Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04
ATrne Ets.,sng STORY.
rcl.ra Rarl IN CINCINNATI Enquirer.

Ii was on one or the secluueu blhuriIoS
OF the Shire sbury river. Our angler
we shall call Florimond. He was mus
cular aud attractive youth, yet when by
accident he encountered any OF the
geutler sex be was so bashful that all his
blood seemed to surge III his face. but
il he had very little knowledge OF girls
he had as q compensation an absorbing
passion for the capture OF the scsly IN
habitants of his fayorite stream, upon
whose banks he passed his happiest
hours. The stream which bOrdered the
gardens Of ms summer residence took so
abrupt turn at the point that 1t was with
difficulty he could keep IN view his bob
bingcork yet spite ofall disadvantages
he usually returned successful from his
sports. is he despised the smaller fry
he employed q stout line, to which re
affixed d big hook, baited with living
minnow; bat in spite of his alIurmg
temptations the fish refused to bite tins
day. and the eager Florimond attrihu-
ting his bad luck to a slight clatter
which he bad been hearing for some
time around the bend, and therefore
concealed from his sight, he began IN
wardly % abuse his neighbors-the
widow Gilroy and her niece.
Soon his heart gave n start OF glad
ness. for he felt strong resistance st
the end of his line. At the same time
crv Of distress fell upon the air. lie
pulled carefully. SO as not to break his
line, when q clear. sweet voice came
from the other side: "Oh, stop, beg
of you Don't pull
and why shouldn't [ pull in my
fish 2" said he. And overcome with
pleasure. which only one devoted 70 fish
Inc can experience. florimond continued
10 haul az bis line, not needing the sup
plications that his neighbor continued to
address 20 him. Suddenly. with mouth
and eyes wide open, he stopped. para
lived by the strange 81 yht which pre-
sented itself 10 him, for. instead of the
big fish he thought h. had caught. ne
perceived vaguely at first q pair OF white
aud plump shoulders and arms, and then
pretty young gih stood before him.
She had gone bathing IN suit that even
Nar1agansett pier wouldn't have tole-
rated. forit consisted SIMPLY of a knitted
shirt and drawers. such MS her brothers
wore in the gymnasium. Trembling
with shame the poor captive uttered
plaiatIye little sobs
oh, Mr. Florimord,' she supplica-
ted, please i0n'tpull, andshe He'd back
behind tie fence.
How. Miss lherese, is it You that ]
have caught
Yes, she replied.
Where-where 2"
I'm my back-right in the small Of
my back"
lyon Will not let me see it, L sup
pose b"
"Oh, surely not, she replied.
"AH right then pull it ont yourself. %
"Oh, yes but You must not look. -
"Go ahead / won't look And he
turned his head away from the place.
The poor girl tried 10 do as no had
told her, but she only increased her
pain.
"Oh " she cried. "that awful hook
hurts ne more and the little fish is wig
Cling awluliy on my back. Ugh I"
Come here and let me phil it out, y
said boz ; leone, or / viii phil the line.
With modest, with undecided steps,
the surprised water-nymph came into
view, aud then huddled down behind a
shrub. The young girl made vain eff
forts 10 cover her shoulders with her
hands. At last she said, with resigna-
ton:
Mako haste, NIr. Florimond, / am
suffering a great deal. DO you see IT,?
10 is ms between my shoulder-blades.
aud that cold little fish is moving ali the
time.
Quietly, and with the same precaution
that he woaid exercise II be were Mkiag
n pickerei OF the hook, the young man
pulled out the hook without serious dam
ages to the delicate back OF the girl.
Nevertheless she uttered o cry winch cX-
pressed both shame end Consideration.
Then violent ordinations OF horror and
surprise came from behind them. 1t
was the widow Gilroy. She nused her
hauGs 10 Heaven and remained petuhed
by tho sccnc. Then turning to the girl
she said severely: "fcli me, misprl-
bic wretch, why do You let this young
man sae Won 10 such IA costume as that
Thcrcse tod of their adventure with
caudor AMI innocence which enchanted
the heart Of tl0rimond. But the widow
was uaseutimental
"Suppose the young mans fsh-hook
DID eaten YOU ia the bnck," she coillv
said "th4t wasn't any reason why ho
should see you IN that shocking cos
tune.
"Oh but, aunty." Therese pleaded.
j couldn't reach tine hook to get it ont.
I wou.dn have had him see me for the
world. but"
"rhcn Why didn't you-let-him-
simply cut -the-line A" interrupted
the widow. with slow and convicting en-
phasis. "and yen could have come de-
Gently 10 the house to have the hook re-
moved"
Well il the young folks he'd been as
COO y practical as that there wouldn't
rave been story worth telling, and
Florimond wouldn't have caught bride
10 that days fishing for they are en-