The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-23
TALE OF A FISHING ROD.

Forest, Carefully guarded by the hills
in which 1t nestled, it looked out upon a
pleasant valley, over waving fields OF
grain and across the cleaning river to
the shelterng hills Of blue.
John Forrest was a widower and lived
in the old home with his daughter Anna
at peace with all the world and content
to live on in undisturbed companionshp
of his beloved books and rod. III health
| had driven him from the city and he
managed to support himself and daugh-
ter fairly we'll with his writing. The
neighhors were very fond OF the old
man, and never failed to greet bin
with their broadest smile, for the pro-
fessor was fond of chatting. and had the
cheeriest way about him, especially If
you could meet him coming along the
road without hat or coat, carrying his
bait, can and rod in one hand and an
ample green sunshade in the other.
| Anna was tall, with graceful car
riage and a pleasant face that spoke
! whole hearted, lovely girl, OF course
| all were her friends; for where was
there one In that valley who could not
| tell Of some deed OF kindness done
when they were most in need OF III
| And as certainly there We're many OF
| the young men who loved sweet Anna
Forrest and would have told her so,
were it not that something-they knew
not what-caused them to be silent
But Gerald Willis loved her with all the
strength of has young manhood, and as
he came up the long hedge bordered
walk he intended to tell her so.
well, Gerald" said the old man,
where have you been these fine days?
Don't you know that this low water is
lust the time to catch bass? ] took
six-pounder only this morning, and
tell you he made fight of 1t. Strangest
thing, too 1t was one I lost last sum-
mer. Fact, he added, in answer to
quizzica look on the face OF Wills
Had my hook, leader and a piece OF
line in his jaw when I caught him.
Didn't It, Anna. I'll go and get 1t.
Where did you say 1t was, dear?'
ITS hanging on the rafter in the
well house, father"
Good Now. young man. I'll show
you something worth seeing.
As her father rose and went through
the doorway, Anna turned and ad-
dressed Willis, who had seated himself
on the step and leaned back against
one of the pillars.
What did you think of the concert
last night?" she asked
Think OF it, he replied, at was
grand. I shall never forget that 'eenist
as he played Tlsome's Simple Aveu.
So sweet and tender 1t was like
beautiful promise OF peace. I closed
my eyes, and across my mind there
stole a vision of evening, of the first
twinkling of the stars Of a soft wind
stirring from the river and whispering
to me of serenity and calm and quiet,
and OF a sweet presence that would
ever be with me through the darkest
hours of life, Tightening them up with
the simple thought that she was there"
How beautiful I declare, Gerald, j |
never knew that such things ever came |
to your mind. / am glad you have told |
me this, for do you know that solo af- |
fected me strangely, too though what [ |
felt I could never have expressed az
you have done. Tell me more. What
other did you like?'
II don't know. / didn't hear any |
other after that, for l found myself |
STARING, az tilC utci tSb SlIl dINtt diit
wishing that my dream were true"
Gerald for the first time looked up and |
met her eyes with such world of love |
burning in them that Anna paused in |
her question and her eyelids dropped as |
the worm color rushed into her face.
Anna. dearest, can /, may | hope |
that you love me? All these years / |
have loved you, and I must speak. I |
love you! love you! Tell me that you
love me-
He caught her in his arms. and
rained ksses on her willing lips.
Eyes, / do love you but am SO afraid |
| shall never be what you wish me-"
Here's that bass, Six po- Well, |
great Scott! What's the matter with |
you two?"
The professor came to pause in the
doorway, holding up the fish, and |
glanced from Anna to Gerald and back
again, a look of astonished inquiry on
his good-natured face.
What's the matter, Gerald, lost
Perhaps that's it NON your
watch chain"
Willis had been running his hands
through every pocket in his Clothes en-
to appear unconcerned.
He looked down and saw Annals
dangling from his chain.
''Sit down, Anna, you don't look COM
added the professor, with a
grin
Then he stretched out his hand and a
Kindly light came into his eyes as he
said:
God bless you both. l knew that
sooner or later it must come, There Is
,nly one thing I want you both to do
stay with me. l am an old man now,
IND I can see the years stretching be-
lind me like mileStones on my road but
can't see far ahead, and | should be
onely without YOU"
Anna rested her head on her fathers
oreast and sobbed. Willis grasped his
land and said, 1--WE shall never leave |
rou." And so it came about that Ger
I'D Willis was going to marry the pro-
essor's daughter.
A few evenings after this Gerald came
unning UP to Anna, as she sat with her
ather on the veranda that almost sur
ounded the house. He held paper in
lis hand, which he waved to her as he
allied, out: ooh, dearest, you can't I'M
Lgine what fine luck has befallen me!
Jncle Henry has given me the deed of
he old home and a half interest in the
nil. Isn't he a brick?"