The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-28
The EVENING STORY
The Rabbit Hunters.
(By Carl Jenkins.)

the nrst snow of the season came fall
ing softly down. and when day dawned
a pure white mantle covered the earth
Tor miles around. One person in par
tlcular at Hilltop hailed the snow with
delight She had made two or three
circles Of the house before she appear
ed at the breakfast table and said to
ner widowed mother:
ITS just what have been waiting
Tor shall kill as many as twenty
rabbits today. They were running
about last night and left a thousand
tracks. Oh, mother, I wish you loved
to tramp about in the snow-and fan
down and roll over and get up-and
walk three or four miles-and shoot
| rabbi --and-and-be a Nimrod.'
The widow Warden looked UP at the
dulgent smile and shook her head.
There were good sisters who whispered
that Miss JEANNE was a bit of a hoy
den. She fshed. hunted, prospected,
rode horseback, rowed. swan, and she
dldn't know how to sew or cook When
she found a hole in the heel of her
stocking or rip in her dress she care
ruliy hun the article on the back of u
cha1r for some one else to mend. If
other girls said she was a hoyden all
the your~ zen said she was good look
ing. and she didn't seem to care either
way.
Half an hour after she had bolted her
breakfast, the girl was out in her short
her shoulder. she picked out a rabbit
track she knew and followed it toward
the woods back of the house. If that
rabbit had known of the presence of
that bloodthirsty girl in the house he
would have headed fe- the north pole
| instead Of his home under brush heap,
but as he didn't know, he wandered
| over half the country and finally reach
| ed horne and went to sleep. He was
awakened bv footsteps softly approach
nj 10
and saw girl with red cheeks, hazel
| eyes and brown hair. There was the
report of gun and down he went and
| the Society for the Prevention of Cruel
| ty to Animals had no agent at hand. If
there had teen one he would surely
| have been "sassed." The slain rabbit
| was slung over her shoulder and the
| hunting went on.
| Forty rods further on, a second rab-
| bit made a bolt but found cover be-
fore he became a target The huntress
was cautiously advancing, finger on
| trigger when something came bound
| ing over the brush heap and she fired.
The other rabbit had squealed when
he felt the shot; this one raised his
voice in howls and ki-yi's that made
| the forest ring.
| 1t was not a rabbit at all, but
small dog, and he ran around in cir
Giles as he yelped. Miss JEANNE stood
| looking and wondering, when a young
man appeared through the trees be-
yond. He, also, had a slain hare on
his back. While he was yet thirty feet
| away he called out.
"Now, then, young fellow, why did
not you wait and assassinate me! You
either shot my dog on purpose, or else
you are not fit to be trusted with a
gun,
AS Miss JEANNE was wearing a
| round fur cap and a short jacket the
mistake was pardonable.
| eff you can't tell a dog from rab-
! bit what are you doing out here 2?
continued the young man as he ad-
vanced.
"He isn't hurt much.'' replied the
| girl as the dog ceased to yeip. and
she moved from the underbruSb which
had partly hidden her.
II beg pardon!" gasped the
hunter. as he came to a stop within
five feet of her. you see-you know
Eyes. I see that you took me for a
small boy out with his first gun and
| know that I have shot as many rab-
bits as you have. If your deg had
barked 1 should not have shot "
"Oh, no harm done-not at all. I
think most of the shot missed Foxy.
Yes, he should have barked. Yes
| just so.
But you just the same as called
me an assassin" said the girl, who
saw that the stranger was a good
looking young man.
Sorry, you KnOW-VOry SOrIy, ne
replied. I'll don't think l meant
and you said I shot your dog on
purposei"
"sorry-very sorry. I must have
| been excited"
And that I probably desired to
| assassinate you'll"
.Sorry-awfully sorry. The dog
yelping in pain must have excited me.
Permit me to introduce myself as
r ~ of f11 ola n
stopping with my uncle. Judge Spears.
for few days. Miss-I
must express my deepest regrets
Miss JEANNE could do no less than
! give her name, and by that time the
wounded dog had crawled to her feet
and was asking her forgiveness for
| being shot. An examination showed
| that he had received five or six of the
| leaden pellets
| Are you competent dog doctor!
| Miss JEANNE asked.
"well-er-no." blushed the young
man.
But am. though I have no dog
at present. The shot must be picked
out and the dog taken good care of
for some days. I shot him. and I'll
take him home with me and cure
him.
But you didn't mean to shoot
him. you know; and my uncle's coach
MAY putter around and do just the
| wrong thing" she finished. THE
/ dog shall go home with me. and in
week I shall have him as well as ever.
, Mr.. Meadows, care must be taken not
to let wounded dog relapse. Did
you know that?"
Gracious no! If Foxy should pine
for me, would we have a relapse?
You know he has been my constant
companion for the last three years"
| Miss JEANNE looked him straight in
| the eyes until he dropped his and
4 then ventured:
eff you are not afraid of being as
sassinated by the young fellow you
might call in a day or two and see
| how Foxy is getting along. Oh. but
you needn't call after that. You may
| telephone"
/ But Foxy will want to see me and
| I him. If you don't mind