The leader., 1905-07-15
HUNTING BIRDS
NESTS
By H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON

AtIOISCLAIM all responsibility for the
events; they were the direct and
immediate outcome of that tempestu-
Gus and careless tomboy, Aline, and, in
a way, think may say, of Miss Deigh-
tons imprudence. You see, she should
have known her sex better. | assume
that she also was once as Aline, and
none so long ago. l never was, and
could not be expected to know. Never
theless, did have misgivings. Perhaps
/ ought to have communicated them to
but, in any case. how was to guess?
The trouble really started when we
entered the park, though the begin
nings were small. You can go through
heavy gate or you can cross stile into
the park. Miss Deighton and thought
the gate was locked, and so we mounted
the stile. At least she did, and, pausing,
looked back on the green valley.
How beautiful" said she, in med
itative voice.
Charming" / assented, my eyes
drifting with hers. 1t must have been
just then that Aline discovered that the
gate was not locked, but we did not no
tice her or it, as we were exchanging
some fanciful thought about the view
Miss leighton gracefully, but not too
securely, seated on the gatepost My
gaze was the first to leave the prospect
and come about Aline had pulled back
the gate to its utmost limit, and now, in
full sally gathering force as she
swung, sweeping home like circus.
The cumbrous gate creaked into its
place, gave a. cry and Miss leighton
went backward
caught her just in time as you may
gather when l say that one of her feet
took me on the chin. She was ruffied
and red and little scared when she
came to the perpendicular again.
"Aline!" she cried, angrily. What
on earth-?"
Sorry" said the tomboy, frankly,
and her penitence disarmed further
criticism.
Thank you SO much" said Miss
leighton to me graeiously. helped
her to the ground and we resumed our
way, but the thread of that admirable
companionship had been enjoying had
been broken. Aline recovered in about
two minutes; at least, she was babbling
of linnets before we had gone hundred
yards.
r 81 know where there's an owls nest,
but it's hard to get at, she remarked.
pensively.
Perhaps could reach it?" sug-
gested, CALAMITY.
Aline regarded me obviously. "Yoli
don't look as If But perhaps you
could" she amended, hopefully. It's
over pool and you have to creep out
on rather rotten branches
To say the truth, this did not sound
inviting. | wondered if / had enjoyed
such things when was boy and why.
Miss Deighton's discomposure lasted
until we emerged on the heath, with its
blaze of furze bloom.
you can get out just down there.
Aline assured US. There's path there.
and there are sure to be lots more lin
nets nests
don't think Miss Deighton cared
about the linnets' nests, but she did
care about the path, and we pushed our
way toward it. The ground was very
uneven, and we stumbled several times
Also the fllrze was very thick. | heard
my name, and found Miss Deighton
looking at me pathetically over huge.
spreading bush. What am | to do?p
she asked, weakly / guided her round
it, took two more followers off her
dress and pulled her out of hole into
which she had 1oundered.
This is dreadful" she complained,
gasping. "Aline. wherever is the
path?s
Aline was our only guide, and we
had to cling to her She pushed
ahead vigorously, and we followed
through the underground.
For goodness sake. let her find it
and show it to us, and then let's co.
murmured Miss Deighton to me 9And
this is birds nestingl''
Aline brought us up before an am
ply spreading yew. and, creeping into
its darkness, pointed up with emotion
It's there!" she said. "but it's hard
to get up to it; it's 50 thick # you
could give me leg up, Mr.. Frobisher,
/ think might reach II"
gave the required assistance, and
Miss Deighton impatiently seated her
self on fork Of the yew, waiting IN
I'll such time IS this madness should
be overpast It was beautifully dry,
and so sat on the ground near her
Good heavens! she said, in an un.
dertone. And this Is what the young
Iike!''