The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-04-21
TIE BAG.

Mai. Pallaby was a victim of circum-
stances over which he had no control,
and of his temper, over which he had
very little. He had taken on the mas
tership of the Pexdale hounds in sue
cession to d highly popular man, and
the major found himself confronted with
the overt hostility of at least half the
hunt.
In ranging herself on the side of Maj.
Pallaby Mrs. Hoopington had been large
ly Influenced by the fact that she had
made up her mind to marry him at an
early date. The majors plans on the
subject of matrimony were not at pres
ent in such an advanced stage as Mrs.
H~oopington's, but he was beginning to
find his way over to Hoopington hall
with a frequency that was already being
commented on.
"He had q wretchedly thin field out
again Yesterday" said Mrs. Hopping
ton. "Why you didn't bring one or two
hunting men down with you, instead of
that stupid Russian boy, / can't think"
vladimir isn't stupid" protested her
niece; "he's one of the most amusing
boys l ever met. Just compare him for
a moment with some of your heavy
hunting men--
Anyhow, my dear Norah, he can't
ride"
Russians never can; but he shoots"
Eyes; and what does he shoot? Yes
terday he brought home a woodpecker
in his game bag"
But he'd shot three pheasants and
some rabbits as we'll"
That's no excuse for including q
w~oodpecker in his game bag"
give explained to Vladimir that GER
tain birds are beneath his dignity as a
sportsman. And as he's only 10, of
course, his dignity is a sure thing to
appeal to-"
Mrs. Hoopingto,. shifted. IT hear him
coming i'll now" she observed. II shall
go and get ready for tea"
Norah was dependent on her aunt's
good graces for many little things that
made life worth living. and she was
conscious of a feeling of discontinue be-
cause the Russian youth whom she had
brought down as a welcome element of
change in the country house routine was
not making a good impression. That
young man, however, was supremely I'M
conscious of any shortcomings, and burst
into the hall, tired, and less sprucely
groomed than usual, but distinctly ra-
diant. His game bag looked comfortably
full.
Guess what [ nave shot" he demand
ed. ,
''Pheasants, woodpigeons, rabbits"
hazarded Norah.
NO; a large beast; I don't know what
you call it i'll English. Brown, with a
darkish tail" Norah changed color.
Does it live in a tree and eat nuts?"
she asked, hoping that the use of the
adjective large" might be an eXaggera-
ton.
Vladimir laughed.
"Oh, no.; not a biyelka."
Does it swim and eat fish," asked
North, with a fervent prayer in her
heart that it might turn out to be an
otter"
NO" said Vladimir, busy with the
straps of his game bag; cit lives in the
woods and eats rabbits and chickens"
Norah sat down suddenly and hid her
face in her hands.
''Merciful heaven!" she walled; "he's
shot a foX!"
Vladimir looked up at her in c%onster-
nation. In a torrent of agitated words
she tried to explain the horror of the
situation. The boy understood nothing.
but was thoroughly alarmed.
Hide it; hide it," said Norah frantic
ally, pointing to the still unopened bag.
"My aunt and the major will be here
in a moment. Throw it on the top of
that chest; they won't see it there"
Vladimir swung the bag with fair
aim; but the strap caught in it's flight
on the outstanding point of an antler
fixed in the wall, and the bag, with it's
terrible burden remained suspended just
above the alcove where tea would pres
emily be laid. At that moment Mrs.
Hoopington and the major entered the
hall.
"The major is going to draw our cov-
ers tomorrow" announced the lady with
q certain heavy satisfaction. "Smithers
is confident that we'll be able to show
him some sport; he swears he's seen a
fox in the nut copse three times this
week"
"I'm sure I hope SO; I hope So" said
the major modify. 81 must break this
sequence of blank days. One hears so
often that a fox has settled down as a
tenant for life i'll certain covers, and
then when you go to turn him out there
isn't a trace of him. Pm certain a fox
was shot or trapped in Lady Widden's
woods the very day before we drew
them"
Norah found her way mechanically to
the tea table and made her fingers busy
in rearranging the parsley round the
co ,nduuich dish IN ono IL ho.
loomed the morose countenance of the
major, on the other she was conscious
of the scared, miserable eyes of Vladi-
mir. And above it all hung that.
"What did you shoot TODAY? ?" asked
Mrs. Hoopington suddenly of the I'M
usually silent Vladimir.
"Nothing-nothing worth speaking
Of" said the boy.
"When did Smithers last see that
fox?" said the major.
Yesterday morning; a fine dog-fox,
with a dark brush" confided Mrs. Hoop
ington.
that brush tomorrow" said the major,
with a transient CLEAN of good humor.
And then gloomy silence settled again
round the tea table. A diversion was
at last afforded by Mrs. Hoopington's
fox terrier, which had jumped onto a
vacant chair, and was now shifting in
an upward direction at something APP
parently more interesting than cold tea
cake.
"What is exciting him?" asked his
mistress, as the dog suddenly broke into
short. angry La1ks.
"Why," she continued, sits your
game bag. Xladimiri What have YOU