Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-15
A QUEER CONTRETEMPS.

go wears of age n trifie fat, with mouth
as round and as red as cherry, bright
sparkling eyes, regular as clockWork III
his habits and with all the whlhs anu
crotchets Of a confirmed bachelor some
thing OF n gourmande, as Ionranglahs
are apt to be, nothing pleased hlm batter
than to be placed before a Palhtabie
dish.
But his ruling passion was fishing ana
fishing with line.
His name YVES Chabot lie ChaDot
blanche" "a his friends called him,
nickname given not only to TINS niue
disciple of the rod, but applied as wen
Throughout TOuraine to sort OF white
fish. elsewhere known as meunsers.
"There are simpletons," he said to me
ono day, who assert that angling IL
monot0nous pleasure, eneryating and
wanting in great excitement. They don't
know what they are talking about, for
assure you that to fishing with a line o"e
the only adventure that ever gave me a
violent emotion.
cone Sunday, some thirty years ago.
he continued, "a Whitsunday, if | remem-
her correctly, / went to fish on the banks
Of tho Cher, near to the hamlet OF Salhte
Ayertin. IL was "A little warm. but re
lTtSBfI by lllt itlE li''' i'''N' - 49,
and n gentle breeze, | soon installed my
self i'll what / knew was choice spot,
grassy hollow between two alder bushes
where rested IA comfortably rs If seat
ed in n deep arm chair, and | was filled
with dreamy satisfaction that the day be
ing Sunday, no disaEreeable nelghbors
would be likely to disturb Il long and de
Iightful holiday.
"Inhnppily, / had reckoned without my
host. for saw coming out from behind
the poplars the figure of II man and WON
mi, who placed themselves to the right OF
nv nlder bushes, not ten feet distant.
Ho wns neither young nor old, accom-
panied by IA lady very girlish in appear
nnce, and handsome, very handsome, IN
deed. Closely shaven and scrupulously
attirod, the man had an exceedingly cor
rect and goutlemanly air, bearing himself
with the gravity of II magistrate. The
lady, dressed in gray linen suit and II
straw bonnet trimmed with blue, was
blonde, rosy, plump, and lively. had
only to sec tho way they handled their
rods TO know they were novices Mt the
fishing business.
Good" 1 said to myself they are anna
etura, and will trouble mo but little; and
| wna not mistaken they know positively
nothing about the piscatorlm art, the
young woman renewing again and again
the bait on her hook, though she had neY-
or had n single bite. | ON the contrary
was in grcut luck, and drew from the
water almost every minute beautiful
wrggling creature, gathering like SILVER
Mt the end of the line. My nelRhborS
had not caught "A fish. At last, becoming
ytxcd, the young woman threw aside her
polo, and rising from her seat began wan
deriug inquisitivo about me. At the mo
ment she came behind me had just had
II beautiful bite, and was in the act of pay
ing out The real. Pulling at the end of
the line was the biggest captive had yet
hauled in Il magnificent silver perch not
an ounce under two pounds six.
'What & beautiful fish," the young WON
nm cried. rs she watched me landing him.
But how is it, Monsieur, that you manage
10 obtain SO many? We haven't had n
bite
Il was considerably younger thirty years
ago" lie Chabot continued, land though
always a little bashful, was by no means
insensible To tho advances of n pretty
woman, So | responded rs civilly as'
know how. 1t Is because, madame, you
do not understand it. Angling with n
pole and line is far more difficult than You
imagine. If you will allow mo | will
cheerfuly instruct you. Seat yourself
here white arrange the bait.
"She accepted the offer, and at n call
from his wife the husband joined us,
bringing the tackle with him. In n mo-
mont or two | was ready for my pupil,
and handing her the pole began ut once
to teach her the rudimeuts of the art.
After few lessons she managed to manip-
ulate il in Il tOlorable fashion, and IA the
current wa favorable and the fish hungry
they amiahly allowed themselves to be
taken.
"Ah, well" said Chabot, laUghipgly, 'it
wasn't fishing such IA mine. of course;
nevertheless, il was creditable enough for
an amateur. A dozen reaches and rs
many darts soon floundercd ON the bank
beside us. At every stroke OF luck my
beautiful neighbur, delighted us a child,
would clap her hands and turn trium-
phnut looks upon her husband, and he
smiling sobcrly, though equally pleased
mt the Joy of his wife, tremendously
thanked me for the trouble | had taken.
Tho evening drew ON, an IA O'Clock
approached and 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. lie listened thoughtful-
ly, as if disturbed, perhaps unwilling.
However, moment later they turned to
me and asked me to stay with them for
dir ner.
The husband grRvely seconded the in
sitation, and as | was rs hungry as Il
hunter it ended i'll my accepting and re
turning To Sainto Avertin with my &C
quaintances to the inn of the Golden Pig
con.
The river air had given US an excellent
appetite. and as excellent to our fish
they had served a sayory matelot, roasted
chicken, asparagus and tart bedewed
with a sauce that smelled like violets.
You can readily understand that | was
biissfully happy at the side of this pretty
woman. who laughed continually and
never for n second permitted my glass or
plate to be empty.
In spite of the fact that we were dining
III this friendly way | found them siugu-
larry reserved in regard to their affairs.
| had tried to question them adroitly of
course, for you must understand that |
vas curious to discover whose guest | had
the honor of being, but they responded
in such an evasive way that all that
l could learn was that they were pass
ing through Tours and lived at New Or
leans.
People are never SO agreeable but that
an hour comes when they must separate,
and with the discussion of the tart that
hour had arrived. l had done ample
justice TO the repast before US, and feel
ing very Jolly, thanked them cordially
for their hospitality, stouuy asserting
that / had never in my life enjoyed more
agreeable society. The young wife wss
very much amused at my earnest
ness, but the husband never answered
word, and when extended my hand in
taking leave accepted it with perceptible
hesitation.
Il shall never forget, never as long as
| live" cried Chabot, with shudder,
1.-The feeling that thrilled me at the touch
of that icy flesh and those fingers hard-ns
steel"
perhaps you will return, said to him
at parting; we may me meet againg"
oh, no. he replied, with a singular
accent; no, we leave tomorrow and wi h
a courteous bow, but with evident relief.
he closed the door.
"'What the devil is the matter with
himg' l said to myself as Ireturned to
the city, but it was months before l real
ly knew.
"Three months precisely after this