Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-05-10

only carrying IL Tor the master. AS we
drove along the sand road through the
pines toward the hunting ground | heard
hoof beats behind us. "Who is riding
through our private forest" | thought,
and, turning, | saw young Feltzien, who
supposed was with his regiment in Der.
lin.
He came up and explained that, hav-
ing a few days furlough, he was spend
ing them with his mother and that he had
ridden over to Rottwitz to pay the baron
q neighborly call. | saw the left corner
of the masters mouth go down and knew
that he was none too well pleased. He
had counted on having the little one to
himself. But he couldn't help himself;
he had to present the captain TO her and
invite him to go along. He hoped, no
doubt that the captain would decline and
would say he was afraid his horse would
scare the deer. But, no; the captain, as
If he guessed what the old man was
thinking, accepted the invitation and said
that the bay was Il worm for slipping
through the sand without noise SO he
rode along by our side. | had watched
him and the girl when the baron present
ed him. and sir, though | couldn't swear
that he knew her already, | got the idea
that he knew very well what a dainty
creature he would come across in the
Rottwtz woods. Que will get such no.
tons, you know, sir.
After awhile | caught sight of a stag
browsing. The little girl saw him at the
same instant, and in her excitement she
clapped her hands. The stag, of course,
ran away. but they were so tame in
those days when none of them had been
shot for years that we soon saw another.
This time the little black eyed puss sat
as still as n cat watching n mouse, but
trembling and painting with excitement
and waiting for the shot.
Well, sir, will you believe it? The
baron picked up the walking stick and
went through the whole performance,
the same as usual. You ought to have
seen the girls face when the old man
! said Puff 1t was an old story to the
captain, but he bit his lips till the blood
came.
The girl asked the baron why in the
world he didn't shoot.
He explained at great length, telling
her that the pleasure in hunting con
sisted in breathing the pure air Of the
forest and i'm seeing the game and in TAX
ing aim at it. The killing was the un.
pleasant part Of the business, so he avoid
| ed that, taking the sweet and leaving the
bitter.
Then she exploded. She laughed and
laughed as if she would never stop. But
she did get through ut last, and then she
said that one wouldn't get much veniSor
that way, which showed that she was Al
practical young woman. The captain
smiled and said she was quite right
Hunting was a serious business, and q
man must know enough to fire his shot
at the favorable moment. He looked H'
laaas 81
he said this. and she had another laugh
ing fit.
Well, sir. its getting late. so I'll Gu
il short. The girl went away the mex
day and the old woman with her, al
though the baron did everything he coul'
to induce them to stay longer.
Before she left she handed me larg
envelope aud told me to give it to tn
baron. but not until he had come bacI
from seeing them off Wasn't the ole
man furious when he-opened the envel
ope. All it contained was photograph
which he flung across the room and the
rushed out. swearing like a pirate.
: Well. sir. I've got a little curiosity, til
: same as other folks. and | picked tn
: thing up ana looked at it. IL was her ow
portrait. and on the back were some line
: of writing, which | copied because tn
whole affair was so ridiculous. Tut
needn't have copied them. ! shall neve
, forget them. and here they are:
As you're content the game TO see
And never make a capture
This little photograph Of me
Should give you perfect rapture.
I Yes, it was cruel Of the little mink, br
II served the old E, | mean the oil
master quite right. That same afte
noon Fcltzien's coachman told me thi
the captain had returned to Berlin. II
very much wanted to stay longer, but h
had been suddenly recalled. All. he
n after the vcn!Son, thought. Well. goo
night, sir. oh, thank you, sir. Goo
! night.-1ransiatcd For New York Cor
I mercial Advertiser.