Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-11


culators always use the crossed sew
ems"
"Ah, indeed. If you want to see a
ludicrous 5 or 3, look at mine-such
wormy, twisting things Look" and
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
"They are quite ludicrous, indeed"
[ said. 'There, make your 3 this way.
and don't bring the tail of your below
the line like I, French c." and I made
the figures.
'Thanks for the lesson. | will detain
you no longer. must go now and pay
my biIl-$2S.6 81, you say?'
With a bow. left Mrs. Bland, and
hurrying to the water-side, got my boat
and was after blue fish. [ had better
luck than usual, and brought home that
afternoon some fine blue fish and weak
fish. | had the best fish cooked for
supper, portion of which [ sent to
Mrs. Bland, who seemed to partake of
1t with relish. | was not idiot enough
to think, though it was three hours ago
that the lady was especially pleased
with my attention, but in the evening
"a fine moonlit one-Mrs. Bland ling
cred on the verandah. | was smoking
cigar sitting at the bottom of the
steps within speaking distance of her.
"You very kindly offered me the use
of Mr.. BANDS tackle. Now, you have
not congratulated me on my luck" I
said.
II do, do" said Mrs Bland quickly,
with a certain amount of expanslveness.
She rose from her chair and held out
her hand, and it fairly trembled. was
surprised. What possible sympathy
could there exist between us? [ did not
care to have even a passing Irritation
with her. How the deuce had my fish
called for SO marked an expression on
the part of Mrs. Bland?
Give blue fish, which would weigh
80 pounds, not counting the weak fish,
and dab or So" [ said, in the most
commonplace way.
Eyes, ves," said Mrs Bland appar-
emily absorbed.
"But | have broken my squid, my
best one, and [ would really like to
borrow a hook or so to make another.
Could you really lend me some hooks
until send to New York ~
"Willingly, wait here a MON ent," and
Mrs. Bland rose and went down the hall
w IS1 1OOII OuSU bllGll bdNlu, VIC COl-
lOred waiter, came. in with Geographic
message for Mrs. Bland. She returned
at once, took the message, and read it
under the hall lamp; then she went to
her room.
David" said to the waiter, II did
not know that you could telegraph to
such an out Of the way place as this"
cit amt often that it's done, sir. The
telegraph office on the road is fourteen
miles from here, but you can get mes
sages sent by the coach-though Mrs.
BANDS message comes on horseback,
with a man a-kiting."
1t was none of my business how Mrs.
BANDS messages came, though now /
| remembered that on her hotel bill there
were several charges for telegraph mes
sages. In a moment more Mrs. Bland
was down stairs, holding in her hand
quite a number of large hooks. 1t was
not my fault, but the lady had taken up
with the package a small fly hook,
which, as she opened the parcel, pune
tured rosy first finger, so that a drop
of blood started
Il am so sorry" I said. May I not
| tie this handkerchief around it?'
w udI. Will Vie 11OOk III lily lIlS0I
Pull it out, please; no fuss" Here Mrs.
BANDS face looked rigid, and the ridges
between her eyes made series of arch
ings.
"But, but" explained, really dis
turbed, II can't pull it out. Can you
| bear the merest cut with my pen
knife?
"Can [? Nonsense; Of course | can,"
and she held out taper white finger,
and felt my heart sink within me as l
made careful probe, and, fortunately
extricating the barb, drew out the hook,
which [ deliberately placed in my pock-
et-book. "Would Mrs. Bland faint
now?" asked myself.
IA glass of water" I said anxiously.
"What for? To dip my finger in
Ridiculous! will put it in my mouth.
Please do not destroy your pocket hand
kerchief. You will excuse my sucking
my finger like a baby while I talk.
There it is all over now, young gentle
man. [ never scream at a mouse, or
go into Mysteries over caterpillar. and
do not blink at Lightning"
you are very brave little woman,
then. Here, take this telegraphic mes
sage which you nave dropped, and
handed the message to her.
II heard the waiter tell you received
ten messages a day. Now, can you put
that together with my dozen newspa-
papers?"
Il cannot-I do not care to. It is not
any of my business, Mrs. Bland 1 am
not curious" | replied.
"WeI, l am-very much so-and my
business is to-ah!-" here she stopped,
for just then David rang bell, which
meant that the stage coach with the pas
sengers from the railroad was coming.
The coach stopped at the house first,
and then continued its journey to a
small tavern further up the coast.
You were saying, Mrs. Bland-pray
continue"
"All | can tell you is this, sir, that in
that coacn you will find man you