News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-23

house; and not many yards from me
gray-headed old gentleman in blacl
S with velvet cap ON his head, was busy
trowel in hand, planting scarlet gerar
s iums in one of the beds that dotted th
velvet lawn.
s He looked up and started slightly a
he saw me, then bowling, he came dow
, to the rough trellis fence that divides
l his garden from the lane.
"A nice morning." he said pleasa 1tly
as 1 raised my hat. "Fishing, L pre-
sume?'
"Yes," said, 81 was going to try"
"And you were going to ask my
leave2" he said, smiling.
81 intended to call after had beer
into the village, said, taken somewhat
aback.
''Did you leave town this morningl"
said the old gentleman.
"Yes," replied, "by the first train,
and walked across from Hautley."
"Then you must be quite ready for
breakfast" he said, referring to his
watch. ''It will be ready now."
"Oh, thank you, no" 1 stammered,
for this offer of hospitality to a perfect
stranger was staggering. 81 am going
down to the inn, and then if you will
kindly permit me to whip the stream 1
shall be very glad"
"Oh, certainly, certainly" he said
81 am an old fisherman myself, and L
believe we of the craft are somewhat
Freemasons in our way. The May-fy
are well on, and you will have good
sport towards evening-not before"
He moved towards the rustic gate as
he spoke, and held it open.
"But really stammered.
"My dear SIR" said the old gentle
man, II lead such quiet life here that
a visitor from the great city is most
welcome. You will be favoring me by
coming in and partaking of our humble
fare, and besides you will get scarcely
anything at the little public house be-
low."
This to me seemed quite idyllic, but
felt bound to refuse, till glance at my
host decided me, and almost before l had
recovered from my astonishment was
in cosy little room, looking out upon
a rustic vCranda, clustered with roses
just budding, and being introduced to
''my wife, a pleasant, comely old lady,
with hair like frosted silver.
The breakfast table was spread; there
was the snowy cloth, the glistening
coffee-pot; at the other end a bright
cover that was sure would reveal ham
and eggs; there WAS tho golden butter,
the Notwithstanding crusty loaf, and
neat handed maiden, without any fuss,
placed an extra knife, fork, plate and
chair for me.
"Tell Miss Laura breakfast is ready"
said the old rector. ''She is III the gar
den." Then turning to me-"A word
to put you at your ease" he said sadly.
''My poor daughter suffers from a terri
BILE mental affliction. Don't speak to
her. She would not answer; she rarely
even speaks to us.
l was quite prepared to see the lady
had encountered in the wood glide into
the room and take her place opposite,
and this she did without noticing me;
and though had been ravenously hun
gry lust before, somehow her presence
so affected me that made but a poor
breakfast.
As we finished the poor girl rose and
ghded away again, shortly afterwards
followed by her mother.
"Poor girl !" ] said involuntarily, and
then started, vexed at my indiscretion,
for the rector laid his hand upon my
arm, saying softly:
THANK you !"
He looked at me, as I interpreted it,
as if he would like to be questioned, and
ventured to y:
"Has she always been sol"
"No, no." said the old man sadly;
'the flower was bright and vigorous
once, but blight came upon it, and
since then it has faded slowly till it
dropped as you see it now. THY king
dom come, Thy will be done"
He said those last words in an almost
inaudible tone, but I caught two or
three; and was able mentally to fill the
rest.
Il can hardly think it was that" said
the old rector sadly. "but she has faded |
away ever since this time three years
ago, when a gentleman of about your
age was down here fishing
"The old story" said bitterly.
''No, my friend, no; he was staying at |
a little farm house close by and asked |
leave to fish, just as you have, and l
showed him trifie of hospitality. I
believe him to have been q gentleman
in every sense of the word, and at times
l think he must have made a strange
on my poor child. He was
only here for three days, and we have
never seen him since. Perhaps it is only
fancy. and my poor girls ailment comes
from other causes. But come, I will
show you the water"
Leading the way the old gentleman
took me across the sloping meadows,
and left me at last by as beautiful
trout stream as / ever saw.
''There," he said, 81 won't stop, but
If there is no sign of rise, come and
have bit of lunch. We shall dine at 2,
so as to leave you free for the evening,
when the trout are sure to come on"
Before / could utter a word of protest
le was gone; and then, with that deli
,ious trout-stream before me, my tackle
IN my hand, and the May flies darting
Up and down, l, an ardent fisherman,
orgot all, and sat down upon an old
stump, trying to bring up memories-a
lalf lf-forgotten story told me by quaint
Ralph barley, my old friend and com
oanion, who had told me to go and try
his water; old Ralph, the misogynist,
he dry, grumpy old fellow, who had
old me one night in his chambers in the
Temple, in one of his rare bursts of con-
idence, as we sat at the open window
how he had once seen a girl
vhom he could have loved with all his !
leart, but poverty, dread of refusal and '
moral cowardice had kept him back. '
81 have got it - l said suddenly, after ,
itting there for quite an hour, and I
umping up looked at my watch and 7
he leaf of a timetable; Yes, / could {
1st do it-catch the train up. But {
ould get by the rectory unseen?
l tried and found another way across t
D the lane by which came; and max !
lg all the haste l could, l just painted I
p to the little station as the up-train O
rawled in. f
Two hours later 1 was in Ralph's V
pom, where he was poring over dry a
'rief. I
sHullo!" he said, looking up. 81 S
lought you were off fishing" /
Eyes, / said, putting on the gross |
eceiver, "I did run down to the place j
on told me OF"
sIndeed!" he said, looking interested, q
ut sinking back, half closing his eyes, /
ith a sad smile upon his lip, which v
,emed to say, "Ah! if that could have r
Gen." i
"Yes," continued, "the trout are on I
May flies in abundance. j
admit the heart, though, to fish alone, $
Id so came back to fetch you without !
citing line. Come, let's start by the t
rst train in the morning. You make f
enty of money now. Have a day" e
His eyes sparkled as he grasped my I
and. o
"This is Kind of Won. old fellow, / {