St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-08-28

catch fish with any man that lives. ran
lick my weight in banthers and tonsc-
saently drh not to be trifed with.
There Is no chip on my shoulder, nor
srything like that. I'll tend to MY
business. treat everybody right. and ex-
Pect the same from everybody. Now
let's all be good fellows and let it go at
that"
This little speech, delivered with the
utmost good nature, as we'll as unem-
baTrassed emphasis, created a profound
sensation with everybody in general
and Dave Gallup In particular. He
gazed upon her with species of awe.
In detailing to himself, later in the
evening, her points" he declared her
to be probably 25 years cid, features
regular, body supple and Indicative of
great strength, lips thin and nose aqui-
line. On the whole, not bad looking.
On the whole, "well put up" On the
whole, "the right sort" Just one pos
sible objection, Miss Jones had fiery red
hair, and she twisted it in vicious knot
on the extreme top of her head.
And that night Dave Gallup dreamed
Of red-headed woman. Yes, gentle
reader, Cupid had taken to the woods.
The courtship was unique, although
characteristic. Dave cut the dryest
cedar for kindling the kitchen fire aud
Miss Jones was pleased to acknowledge
the courtesy. The finest fish that Dave
caught in early morning hours was "ss-
pecially for you. Miss Tilly"-for Dan
progressed rapidly In the matter Of ad-
dressing his lady love. At night they
would sit out on the porch and, be-
tween killing mosquitoes and telling
fishy yarns, got along very comforta-
bly,. Several times Dave and Miss
Jones went out for bass or smuskiea"
together. Dawes love grew to adora~
ton when he found Miss Jones handled
rod as well as any man he knew.
All this spring the stories of the
golden bass" kept coming to Dave and
Miss Jones became deeply interested in
the mighty inhabitant of Clear lake.
She urged Dave to 60, but he jealousy
regarded her requests. Miss Jones was
not without admirers other than Dave.
The green-eyed demon whispered that
were he to pack off to Clear lake an
other might capture the prize at home.
Red hair was more potent than the
gold band about the body of q 14-pound
bass. The fish had grown.
One day Miss Jones landed 3O-pound
'muskie." She did it in most approved
style. Dawes heart seemed to beat
within him. He threw himself on his
knees in the wet bottom of the boat
and, disregarding the struggles of Miss
Jones catch-he being in great dan
ger from the monsters sfins-announced
his passion.
Miss Jones heard him calmly. Dave
demanded that she ask him to prove his
love. And Matilda ''took him up" with
q promptness that made his head swim.
go bring me the golden bass and
I'm your'n," !" is what she said.
"Darn'd II 1 don't" !" replied Dave.
And this was the betrothal.
A blood red sun rose majestically
from q dense mass of green. 1t forced
through the gently waving pinetops,
bars OF carmine light and glinted the
indigo ripples of Clear lake. On the
rare morning air arose the song of tho
marten and the hum Of millions of in
sects. Partridge. kissed by the morn
ing light, drummed in the swamp o.
with . whirr swept along the bank.
Across the southern bay little craft
cut the blue waters. The sun Lit up thu:
features of Tilly Jones and Dave Gal
lup. The former rowed. The latter
held bending rod.
The west bank was reached and tho
woman slowly and noiselessly held tho
craft in parallel course along the
shore. The morning passed. Exciting
sport at other times, Dave hauled i'm 4
score Of fighting bass and muskellungt.
and cursed each strike. The one strika
dear to his ambitious hopes came not.
For three days the couple patroled
the home of the golden bass
On the morning of the fourth day it
lilly at the oars saw some
thing leap at the whirling spoon 20
yards behind in the wake of the craft.
She saw Dave Gallup's face turn white, ;;
saw the slender split bamboo bend in a
graceful curve and then, with eyes glis- |
tening, sat quiet to witness q battle
such rs never even she dreamed possi- |
BILE. The golden bass was a reality.
The golden bass had been hooked.
in the stern Of the boat Dave
Gallup, his GOODNESS all returned, played
that bass in q way that sent Tilly's heart |
to humping. With the point of the
supple rod high above the water so that |
the line played well upon the jeweled
bearings of the reel Dave gave the bass
its head. The flimsy silk cut the water |
with a razor-like slash as the fish darted |
for midlake. The reel seemed propelled |
BY electricity. .Itgave whirring sound
hat denoted tremendous speed. Held |
light against the punctured mouth of |
he great bass was the cruel spoon.
Not thousandth part of an inch was
yiven slack. The line was almost run
,ut ere Gallup pressed his thumb to
urn the bass course. The fish kept fly |
ng toward the main waters. Tilly saw
her lovers danger. She grasped the
bars and with all her strength began to /
,ack water. It saved the day. just Is
he last yard of line was leaving the
eel the bass turned suddenly. Then
.ame the fastest reel work she had ever
;een. The bass swan like q devil. 1t l
anne SO fast that Dave yelled for her to
pull. She gave way and what with the
of the boat and the work Of |
Dawes fingers they kept the line taut.
Twice on that inward run the bass
capped in the cir, once at least four
feet ahove fhe vrater'a surface