New-York tribune., 1903-01-25

so; back beheld the performers coming at fun
gallop. and this time they had another per-
former with them. Last years fawn had Joined
the troupe. On they all came without stop
and into the fairy ring, where a. treated to
another graceful performance, which seemed
rather more complicated than the first. I wish
L had studied II better; but I was so surprised
al the whole thing, and it was over so quickly
that I really had not a fair chance to grasp
every detail In few minutes the ring was
empty the performers out of sight, and I left
alone to wonder if what / saw was real or i'm
aginary. Real 1t certainly was. for when my
astonishment had worn off a little got up and
went forward to view the fairy circle. where
found abundant traces of my Sairies. and few
yards away 1 found another circle. which was
evidently In USE and further on another which
appeared old and disused. In one stood a tree.
in another two stumps Of trees cut down. the
latter being the one most in use to Judge bv
the state of the ground.
L went home happy that evening for I felt
that had been witness to a spectacle few
sportsmen have had an opportunity Of wit
Messing
From the time when I first saw my young
lord of the woods playing in the fairy ring with
his mother and sister I saw him frequently each
year. and usually about the same spot. He was
really a grand beast. The full deep coronates
stout dark horns, rough as ancient birch trees
with long curved POINTS above. formed head
such I have never seen on any living buck
before 1t head TO dream Of
My brother. a friend who had never seen a
buck, and L took walk one Sunday afternoon
to visit a loch on the hill which had lately been
stocked with trout We lay for long time in
the heather watching the fish RISE and finding
the hour, when rose to go, was later than
had imagined, we took a short cut back
through the big fir woods, which short cut led
us through my lords domain Our friend was
particularly anxious to see good buck, so 7 led
the way first by a track where happened 10
know nice beast was often to be seen, but OF
course on that day he was invisible. Proceed
ing homeward. entered little valley 70 the
east of the part of the wood that my lord was
supposed to have selected as his own. and
where 1 had not seen a roe that season. As We
came out at the far end, there lying down on
the slope before us. my lord himself He
must have seen us before him. but had
allowed to approach to within sixty sew
enty yards. We all three stood still gazing at
him in rapt astonishment. while he gazed in
quiringIy back at US with look which said:
rs not the Sabbath my own to rest?'' Then he
rose, and with two loud sharp barks disappeared
the hill have never seen him since
sought him many times but his powers Of eva
sion superior to mine of pursuit. At times
1 almost wondered if he was OF some uncanny
phantom, the ghost of a great buck Of the
Pleistocene Age. But no, it is he whom knew
from babyhood, grown now to be great lord
of the forest. and master Of woodcraft Are
not the marks Of his horns every sapling
within his domain? Everywhere there is evil
dence % material body-and of mischief and
temper. / can only wish that he may go scot
free all his days. His grace is his own. his
charm perhaps that Of the fairies Who has
ever shot a buck that he saw initiated in the
bewiIvring turns and doubling of the fairies
ring?