Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-09

Ska seated herself soundlessly anon
 the dead leaves. He sank into plac
 besfle her, laying his gun aside.
 "R ather rough on the dog" he said
 with a grimace.
 q know. It is very good of you, MT
 Siward, to do this for my pleasure
 Oh--h! Do you see? Oh, the littl
 beatlty"
 Tte woodcock had risen, plumag,
 pufr,ed out, strutting with wings bowed
 and tail spread, facing the dog. Int
 sudden pygmy defiance thrilled her
 .Brsye, bravew she exclaimed, en
 rapt Ired, but at the sound of her voice
 the bird crouched like a flash. large
 dark liquid eyes shining, long bil
 poini ed straight toward them.
 "H I'll fly the way his bill points,
 said 'iward Watch"
 He rose. She sprang lightly to hei feet. There came whirring nutter, a
 twittering shower of sweet notes, soft 1 wings beating almost in their very
 faces, distant shadow against the | sky, and the woodcock was gone. Quieting the astounded dog, gun cradled in the hollow of his left arm, he turned to the girl beside him. That sort of thing wins no cups" he said.
 Tt wins something else, MT. Si. ward-my very warm regard for you"
 "There is no choice between that and the Shotorer cup,' he admitted, con sidering Ter.
 "I-do you mean it?"
 "Of course l do.
 Then you are much nicer than 1 thought you. And, after all, if the pr of cup is the life of shat brave little bird I had rather shoot clay pigeons. Now you will scorn me, 1 suppose. Beginr'
 My ideal woman has never been a life taker," he said cooliy. "Once when I was a boy there Was a girl, very lovely, my first sweetheart. saw her at the traps once just after she had killed her seventh pigeon straight pulling it down from over- head, you know. very clever. The It. tie thing was breathing os the grass, and it made sounds"- He shrugged and walked on. "She killed her twen- ty-tirst bird straight. It vas a hand some cup too."
 And after silence, "So you didn't love her any more, Mr, Siward?" mockingly sweet.
 They laughed, and at the sound of laughter the tall stemmed alders echo ed with the rushing roac of a cock grouse laundering skywErd. Crack! Crack! Whirling over and over through a cloud of floating featbsrs, heavy weight struck the springy earth. There lay the big mottled bird, splendid silky ruffs spread, dead eyes closing, sin gle tiny crimson bead tv1nkling like a ruby on the gaping beak
 Dead" said Siward t, the dog who had dropped to shot. "Fetchw And, the boy behiNd, he relieved the dog of his burden and tossed the dead weight of rufiief plumage to- ward him. Then he broke his gun, and as the empty shells flew rattling backward slipped in r'esh cartridges, locked the barrels aid walked for ward, the flush of excitement still his sunburned face.
 You deal death mercifully." said the girl in a low vo,ce. "I wonder what your ci-deyant sweetheart would think of you.'
 "A bungler had better stick to the .raps," he assented, ignoring the badl- lage.
 "I am wondering" the said thought 'ully, what think e men who kill"
 He turned sharply, hesitated. shrug- ;ed. Wild things ';ves are brief at or flying t>k, wet nests or mink. owl, hawk, weisel or man. But he death man deals is the most mer- iful. Besides" he added, laughing, ours is not a case c sweethearts." My argument is purely in the ab- tract. Mir. Siward. I am asking you whether the death Llen deal is more ustisiable than woman's gift of cath" ''0h. Sell. life taking. the giving of . fe-th.re can be rnly one answer to he mystcry. and I don't know t." he . eplied, smiling. 4 T do" Hell me, then. he said still amused. | They had passed swale after swale 1 silver bitches. Haist deep in per lmed fern sud brake. The big tim CT lay before ;heu. She moved for 'ard. light gun svung easily across CT leather padded shoulder. and on 1e woods sunny efge she seated her slf. straight young back against a Iant pine. gun balanced across her sttened knees. You are feeling the pace a little" ? said. coming u3 and standing in ont Of her
 The pacel No. Mr. siuard-- She sat. bright fad pilIOwei ia her ms. idly attentive Co his low running ,mment On least and bird and tree, ! forest stiffness and forest sounds, l life and the uild laws Of life and .aih governing he great out world xixt sky and cath.
 Somewhere in the woodland world e crows were holding a noisy ses- On. and she tod him that was the ry debating the degree of his guilt In Hing the Birds