The Worthington advance., 1897-07-29

And anybody who knows about these
things knows that . cook in the Wis
consin woods is mighty important
personage. The entire population Of
Darrows turned ont to welcome her.
Gallup with the rest. The lady looked
over the group and then, raising her
hand as It to requestor command
silence, gave speech in these words:
my name is Matilda Jones. can
cook anything and cook it well. I can
catch fish with any man that lives, can
lick my weight in panthers and conse.
quently am not to be trified with.
There is no chip on my shoulder, nc1
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 al
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 species of awe
In detailing to himself, later in the
evening, her points," he declared her
to be probably Is 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, ''wen 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 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
fshy 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 60, but he jealousy
regarded her requests. Miss Jones was
not without admirers other than Dave
The green-eyed demon whispered tha,
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-pounl
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 fns-announced
his passion.
Miss Jones heard him calmly. Dave
demanded that she ask him to prove his
love. And Matilda took him up'' with
a promptness that made his head swim
"Go bring me the golden bass and
I'm yourn," is what she said. =
'.Darn'd if don't" !" replied Dave.
And this was the betrothal.
A blood red sun rose maiesticall1
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 OF
with whirr swept along the bank
Across the southern bay little craft
cut the blue waters. The sun lit up the
features of Tilly 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 parallel course along the
shore. The morning passed. Exciting
sport at other times, Dave hauled in a
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 patroIed
the home of the golden bass.'
On the morning of the fourth day il
happened. Tilly at the oars saw some.
thing leap at the whirling spoon %
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 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 heart
to humping. With the point of the
supple rod high above the water SO tina,
the line played well upon the jeweied
bearings of the reel Dave gave the bass
its head. The aimsy silk cut the water
with razor-ike slash as the fish darted
for midlake. The reel seemed propelled
by electricity. Itgave a whirring sound
that denoted tremendous speed. Held
tight against the punctured mouth OF
the great bass was the cruel spoon
Not thousandth part of an inch wa.
given slack. The line was almost ru1
out ere Gallup pressed his thumb t6
turn the bass course. The fish kept fly.
ing toward the main waters. Tilly saw
her lovers danger. She grasped the
oars and with all her strength began tc