The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-22

grassy banks, andshaded by willow trees.
The reeollections Of the place came fully
back upon him now, and he recalled
point after point in the landscape. AS
he followed the windlngs of the stream
he felt himself once more on familiar
ground, and he almost forget for the
moment the years that had elapsed since
last he trod these same paths. He had
fallen into tine sort of reverie which the
circumstances naturally induced, when
he reached a point where the stream
widened into little pool, with an over
hanging rock on one side, and on the
other q close line of willows, whose
dropping boughs swept the clear-brown
waters beneath. A boy who was on the
bank fishing, looked up as Herder ap-
preached. He had frank, intelligent
face and brown waving hair.
''Good sport this morning ?" asked
Herder, accosting him.
'Not first-rate :" and the speaker lifted
the lid of small creel that lay on the
grass beside him, for the strangers in
spection of the mornings take.
"This used to be good spot, and this
is not a bad morning either; little
bright, perhaps" continued Herder.
"The river is not SO good as it once was,
think sir; at least if all the stories old
fishermen tell of it are true; but dare
say these old chaps forget or exaggerate.
l get good lot of fish sometimes,
though generally higher up than this.
Do you ever fish here, sir? never saw
YOU"
81 did once" answered Georges 81
think knew every yard of it from this
to the Bridgend Inn. Is the inn still to
the fore ?'
80 yes; but suppose it would be old
Marley who kept it when you were
boy, sir ?'' His nephew, Fred, has it
now"
"Ah, so old Dave is gone"
The two fell into conversation about
trout fishing and all pertaining to it. In
little while the youth left the pool and
moved slowly up the stream, Herder
walking by his side-a frank, bright, in
telligent boy, who gossiped on with
the open hearted freedom of an English
youth. What was it in the tones of his
voice, every now and then, that puzzled
Herder with faint sense of familiarity?
He looked more narrowly at his COM
panion's face, and as he did so another
face came slowly back and filled his
mental vision. A strong desire to learn
his young companions name possessed
him and he asked it,
"John Valance was the answer.
''May ask yours, sir ?''
George seemed to hear the words with
no feeling of surprise, but he was con-
scious that his interest in the youth be-
side him deepened with the confirma-
tion of his suspicion. He hesitated for a
moment and then told his name.
"Herder," repeated the youth; "I
know that name. There's an old lady,
Miss Field, who lives near us, great
friend of my mothers, who has nephew
named Herder. She often talks of him.
George, she always calls him. But he's
in Australia; been there for ever so
long,
Herder did not answer the two re-
sumed their talk upon fishing, and from
that it turned upon other subjects. Her
der encouraged young Valance to talk,
and gradually drew from him the lead
ing particulars of his life. He spoke of
his mother, his sister Katy, himself and
his school life, freely and unconstrained-
ly, for there was nothing to conceal.
The two had now reached the Bridg-
end Inn, a small, old-fashioned-looking
hostelry, frequented by anglers, stand
ing close to the bank of the stream,
where it was crossed by rustic wooden
bridge. Herder and John Valance
entered the cool, little sanded parlor, and
George ordered some refreshments. The
host brought them cold meat, bread and
cheese and jug of beer; and off these
simple viands the two made merry
lunch together.
When Herder had paid for the refresh
ment, and John and he were leaving the
inn, after chatting for moment with
the landlord, George said to his COM
panion: sits time was making my
way to Plymouth again. There used TO
be a short path back to the town from
here, across the hills. But don't think
could find it myself, now"
"Yes,n answered John; 81 can put
you upon it in few moments. / shall
keep along the river for bit longer, /