The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-03
bit sa5rical.

n1llS, the very caves OI D1S ldUS SI4p 5 house seem to have wrinkled into a constant scowl of annoyance. Shaw's long, low cottage seems to smile back with tantalizing security, serene in it's more lofty altitude, in its more gor- geous raiment of nature. The brooks laugh with the glitter of trout, the trees ohuckle with, the flight of birds, the hillsides frolic in their abundance of game, but the acres are growing like dogs of war. Love thy neighbor as thyself'' is not printed on the boards that line the borders of the two estates In bold black letters the signboards 1aconically say: s'No trespassing on these grounds. Keep offw
 "Yes, fancy you'd better put him off the place if he comes down here again to fish, Tompkins, 7 said his lord ship, in conclusion. Then he touched whip. to his horse and bobbed off through the shady lane fin most pain fully upright fashion, his thin legs sticking straight out, his breath com ing in agonized little jerks with each succeeding return of his person to the saddle
 By love, Evelyn, it's most annoying about that confounded Shaw chap" he remarked to his wife as he mounted the broad steps leading to the gallery half an hour later, walking with the primness which suggests pain. Lady Bazelhurst looked up from her book, her fine aristocratic young face cloud ing with ready belligerence.
 What has he done, Cecil dear?"
 Been fishing on our property again, that's all. Eompkins says he laughed at him when he told him to get of. say, do you know, I think I'll have to adopt rough methods with that chap. Hang it all, what right has he to catch our fish2''
 "Oh, how I hate that man!' ex- claimed her ladyship petulantly. "But I've given Thompson final in- structions.''
 '.And what are they2''
 gro throw him in the river next time"
 "Oh, if he only could!'' rapturously. Could? My dear, Tompkins is an American. He can handle these chaps fin their, own way. At any rate, told Tompkins if his nerve failed him at the last minute to come and notify me. I'll attend to this confounded popinjayy' ''Good for you, Cecilr' called out an other young woman from the broad hammock in which she had been daW- ding with half alert ears through the foregoing conversation. Spoken like true Briton. What is this popinjay like?"
 "Hullo, sister! Hang it all, what's he like? He's like an ass, that's all. I've never seen him, but if I'm ever called upon to-but you don't care to listen to details. You remember the big log that l lies out in the river up at the bend? Well, it marks the property line. One half of its stump belongs to the Shaw man, the other half to m-to us, Eve l lyn. He shan't fish below that log-no, sir!" His lordship glared fercely | through his monocle in the direction of the faraway log, his watery blue eyes blinking as malevolently as possible, his long, aristocratic nose wrinkhng at its base in fine disdain. His five feet four of stature quivered with lilly sub 1ued emotion, but whether it was rage or the sudden recollection of the dog I trot through the woods it is beyond me | to suggest.
 'But suppose our fish venture into his waters, Cecil. What then? Isn't that trespassf' demanded the Hon. Penelope Drake, youngest and most cherished sister of his lordship. Now, don't be silly, Pen," cried her sister-in-law "Of course we can't reg ulate the fish,
 "But I dare say his fish will come below the log, so what's the odds ?'' said his lordship quickly. "A trout's lawless brute at best.'' 'Is he big?" asked the Hon. Penelope lazily.
 .sThey vary, my dear girl.''
 eI mean MT. Shaw .4ssOh. I thought you meant the but I don't know. What difference does | that make? Big or little, he has to stay off my gronnds." Was it look of pride that his tall young wife bestowed l upon him as he drew himself proudly erect, or was it akin to pity? At any rate, her gay young American head was inches above his own when she arose and suggested that they go in- side and prepare for the housing of the guests who were to come over 1 from the evening train.
 'SThe drag has gone over to the sta ton, Cscil, and it should be here by z U'cIocG.''
 "ConfOund his impudence, I'll show him. grumbled his lordship as he fol lowed her, stiff legged, toward the door.
 What's up, Cecil, with your legs? ?" called his sister. Are you getting old?' This suggestion always irritat- | ed him.
 "Old? Silly question. You know how old I am. No; it's that beastly
 American horse. Evelyn, I told you they have no decent horses in this beastE country. They jiggle the life out of one"-but he was obliged to
 unbend himself perceptibly in order to
 keep pace with her as she hurried
 through the door.
 ! The Hon. Penelope allowed her in | dolent gaze to follow them. per 1 plexed pucler finally developed on her | fair brow and her thought was almost
 expressed aloud: By love I wonder | if she really loves him. Penelope was very pretty and very bright She +,