Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-03

select amount ef vituperation from Dotn
sides, an openly avowed declaration on
Mr.. Covers part that as he had not re-
ouested the pleasure of his society on this
or any other occasion, he hoped IL "oulo
be the last time Roger would present nun
self at the Fens; an equally honest avo".
al on the part Of Mr.. Dare to the erect
that the discomfort he felt in coming was
almost lit never could be quite balanced
by the joy he experienced at departing
and few more hot words that very near
ly led to bloodshed.
When Roger thought it all over dispas.
sionately next morning he told himself
that now indeed all things were at I'D
end, that no hope lay anywhere; and. no"
February Is upon them, and spr1ns pc
gins to assert itself, and the lana nas
learned to smile again, and all the prett!
early buds are swelling in the hedgerows'
1--WE shall have to shake off dull siotn
pretty early tomorrow" says Dlehy
Browne.
"Why?" asks Portia, almost startled.
"The meet, you know" says Dlcky'
"Iong way off. Hate hunting myself
when I've got to leave my bed for 1t;
"You needn't CO." says Dulce; nobody
is pressing YOU" -.
ooh! I'm not like you," says ME-
Browne, contemptuously, liking tnaha
to-day and hitting it tomorrow. You aseo
to be sort of modern-I mean decent
Diana, but lately you have rather snirkeo
the whole thing"
II had cold last day, and--and head
ache the day before that" stamn'erS
Duce, blushing scarlet. -
Nobody could hunt with headache'
says Roger, at which defense Mr.. browlo
grins.
"Well, you've got over them" ne says
Whats going to keep you Mt nome W
morrow"
81 don't understand you, Dicky," says
Miss Blount, with dignity. II am going
hunting tomorrow; there is nothing thar
| know Of likely to keep me home.
She is true to her word. Next morning
they find her ready equipped at very
early hour. "Taut and trim," as Dlcky
tells her. from her hat to her boots"
sDo you know" he says, farther, as
though imparting to her some Informal
ton hitherto undiscovered, Joking apart,
you will understand, you are really qu''o
pretty young woman.
"Thank you, Dicky," says she, very
meekly; and as more substantial MARI
If her gratitude for this gracious speech,
she drops a fourth lump Of sugar into MS
coffee. 80,
Shortly after this they start, Dulce soll
IN the very gayest spirits, with Roger
On her right hand and Mark Gore on her
loft. But as they near the happy hunt
ing grounds her brightness flags, she
grows silent and preoccupied, and eacn
fresh hoof upon the road behind Sei
makes her betray desire to hide herself
behind somebody.
or late, indeed, hunting has lost its
charm for her, and the meets have De-
come a source of confusion and dlscom'
fort. Her zest for the chase has sustain
ed a severe check so great that her favor
tie hounds have solicited the usual biscuit
from her hand in vain.
And all this is because the one thing
dear to the soul Of the gloomy stephen
Is the pursuit of the willy fox, and that
therefore en- the field Of battle it becomes
inevitable that she must meet her whilom
lover face to face.
Looking around fearfully now. she sees
him at little distance seated upon an
| irreproachable mount. His brows are
knitted moodily, his very attitude is re-
pellant.
He responds to the pleasant salutatlons
showered upon him from all quarters by
O laconc: "How dye do" or a still more
freezing nod. Even Sir Christopher's
hearty Good morning, lad" has no effect
upon him.
ITO be continued.)