Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-02-07


ed with the rushing roar OF COX
grouse laundering skyward. Crack.
Crack! whirling over and over through
q cloud OF floating feathers. heavy
weight struck the springy earth. There
lay the big notified bird, splendid SILKY
ruffs spread. dead eyes closing. sin
gle tiny crimson bead twinkling Ike
ruby on the gaping beak.
"Deadr' said Siward to the dog who
had dropped to shot Fetch And
signaling the boy behind. he relieved
the dog Of his burden and tossed the
dead weight of rlffled plumage To-
ward him. Then be broke his gun.
and as the empty shells flew rattling
backward slipped In fresh cartridges.
locked the barrels and walked for
ward, the flush of excitement still
staining his sunburned face.
You deal death mercifully," said
the girl In q low voice. II wonder
what your ci-devant sweetheart would
think Of you"
"a bungler had better stick to the
traps" he assented, ignoring the badi'
mage.
IL am wondering" she said thought
fully, what think Of men who kill"
He turned sharply, hesltated, shrug-
ged. wild things lives are brief at
best-fox or dying tick, wet nests OF
mink, owl, hawk. weasel or man. But
the death man deals, Is the most mer-
cifui. Besides" be added, laughing.
"ours is not q case Of sweethearts."
My argument is purely in the alb
stract, Mr.. Siward. | am asking you
whether the death men deal Is more
tustifiable than a womans gift OF
DEATH"
"Oh, well, life taking, the giving OF
life-there can be only one answer TO
the mystery, and don't know It," he
replied, smiling.
Il do"
Tell me, then, he said," still amused.
They had passed swale after swale
Of silver birches, waist deep In per-
fumed fern and brake. The big thu
Der lay before them. She moved for,
ward, light gun swung easily across
her leather padded shoulder, and on
the woods sunny edge she seated her
self, straight young back against a
giant pine, gun balanced across her
hattened knees.
"You are feeling the pace little"
be said. coming up and standing In
front Of her.
"The pace? No, Mr.. Siward."
She sat, bright head pillowed in her
arms, Idly attentive to his low running
comment on beast and bird and tree.
on forest stiffness and forest sounds,
on life and the wild laws Of life aud
death governing the great out world
'twlxt sky and earth.
Somewhere In the woodland world
the crows were holding noisy ses-
sion, and she told him that was the
Jury debating the degree Of his guilt In
killing the birds.
Because you're guilty. Of course. "
| she continued. 81 wonder what your
sentence Is to be-"
"Tll leave it to you" he suggested
lazily.
suppose l sentenced you to STAY nc
moreT
"Oh, I'D appeal
"No use. am the tribunal Of last
resort"
"Then l throw myself upon the mer.
cy Of the court"
"You do well. Mr.. Siward. This
court Is very merciful. How much dc
you care for bird murder? Very much
Is there anything you care for more
Yes? And could this court grant it te
you In compensation"
He said deliberately, reused by the
level challenge Of her gaze. THE court
Is Incompetent to compensate the pris
oner or offer any compromise"
"Why, Mr.. Siward"
because the court herself Is already
compromised in her future engage
ments."
but what has my engagement tt
do With
"Yeu offered compensation for de
priving me Of my shooting. There
could be only one adequate compensa
ton"
"And that" she asked, coolly enough
Your continual companionship."
But YOU have 1t, Mr.. Siward."
Il have it for day. The season
lasts three months, you know"
And you and are to play con
tinuous vaudeville for three months
Is that your offer?"
Partly"
Then one day with me is not worth
those many days Of murder?" she ask
ed in pretended establishment
ASK yourself VII! those many days
would be doubly empty" he said. sc
seriously that the pointless game be
gan to confuse her.
"rhen"-she turned lightly from un
certain ground-"then perhaps we haf
better be about that matter Of the cur
sou prize so highly. Are you ready
Mr.. Siward? There is much to b<
killed yet, including time. you know"
Il am not sure." he reflected, Jus
exactly what | should ask Of you Il
you insist on taking away"-he turned
and looked about him through tn,
burnt gold foliage-'if you took away
all this out of my life"
~ shall not take it, because l hav,
nothin exchange to offer. you say
she ans, cred imprudently.
II did not say So" he retorted.
" "You did. reminding me that tn
court is already engaged for a con
tinuous performance"
"Was 1t necessary to remind your
be asked. with deliberate malice.
She flushed up. vexed. silent, thel
looked directly at him with beautiful