tn
stream. lie was an old, experience
hand. and advanced confidently eH
+ pecting an easy capture. Warily h
, approached the stream and arrange
i his tackle; and very skillfully h
worked his hooks upward. But tn
salmon was cunning fish, and re
7 sisted the efforts to land him. Wit
{ each failure the shepherd grew tn
more determined, till at last, in tn
heat of the chase, he became Oblivion
to all else So engrossed was he tina
= he did not notice a short, thickse
!. man approach and stand watchln
:, him with a grim smile.
The newcomer seemed strangel
out of place in his surroundings.
!, his appearance there were none
N those marks which cling to the dwell
e. in the hills and distinguish hill
from other men. He had the air
]. one who had strayed from the smoE
II of a mining country into the mid'
Of this great hill land; at any rate /
r., was certainly not a shepherd. He WE
e short and SQUAT, with a bull nee
lie and an unlovely cOuntenance UNI
L VII cast
eyesight; and the leer which dish
ured his face when the shepherd, l
perseverance at last rewarded, DIRE
e. his prize to land and at length turn
e. round gave him most sinister aspe'
The shepherd eyed the strang
- with some establishment. He had II
&C. heard him approach, and his silent
sc bavior was ominous. But it was
diculous TO have any fears on t
score of so insignificant a person;
nothing daunted, he slipped the sal
It. on into his plaid and girt hims
in again for the road. AS the 9th
showed no sign of addressing him,
- felt bound in civility to venture
n mark
On 'EXtraordinar' fine wather for
back-end," he said, affably.
=, There's naething wrang wi I
n, wather," answered the stranger, ru
rus ". "It's fine and clear for sect
poachers."
;. The shepherd whistled softly Co
r. this man be?
rs it possible" he said, slowly Q
-. deliberately, "can you be what u
". ca bailiff?"
NJ "As yell sumo find out"