Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-05
ny OWEN OLIVER.

He catches the fish that other people
put back. 1t comes to the same thing.
IF he doesn't mind what fish he gets
She stopped rocking for a moment. Some
more teag" He held out his cup alb
stractedly, and she put in several humps
of sugar, because he never took any,
Zone fish is much the same as another"
Then why doesn't he keep itya
1T isn't big enough for bread crumbs'"
"He need not eat it."
"What else could he do with it,"
keep it in a-what do you call the thing?
A glass with sea~Teedy stones and snails
in it? You know"
"An aquarium"
Eyes. Why shouldn't he?"
Poor little backfshl"
ut isn't a backfsh il he doesn't put 1t
back"
"He ought to put it back--if he catches
it,
HE can't if he doesn't" he smiled.
"a backhsh is a backfish whether it is
hooked or not" She slipped her tea.
Anyway, | am not a backfsh."
ut means a big child-who-'
81 am not a child. am lS-nearfy."
What are your"
"A grown-up young LADY," He bowed
z iCihOttObSiy dfa II gNStb ~ oNstt
"You are a backish YOURSELF"
81 wish / were" He took up his tea, and
she tried to conceal her amusement at his
wry face. "You nave been sugaring it
again." he objected.
"Backfshes like their tea sweet" She
shook with suppressed merriment.
'"They like mischief"
eyes. Then ! can't be one"
"Umph!" He poured out a cupful for
himself, and frustrated an attempt to sugar
it. For a grown-up young lady you are
very frivolous" he remarked with assumed
severity.
81 don't think | am quite grown up" she
decided. II believe backfishes are the best.
"The very best There was a flicker of
approval in his eyes as he watched her.
Then why does he put it backg'
'To give her a chance of becoming older
and wiser" She rested her chin on her
hand.
II wonder If it is good to be old and
wise?" she inquired, doubtfully.
mol" he replied, without any doubt
at all.
What is a girl-backfsh"
Zone not old enough for a sweetheart.
She considered with her head on one
side. 81 am IS in June. Some people might
think I was-all right"
"You are-in the water"
II don't see why | should be put back"
81 don't see why YOU should be caught"
"Of course not"
'Then you can't be put back"
"No-o.' She pressed a dimple in her
cheek with one finger. "But suppose !
we're? | wouldn't be, Of course, but-lm
not SO very Young"
"You seem very young to me-" He
sighed.
THAT is because YOU are old He sighed
again. "And wise"
"The pity Of it,"
He looked hard at nothing, doubling, as
Others have done, whether wisdom was
worth growing old for.
"Did anyone put you back" she asked,
suddenly. He shook his head.
81 never had the luck to be caught"
"You mean you are too clever to be
taken"
II can't help seeing the hook he CON
fessed.
'Then it is easy to be caught-if you
want to be-"
81 am not SO sure that I do. You see
He stopped.
mo. / don't. T." She smiled suddenly.
81 am only a backhsh, you know"
"Only a backish.' He looked at her so
hard that she flushed a little. "They are
the incest fish in the sea-"
"Do You say so just to say something?
Or because you really mean it," She
brushed her hair off her face. Her hair
was pretty, he thought, and her face was
prettier.
81 mean it, Molly"
why don't you" She stopped hur-
riedly.
"Why don't l 6sh?' She nodded. "Well,
you see, / miTht catch-a backfsh."
at is the bet sort, you say
"In the sea-
"You could put II back she said, almost
%inaudibly, "if you didn't want it,"
81 might want IT,"
"Then-you could keep IT," He rose and
paced the room.
"I've grown old enough to think Of the
little fish's feelings, Molly" She moved
impatiently.
Il might like your aquarium" She
glanced at him swiftly and dropped her eyes
again; and he stopped beside her, and put
his hand on her shoulder.
1T would be a great risk-for the little
fish," he said, ga very great risk; and so--
you win understand when you are older.
dear little girl
She played with the tassel of a cushion
for a long time. Then she looked up in his
face.
You could put the hook out very, very
/ plainly" she suggested. $50 that she-the
backfsh, / mean-need not take it unless
it wanted to be caught" lie stroked her
hair softly.
"A backfsb is not old enough to know
what il wants.
She traced the pattern Of the carpet with
her foot, and retraced it.
."Tten | am not a ~backfish," she told him,
n eause | do O, you mustn't
Yes, you may you may
Tou aren't going to put me back, are your
fIe laug8 "a 4 very long laugh.
..NnlN L. $1,000 ..Nn1 .lnar little-V n