Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

| hook. She did it very carefully, per-
haps from habit, perhaps because she
| knew that he was closely watching
her.
stepping out on the edge where she
could see every part of the pool except
beneath the rocks, she dropped the
worm gently into the water near
where the trout had disappeared. She
waited, but there was un response. \
second try: "a second refusal to accept
;he bribe. The third time she let the
worm come drifting down with the
current keeping 1t ever in the shadow.
She saw him for moment; then came
the rush, Il great splash as she hooked
him, and then away downstream he
dashed, bending her rod and almost
pulling it from her grasp. But the
man below caught the flying line and
with more deXterity than sportsmen
would have had him show, pulled the
defeated trout toward land, and put
later he had slipped him on the willow
twig and held it up for her approval
''Thank you so much. l should not
have had him but for you. l think l
can rest content now"
She sat down again and picked up
her knife and closed it, putting it back
in the pocket Of her skirt In doing SO
she glanced at her watch.
Il must go on downstream now;
have only half-hour to reach the lum-
ber-road below. l thank you again for
this prize, and l trust you will still
find some good fellows left upstream"
MAY l not see you down to the
road? There's hardly a place for you
to get through"
"Oh. l can manage nicely. 1t is
part Of the sport, and am prepared
for any thing"
She grasped her pole and took n step
or two forward, on the opposite side
of the pool from him.
May l not know your name or hope
to ever see you again." There was
genuine ring in his clear voice.
II think you had best not know nv
name-for the rest l can not say. Ac-
cidents will happen, you know. Per-
haps we may meet l trust you will
have good luck. Good-morning."
She hesitated, then started forward
more, briskly than was perhaps neces-
sary. She rather expected that he
would say something more but he let
her go on in silence. She did not turn,
but went straight on. Once she
slipped on the messy rocks and nearly
fell; but he was still silent, and she
went on and was lost to view as she
turned the bend below.
He stood on the fiat rock, his arms
crossed, gazing after her, listening to
the breaking of the branches. And so
noon came and went. Absolute quiet
returned to the woods, except as the
brook bubbled and sang. The trout
returned to their favorite holes and
forgot the troubles of the morning,
but there above them. like a sentinel,
stood a young man, looking forward
into the unfathomable depths of the
future.
A mile below, at noon, a carriage
had driven slowly across an old bridge
several times. In it there was a lady
and small boy. Sometimes the boy
begged the coachman 20 drive farther
away, but finally they We're rewarded
by seeing Il well known gray-and-
white figure. Soon she joined them,
going around through the woods to get
to the road. Her brother stood up and
greeted her with cheers as he saw the
well-tilled basket and the two-pounder
held aloft, His ectasy knew no
bounds, and out he jumped to run to
meet her. Holding her disengaged
hand, he shouted out to his MOTHER
Il guess Helen's caught the biggest
fish there was to catchn'
Her only answer was,--
81 think | have"
And she stopped and kissed him light
ly on either cheek.-New York Home
Journal.