Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-08-12

3
it to throw Of the scent, and emerged
Oh the same side, half doubling upon
his tracks. He halted In a patch of
furze to get his wind
He showed his teeth again, but this
time in laugh, as he saw the hounds
vainly casting up and down the stream
for the scent He trottad quietly along
the bank He was rejoicing IN the sue
cess of his maneuTer when with a loud
hey the oldest hound took up the
scent again; and once more the whole
pack was after him.
Now the chase was on in earnest
Red Fox put forth all his speed. since
cunning was no longer serviceable. He
could still gain on the hounds, all ex-
cept a few Of the older ones, hardened
By years of the chase. Hounds and
horses were strung out over the fields
behind him. but the old hound still
led the remnants Of the pack, logged
" and untiringIy.
CHANGING back over his shoulder, Red
Fox saw that of all the horses, only
two were near him. One carried g
man in red hunting coat, the other
a woman. They were galloping side
by side. 1t seemed to Red Fox that
there was a certain hostility between
them. Red Fox could scent friendship
and enmity in human beings, as well
as animals-that was of the essence of
his life-and he noticed how, in spite
Of their nearness to each other, the
woman kept her horses head turned
from the mans horse. Red Fox mag
ined, also, that there was a sort of ri
Valry between them for his capture.
He was frightened for almost the
first time in his life. He began to
dodge and double. Suddenly he re-
membered that the little stream which
he had passed earlier that morning
wound its course not half mile dis
tain, in some dense fir patches. If
he could make that he might throw the
hounds off the scent
They were not fifty PAGES away
when he dashed into the frs. Before
him rolled the brook, wider here, and
afforded him the supreme opportunity
that he required. He sprang into the
water and swan hard up stream, only
his whiskered face appearing aoove
the surface.
AS he swan between the overhang-
ing branches Of the Ieafy hazel bushes
that fringed the stream he heard the
baying hounds burst into the frs. He
heard the leaders bay change into a
whine and knew that his pursuers
were at fault. Red Fox showed his
teeth once more, this time In another
laugh. He had baf1ed them, as the
wise old fox had done so many times
before.
The ground sloped sharply toward
the brook Red Fox, still swimming
saw the two horses stop on the verge.
The man pulled back his animal, but
the girls horse, slipping. on the wet
bank, fell over, pinning her beneath
its body
Instantly the man leaped to the
ground and holding the reins round
his arm, bent over the other.
'Muriel! Are you hurt? Are you
hurt, dear?" he asked in anxious
tones.
But the girl did not answer him. The
horse had fallen upon her arm and
shoulder, bruistng them badly. She
had tainted from the pain.
The man knelt at her side. He
sprang to his feet again, filed his hat
at the stream, and, returning, began
sprinkIing water into her face. She
sighed, and at length opened her eyes.
'Muriel! Muriel, dear! have been
a beast! exclaimed the man. Can
you ever forgive me? I loved you all
the while"
Her lips were quivering, but more
from mental than from physical pain.
You told me I was a hard, cruel
woman, Arthur" she sobbed.
81 was mad. You are an angel, Mu-
rieI. Forgive me! Say that you will
forgive met"
DO you love me. Arthur? Do you
really love me, after all?" Her voice
was piteous. Arthur. I couldn't live
unless you loved me-"
He had extricated her from under
the animal, which now scrambled to
its feet and stood looking down upon
them. He raised the girl and drew her
into his arms.
81 love you forever and ever, dear"
he said.
She leaned her head upon his Shout
| der Their lips met. The man took
something from his pocket and slipped
it back into its accustomed place. 1t
encircled the girls finger, and the dia-
mond solitaire sparkled brightly.
Suddenly the girl pointed into the
brush
Look! Look, Arthur" she ex-
claimed.
"The little rascal! I haven't the
heart to call the hounds" answered the
man.
And Red Fox, still untaken, Hoped
homeward at an easy gait. Once more
he had saved that splendid fur and
brush, and with his pads he dehcately
wiped the water from the mask which
was not yet hanging in some hunts
mans hall.
Evidently Not Convert.
At a revival meeting held in Maui