The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-16


body were pervaded by sudden ire
NOR.
The terror OF the buck instantly com.
municated itself 10 the doe and fawn;
| the one half-raised herself from the
ground, turning her head toward the
water. and the little fellow sprang 10
his feet.
1t was a wonderful picture. Hal had
never seen an engraving or painting
which showed a group Of deer at a mo
ment Of such intense nervous excite
ment. But il was also wonderfully
good opportunity for a shot.
There was no time for deliberatiOn.
The buck raised his head still higher
and leaned little toward the wood
the doe sprang 10 her feet; the little
fawn slightly crouched as II about 10
make a bound-and Hal felt that what
ever was 10 be done must be done In.
stantly He seized the camera.
Click! II was over.
At that moment the buck turned his
head away from the water, the doe
leaned forward, there were three sud.
den bounds and the startled animals
had plunged into the bushes and out Of
sight
Hal sat down on the ground and
leaned his back against the rock At
ter his excitement there came a reac-
tion; he did not want 10 do anything
but lust sit there. He was tired, he
was disappointed, he was happy. He
n
the bucks head with it's branching
antlers. which might have hung on the
wall above his desk; thinking Of the
little fawn and it's petulant way Of
stamping it's hOOfs upon the ground;
thinking OF the tender-eyed doe so gen
tly and steadfastly giving her little son
n needed lesson In life; thinking Of the
grand buck, still alive and unharmed,
standing in safety somewhere in the
depths Of the forest
when Mr.. Clayton came back he
found his son still sitting by the rock.
We'll" he said, did you see buck|
"Oh, yes" said Hal.
did he give you n chance for a
shotY'
ItH, Hulu llHI' ~ hut Oits
Mr.. Clayton looked about, but saw
nothing which betokened that his son
had shot n deer What" said he
did you miss him."
mo" said Hal, and then, seeing his
father was completely mystitied, he
told his story.
Mr.. Clayton stood silent for few
moments. looking at hls son. Well
said he, II don't know that | should
have been able TO do that, but should
be glad to believe | might have been
able"
The story OF II,h Clayton's deer hunt
spread rapidly through the little camp,
which was composed Of four or five
families, all very well acquainted. In
the course of the afternoon Hal took
his fishing rod and went to the edge
Of "A lake about half mile from the
camp. There he met party Of his
boy friends all busy fishing.
Hello, Hail. cried one OF them.
What are you doing with that rod?
Why didn't you bring your camera?
If fish should stick its head out of
the water YOU would not be able 10
photograph II"
He did not like this style Of talk, but
he made no answer. Then Sam Curtis,
the biggest boy of the little company.
addressed him.
Hal" said he, "can you tell me how
il feels to hc a mollycoddyY
"a what?" exclaimed Hal, the blood
rushing to his face.
"a mollycoddy," replied Sam That's
what YOU are You haven't any busi-
ness to go hunting and fishing. You
ought To stay with the girls and play
croquet. or all things | wouldn't be
mollycOddy.'
Hal dropped his fishing line and
stepped quickly toward Sam Curtis.
That evening Sam Curtis was taking
n walk i'm the moonlight. when he met
some of his friends.
well. Sam" said one of them, 10y
way of cheering him up, how do you
like the mollycoddy?"
Like him. said Sam. Il like him
well enough There is nothing the mat
ter with him. But the next time he
wants to have anything To do with me
| am going to ask him TO take my pho
tograph."
There are no bucks horns on the
wall above Hal Clayton's desk. but in
their place hangs a framed photograph,
considerably enlarged from the orig
inal. of a group of deer, with lake
and forest for n background.
A good many of Mr. Clayton's sports.
men friends have come TO look at this
picture, and they all agree that IL was
not only very well taken, but that as
far rs they know. IL is a unique pic.
turc, showing group Of deer in most
upusual and interesting state OF mind.
Then. If Hal is not present. Mr.. Clay
ton tells his friends the story l have
just told you.-Iouth's Companion.
Military Grimes.