The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-13

lon, 90" ReQ FOX no |
longer. but his scent was plainly dis. |
eerhioie, and though his first burst Of |
speed was greater than theirs. II could |
not last. Red Fox. looking back saw |
.he mounds two fields away. and the
horses leaping the hedges
he'd Fox had been hunted nanv
tiihes' and had always gone free But
low ne began to be vaguely distressed
ms meal mad been hearty one. and
ne knew that his earth was stonnad
ne came upon brook, trotted down
II TO throw off the scent, and emerged
on the same side. half doubling upon
ms tracks. He halted in a patch of
furze to get his wind.
He showed his teeth again but tb;s
time in laugh, as he saw the hounds
vainly casting up and down the stream
ior tne scent. He trotted quietly along
tne bank. He was rejoicing in the sue.
cess OF his maneuver when with loud
oey the Oldest hound took up the
scent again; and once more the whole
pack was after him.
NOW the chase was on in earnest
hed Fox put forth all his speed. since
cunning was no longer serviceable. He
could still gain on the hounds, all ex.
/ cept few of the older ones. hardened
Dy 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
ly and untiringly.
CHANGING back over his shoulder Red
Fox saw that of all the horses, only
two were near him. One carried a
man in red hunting coat, the other
woman. They were galloping side
by side. 1t seemed to Red Fox that
there was certain hostility between
them. Red Fox could scent friendship
and enmity in human beings, as we'll
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
lned, 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. II
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 above
the surface
AS he swan between the overhang
ing branches of the leafy hazel bushes
that fringed the stream he heard the
baying hounds burst into the frs. He
heard the leaders bay change into I
whine and knew that his pursuers
were at fault. Red Fox showed hi.
teeth once more, this time in another
laugh. He had bafiled them, as thu
wise old fox had done so many timei
before.
The ground sloped sharply towart
the brook. Red Fox, still swimming
. saw the two horses stop on the verge
e The man pulled back his animal, bu
q the girls horse, slipping on the we
bank, fell over. pinning her beneatl
e its body.
n Instantly the man leaped to tn
!. ground and holding the reins roun
his arm, bent over the other.
n "Muriel! Are you hurt? Are 20
, hurt, dear?" he asked in anxiou
n tones.
O But the girl did not answer him. Tn
a horse had fallen upon her arm an
shoulder, bruising them badly. Sh
4, had tainted from the pain.
The man knelt at her side. H
:, sprang to his feet again, filled his ha
:. at the stream, and, returning, bega
y sprinkling water into her face. Sh
sighed, and at length opened her eye
"Muriel! Muriel, dear! have bee
a BEAST exclaimed the man. Ca
;, Won ever forgive me? l loved you
:, the while
V Her lips were quivering. but MOI
=, from mental than from physical pail
;. you told me I was a hard, cru
70 woman. Arthur" she sobbed.
81 was mad You are an angel, Nj
!. riel. Forgive me! Say that you wi
: forgive me-"
!. DO you love me. Arthur? Do va
really love me, after all?" Her volt
:. was piteous. Arthur, couldn't IN
!. unless you loved me-"
He had extricated her from und'
the animal, which now scrambled
y its feet and stood looking down upe
:. them. He raised the girl and drew n
h into his arms.
H. Il love you forever and ever, dear
= he said.
p She leaned her head upon his shot
Il der Their lips met The man toe
something from his pocket and silpp'
lie Il hack into its accustomed place.
is encircled the girls finger. and the oi
he mond solitaire sparkled brightly.
"a Suddenly the girl pointed into u
- brush ;,
u Look! Look, Arthur she e
q claimed - ;,
Sc The little rascal! haven't I,
hoort IN call the hounds answered q
man. ,on
s. And Red Fox, still un'akeh' iop
In bomeward at an easy gait. once mo
ID ,nlopdid fur Al