Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-08-26

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 adj
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
q 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 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
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. It-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 a whirr swept along the bank.
Across the southern bay 4 little craft
cut the blue waters. The sun lit up the
features of lilly Jones and Gal
lup. The former rowed. II, Ster
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
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 it
happened. 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
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 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 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
it's head. The flimsy silk cut the water
with razor-like slash as the fish darted
for midlake. The rec! seemed propelled
by electricity. 1t gavea whirring sound
that denoted tremendous speed. Held
tight against the punctured mouth of
the great bass was the cruel spoon.
Not a theusandth part of an inch was
given slack. The line was almost run
out ere Gallup pressed his thumb to
turn the bass course. The fish kept fly
ing toward the main waters. Tilly saw
her lovers danger. She grNsped the
oars and with all her strength began to
back water. 1t saved the day. Just as
the last yard of line was leaving the
reel the bass turned suddenly. Then
came the fastest reel work she had ever
seen. The bass swan like q devil. 1t
came SO fast that Dave yelled for her to
pull. She gave way and what with the
momentum of the boat and the work Of
Dayeis hngers they kept She line taut.
Twice on that inward run the bass
Ieaped in the air, once at least four
feet above the waters surface.
For more than one hour the fight
went on. The fish was still wary. Thrice
he was brought within ten feet of the
boat and then he was off again. Atlast
Dave cried: 81 am most beat" To this
he replied: Land THIS bass and I'm
your'n.n
do you. David Gallup, take this
woman to be your wife,"
"Ioo you, Matilda Jones, take this
man to be your husbandf"
And both answered: Il de" Chico
go Chronicle.