Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-10
The Fighting ...By...
 CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1906, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
 Copyright 1908, by Robert w. Chambers.

The upward roar of bevy of grouse
 drowned her voice. Poor Sagamore, pointing madly in the blackberry thick
 ct all unperceived, cast a dismayed glance aloft where the sunlit air quiv-
 cred under the winnowing rush of
 heavy wings. Siward flung up his
 gun heading a big quartering bird
 Steadily the glittering barrels swept
 ill tho arc of fire. hesitated, wavered,
 then the possibility passed. The young fellow lowered the gun slowly, grave ly, stood a moment motionless with
 bent head until the rising color in his Face had faded.
 And that was all for awhile. The astonished and disgusted keeper stared into the thicket. The dog lay quiver- ing, impatient for signal. Sylvias heart, which had seemed to stop with her voice, silenced in the gusty thun- der of heavy wings, began beating too fast. For the ringing crack of a gun shot could have spoken no louder to her than the glittering silence of the suspended barrels nor any promise of his voice sound as the startled stiffness sounded now about her, for he had made something a trif1e more than mere amends for his rudeness. He was overdoing everything a little.
 He stood on the thicket's edge, ab- sently unloading the weapon, scarcely understanding what he had done and what he had not done
 A moment later a far hall sounded across the uplands. and against the sky figures moved distantly.
 "Alderdene and Marion Page" said Siward. ''I believe we lunch yondef, do we not, Niles"
 They climbed the hill in silence, ar irving after few minutes to find oth- CTS already at luncheon-the Page boys, eager, enthusiastic, recountins adventure by flood and field; Rena Bonnesdel, tired and frankly bored and decorated with more than Ser share of mud; Eileen Shannon, very pretty, very effective, having done more execution with her eyes than with the dainty fowling piece beside her.
 Marion Page nodded to Sylvia and Siward with a crisp, businesslike ques- tion or two, then went over to inspect their bag, nodding appreciation as Miles laid the game on the grass.
 Eight full brace" she commented . "We have five and an odd cock pheasant | from Black Fells, I suppose. The people to our left have been blazing away like Coney Island, but Rena's guide says the ferns are full of rab- bits that way, and Major Belwether cant hit fur afoot. You" she added frankly to Siward, ought to take the cup. The birches ahead of you are full of woodcock. If you don't How ard Quarter will. He's into a flight of jack snipe. I hear"
 Siward's eyes had suddenly narrow ed; then he laughed, batting Saga more's cheeks. 'l don't believe I shall shoot very steadily this afternoon" he said, turning toward the group at luncheon under the trees. T wish ouarrier well with the cup
 Nonsense" said Marion Page curt y You are the cleanest shot l ever lnew." And she raised her glass to Jim frankly and emptied it with the precision characteristic of her: Your up. With all my heart"'
 T also drink to your success, MT. si- ward" said Sylvia in a low voice, lift , ng her champagne glass in the sun ight. ''To the Shotover cup-if you , wish it. ,
 in the little gust of hand clapping nd laughter he turned again to Sylvia , milingly. saying under his breath.