Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-12

which did not however, conceal n certain
earnestness. Il suppose ought to have said
would have given it gladly to such ro-
mantle figure, and perhaps have got out and
danced sarabard or bolcro with yoti--if
that is tho thing to do nowadays. Well" she
she said after a dangerous pause, consider
that I've sail it,"
He had been walking little before her,
with his face turned toward the distant
mountain Suddenly he stopped and faced
her.
"You would have given enough of your
time to tho highwayman, Miss Scott, as
would have enabled you to identify him for
the police-and no more. Like your brother,
you would have been willing to sacrifice
yourself for the benefit of the laws of civil
ton and good order"
If a denial to this assertion could have been
expressed without the use of speech, it was
certainly transparent in the face and eyes of
the young girl at that moment. If Falkner
had been less sclf-conscious he would have
seen it plainly. But Kate only buried her
face in her lifted muH, slightly raised her
pretty shoulders, and, dropping her trcmulous
cyel!ds, walked on. at seems n pity" she
said after pause, "that we cannot preserve
our own miserable existence without taking
something from others sometimes even a
lifc!' lie started. "And it's horrid to have
to remind you that you have yet to kill some
thing for the invalids supper, she continued.
al saw hare in the field yondcr."
You mean that jackass rabbit" he said
abstractedly.
"What you please. It's pity you didn't
take your gun instead of your rifle"
81 brought the rifle for protection"
"And shotgun is only aggressive, sup
pose"
Falner looked at her for moment. and
then, as the hare suddenly started across the
open hundred yards away, brought the rife
to his shoulder a long interval-as it seemed
to kate-enpsed; the animal appeared TO be
already safely out of range, when the rifle
suddenly cracked the hare bounded in the
air like n ball and dropped motionless. The
girl looked at the marksman in undisguisctl
admiration. is it quite dead she said
timdly.
at never knew what struck it,
at certainly looks less brutal than shoot
ing it with Il shotgun, as John does, and then
not killing it outright said Kate 81 hate
what is called sport and sportsmen but a
rifle seems
"What!" said Fnlkner.
"Morc--gentlcmanly."
She had raised her pretty head in the air,
and, with her hand shading her eyes was
looking around the clear ether, and said
mcditativcly, II wondcr-no matter"
"What is it,
"Oh, nothing
cit is something" said Falkner, with au
amused smile. rcloadng his rifle.
swell, you once promised me an eagles
feather for my hat. Isn't that thing an
eaGc.'
81 am afraid it is only hawk"
'Well, that will do. Shoot that,'
Her eyes were sparkling. Falkner with
drew his own with slight smile and raised
his rifle with provoking dcliberation.
Are you quite sure it's what you WANT
he asked demurely.
"Ycs-quick,'
Nevertheless, it was some minutes before
the rifle cracked again The wheeling bird
suddenly struck the wind with its wings
aSlant, and then fell like a plummet at q
distance which showed the difficulty of til,
feat. Falkncr started from her side befor,
the bird reached the ground. He returned tc
her after lapse of a few moments, bearing 4
trailing wing in his hand. "You shall make
your choice" he said gaylv.
Are you sure it was killed outright"
"Ilcad shot of, said Falkner briefly.
"And, besides, the fall would have killed
it, said Kate conclusively. "It's lovely.
suppose they call You very good shotN
"They-who.H
'Ohl the people you know-your friends
and their sisters
George shoots better than l do, and has
had more experience. I've seen him do that
with pistol, OF course not such a long shot
but a more difficult one
Kate did not reply, but her face showed a
conviction that as an artistic and gentle
manly performance it was probably in
fcror 10 thr one she had witnessed. Faliner
WHO had picked UP the hare also. again took
his place by her side, as they turned toward
The house.
do you remember the day you came
when we were walking here you pointed ont
that rock on the mountain whore the poor
animals had taken refuge from the snowf
said Kate, suddenly
"IeS,' answered Falkner; they seem n
have diminished. | am afraid you We're RICH
they have either eaten each other or esq ,.pcd.
Let MS hope the latter"
Il looked at them with glass every day
said Kate, "and they've got down to only
four There's a bear and that shabby. over
grown cat you call California lion, and a
wolf, and creature like fox or a squirrel ~
ITS pity they're not all of kind said
Fallner,
"WhyF
"There'd be nothing 10 keep them from be-
ing comfortable together
"On the contrary should think it would
be simply awful to be shut up entirely with
ones own kind"
Then you believe it is possible for them,
with their different natures and habits, to bs
happy together said Falkner, with sudden
earestness.
Il believe" said Kate hurriedly, that
the bear and the hon find the fox and the
wolf very amusing; and that the fox and
the WOLF
"Well:' said Falkner, stopping short.
"Wel, the fox and tho wolf will carry
away much better opinion of the lion and