The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-12-25

~ am asking DGl0son incb,do Co.,
to Explain just en- a,
Gctly 9Ohdt u Shot az inmate
oner Irta,e, .ese.,,- conference wit
bLes" the big, scragg
head keeper
You know, Mr. Siward, that it is
custom peculiar to ShOtover House Il
open the season with what Ii called /,
5hotover driver
Il heard Alderdene talking about 1t,
he said, smilingly inspecting the girls
attire of khaki. with its buttoned peck
cts, gun pads and Cossack cartridge
loops, and the tan knee kits hanging
heavily plated over CATERS and little
thick soled shoes. He had never cared
very much TO see women afield, for, In
q rare case where there was no affec-
tation, there was something else In
born that he found unpleasant-some
thing lacking about a woman who
could take life from frightened wild
things, something shocking that a wo-
man could look, unmoved, upon q
twitching, blood soiled heap of feath-
0rs at her feet.
Meanwhile Dawson, dog whip at sa.
lutte, stood knee deep among his rest
less settlers explaining the ceremony
with which Mr.. Ferrall ushered in the
opening of each shooting season.
cts our own idee, Miss Landis," he
said proudly. "Onc't season Mr.. Fer
ran and his guests likes it for mixed
bag. IT'S sort of picnic, miss. The
guns is in pairs, sixty yards apart in
line, an the rules is walk straight
ahead, dogs to heel until first cover is
reached fire straight or to quarter,
never blankin' nor wipin' no eyes, and
ground game counts as feathers for the
Ehotover cup"
"Ohl It's a sllirmish line that walks
straight aheadT said Siward, nodding.
straight ahead, sir. No stoppin', no
turnin' for hedges, fences, water or
rock. There is boats FIR deep water
and fords marked and corduroy f'r to
pass the Seven Dreens. Luncheon at
/, miss, an hours rest, then straight
on over hill, valley, rock and river to
the rondyvoo atop Osprey ledge. You'll
see the poles and the big nests, sir
It's there they score for the cup and
there when the bag is counted the
traps are ready to carry you home
again" And to Siward: "Wll you
draw for your lady, sir2 1t is the Gus,
tbm."
Are you my 1adyT" he asked,
turning to Sylvia.
do you want meY'
In the smiling uster of her eyes the
dniest spark flashed out at him, a
hint at defiance for somebody, perhaps
for Major 3elwether, who had taken
considerable pains to enlighten her as
to Siward's condition the night be-
fore; perhaps also for Quarter, who
had naturally expected to act as her
gun bearer in emergencies.
I'm probably poor shot" she said,
looking smilingly straight into 81
wards eyes But If you'll take me-
IL will with pleasure, he said.
Dawson, do we draw for position:
Very well, then" And he drew a
Zip of paper from the box offered by
The head keeper.
"No. T." said Sylvia, looking over his
shoulder Come out to the starting
inc, Mr.. Siward. All the positions are
marked with golf disks. What sort
# ground have we ahead, Dawson?"
"Kind O. stiff, MISS" grinned the
eeper. "Pity your gentleman amt
rawed the meadows an Sachem hill
me. VIII you choose your dog, sirf"
"You have your dog, you know" OBJ {
erved Sylvia demurely, and Siward ,
lancing among the impatient settlers, 1
aw one white, heavily feathered dog I
a, his leash and wagglng 3
'antlcally. brown eyes fixed on him. 3
The next moment Sycamore was .
90 devouring his master with ca
ssses, the girl looking on In smiling
lence, and presently. side by side, the Z
ian, the girl and the dog were stroll u
" off to the starting line, where al b
lady people were gathering in groups, c
'lecting dogs, fowling pieces, COM c
airing numbers and discussing the
erits of their respective lines of ad- .
lnce.
Ferrall, busily energetic and IN high !
'irits, greeted them gayly, pointing q
It the rcd disk bearing their num- /!
II, 7, where II stood out distinctly =
,ove the distant scrub OF the fore '
nd. v
you tw" are certainly up against :.
- he said, grinning. "Thsrs's only :
81.