Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-10-05

A LOCAL PARAGRAPH. S!
BY EDGAR T. FIELD.


''The time has come for the Ameri-
can people to act. Shall fifty million
patriots sit supinely by aud let con-
scienceless rascals tear the stars of
glory from the flag they love and
trample its proud folds of crimson and
white into the mire of national dis
honor? Not while the deeds of rs
still shine through the mists of years
in unexampled splendor. Not while"
Joel Snively, editor of the Meloogic
Monitor, laid down his pen with a
sigh.
Outside the dusty little window the
green waters of the bay were spark
ling in the sunshine. A keen north
breeze was driving great huddling
masses of white -shouldered clouds
over field of dazzling azure, aud
only man who loved the sport with
the whole-souled earnestness that
filed his entire being could know how
the fish must be biting on such morn
ing! Oh, to be out on that cleaning
expanse, armed with rod and line,
with only the sun and clouds for COM
pany and thousand pounds or so of
gamy finned vertebrates playing about
within reach of his cunning hook.
But also, it was Friday morning
On Saturday some two hundred i'm
patient subscribers would expect the
weekly dish of personal, political and
intellectual pabulum which his facile
pen had long served up to them on
that day, with more OF less punctual-
ity, according to the season. His duty
clearly held him to his post at such
time, however much his inclinations
might have led him elsewhere.
So, with another lingering glance at
the scene without, Mr.. Snively took
up his pen and resumed the stirring
appeal which was to awaken fifty
million patriots to action and inciden-
tally convince the freemen of Meloogic
that it was their duty to vote for Joe
Gridley for poundmaster.
So engrossed did the editor become
in this pleasing task that he did not
hear step upon the creaking stair a
little later. If he had he would have
known at once that it was woman
and lady who was approaching, for
long and often painful experience had
enabled Mr.. Snively to determine with
unerring accuracy what sort of person
was climbing the somewhat perilous
ascent to the editorial sanctum almost
as soon as his foot touched the first
step.
But for once the editor did not hear
the soft football on the stair, so he
w"s very much surprised and not
little disconnected when fresh, sweet
voice, almost at his elbow said "Good
morning Mr.. Snively," and looking
up he beheld his neighbor, Mrs. Tracy,
her plump figure tightly buttoned into
the trimmest of blue serge yachting
suits, her smiling face shaded by a
wide brimmed hat and in her hand a
fish pole, iointed, brass-tipped, ele
CANT - the very perfection of dainty
uselessness.
Without waiting for response to
her greeting she briefly made known
her errand. She was anxious for n
days fishing and had been told of an
Elysian spot, where the fish were so
plentiful they were actually to be had
for the asking. Unluckily, however.
her own boat had not come, so she
ventured to ask if, in case he was not
asing it, Mr.. Snively would be so
kind as to lend her his yawl, it being
impossible to hire one in the village.
Mr.. Snively was delighted. Mrs.
Tracy was a pretty widow OF uncer-
tain age but no uncertain charm. who
had taken the cottage next to the
al or
In the course of rather desultory ac-
quaint nee the genial bachelor, whose
ideas of the fair sex were those COM
mon to s,kind, had discovered that his
fair neighbor was CHEEKY little body
of sound political views and excellent
tastes from the first she had been a
prompt and paying subscriber to The
Monitor), but beyond that his imagina-
tion had not scared. Now, however,
behold the pretty widow invested with
a wholly new interest. She was fond
of fishing!
Eagerly Mr.. Snively assured his
visitor OF his pleasure i'll putting his
boat at her disposal and gave her ex-
haustive directions as to the means OF
obtaining it. A delightful half-hour
of conversation followed. AS though
it were magician's wand the dainty
fish pole had placed the editor and his
guest at once on terms of the most
charming intimacy and the former
didn't remember ever to have enjoyed
a conversation SO much in his life,
albeit the talk was wholly of reels and
rods and spoon-hook and other in
struments of slaughter.
All things, however, are bound to
come to an end, especially in an edi-
torial office, so it wasn't long before
Mrs. Tracy took her leave, escorted
down the stairway by her delighted
host.