New-York tribune., 1895-08-04

| threw 1t in.
As did so Columbus said we ought to have
some kind of files; great green ones he Informed
| me- we're 'fust-ratc'
The brook was lovely. and so were the httle
hills between which It ran, hills with young
| birches scattered them, and sparrows ana
brown thrashers flying to and fro. And the bed
| ~ tho brook was beautiful golden sand Some
| tr,es 1 saw n trout dart through the water
Rut none Of them took the slightest notice Of our
| books which were dangling silently In pain
| sight Of the fish.
| If II had net been for the mosquitoes ana Tor
my thinking about that dogwood ! should have
| begun to be happy
| I sat peffectly stil and let myself be bitten.
! and would not speak, for Knew " diu sp'aH
or nioya mat Columbus would say II hhdht
| doBe tbe one ming of The other W. should nave
| caught something
| II began 10 grow very DARK Ny longing 70
| tump IN and scream was becoming almost IRE
sslible
| There sat Columbus. his face ana legs n'er-
| ally covered with mosquitoes, but he ala not SUI
n muscle He stared into the water, his mouth
! shut hard. his little freckled face more 'h""
| ever Of A puzzle TO me-
| Suddenly he snatched out his line. HIS nook
| swung up and caught In the tree above us.
|
| long Of me!'
columbus" said, do you mean to nsinu-
ate that have made a movement or a sound?
| wall I d'know's you have. but. by George.
| You see you're a woman, n them fish have
| found 1t out"
| He disentangled his hook from the tree. and
| flung it into the water again. | was what Is
| called boiling with wrath. but made no reply.
| I carefully took my line from the brook ana
| cast It back Just at the side Of a big rock
| The gods had evidently heard the unkind and
| untrue remark just made by my companion ana
| the gods decided to champion me-
| Immediately felt a little jerk at the line; then
| gave little jerk and there swung Into the air
4 large trout his sides looking brilliant even in
| that dusk.
Instantly was intensely excited. I stood
| there with the pole srasped firmly gazing al
| the trout.
Pull him in. Pull him ill., yelled Columbus
| who was as excited as | was. lie actua"!
jumped up and down. yelling all the time
| swung up the pole; thought | was swinging
| 1t in the direction Of the shore. and don't Kno"
| now how it happened that the line Veereu OH
farther down the stream The trout made a kind
| Of contorton and splashed into the water the
next instant saw it darting down to the s,l'
| deep pool
| "rm glad OF IT," l said loudly, I'D rather have
| him happy"
| never saw any one so furiously indignant as
| Columbus was He kept trying to speak he
| danced on the bank there. Finally he did sue
| ceed in saying
| "Bigges. trout I see this summer" Then
| thought he was going to crJ. But he controlled
| that inclination He looked at ne for d moment
! as IL I were some kind Of curiosity.
| Then he turned sulenly aid began to pull In
his line and wind 1t about the pole
| Just then clap of thunder sounded IN the
| west
| II amt go!n' to fish no more" he said
| made no Immediate reply. ! was still pos
| sessed BY great pride In having puiieo '"a'
| trout up out Of the water
| ITS good 'nough for me-. he said presently.
| What's good enough
| He turned savagely toward me-
| "The wust thing in the world he shouted. ITO
nav me for havin' come out fsh!n' with
| woman"
| II thundered again.
| Twas wishing was strong enough TO take CO.
| Iumbus by the collar OF his checked shirt ana
| fling him somewhere. This was very unrlght-
eous wish but have noticed that this boy is
often the cause Of unrghteous wishes In Gertrude
and me- | would not reply TO such words so
| said that there was evidently tempest coming
| I'd and we would go home. When we were READY
| 10 start requested Columbus to take the short
| est way He said he would He really seemed
| little frightened at my calmness
was calm because had made a resolve.
| When we were out In the open pasture looked
about me- The cloud moving over toward
| the south: perhaps we should not get any ram
I'VE will 20 by your home" SAID
He made no reply. He walked on and walked
behind him. looking at his ears and wishing |
knew what made them stick out so.
The lightning and the thunder continued; there
was rain of on the hills to the south
When we came to the home Of Columbus MS
| mother was standing at tn open door with a
hand on each hip.
walked straight up to her and SAID
Here's your boy. We shant want him any
more We shall try to get along by ourselves
She stared, at first In silence. To my great
amazement Columbus dropped his worm box and
put fist up to his right eye.
"What's he ben doin' of now?' at last asked
| his mother.
| Nothing. absolutely nothing; ne never does
| anything" ! answered.
| A slight snive from Columbus
You amt goin to turn him off like this, be
| We 'thout no warnin'?' she inquired
Yes. Just like this: and now III be going
| So walked away as straigh. as had come.
| was conscious OF a sense OF JOY and victory and
| freedom In spite Of my boots, and OF my skirts
| though the latter were wet and torn. and knew
/ was pretty object.
81 ain't goin to stan 1t; no. amt goin' to
stan IT," cried the woman from the door. Il
| sh'll be over jes' g quick's can"
To this I only said:
| Come any time.
| ] was still somewhat exultant when reached
home; and l could not restrain my pride when /
told Gertrude about pulling that trout out OF the