The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-14

est, upcn 1x SIS 6shq was pair Of mag
niiacent antlers. every 6tahca And point
OF which showed clear and Ssharp 70
the bright sunlight. .,rsSsaa !
Halls heart still beat fast his hand
was on his rifle, and ne vas, trying
hard, to .eoltrpa. pa.sthe,:trembFing OF MS
body. He knew all about this agita-
ton at the flrst sight Of noble game
and ne HAew 1t must be controlled II
he wanted,to make good shot.
Yet in his excitement ne: could not
help being IMPRESSED with the rare
beauty of the bictufe-the recumbent
doe. the fawn again lying by her side.
the buck standing not far behind them.
his head raised high. and in the back
ground the water. .tis'strees and the
sky. Hal eagerly asked himself If 1t
would be possible to take a photograph
before he fred. He had not answered
his own question before there was
sudden change. in. the appearance OF
the buck With quick movement ne
turned his head toward the water. his
ears bent forward, his eyes dilated ana
from his mouth came strange. shrlli.
whistling sound. He was frlghtened;
Hal could see nothing. could hear
nothing that seemed to indicate dan
ger. but the deer had sharper senses
than his. Probably it was only a fox
on the other side of the water Deer
are often very much afraid OF foxes.
although we know OF no good reason
why they should be. But no matter
what the cause. the buck was alarmed.
His. antlers trerlbled as if his whole
body were. pervaded by sudden tre-
NOR.
The terror of the puck instantly COM
municatedsitse1f to the doe and fawn;
the one half-raised herself from the
ground, turning her head toward the
water. and the little fellow sprang to
his feet.
Ii was a wonderful picture Hal had
never seen an engraving or painting
| which showed a group Of deer at mo-
ment of such intense nervous excite
ment But it was also WonderIully
good opportunity for shot.
There was no time for deliberation
| The buck raised his head still hlShel
and leaned little toward the WOOD
tho doe sprlng to her feet; the little
fawn slightly crouched as If about Il
| make a bound-and Hal felt that what
ever was to he done must be done III
stantly. TIe seized the camera.
Click! 1t was over.
l In l,,,fl. f1rnGH nj!
head away from the water. the d0'
leaned forward, there We're three sud
den bounds and the startled anlmai
had plunged into the bushes and out o
sight. ...
Hal sat down on the ground an
leaned his back against the rock. Al
ter his excitement there came rea<
ton: he did not want to DO anythln
but just sit there. He was tired,
was disappointed. he was happy. II
sat there long time, now thinking q
the bucks head, with its branchin
antlers. which might have hung on til
wall above his desk; thinking OF I'll
little fawn and its petulant way
stamping it's hoofs upon the grounf
thinking of the tender-eycd doe SO gel
tly and steadfastly giving her little SO
> a needed lesson in life; thinking Oh u
, grand buck. still alive and unharme
standing in safety somewhere III II
= depths Of the forest.
When Mr. Clayton ca1ne back !
found his son still sitting by the roc
We'll" he said did you see Il buck
"Oh. YES" said Hal.
''Did lie give you chance for
shot?'
..Yes." said Hal. "a fine one.
Mr.. Clayton locked about. but sa
nothing which betokened that his 81
, had shot Il deer. What, SAID 1
did Won miss him."
. No" said Hal. and then. seeing l
~ father was completely Dystined,
:, told his story.
. MIR. Clayton stood silent fm' a IL
:, moments, looking ut his son. 1--WE ell
said he Il don't know that | shol
have been able 10 do that. but SHOT
40 be glad to believe | might nave De
10 able"
.r The story OF Hal Ciayton's deer h,
,d spread rapidly through the little can
re which was composed of four or 1
il famlles, all very well acquainted.
~, the course of the afternoon Hal tt
40 his fishing rod and Went to the &c
,d OF IL lake about half Il mile from
M camp. There he met a party OF
,st boy friends. all busy fishing.
Ia Hello. Hair cried one of thu
What are you doing with that II
he Why didn't you bring your came
no If n fish should stick its head out
il. the water you would not be aple
of photograph it,
for IIe did not like this style OF talk,