The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-16
!: A FISHING
INTERLUDE] ]
By E. w. MAYO.
Copyright. 1902, by {. W. Mayo
ICoNCLUSIoN.

IL was SLOW WORK crossing the lake.
The task of rowing occupied Rod fully,
and the gale made conversation impos-
sible. When they finally arrived at
Judge Vantine's landing, a feeling of
constraint seemed to have come over
both of them.
''It was very good of you to bring me
home Mr.. Mason" said Elizabeth as
she stepped on shore. Your oarsman-
ship is perfect. could never have
made the trip alone, and but for your
timely appearance l should probably
be making frantic signals of distress
from the other side instead of being
safe in camp. hope your accident
won't make you ILL.,"
"There isn't the slightest danger"
said Rod little stitfly. "The row was
just what l needed. / feel first rate
now"
He passed the rod and fish basket
out to her slowly. He was wondering
if she wouldn't say that she hoped to
see him again, but apparently she did
not think of that. She took the things
from his hands and, opening the bas-
ket, reached his three pound trout to-
ward him. Rod drew back little.
"Won't you keep it?" he asked and
was surprised to notice that his re-
quest sounded timid. "It's more yours
than mine anyway, because it surely
would have escaped if you hadn't tax
en- it down from the limb"
"Oh, don't think so. 1 couldn't do
that" she said hastily, mot after the
loss of the rest of your CATCH"
Rod did not press the point further,
but he did not put the dead fish into
his basket. He threw it instead into
the bottom of the boat as though all it's
value to him were gone. Miss Elliot
did not notice this either. After few
formal words she walked up the path
that led toward the camp, while Rod
turned and rowed savagely toward
home.
The squall that had been blowing
brought up a summer thunderstorm
which drenched him through before
he reached his own camp and con-
cealed the evidences of his former
wetting. He found his companions
sheltered under one of the shacks en-
gagged in the usual rainy day employ
ment of telling stories.
"What luck?" called Dean as he ap-
peared.
''None at ALL" answered Rod shortly.
mo fish," queried Dean junior.
81 got some, but slipped down, and
they went into the water"
where's your cap"
''That went the same way"
"How about the wager?" asked White
lazily.
Il lost that, too," said Rob as he
turned toward his own quarters in
search of dry apparel.
Don't seem exactly pleased, does
he" suggested White asaMason's back
disappeared from view. But he for
bore to question Rod further.
Rod debated with himself that
night whether to return Judge Van
tines boat in person or not, but he
finally decided to delegate the task to
one of the guides.
''If she doesn't want to know me, I'll
let her see that 1 am not the man to
force my acquaintance on anybody" he
said to himself, with an attempted loft
mess which he did not wholly feel.
For the time being there was no
more communication between the
camps on Witch bay and Stony point.
Rod went his way, more soberly than
usual, and he did not try his luck in
Cherocb again, though White felt called
upon to suggest it on one occasion.
After few days Rod announced one
night as the party gathered about the
campfire:
Il guess I'll go back to New York at
the end of the week."
There was an immediate chorus of
"What for?"
'The fishing is getting poorer every
day." said Rod, affecting a bored tone,
land Eve already been away four
weeks. Tomorrow is Friday. I'll have
one more day of it and go down the
lake on Saturday afternoon"
"All right" said White, ''if you in
sist upon it, but we all wish that you
would stay. Well go over to Brandy
brook tomorrow. l know some good
spring holes there, and We'll have one
days good sport before you leave"
1t was when the two young fisher
men started to pull for home after
their days sport on Brandy brook that
they passed within hail of a boat con-
tanning Judge Vantine and his guide.
Come over here, SIR" called the
judge peremptorily as he identified
Rod. Then, as they obeyed and rowed
alongside, he went on after the usual
greetings and the inspection of their
catch: ''Why haven't you been over to
see us? | think you owe me at least
a duty call. For week I've been
wanting to thank you for taking such
good care of my niece. She may have
something to say on that score herself
If you give her chance"
White opened his eyes an unusual
distance and looked hard in Rods di-
rection at these remarks, but he said
nothing.
I'D be glad to come, SIR" said Rod
in confession, "only-I thought-of GO
ing out tomorrow" he ended lamely.
Nonsense" said the judge, with Wig
or ''The lake has settled just enough
to make good fishing in the spring
holes. This is no time to leave"
u, n a