The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-07
THE TEAkETTLE
BIZ EusY .. sPEER.

We'll, l like that" muttered Mary
Knapp. in a tone that negatived her
words, as she raised her eyes from the
note to look after the rereatins mes
senger boy. Again she read the note.
Dear Mary-Ill be away a few
days. Suddenly remembered that we
forgot to empty the camp teakettle,
and l don't want it TO freeze. Leaving
on the 0:10. Yours. ED"
"Of all foolishness." breathed Mary.
Rushing oil 100 miles into another
state to empty a teakettle. There's
something more in the wind" she hint
ed darkly, as she closed Tie door and
went toward tile dining room.
She was not really hurt or grieved
at his sudden going for they were as
calm and undemonstrative as the aver
age middle-aged couple, and his bust
ness often took him on sudden trips.
He had babe her his usual affectionate
gOod-by on leaving after breakfast, but
his curious quest vexed. while it
amused her. With her thoughts still
in a fog Mary stopped to pick up the
morning paper that had fallen beside
Eds chair at the table. AS she
glanced carelessly at the paper her
eyes caught a line announcing the
opening of the deer season in a neigh
boring state.
$50 that's it," laughed Mary. drop
ping into a chair. THE teakettle had
to be emptied, indeed" Ed Knapp WAS
was never happy without his full
quota of deer every season.
'Why didn't he tell me he was 60
ing? Afraid I'd think he ought TO
stay home working?' she chuckled.
I'D like to go, too" she added regret
fully, for Mary had been q good shot
in her youth and she still hunted and
tramped. Years ago she and Ed had
met one hunting season, she a farm
er's daughter, he a city sportsman.
Unknowingly they had shot at the
same deer and it was Mary's shot that
/ felled it. Friendship sprang from
: their similarity of tastes, and love and
! marriage soon followed. The cares Of
: the crowding years soon took Mary's
time from craftsmanship, but each
year the family spent its vacation in
a cabin near the site of her old home.
: 81 know the very deer he is after"
: thought Mary, ''the big buck that drank
every evening from the brook below
r the cabin I'm going TO have a shot at
it, too. took deer from him once,
f unintentionally, and I'll do it this time,
malice aforethought."
: Mary flashed glance at the clock.
It was Q 80 and Ed was leaving on the
\ 1890. Well. she would be on the
same train. seeing. but unseen. She
! thought rapidly of preparations; her,
i bag to pack, her rife to examine and
oil, and her house to close. First she
called cab. AS she Ionned her hunt
ing suit her busy mind checked off the
r necessary details She found her
! hunting license and cabin key snug'y
\ buttoned in an inside pocket. She
d must pack some clothing for Ed for he
had gone unprovided. Some provisions
would be a good idea She must put
out note for the milkman and tele-
n phone the dressmaker who was COM
i ing tomorrow; so her mind ran on.
y. Mary's heart was beating a tattoo
y as she took her seat in the train after
n seeing Ed enter the smoker. As the
70 train whizzed on she laid her plans
pr Ed would doubtless go to the north
"a village. from which a good road around
r. the mountain led to camp. He might
walk or hire a rig. She decided to
he. stop at the south village; for she knew
III a short cut over the seemingly mac
ii cessible mountain. She had not spent
her gfrlhood in that country for moth,
e. ing She feared that Ed might see hei
TX when she got off the train, but all was
in we'll She hired a village boy to carry
her load over the mountain while she
led the way towards camp.
ho Light snow had fallen and the gaunt
Nc trees tossed and strained.
rs At the cabin she set the boy to work
airing the bedding and making fire
n while she loaded her gun.
II Down through the pine woods she
II slipped toward the brook to await hei
II quarry. Determination sparkled from
II her brown eyes and animation glowe'
II in her rosy cheeks. Ell might come il
Ill
II she hid in clump of pines when L,
u swung in view. 1t was evident +,
Mary that he, too, was hunting
place to hide before "the stag at ev
had drunk his FILL"
ia Mary's heart missed beat as F.
-, headed for her covert. but he stOppe
~ -, by a big tree and began putting III
~, gun together. Convulsed with silcn
nd laughter, Mary sat in her thfcbet Sll
he longed to call out. Have you emptp
ngI the teakettle. Ed? - But instead Sh
an kept silently alert for the deer. r
lch had adjusted his gun and was searcf
ied ing for ammunition when the big buc
u stepped daintily from a thicket on tn
opposite bank. At Eds djsmayed -
al clamation the big fellow threw up hi
use head. affording Mary a wonderful Sic
and the deer fell.