Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-08-30
CHATTER VII


", yet at the same time there was
an indefinable sense of incomplete
ness about the sensation. AS he spur
red forward, he tried to analyze it.,
but in vain.
On hearing his name called he rein
ed in and, turning in the saddle, be-
held Cara, riding not far behind,
smartly habited and picturesquely sill
houtted against the golden sunrise
glow. AS she drew up to him he
noted slight purplish crescents beneath
her eyes, but otherwise she was as
lovely as ever.
Moving as a single unit with his
mount, Peter cantered up, quite un-
conscious of the splendid figure he
made astride the big golden bay. He
could not know that the sunbeams,
playing in Goldenrod's tawny coat,
cleaned and dazzled as though the
wiry hunter were fashioned of bronze
instead of bone and muscle. AS he
drew near, Cara uttered little cry.
ooh, Peter, DEAR" she murmured,
dropping her eyes, give been wantin'
to talk to you ever since-since last
night"
In her look Peter read message
of eager, eloquent pleading that STIR
red strange fears within him.
"And I've lots to tell you," he said
conscious of all that impended. GAS
soon as the first draw is made and
a fox is found we can break away,
ride off a bit and get lost. I know
where Jack Douglas will draw next
if he doesn't find in Calvert's woods"
Amid the faint jangle of curb chains
and the clatter of hoofs group of
quietly laughing huntsmen rode up.
"Nice mornin'," they called to the self
absorbed pair. with this dew the
scent ought to lie well. Come on,
Pete" challenged one. Clear yourself
away from the lady and I'll beat you
over that post and rail yonder."
So saying the other struck spurs to
his powerful chestnut and cantered
off across new plowed field. A frac
ton of second Peter hesitated then,
at an imperceptible nod from Cara,
he galloped in pursuit Goldenrods
hoofs flashing lightly over the dew
sprinkled earth.
While Cara and others watched the
+xuo oo,,read 70 ctar ard focfor until
with smooth gliding leap, both hunt
ers took off, skinned over the pane
and eased to hand gallop as they
recovered on the other side. Mean
while the others cantered briskly to
catch up.
Fortunately fox was found on the
M. F. HIS first draw and amid ring
ing "harkaway voices" off went Mas
ter and hounds while Peters blood
tingled to the familiar musical bugling
of the dog pack as it drew mellow
echoes from the tender green hills all
about. His troubles momentarily for
gotten he exultantly drew long breaths
of the fresh sweet air, for the first
flush of spring was still upon the
countryside.
From the first yelp of the hounds
Peters hands were full, for Golden
rod pricked his pointed, sensitive ears
and curvetted lightly to and fro, Gag
er to be off. The other riders in a
brilliant scarlet coated throng, too,
were also fighting to restrain their
mounts until proper interval had
opened between pack and field.
Then, amid a chorus of joyous
shouts that carried far up the mist
yelled slopes, the hunt was on-a
weaving, bobbing group of scarlet,
black and brown. AS usual, Peter was
away with the first flight, galloping
headlong down a gentle slope, across
tiny brook then forward to put Col
denrod over stiff stone and rail
fence as easily as though the obstacle
had been twig. When he recovered
on the further side he glanced back
over his shoulder to see the rest of the
field already widely scattered over the
emerald green slop and pouring down
the hillside like a cascade of tiny
jeweled figures. Fighting to restrain
the eager gelding he had some little
difficulty in recognizing Cara's neat,
black habit, for she rode on the far
side of the hunt.
Presently the quarry, willy old dog
fox, circled behind him for a dense
covert and, with the hounds strung
out in long line of white, tan and
black, he plunged into the thicket
while the blood-stirring cry of the
pack made sweet havoc of the morn
ing stiffness.