Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-12-24
A Christmas
Privilege
And How II 0rigi-
mated
BY ETHEL r. MORTON


entering upon your duties as my game
keeper that. this being the Christmas
season. we may expect great deal Of
poachine wish you to perform your
duties well armed and shoot any one
you md attempting 70 rob me Of my
birds. The people about here must be
taught the diaArence between my
property and theirs This season there
will doubtless be more poaehing than
usual because there have been hard
times and many persons will be with
ont the means of buying their Christ
mas dinners
These Instructions were given TO
stoutly built young man who had APP
piled to wealthy Lord Merivale for
position ON the latter's estate. HIS
iordship had tried several Eamekeep-
ers of late, but had not found one who
would carry out bis orders. The rea-
son was that they sympathized with
the poachers. who were very poor and
seldom had meat Of any kind on their
tables. At any rate. the earl had dis
charged one after another, and when
this young fellow. George Anderson.
appeared and applied for a position he
was Immediately employed TO guard
the preserves.
Lord Merivale was the meanest man
In England. Possessed Of a large es-
tate stocked with more game than he
and his family could possibly consume.
he would neither sell the supertluity
nor give II away.
His Iorsishlp occupied his domain uu-
der an uncertain title. There were
FIVE brothers OF his generation. OF
whom he was the youngest. OF these
the oldest had died before coming Of
age: another had died. man, but un.
married. while the third. soldier. had
been Killed in battle. The fourth.
Ralph. being a younger son and ohlig-
ed to shift for himself. had gone 10
America TO seek his fortune and hid
never since been heard from. When
the father OF these five brothers died
an effort was made 10 find Ralph, the
result OF the investigation indicating
that he had been a cowboy and had
RttA hAAAtb Ah ~ A~At AAA2 humans va
.the plains" Charles Merivale on the
death Of his father assumed the title
and the estates, Offering proofs OF his
older brother Highs death. which
were accepted by the courts.
After giving his instructions to his
gamekeeper Lord Merivale went into
the house Anderson was moving
away when be heard voice from an
upper window:
Don't be too hard on the poaehers,
gamekeeper. Suppose you had fam
ily OF children and nothing to give
them for dinner on Christmas. wouldn't
you bring down a pheasant or two II
they were at hand. though / know II
would be wrongY'
Anderson looked up 70 see the sweet
face Of girl about seventeen years
old looking down upon him. The case
Inent which formed a frame 20 the
living portrait was itself framed by an
ivy many years old. The young man
thought that he had never seen a more
beautiful picture. though the beauty 70
him consisted largely in the sympathy
beaming In every feature
Who are you?" he asked
"Maude."
Lady Maude, Lord Merivale's daugh
teri"
Yes
The gamekeeper looked at her with
an intent curiosity.
you heard your fathers ordersT"
Yes. heard them. Papa is rather
hard ON the poachers. He doesn't In
tend 10 be but he Is or course you
have TO do as he tells you, but wish
you wouldn't shoot anybody"
'well, considering that Christmas is
coming and you've asked me not TO be
too hard on them, perhaps may shut
my eyes once in awhile"
"You might fall asleep. you know"
$50 might"
The window was lowered and An
derson walked away. saying to him
self: Il wonder bow so mean man
came 10 have a daughter so kindly
disposed. Never fear. nay Lady Maude
There win be no shooting Of poachers
by me. But II by obeying you instead
Of the earl get myself discharged"
He smiled without finishing.
II was still week before Christmas.
George Anderson went on duty that
night with towing piece in his
hands loaded with shot. About IL
o'clock Lord MerivaIe heard the sound
Of firearms ind remarked. THAT Is ell
Their poaelter or my new gamekeep-
err Hearing several more shots. he
remarked again. III II is the game
keeper SHOCKING / shall probably fnd a
number OF lead or wounded poachers
tomorrow. rnless the wounded are able
10 drag themselves away"
In the morning be called NJ Ander-
son and asked him what was the firing
during the night-
What firing" the keeper asked.
His lorlshlp looked at him In sur
prise.