The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-28
TWAS The
0THER MAN.
Love at First Sight and Love at
Second Sight.

EJSSgSSggs HE river brawled noisy tune
H9 ~N that the bridge bad listened to
kstI EsH4 unmoved tor some hundreds OF
R$.ES ES71 years. and then, as if weaTied
ES2u E--J with this proftless exertiOn,
si55SM~,rrrys4 drew itself up with dignity and
seiAeh A1N'.SsE'sS swept along with deep, rapid
and noiseless current.
On slender spit of turf which jutted ont
at the tail of the ediies stood girl intently
engaged with 1y-rod; lounging over the
gray parapet of the bridge were a couple of
men lazIly Watching her.
One of the men was tall and dark he an
swered TO the name of Duncan. The other
was shorter built and had lighter hair, and
him his companion addressed as Billy.
The pair of them were moving fesurely
through the country, in company with u house
on wheels, a yellow painted caravan which was
then resting just down the turn of the road.
The shorter man removed bis pipe and
spoke:
tAb, see that cast? By Jove, it was neat
one. Couldn't have done it better-risen him
again, and-no, not this time, my lady. But
you'll go on, won't your He's fat two
FOUNDER. and you're keen sportsman. can
see that" p
Three other casts were made without result,
but at the third the fish again, and was
snugly hooked in the dropper.
THAT fy's March Brown for a f10 note"
exclaimed Duncan with access ol interest
as the trout shot off like fash diagonally
down stream.
'Ah. now she is giving him the butt, and
that's checking the pace He'd break her II
he got tangled in the overai among those
stones. Faith, she's playing him like an old
hand" at l@I
AS he spoke the spring of the bending rod
stopped the two Founders rush. and the fish
began doggediy to return to the summons OF
the slowly turning reel.
The unrelenting tension of the line wore
down his strength, and his captor felt blissfuily
sure of success. In another minute or so he
would be gasping and showing silver beneath
the bank at her feet.
She reached hand round for the landing
net, which hung from a ring in her creel-
strap. and had partly drawn it out. when of
sudden the honeycombed turf beneath began to
bend ard break down. 'l :
She saw the danger, and tried to step back,
but the movement was not in time She lost
balance. slipped and fell, aud the next moment
had role1 off sideways with splash into the
shining water.
By tie men on the bridge no words were
spoken. They left the bridge at either end,
aud raced down the rugged bank on different
sides, Duncan crashing through hazel bushes,
his companion stumbling madly over tumbed
powders.
Reaching the bottom of the struggling fall,
each left the bank and splasbed into the
deeper water d re ,sed as he was, Duncan VIM
ming with side stroke. the other racing against
him on the breast. The current was very
rapid. but as to where it was taking them
neither gave thought.
Each was wholly intent upon being first to
reach the form which was swirling OH ahead,
now half-snbfnerged. now wholly beneath the
surface.
Then Billy got knocked out of the race. He
fouled island of weeds that were being
swept along by the current and felt their shiny
tendrls wrap around him, and bad to stop and
fight for his own life.
by the time he had emerged painting and
halt choked from the conflict he turned to see
the girl lying in draggled heap on tho bank,
and Duncan in the act of scrambling up along
side her.