The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-04-06

his turn-"hOW are you to know that the
big fish yonder which is tempting you
- linger here-on st. Johns eve, mark
you-is not a pixie?'
The conceit amused me. Besides the
brute might think better of its ways
after a rest. l laid aside my rod, took
out my pipe and leaned against the bank
on which, my new acquaintance had
seated himself.
Because it ~isn't,' I said stolidly.
Nevertheless it is a thing that is alb.
~solutely incapable Of proof save by ex-
%perience, and if the experience means
death and silenco'-
''It is not much use to the world nat
urally," laughed l.
"None. Unless you admit the posi-
bility of ghosts"
mo go either. Ghosts never are use
full. The bad ones don't care, l suppose,
and the good ones are too happy"
l heard a faint sigh behind me and
looked up. Then he smiled. It was a
charming face--refined with a touch of
humor in it.
LET us imagine a Laodicean ghost,
then. Say, q fellow like you or mo
harm perhaps, not much good either
a bit Of a drone, ell? Can't you imagine
such a n pursued, when the game is
over, with a wish to have played q
stronger hand: I can. I can imagine
him coming-say, to a faraway spot
like this-to a loch where life ended for
him perhaps, to lay his hand on somo
ones shoulder, as I lay my hand on
yours, and say: Fish no more! 1t is a
pixie Turing you to death!' All, I am a
good actor, yo1 see. l have made you
start.
It was true. Something in tone and
touch had sent a shiver through me. l
forgot the big fish in a sudden desire
for home and rest, not to say dinner.
"A very good actor, I a~ssented, be-
ginning to reel up as he rose. "Do you
come my way::"
"No, my road lies yonder." He point
ed to where the western wedge of light
was fast darkening.
"Ah, the inn at Corriebuie, l suppose.
Well, goodby. I may meet you here
again some day"
Scarcely" he answered, with a
smile.
"Thcn elsewhere. The world is
small
~"Very-what we know of it,
"True. For all I know, I may be
parting from a real friend" I replied
gayly. "You may have saved me from
a pixie or a five FOUNDER. Which is
LET us say from i~nfatuarion. That is
certain. Goodby."
A boggle in my cast claimed my at
t%ention, and when I looked up he had
disappeared behind the rocky promon-
tory between the two arms of the loch.
As l turned to go my eye caught a gilt
ter in the Single at my feet. 1t was a
gold signet ring which l remembered
remarking Oh the strangers hand as he
laid it Oh my shoulder. ran after him,
shouting as l ran, finally making my
way to q bit Of rising ground, whence I
could command the declivity leading to
Corriebuie inn. He was not to be seen.
AS came back for my rod a faint cir
Gle Of light showed oil tho darkelling
water. The big fish Was still rising, and
I hurried away, half afraid of being be-
guiled into trying conclusions with it.
Next day being Sunday, I walked over to
CorriehUie in order to return the ring
to it's owner. My friend of Loeb Fin
aich was not there, nor did the ring it.
self give me any clew, for the design on
it had been much scratched and worn
as if by water. The world, however, as
we agreed, is small, and partly on the
chance that in the motley crowd of
London / might come across it's Owner
and partly from a strange fascination
for the memory of my five minute
friend, l took to wearing the ring con-
stantly until a sense of possession and
an odd, un~accountable affection for ii
grew up in me, and felt I should be
sorry to have it taken from me.
In tie November following I was on
my way to join a yacht, bound for the
Mediterranean at Plymouth. Immersed
in a book, l scarcely noticed the advent
of another traveller into the smoking
carriage in which I was seated until
saw him searching vainly in his pockets
for a match. Naturally l offered hin
my cigar. AS I held it out he started sc
violently as almost to knock it out o.
my hand.
81 beg your pardon" he said courte
ously, "but the ring you wear aroused
a painful memory. A very dear FRIEND
of mine had n somewhat similar"
"a friend! Was he by any chance il
Scotland this summer?'
My companion shook his head ant
looked ont of the window. mo. H.
joined the majority years ago. A terri