New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-28


| sitting behind the curtain.
| He begins to hack the choppng block ana
has every appearance OF seeing how near ne
| can come to hacking his own legs. Then ne
stares I'D at the sky 1t is cloudy. know
perfectly we'll what he Is thinking. and again
/ feel within me that resolution that ne snail
not go fishing: only this time the resolution
Is modified by the resolve that will go with
hinl-yes re may go. but not alone
| II Is now week since Columbus went nshing
To be strictly accurate, 1t is eight days ana
half Possibly this mania which AFFECTS CO.
lumbus may be like the opium-eating hao't.
ought 10 be charitable.
| There he has left the woodp'le. glanced up
! again at my window Now he is going toward
the cowshed where I am almost positive that
| ne keeps his wormbo"
Now he Is out Of sight.
| descend the stairs. I put on sunbonnet
and rubber boots, and pin my skirt up about
my waist Thus equipped open the door OF
the sittng-room. where Gertrude is mending
our boys shirts
do you want trout for supper ask.
She stares In silent surprise
Because" 20 on. II will try to bring you
a few plump beauties: they will have upon their
backs the warm brown Of the brook bed: they
will be dotted with brightest gold. and with
the richest colors. that will make the lines
upon the painters palette dim by
What" cries Gertrude. You don't mean
you are really
Going" answer ut has always been said
that a woman cannot catch trout. This is the
era when II ought to be demonstrated that
she can. Besides IL Columbus can catch trout
| can"
But he doesn't-he gets horn-pout'
"Once he brought home trout" l return
"But there's going to be a thunder tempest>
| will not be dissuadeo I hurry out into the
ward lest Columbus get away without me.
come upon him just as he is taking his fishing
pole from a beam In the cowshed..
When he sees me he pretends to be putting up
his pole instead OF taking 1t down.
| He looks at me in surprise at my costume
Then he turns carelessly away as II he had
never thought Of anything In particular. last
of all fish, He occupies himself by\ tighten
ing his already tight leather strap about his
waist.
81 thought I'd co. say with great cheerful
ness.
| go whcre?"
! why with you"
Il amt going nowheres'
Columbus looked listlessy at a large nail
which stuck UP from the floor Of the barn.
"Oh. yes: you were going fishing" re-
snonded still with the utmost am.ability.
He advanced and kicked gently at the nail
with his bare toes.
Wall I amt tell ye.' he said
Yes" brskly, get your worms and your
pole Well go round by Tim Whites. and you
can borrow his pole for me. Come. hurry up
I'm all ready
Columbus looked at me as II to see II meant
what said Evidently did. He turned away
He pulled his hat hard down on his head
that few more braids Of the straw split and
detached themselves I heard him mutter. oh
dumb IT," or was IT Dumb herr but pre-
| tended not to hear anything.
In few moments he returned with his worm
box under his arm: he took down his pole.
you'll git almighty sick OF IT. he remarked.
You'll have to wade 5 likelys not: the mos
cutters are thicker'n hasty pudd'n': n you
won't git no bites.
Yes. shall. II the mosquitoes are as thick
as you say
He gazed at me an instant. then his mouth
| widened and he made cultural sound; knew
| he was laughing.
| We'll cut cross lots to Tins" he said. IT'S
kinder rough. but you won't mind IT, | s'pose"
Il shant mind it a Bit" I answered, but
III
know
He looked disguised because I was not
boy: but he started. and followed.
was continually calling him not to 90 so fast
and to come hack and help me over this wall or
that fence Then Re would go again.
studied him as ! followed. What a mystery he
was. and how large his ears were and how
they stood out from his head.
Fortunately, knew precisely what the size
and shape Of those ears s!gnined. for had Just
read that book wherein the author tells us that
such ears ARE Of the physical stgmata OF de-
generation"
| I am so glad that this writer has settled
so many discussed questions but cannot help
being grieved that there are so very few really
sane people In the world; still. there is comfort
for us all In the fact that while this particular
scientific man lives We can be Informed accu-
rately to who are sane and who are insane,
! for he 10 have kind OF yardstick that
measures in d wonderful way. But here am
drifting from my subject in a most degenerate
manner: and all because Of Columbus's ears.
trudged on behind the boy. and relentlessy
called him back and made him walk more leis-
urely. asked him why he wished to hurry now
| for the first time in his life. At the end OF
quarter Of an hour Columbus looked more I'M
happy thar I had ever seen him look; had not
| known that his face could have so much ex-
| preston upon II.
| Finally we came TO Tim Whites; Tim was
hoeng in the garden; he was hoeing with great
industry, for his father was at work with him:
| the son could hardly glance up. so eager was he
| 10 work
But Mr.. White leaned on his hoe and sur
veyed me in a thorough manner After this
| survey he nopped his face and suggested that
| 1t was awful sultry"
Notwithstanding this remark knew that
he was suffering with curiosity to know why I
had come over In such guse so said that
/ was going fishing with Columbus.