Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
QUEER CONTRETEMPS.


The chief clerk of the dictatorship of
domains at Tours was man of perhaps
so years of age, trife fat, with mouth
as round and as red as a cherry, bright,
sparkling eyes, regular as clockwOrk in
his habits, and with all the whiLns and
crotchets of a confirmed bachelor. Some
thing of a gourmande, as TOurangians
are apt to be, nothing pleased him better
than to be placed before a palatable
dish.
But his ruling passion was fishing, and
fishing with line.
His name was Chabot - LIE ChabOt
Blanche" as his friends called him, a
nickname given not only to this little
disciple of the rod, but applied as well
Throughout Touraine to a sort of white
fish, elsewhere known as meunsers.
"There are simpletons," he said TO me
one day, "who assert that angling is a
mOnOtOnous pleasure, enerVating and
wanting in great excitement. They don't
know what they are talking about, for I
assure you that to fishing with line | o We
the only adventure that ever gave me a
violent emotion.
Zone Sunday, some thirty years ago."
he continued, "a Whitsunday, If remem-
Der correctly, [ went to fish on the banks
Of the Cher, near to the hamlet of Sainte
AYertin. 1t was a little warm, but re-
freshed by the neighbOrhOOd of the water
and gentle breeze, 1 soon installed my
self in what I knew was choice spot,
grassy hollow between two alder bushes
where | rested as comfortably as if seat
ed in a deep arm chair, ana was Tiled
with dreamy satisfaction that the day be-
ing Sunday, no disagreeable neighbors
would be likely to disturb long and de-
lightful holiday.
''Unhappily, had reckoned without my
host, for [ saw coming out from behind
the poplars the figure of man and wom-
an, who placed themselves to the right of
nv alder bushes, not ten feet distant.
He was neither young nor old, accom-
panied by a lady very girlish in appear
ance, and handsome, very handsome, in
deed. Closely shaven and scrupulOusly
attired, the man had an exceedingly cor
rect and gentlemanly air, bearing himself
with the gravity of a magistrate. The
lady, dressed in a gray linen suit and a
straw bonnet trimmed with blue, was
blonde, rosy, plump, and lively. I had
only to see the way they handled their
rods to know they were novices at the
fishing business.
"GoOdw [ said to myself they are anna
eturs, and will trouble me but little; and
I was not mistaken they knew positively
nothing about the piscatorial art, the
young woman renewing again and again
the bait on her hook, though she had new
er had single bite. I on the contrary
was in great luck, and drew from the
water almost every minute beautiful
wriggIing creature, glit5ering like silver
at the end of the line. My neighbOrs
had ntot caught fish. At last, becoming
vexed, the young woman threw aside her
pole, and rising from her seat began wan
dering inquisitive about me. At the mo
ment she came behind me [ had Just had
beautiful bite, and was in the act of pay
ing out the real. Pulling at the end of
the line was the biggest captive I had yet
hauled ina magnificent silver perch not
an ounce under two pounds six.
"What beautiful fsh!' the young wom
an cried, as she watched me landing him.
But how is it, Monsieur, that you manage
to obtain so many? We haven't had a
bite
IT was considerably younger thirty years
ago." LIE Chabot continued, land though
always little bashful, was by no means
insensible to the advances of a pretty
knew how. 1t is because, madame, you
do not understand it. Angling with a
pole and line is far more difficult than you
Imagine. IF you will allow me I will
cheerfuly instruct you. Seat yourself
here while l arrange the bait
''She accepted the offer, and at call
from his wife the husband Joined US,
bringing the tackle with him. In mo-
ment or two | was ready for my pupil,
and handing her the pole began at once
to teach her the rudiments of the art.
After a feElessons she managed to manip-
ulate it in a tolerable fashion, and as the
current was favorable and the fish hungry
they amiably allowed themselves to be
taken.
"Ah we'll" said Chabot, IaUghiDgly, sit
wasn't fishing such as mine, of course;
nevertheless, it was creditable enough for
an amateur. A dozen reaches and as
many darts soon fioundered on the bank
beside US. At every stroke OF luck my
beautiful neighbor, delighted as a child,
would clap her hands and turn trium-
plant looks upon her husband, and he
smiling soberly, though equally pleased
at the Joy of his wife, tremendously
thanked me for the trouble [ had taken.
''The evening drew on, an as o'clock
approached and I rose to take my leave
it was lone walk to Tours, and | began
to feel the need of foOd-the young wife
ran to her husband and whispered earn
estly in his ear. He listened thoughtful-
Iy, as If disturbed, perhaps unwilling.
However, a moment later they turned to
me and asked me to stay with them for
dinner.
The husband gravely seconded the in
rtion, and as 7 was as hungry as a
ST it ended in my accepting and re-
to Sainte Ayertin with my &C
ices to the inn of the Golden Pig
air had given us an excellent