The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-21

muskailonge, which ne declared ne
had caught. The next morning |
went with my guests to The Dot, my
island. Perhaps you've had company
who seemed to occupy all the house.
Well John and Meigs actually
crowded me off my island. took to
sleeping in canoe to feel free. OF
course I had daily errands to the Bay.
John too made errands and in no
time he discovered that our old ac-
quaintance Phebe was at the Cross
man. At last the grand ball of the
season came off, and if l went John
and Meigs must go also. There was
no help for it, and you can fancy my
pleasure at seeing John monopolize
Phebe, the most beautiful girl pres
emit. He was a perfect dancer, and
he knew just the shade of Difference
to throw into his manner toward
Phebe's aunt, kind of Difference
that captivates old ladies'. slowly
grew numb and dumb with irritation
just as l had been won't to with my
father and our sister when John
eclipsed me, and confined my adieus
to monosyllables and waited sulky
and silent while John prolonged his
leave taking.
"You are so very fond of fish," he
exclaimed, as Phebe's aunt admitted
an extreme craving for that dainty.
Now we'll rise early tomorrow morn
ing and catch you something special.
We ought to be able to, among us
three" and his romantic brown eyes
included scraggy Meigs and myself.
I was going to scoff at Johns vaunt-
ing, for when l had been out with
him, he had caught nothing, when
Phebe's lips parted in smile, and
she said laughing.
"Oh, you'll have to catch them.
Mr.. Mclaughlin has no luck"
The morning star was not exiting
uished when l rose and stirred up our
factotum, Buena Vista Mumper.
"Thur amt no fish hankerin' to
be caught today" the old man an
nounced gloomily, and putting a
shade more rheumatism into his
movements than usual. "Anybody
can fish, but catchin' is different, un-
less Teller amt above silver hook. !"
Here he cast a significant look at
John, who after some grumbling had
risen and was refreshing himself by
casting water over his head. "Thur's
times, and thur amt times fur fishin,
and to-day's one on EN-"
elbow do you knowa" demanded
John, who had caught the last sent
ence.
"How do 1 know anythingp ejacu-
lated Buena Vista irritably. Every
man knows his business, and mines
fishin'"
The event proved his wisdom. The
day dawned breathlessly hot. The
air seemed to culver above the waves.
and it was not till Buena Vista took
us to his choicest and most secluded
spots that I had the good fortune to
catch two fine pickerel and a trout.
Three fish are long way ahead of
none, and when l had left my troph-
les at the Crossman with my compli
ments l was foolish enough to
chuckle, eff / made an offer of fish to
ladies, I'd see that kept my word"
"Bah." exclaimed John lightly. 81
shall tell the ladies that I caught the
pickerel, and Meigs, here, the trout"
l laughed long, forgetful that
mans testimony concerning his own
fish catch has long been considered
dubious, save when he is supported
by credible witnesses. "You WON'T
I exclaimed, feeling sure that in any
event Phebe would believe me. He
carried out his threat that evening,
and l made haste to my own undoing
by declaring that neither he nor
Meigs had bite.
ut takes newspaper man to make
up story, Ell, Meigs" said John, in
what seemed gay good humor.
eyes," assented Meigs, rolling his
Whitley blue eyes at me, "and he can
print it."
I fairly choked with rage. But who
can fly into fury over three fish,
Then John and Meigs were my
guests. Phebe looked at me doubt
fully. I remembered with secret an
guish that her father, the old profess
sor, had keen scorn for liar, and that
she was like him. The talk wandered
on from one trife to another. l was
strangely conscious of extraneous
matters, of the glimmer of the moon
upon the river far below us, of the
shiyerinp of the trees. and the splash