Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-08
.Sir?''


Wot's twice overshootin' cock. sir.
when blind dropper can see you are
the cleanest, fastest hard shootin' shot
in the hull county,"
But Siward shook his head, with al
absent glance at the dog. and motioned
the astonished keeper forward.
Line the easiest trail for u.s. he
said Il think we are already a trille
tired Twigs will do in short cover
Use Ratchet in the big timber. And
go slow till we join you"
And when the unwilling and per
lleXed keeper had started. Siward. IN
ocking his gun. drew out the smootl
Yellow cartridges and pocketed them.
Sylvia looked up as the sharp metal
Tic click of the locked breech rang out
in the silence.
Mr. Siwardp' in quick displeasure.
"Yes?"
What you do for your amusementS
cannot concern me-"
Right. us usual" he said. so gayly
that a reluctant smile trembled on her
lips
Then why have you done this? 1t il
unreasonable if you don't feel as ! ID
about killing things that are having ii
good time in the world"
He stood silent. absently looking y:
the fowling piece Graded in his lei
arm. shall we sit here Il moment an
talk it over?" he suggested listlessly
Her blue gaze swept him. His vagur
smile was indifferently bland.
IF you are determined not to Shoot
we might as well start for G. pre-
Ledge" she suggested. Otherwise
what reason is there for our being here
together. Mr.. Siward?"
Awaiting his comment. perhaps eX
pecting counter proposition, she lean
stood. and after awhile. as his absent
minded preoccupation continued:
do you think the leaves are dry
enough to sit on?''
He slipped off his shooting coat ans.
placed it at the base of the tree. She
seated herself. and. as he continued IT,
remain standing. she stripped off hei
shooting gloves and glanced up at him
inquiringly. We'll. Mr. Siward. an,
literally at your feet"
(which redresses the balance q liz
tle," he said. finding place near her
He sat there, chin propped on hi;
linked fingers, elbows on knees and
though there was always the hint of :.
smile in his pleasant eyes. always the
indefnable charm of breeding in voice
and attitude, something now was lack
ing. And after a moment she con
cluded that it was his attention Ger
tainly his wits were woolgatherin2
again. His eyes, edged with the shaG
ow Of smile, saw far beyond her. faI
beyond the sunlit shadows where the.
sat.
In his preoccupation she had found
him negatively attractive. She glanced
at him now from time to time. her
eyes returning always to the beauty OF
the subdued light where all about them
silver stemmed birches clustered like
slim shining pillars crowned with their
autumn canopy of crumpled gold
"Enchantmentp' she said under her
breath. Surely an enchanted sleeper
lies here somewhere"
"You," he observed, luna wakened"
asleep? II" She looked around al
him. You are the dreamer here Your
eyes are full of dreaming even now
What is your desire?"
He leaned on one arm, watching her
She had dropped her ungloved hand,
searching among the newly fallen gold
of the birch leaves drifted into heaps
On the third finger a jewel glittered
He saw it, conscious of its meaning.
but his eyes followed the hand idly
heaping up autumn gold-a white slim
hand, smoothly fascinating. Then the
little restless hand swept near to his.
almost touching 1t, and then instlnc-
lively he took it in his own curiously,
lifting it little to consider it's nearer
loneliness. Perhaps it was the unex
pectedness of it, perhaps it was sheer
amazement, that left her hand lying
idly relaxed like a white petaled bios
som in his.
After little while the consciousness
TIC COhbdCb nCAs 0AO
withdrew her fingers, with an invOl-
untary SILVER.
''Is there no chance for me, Miss
Landis?
The very revulsion of self possession
returning chilled her; then anger came
quick and hot; then pride. She delib-
Grated, choosing her words coolly
enough, What chance do you mean.
Mr. SiwardY'
"A fighting chance. Can you give 1t
to me?"
"A fighting chance? For what9'
very low, very dangerous.
For you"
Then in spite OF her her senses be-
came unsteady. A sudden ringing con
fusion seemed to deafen her, through
which his voice, as if very far away.
sounded again:
Men who are worth a fighting
chance ask for it sometimes. but take
1t always. take it."
Her pallor faded under the food of