Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-07-31


lick my weight in panthers and conse-
quently am not to be trifled with.
There is no chip on my shoulder, nor
anything 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 well as unem-
barrassed emphasis, created a profound
sensation with everybody in general
and Dave Gallup in particular. He
gazed upon her with a species of awe.
In detailing to himself, later in the
evening, her points," he declared her
to be probably 25 years old, 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, 1.-The right sort" Just one pos
sible objection, Miss Jones had fiery red
hair, and she twisted it in a vicious knot
on the extreme top of her head.
And that night Dave Gallup dreamed
of a 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 and
Miss Jones was pleased to acknowledge
the courtesy, The finest fish that Dave
caught in early morning hours was "es-
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 ''muskies"
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 go, 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 a 14-pound
bass. The fish had grown.
One day Miss Jones landed 30-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 fins-announced
his passion.
Miss Jones heard him calmly. Dave
demanded that she ask him to prove his
love. And Matilda took him up" with
promptness that made his head swim.
go bring me the golden bass and
I'm your'n," is what she said.
"Darn'd if 1 don't" replied Dave.
And this was the betrothal.
A blood red sun rose majestically
from 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 the
marten and the hum of millions of in
sects. Partridge, kissed by the morn
ing light, drummed in the swamp or
with whirr swept along the bank.
Across the southern bay a little craft
cut the blue waters. The sun lit up the
features of lilly Jones and Dave Gal
lup. The former rowed. The latter
held bending rod.
The west bank was reached and the
woman slowly and noiselessly held the
craft in a parallel course along the
shore. The morning passed. Exciting
sport at other times, Dave hauled in q
score of fighting bass and muskellunge,
and cursed each strike. The one strike
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 il
happened. Iilly at the oars saw some.
thing leap at the whirling spoon &C
yards behind in the wake of the craft
She saw Dave Gallup's face turn white
saw the slender split bamboo bend in q
graceful curve and then, with eyes glis
| tening, sat quiet to witness a battle
such as never even she dreamed posi-
BILE. The ''golden bass" was a reality
The golden bass had been hooked
Standing in the stern of the boat Dave
Gallup, his GOODNESS all returned, played
that bass in way that sent Tilly's hear
to humping. With the point of the
supple rod high above the water SO tha
the line played well upon the jewelet
bearings of the reel Dave gave the bas!
its head. The fiimsy silk cut the water
with razor-like slash as the fish dartet
for midlake. The reel seemed propelled
by electricity. gave whirring sounc
that denoted tremendous speed. Helt
tight against the punctured mouth O
the great bass was the cruel spoon
Not thousandth part of an inch wa
given slack. The line was almost rul
out ere Gallup pressed his thumb II
turn the bass course. The fish kept fly
ing toward the main waters. Tilly sav
her lovers danger. She grasped tn
oars and with all her strength began t,
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