Year: 1868

Linwood to dine, and he did so, but hi
didn't see Mrs Linwood nor Miss Dora
for they were both in with colds, and they
stayed up stairs. The officer was hand
some young man, with keen gray eyes and
quiet manner, and look of real honesty
about him, sir. Mr. Linwood asked hin


to come when he could get leave and
shoot.


"Well, by and by he came-Captain


Calton was his name, and he wore the


Waterloo medal, for he'd been in the heat


of that and he came in late one night
after dressing, into the drawing room
There were Mrs. Linwood and Miss Dora
The Squire introduced him; when sudden
ly the captain grew very agitated and Miss
Dora gave little shrek, and then looked
so charming that half an eye might see
Polly, my wife said, where her heart was


"The Squire didn't see this, and fortu
nately too, for only the day before he'c
asked Miss Dora to marry him, and she
crying bitterly, had refused.


1.-THE Squire went off wild duck shoot
ing with me, but he laid his gun down in
the punt, and kept staring sternly in the
air, and muttering to himself. You may
guess. sir, that held my tongue. ~


"Well, sir, at dinner nothing much was
said, for Captain Calton seemed very 81
lent, and so did Miss Dora. The Squire
drank good deal, and taxed about the
shooting, but now and then looked at his
cousin with such q wild, eager look that
made her blush like rose whenever he
caught her eye.


"After dinner, when Polly was putting
some embroidery away in the cabinet at
the end of the drawing room, she heard
Miss Dora tell Mrs. Linwood enough to
find out that Captain Calton was her old
lover whom she'd met at Bath with her
parents, and that they were to be married
when he got rich enough. Polly could
not help hearing it, sir; all women are
curious about lovers" continued the old
man, smiling; "but she loved Miss Dora
with all her heart, and wouldn't have
said a word about it for the world


Several days went on, and the Squire
and the Captain went out shooting, and
Dick Smith, the head keeper, used to go
with them.


cone day Miss Dora came down in the
little pony carriage with the luncheon
The Squire was just finishing the beat of
a copse, but Captain Calton was outside.
When Miss Dora came up he took her
hand and kissed it. But saw it, though
wasn't such BOBBY as to show
myself. What was worse, sir, the Squire
saw it through the hazel bushes, and
her pretty face blushing and looking
happy.
stood, and whisper curse. Did you ever
hear one whispered, sir. 1t makes a man
creep all over.


Presently he came out with very
jolly air, and after lunch he drank Miss
Dora's health and then the Captains.
was carrying the bag, and the Squire
spoke in a bluff sort of a way, so l
heard all


"My cousin is pretty girl said he.


&c Yes said Captain Calton, nervously
like, and could see his hand tremble.


"'Ah, well,' said the Squire, heartily, Il
used to be Jealous; for always admired
Dora, that did. But what's the use now?
Never mind, old fellow, l wish you joy of
her; you must excuse my temper, it's a
devilish bad one'


"That was truer than he thought" NUT
tered the old man musingly.


"Captain Calton answered him in very
friendly way, and the matter seemed all


"The Squire was in dreadful temper
the next morning with Dick and me be-
we hadn't killed some stray dogs
that had been driving the woods.


"He was very savage against poachers,
and swore he'd have the spring guns set
for their dogs in the open runs of the
copses, am ..
Christmas, when large party of the
neighbors of the Squire came over to
shoot under the pheasant covers.


"That day we had no peace. All the
spring guns were taken up; damaged
raisins put in the runs to loll thepheasants
there, and the woods were watched every
night. On the night before we met the
Squire, who gave us a curse or two for
running against him as he came round the
copse. He'd been looking after the raisins,
he said, for he was good hand at seeing
his orders carried out.


"The next day all the party went from
the Hall to the woods, only the Captain; /;
he loitered to have few words with Miss
Dora. He drew her back into the hall
and kissed her; and / shall never forget
the way she clasped his hands and looked
into his eyes, saying a word or two. The
Squire saw it, and l saw his face. 1t was
dreadful to see, for he had bitten his lower
lip in two. He pretended not to see them,
and walked on after the party.


1.-THE Squire was very particular in his
shooting parties about every one going
Just as he wanted them to. So now he
gave everybody their instructions where
to go. And Captain Calton he told to take
a ride, which was narrow and through
hollies, but good one for woodcocks. He
himself went into the middle of the copse,
with me, and Dick Smith headed the beat
ers at the end.


"Well, sir, the beating began, and the
pheasants got up well, and there were
seye raj shots fired. Twas odd to me that
the Squire never shot at anything, though,
for all that, several birds went by him. I
didn't dare to speak, though, for he looked
so stern.


"By and by he turned and saw Captain
Calton in another part. He swore, but that
| took no notice of.


"t Well beat this wood again before
lunch, he said so of course we all came
out after an hour or two, during which the
Squire missed everything. We all went
hack to the wood again"


Here the old keeper paused, and drew
q deep breath.


whats coming, sir?" he said, has
never been out Of my mind since, day or
night, for fifty years, assure you


we came back to the copse, and were
all put in our old position, and the Squire
told the Captain to take the holly ride
again.


al suppose Dora will be here soon with
the luncheon, he said with laugh.


"fSoon enough-soon enough, said the
Squire, with dreadful sort of laugh, and
b;e black evas cleaning o ike Goals