Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-08-14
"HUNTING A DEER
BY MIRIAM LEE.
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Copyright 1918, Western Newspape
Union.) ,,!

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sisterly brood, realized It and did not
particularly resent 1t. Here was the
! situation: They were we'll provided
for as to income from the family es-
tate, but Gabriel had inherited the
bulk OF the same. It cost the others
nothing to continue to live at the
homestead, and noble place it was.
Gabriel was liberal to the point OF
prodigality. outside Of thrilling inhar.
monious elements Of temperament
thesS PERSONS were not unpleasant,
and life drifted on idly, evenly, though
rather purposelessly.
It was to their interest that Gabriel
should remain a bachelor. and they
kept q close watch on him and near
contact when social functions were on
the program. He slipped them casual
ly, one day. He was homeward bound
from his office when a friend he liked
slapped him on the shoulder and then
linked arms with him. you're coming
over to the Gordons with me-" he in
sisted. They're short Of men and I
promised to rally some recruits"
Gabriel was nothing loath and soon
found himself enjoying the variety and
liveliness Of a CHEEKY group, bent on
enjoying the occasion to its utmost.
Miss Ada Gordon was engaged, so he
was not troubled as to what his SIS
tiers might say or think. There was
tennis and archery. 1t was the latter
feature that interested Gabriel. The
more so because Of the superb expert
ness Of a girl whom he had never seen
before, and who seemed to come into
his life with irresistible power and in
fluence all in moment of time.
She was Vera Oliver, Gabriel
learned, a cousin Of Ada Gordon, lived
some twenty-five miles distant and was
making days visit with her father,
misunderstanding man with finely
intellectual face, who sat apart but
placidly and with seeming interest
and pleasure witnessing the activities
Of the young people. Gabriel was not
in tennis trim and Joined Mr.. Oliver
on a shaded bench, Miss Gordon hav-
ing introduced them. At first Gabriel
said little. His eyes were fixed upon
Miss Oliver. Truly nut-brown maid,
1.-the, graceful, swift and sure in all
her motions, her exquisite handling of
bow and arrow was superb. Straight
to the heart of the target the plumed
dart landed every time, other contest
ants despairlng of even remotely ap-
proximating her average.
The openly expressed appreciation
of Gabriel won the father to descant
upon the capabilities of his daughter.
"You know I make my living by writ
ing up my scientific and nature re-
searches" he said, "and Vera has been
an ardent and useful helper. Are you
interested In zoology to any degree?
1 invite you to run over to our little
rookery and l will show you some rare
specimens. My daughter, too, Without
do for you this bow and arrow prac-
tice. We have a shooting range at
home, clay pigeons and spring, and all
that. Only, come within day or two.
for we start for northern Minnesota
within week."
1t was when Gabriel saw Vera with
rifle at glass-ball shooting that the
unique charm of this modern Diana
completely won the heart of the hith-
erto love-shunned Gabriel. His sisters
heard Of the visit to the Oliver home.
There We're bubbles as to "the ungirl-
ish,. training and sportswoman pro-
pensities Of the audaciOuS MINK"
doubtless maneuvering to enmesh their
brother as a desirable partl Their
fears were set at rest, however, a day
or two later when they learned that
the divers had departed on one Of
their long nature tours.
The watchful guardians of Il world
Inexperienced brother traced no pur-
pose in the apparently innocent an
nouncement Of Gabriel one day, when
he announced that he was going on a
hunting trip in the Northern woods.
Nobody but squaws way up there
in the pineries," he observed to his
eldest sister, $50 you needn't be wor-
rying for fear some designing fortune
seeking siren will be. plotting to marry
ME for my money. Pm strictly going
hunting for deer"
When that mOmentOuS hunting trip
was over, the sisterly cabal marveled
at the duplicity Of their beloved broth
er. They could not credit the GOODNESS
and independence with which Gabriel
had become imbued. They could not
understand the determined manner In
which he slipped from leading strings
they had thought surely taut drawn
and strong as wire cables.
The result Of specious design or &C
cident, this happened to Gabriel
Marsh. He came across the divers In
little log cabin in the woods 30 miles
from civilization. He had sustained
severe arm sprain from fall over
an old log. Patient as well as guest, a
welcome reception made him happy,
and then month assisting Mr.. Oliver
in his quest for odd specimens and
fishing and canoeing with Vera, gave a
new and delightful tinge to life. At
the end of two months he wrote to his
| friend at home:
"Please break the news to my Sis
ters-I am married to Vera Oliver. !
hunted and found dear, indeed!"