Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-08
FISH OR PIXIE?

FISH OR PIXIE?
It was hidden away in the chalice OF
the hills like a dewdrop in the folds Of
a burdock leaf-one of those mountain
farms of Western Ross which are reused
by sunshine into distinctive beauty Of
their own. deadened by mist out of all
individuality, SO that the wandering
fisherman has some excuse for being
careless of names, Of everything save the
trout lying between the shallow and the
deep. The time was jane. and ! had
slipped away from London for three
weeks freedom ere the gathering of the
gillies and the general raid of the popu-
lace on the Sassenach make the West
Highlands purgatory instead of par
adise to these who have not the purse Of
Fortunatus.
Day after day rose cloudless, serene,
in true June fashion. There was no one
to hurry me, no one to hint at a light
basket. AS for sport, fish must feed,
even in the driest weather, and some
times, If the heat haze dimmed the wa
ter and causeless breeze set the cot
ton tassels swinging, brief half hour
would come, sufficient for most men.
Then the charm of the long evenings,
when, though the light left the world, it
fingered in the sky till dawn brought
renewal, kept me in thrall and drove
NV cook tn distraction
had had a blank day on the bigger
lochs. Even the time between 7 and half
past, when the glitter goes from the wa
ter, brought me no luck. On my way
home, partly for the sake of lingering
longer in the SURPRISING beauty of the
moors, I bethought me Of a blue dot,
which, according to the map, should
lie half mile to the westward.
I shall never forget my first sight Of
Loeb Finaich, or Loeb of the Heather,
as it was called, Held in the hollow Of
the hills, it had two arms, one stretching
west to where the moorland sloped
swiftly to the sea. Thus at it's farther
end the shining level of water looked
about as if to plunge into space, intent
on quenching the fires of sunset in the
sky. The other arm wound, dark and
deep like Swallowed mirror, into pre-
cipitous correi, where the snowdrifts
still lay, despite the heat. There was
an unearthly stiffness and silence in its
beauty which thrilled me through and
through. A distinct desire to take ref
uge in the commonplace made me hurry
to strip of shingle and throw my fly
where faint shadow told of weeds be-
low the water. The nekt instant I for
got everything in the knowledge that a
big fish had risen short. The brown
body and turkey wing lit like thistle
down again and again without re-
Spouse, and was about to turn away
when circle of widening ripples told
me the brute was at me once more.
Mortal angler could not resist the ehal-
lenge. ! threw over it, around it, to
windward, to leeward of it, without
success. The glare had left even the
eastern shore. The sunset had faded to
pearly grays and Colds It was growing
late. But one more cast-by all that is
tantalizing-at me again!
every annoying" said voice be-
hind me as my fly fell on the water,
light, but determined.
I turned in surprise Some ten yards
off on the bank behind me man Of
about 80 was leaning OH landing net,
from his dress a fisher like myself,
though he carried no rod.
every annoying" echoed, ''but I'll
get the brute yet. :"
ST doubt it. I Thought So, too, but
was mistaken
To fisherman the confession of fail
ure in rival is never disheartening
! put little more skill into my cast,
that was all.
"It has been beautiful day, hasn't
it?'' went on the voice behind, just as
the fish stirred again. ''As fine mid
summer eve as I remember. By the
way, do the folk about here tell tales OF
used to do?''
"No," I replied shortly, for I was
rapidly losing my temper over that
devil of fish, "but I can imagine it.
Pixies. fairies and all that bosh.''
''Just SO. All that bosh.
Something in his tone made me pause
"Well, it is bosh, isn't it?'' echoed
"Dopbtless, and yet''-he paused in
his turn-sthow are You to know that the
big fish yonder which is tempting you
to linger here-on St Johns eve, mark
you-is not pixie?'
The conceit amused me. Besides the
brute might think better Of its ways
after rest. 1 laid aside my rod, took
out my pipe and leaned against the banE
on which my new acquaintance hac
seated himself.
"Because it ISM ~ said stoiidty.
Nevertheless it is thing that is alb
solutely Incapable of proof save by ex
perience, and it the experience mean
death and silence
cit is not much use to the world nat
orally" laughed I.
"None. Unless you admit the posi-
bility of ghosts. -
"No 60 either. Ghosts never ars nss.
full. The bad ones don't care 1 suppose,
and the good ones are too happy"
heard faint sigh behind me and
looked pp Then he smiled. 1t was {,
charming face-refped with touch O.
humor in it.
LET us imagine a Laodicean ghost,
then. Say, a fellow like you OF I-no
harm perhaps, not much good either
a bit of a drone, Ell? Can't you imagine
such a one pursued, when the game is
over, with wish to have played a
| stronger hand? I can. can imagine
him coming-say, TO faraway spot
like this-to a loch Yher6 life ended for
him perhaps. to lay his hand on some
ones shoulder, as I lay my hand Oh
yours. and say; Fish no more! 1t is a
pixie Turing you to DEATH All, am a
good actor, you see. I have MAIDS you
start
1t was true. Something in tone and
touch had sent a shiyer through me.
! forgot the big fish in q Sudden desire
for home and rest, not to say dinner.
"a very good actor" assepted, be-
ginning to reel up as he rose. Hpo yoa
come my way2"
"No, my road lies yender, F" He point
ed to where the western wedge OF light
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