Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-10
Gales aud Sketehes.
JACK DALTON'S CATCH.
BY C. W. COBB,

ker, and /, had been dining with Jack Dal-
ton. Jack is Woodworking young law
yer ina largeish NewlEnglandtown, and he
had just won his first important case. 1t
was suit which had attracted good deal
of attention on account of the large
amount of property involved; and Jack
had conducted it so ably as to win very
enviable notice, and the prospect of more
business. His fortune was as good as
made, and he had asked his three principal
cronies to dinner to help celebrate his
good luck
We had been trout-tishing all the morn
ing; and, naturally enough, the after-din-
ner talk fell upon the gentle sport. Bran
don was an enthusiastic angler, and justly
prided himself on his skill in wiling the
speckled beauties out of their hiding
places. lie had taken three-fourths of all
the fish we brought home that day, and
was good-naturedly exultant over his sue
cess. recounting for our benefit some of
his former exploits not exactly in boast
full way, but still with comfortable sense
of his own superior "scicnce"
but after all, said he at last, sit is
more than half luck Trout are the most
capricous things in existence You may
| think you know their haunts and habits
perfectly; and they will disappoint you in
every particular. Why, l remember one
day not very long ago, going trouting
with Jack here, with the most singular re-
suit. Do you remember, Jack, the day
you took twenty-four glorious fellows, not
one of which would weigh less than a
pound, out of the shadows above Kelly's
Point ?'
" have a faint reccollection of the time
you refer to-" replied Jack indfferently.
Just listen to the affcctation of the fel-
low - cried George, sit was only this
very last June-not three months ago
and such piece OF luck never could have
happened to him before or since; vet he
has faint reccollection' of the circum-
stances? What precious humbug you
are, Jack, my boyn'
Jack made no reply, but looked vastly
amused about something
"Why don't you tell us the story ?" said
Deane Parker.
It's what l was going to do" George
| replied. "You see | remember the whole
thing well, though Jack has forgotten
He took an apple from the table, and
gegan pairing it with great deliberation
while he went on half meditatively
ut was the most perfect weather for
trout that morning-hot, still, and not too
sunny. Not cloudy either; but Just that
slvery curtain of thin, gray haze an an
gler loves. The air felt close and sutry,
and work was out of the question the on
ly thing for Christian to do was to go a
fishing. 1t is true neither Jack nor my
self had anything to do-a couple of new
tledged lawyers with our shingles hung
up side by side. went over to his den
and asked him to go. 1t was generous
holding out of the olive branch; for we
had not been on the best of terms lately
81 did not suppose that you and Jack
ever quarreled," said l.
1--WE didn't" George replied '.Wt
were the best of Enthusiastically in
deed too civil by half; but there had beer
a secret grudge growing up between u:
for some months"
"Who was she? senten tiously asked
Deane Parker.
George laughed "You have hit it, he
said. at was woman, of course You
were gone, / think. when the Seldons
came here. Mrs. Seldom was widow
with two daughters. One was still in the
school-room but Bessy, the elder, was
lovely enough to turn the heads of half the
men in town; and that is very nearly what
she did. They were poor; Mrs. Seldom
gave music lessons; and the girls had va
| rious pretty handicrafts by means of
which they kept themselvs in gloves and
ribbons, and wove new meshes for the
hearts of US fellows. Bessy had more ad-
mirers than she could count on her
| fingers, but little and little, Jack and l
had followed up the pursuit until we had
crowded out the others. We two had the
entree of the house and it was a neck and
neck race with us. Sometimes l thought
myself ahead and then again he would
seem to be gaining on me. Our adv an
tages were about equally balanced. Neth-
Ell of us had any money but had expec-
tations from my uncle, and Jack had an
unlimited stock of assurance. That fell
lows brass is fortune to him. He'll be a
rich man in ten years. AS for personal
appearance, anybody can see that l am
the best looking, but then am too modest
to take advantage OF the fact. l kept a
| horse, too, which was trump card in my
| favor but if | asked her to ride one even
ing, Jack wonld get to see her first the
next, and keep her at home while he pip
ed away on his flute. And SO we had it,
back and forth, until about the middle of
May, when all at once we missed the lady
Her mother, in answer to our inquiries,
| SPAASS sise DSccS "oo out vi tO"h Aoi
the season." and that was all the informa-
ton we could get for neither of us dared
ask her, point blank, where her daughter
was. Our common bereavement drew us
together, somewhat, or, perhaps l might
as well own that cottoned to Jack alittle,
in hopes that if he had any secret knowl-
edge of her whereabouts might get a
chance word out of him some day. But
| soon found he was as ignorant as myself,
and that was some comfort. 1t was all i
had, though, for to this dayI have never Sc,
eyes on Bessy Seldom"
"But what in the mischiefs name has
Bessy Seldom to do with your fishing P'
cried !, impatiently.
Well not much, perhaps /; but can't you
let afellow tell a story his own waye
only wanted you to know how happened
to ask Jack to go; what Christian frame
OF mind was in to do so ; and then you Il
see how vilainously the rascal repait
me-"
Jack said nothing, only kept biting thu
end of his cigar. But fancied Il saw fur
/ in his Ennroa