Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-09-17
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER H. 1909
Hunting With
Dorothy.
Rv LITTELL M,CLuNG.

the tip of her dainty pumps to the top
of her arlstocratic head. Never had
Owen Compton met a girl in whom so
many delightful qualities were blend
ed.
That dashing creature known as "the
athletic girl" he cordially disliked,
holding that young women were In
tended primarily for coy corners.
So, when introduced to Dorothy, he
felt sure he would not like her a bit.
Handsome she undoubtedly was, and
queenly, too, but with her queenliness
Dorothy was vivaciousness itself. She
could ride with the skill Of n cowboy
the widest pony that ever leaped
fence. She could shoot like an ex-
pert and row like n university oars
man.
And after galloping gayly over the
fields on one of her papa's most dan
gerous young horses she would come
into the drawing room and, with SYM
pathetic touch, play score of old
time melodies surcharged with senti-
ment.
Before many moons owen discover
ed that with all her athletic propensi-
ties Dorothy was as tender natured
and as warm hearted as any girl who
breathed the ozone.
The result was inevitable.
Therefore when Dorothy looked up
from the piano, coquettish light In
her dark eyes, and asked, "Owen, when
are you coming out to shoot partridges
with me?" Owen replied that next
morning would find him ready with
cartridges and gun.
He appeared by sunup, and Dorothy
was awaiting him with her own favor
| ite setter and her own brightly pol
| ished little shotgun. In hunting boots,
short skirt and brown jacket, whose
large collar fell back over her shout
ders, disclosing her round, white
| throat, she was a veritable vision Of
the forest.
''As live, but you do look stun
ningv was Owens comment as he
gave her n rapid survey. Another
| Diana ready for the hunt, but whether
| It be birds or hearts it's hard to sayp
She laughed merrily.
"The former, Of course, sir!' she de-
clared. "At evening with moonlight
setting, you know, is the proper time
for wounding hearts. This morning
in the bright sunshine partridges are
to be our only consideration. Please
remember thlsW
agreed" he said, his eye flashing
back the challenge. Lets strike out.
Look, your dog Is just crazy to be
orr
Then down the long slope they went
| and out into the fields. The autumn
sun was n dull. golden disk that
seemed to cast Its color over the leaves
and the ruddy fruit. As they made
| their way through an orchard Owen
stopped and, throwing a stick up into
the boughs, brought down several fine
apples.
With evident relish Dorothy set her
sharp teeth into one OF the largest Of
these. The appeal of the picture was
too much for owen. and he began to
quote something about the drowsy
winds that famed "a heart ripe as the
apples grown in orchard lands Of long
ago"
She stopped him with disapprov-
ing glance "Do you remember what
we started out to do?" she asked.
eyes, to shoot birds, not to talk SEN
timent."
She nodded, and they pushed out
into the open fields again. The setter,
n hundred yards ahead, was already
standing covey Of cartridges. They
hurried up close.
"Readyp he asked. raising his gun.
'Ready," she answered. you take
those on the left; I'll look after those
that fly up on the right"
Burr-burr-burr, and a dozen par
trIdges rose obIiquely and sailed over
the fields.
Bang, bang, spoke Dorothy's gun.
Bang, bang, echoed his.
Two birds dropped, one In line OF
owens fire, the other over to the
right
"HonOrs are evenp cried Dorothy.
ats hit and miss for each OF usP
He sprang forward, and as the dog
brought up the dead birds he dropped
them into the sack he carried. Sudden
Iy IL hundred feet In front OF him a
partridge that had become separated
from the others ran out Of the grass
and nuttered Off toward clump OF
bushes on the hillside.
He lifted his gun TO his shoulder and
pulled both triggers, but the bird CON
tinued In It's flight. Then behind him
flashed Dorothy's gun, and the par
fridge dropped like a spent rocket.
At the same moment a sharp, sting
ing pain ran through Owens left hand.
Instinctiyely he Jerked 1t up. 1t was
covered with blood.
His face grew pale, for he thought
that a good part OF the .leaden load
had struck him. He raised his arm,
and the blood ran down In n tiny
rivulet over his wrist. With his right
hand he reached for his handkerchief
to stop the crimson flow. He was
conscious that the girl was running up
to him.
GOOD heavensp' she gasped, her face
white as chalk as she saw the blood.
1--WE shot, you, Owenw
''I'm afraid you have" he said, but
not seriously, | guess"
In a second her hand had hold Of the
handkerchief, and she was wlping
away the blood.
"Oh, it's not very serious" she
breathed .joyfully. Look, it's only