The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-13

got 1t TO day, too" And he rubbed his
knee joints with every indication OF
great pain. ono, Miss, not another
boats length do you go until you per-
vide according to your duty.
cob, dear = | cried, in utter vexa-
ton of spirit "Why, Pm temperance
I'm almost Prohibitionist. How
ever, I'll give you dollar when we
get back. OF course | can't help it if
you spend it for liquor
After long haggling he consented to
this proposition and started up again.
We had proceeded about ten rods
when he again rested on his oars.
Goodness What's the matter
nowo'
''lou forgot to pay me, Miss.
counted out seventy-fve cents,
which he accepted, though he said l
might as well pay him for four or five
hours at once, as it would certainly be
that length of time before my six fish
were secured.
Once more he set off with a will
Perhaps two minutes elapsed before he
came TO full stop for the third time.
"What do you mean by these exas-
perating delays?' I said sharply.
He leered at me with his little squint-
ing eyes and queried:
"Where's your tackle and bait?'
"Why-why-I thought it was your
business to see to that?' ! stammered
"Well, it's not, then. kin do It,
though, for dollar extra
My heart sank. a very few more
items of this amoInt and no margin
beyond my own expenses would be
left Of the twenty dollars.
'Perhaps you expect 'em to jump
INTO the boat at your whistler said my
escort, ironically.
"No, no, | sighed, unable to dis
pute the fact that rod and line were in
dispsnsable, and wondering if it cost
Harry as much every time he went
fishing.
Hank Tower pulled leisurely back to
shore. 1t took half an hour to COM
plete my outfit, and oh got SO tired
waiting in the drilling mist. At last
Hank rowed across the river and an
chored In the best spot for fishing. l
closed my eyes while | baited my hook
and cast my line.
l forgot all the little difficulties
had encountered, and gazed upon the
scene in an appreciative mood. The
banks were not over fifty feet high on
either side Of US, but at a short dis
lance up stream they rose abruptly to
height Of nearly three hundred feet,
their steep sides clothed with sombre
pines and the red and golden foliage
Of other trees The water was leaden,
the atmosphere delicate pearl color,
the clouds an unbroken expanse of
silvery gray.
GLOW strange it is, Mr.. Tower /
remarked, musingly, "that only seven
miles above here that enormous vol
ume Of water should be falling down.
"Iwould be strange if twas falling
up, reckon he chuckled.
| stopped, disconnected, but soon
resumed:
II mean that it seems odd that we
do not feel its influence down here.
Cannot you imagine, MI. Tower, that
you hear the tremendous lion-like roar
! of the cataract even now?'
He shook his head. "No, Miss, no
| couldn't bring myself to imagine
such a thing, unless l had ginned up
better than I'm likely to do today.
And his grin seemed to intimate
that possibly the brilliant play' of my
own fancy was due to alcoholic stimu-
liant. | maintained naughty silence.
Presently he continued:
Il suppose they mentioned up at
the hotel that was poet? No? Well,
| AM, and l writ pome onto Niagara
Falls twenty years ago that jest ex-
presses my idees. faint every one as
can understand poetry but I'm willing
to speak it to J0H.'
| thanked him for the compliment
and begged him to proceed, where
upon he began;
81 never could di,kiver
What there was so mighty grand,
About strip of river
Between two strips of land?"
This beginning SO delighted me that
| never heard the remainder. First |
smiled, then l gigged, then l covered
my face with my hands and laughed
heartily, careless of the fact that | had
dropped my rod overheard.
1t remained for Mr.. Tower either 10
regain his property or to lose it altoge-
ther. He preferred the former alter
native, and after many desperate
clutches with his hands and frantic
reaches with the oars, the rod was re-
stored to me.
The offended poet lapsed into a
sulky mood, and | watched my line in
silence. Presently l was extremely an
moved to receive a cloud of tobacco
smoke full in my face. Turning l be-
held Hank Tower enveloped in the
detestable blue haze, putting away at a
clay pine
'Why. Mr.. Tower, how dare you p
cried, with unrestrained indignation.
1.-The arrangement was that you
shouldn't chew tobacco
"And no more | will, Miss, seeing
never 30 chew. It's smoking I'm fond