The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-09-18

And perhaps you haven't ever had a
tlint on board
Well, we-well, won't you take pity
on mef'
IL take pity on you? l am no saint,
api, besides, | think | have been more
in need OF pity than you have"
"But not for the same reasoi-that
is, i wish you did need pity for the
same reason"
Leona knew what was coming again
and wondered little IL he would lump
overheard To escape If he failed to pro-
pose. AS she did not answer him, he
tried to go on.
II wouldn't be so much alone on this
boat, and its name is not the Alone
butt wish l could-you would-er-
won't you let me change your other
name as l have changed your first
name?"
What do you mean?" she asked, with
eyes properly downcast, for he was at
last making Ineligible Roadway.
IL mean that Alone is an anagram for
your name, Leona, and If you would
only be my wife,
He didn't finish the sentence, momen-
tous as it was. The line had suddenly
been snapped out of Leona's hand and
was Juggling and swapping at the gun
vale.
'You've got biter' he yelled. Grab
the line quick or you will lose him.
Leona did as she was told, but again
the line was snapped out of her hand.
Here" he yelled. you take the
tiller and let me get him"
But Leona was plucky, and she an
swered.
you take care Of your old boat!
She caught at the line again in a way
that showed that she was thoroughly
angry, but he could not understand the
reason why. She tugged valiantly at
the line for minute or so.
Pull faster so that he can't break
water and shake out the hook" said
Marvin.
But just then the struggling fish gave
particularly vicious squirt The line
cut Leona's tender fingers, and she
dropped it with cry.
ooh, take the tilerr' cried Marvin al
most savagely.
She looked at him wonderingly and
did as she was told, but he had eyes for
nothing but the line that evidently had
monster fish on it, AS soon as he was
relieved from the tiller he caught the
line and began TO haul It in hand over
hand.
Careful now" he painted. Don't let
her jibe"
And all the while he was Juggling at
the fish pair of eyes behind him were
getting brighter and brighter with an
cry fire. The more Leona thought Of 1t
the more she felt that she was thor
oughly abused. In the first place, it
was humiliating that he should let his
proposal be interrupted by a mere fish
| 1t looked as if he cared more for the
fish than for her And then the author
itative way in which he had ordered
her about! She never thought him capa-
bic of it, and. angry as she was. she
was inclined to admire this sudden
new development of his character.
Its the finest bluefish in the bay"
| he muttered between his teeth as he
still pulled heroically at the line. Time
and again the fish broke water and
| tried to rush the line SO as to tear or
shake the hook out of its jaw. but it
had been too securely hooked. Indeed,
if it had not been hooked beyond all
hope of breaking away it would have
escaped while Leona was pulling at ii
and letting the line slip away from her.
At last with shout of triumph he lift
ed the fish over the gunwale and drop
ped il on the bottom of the boat.
Fifteen pounds If it weighs an
ounce he exclaimed, fairly suffering
with JOY and entirely oblivious of what
the advent Of the fish had interrupted.
AS Leona made no comment, he
glanced from his prize to her face. Its
| lines were set and rigid.
"Why,' he asked with a puzzled air,
"arent you glad | got the fish,
"Of course am she answered Jelly,
"since you seemed to want ii so bad"
"What do you meang' he asked, still
more bewildered.
"Well. YOU seemed to want that fish
more than you wanted me" she snap
| ped.
In moment he was back where he
was before the fish had bitten. but such
were his excitement and eXhilaration
over the capture that instead Of start
ing to stammer apologies as he would
naturally have done he started off on
roar Of laughter that seemed uncon-
trollable. He was certainly develop
/ ing wonderfully today. But his laugh
ter was so infectious that the absurd
| ity of the situation dawned on Leonl,
and she joined in, though not very
heartily.
"Well. l don't care" she grumbled.
Il think you are real mean"
"But l have shown myself a good
provider."
"Who said that l wanted you to be a
provider for me?"
ooh. no one of course" he said, still
laughing; but the way you obeyed me
was wonderful
"Well. If you intended to boss me like