Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-14


tIIler and let me set him
But IeonA was plucky, and she an
swened.
You take care 81 your old hoat''
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 turged valiantly at
the line for a minute or 81.
Pull faster 50 that he can't break
water and shake out the hook" said
Marvin.
But just then the struggling fish gave
a particularly vicious squirt. The line
cut Leona's tender fingers, and she
dropped II with cry.
"oh. take the tillerT' cried Marvin al
most savagely.
She looked at him wonderingly ana
aid as she was told. but he had eyes for
nothing but the line that evidently had
a monster fish on il. As soon as he was
relieved from the tiller he caught the
line and began TO haul ii In hand over
hand.
Careful now!' he painted. Don't let
her jibe'
And all the while he was Juggling at
the fish a pair of eyes behind him were
getting brighter and brighter with an
cry fire. The more Leona thought OF II
the more she felt that she was thor
oughly abused. In the first place, II
was humiliating that he should let his
proposal be interrupted by mere fish.
II looked as II 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-
BILE Of 1t. 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 OF
shake the hook out of its jaw, but il
had been too securely hooked. Indeed
IL It had not been hooked beyond all
hope of breaking away 1t would have
escaped while Leona was pulling at II
and letting the line slip away from her
At last with a shout of triumph he lift
ed the fish oser the gunwale and drop
ped 1t on the bottom of the boat,
Fifteen pounds If 1t weighs ar
ouncew he exclaimed, fairly sputterinl
with Joy and entirely oblivious Of wha
the advent of the fish had interrupted
| q comment n
glanced from his prize to her face. It
lines were set and rigid.
"Why," he asked with puzzled air
aren't you glad got the fish?'
"Of course l am" she answered icily
"since you seemed to want it so bad"
what do you mean?" he asked. still
more bewildered.
"Well, you seemed to want that fisl
more than you wanted me!' she snap
ped.
In a moment he was back where h
was before the fish had bitten, but sucl
were his excitement and exhilaratiol
over the capture that instead of start
Ing to stammer apologies, as he woul
naturally have done, he started off on
roar of laughter that seemed uncor
trollable. He was certainly develop
ing wonderfully today. But his laugh
ter was so infectious that the absurd
ity Of the situation dawned on Leon
and she Joined in, though not yer
heartily.
"Well, don't care" she grumble(
81 think you are real mean"
But I have shown myself a goo
provider."
"Who said that wanted you to be
provider for me?"
"Oh, no one, of course" he said, sti
laughing; "but the way you obeyed II
was wonderful"
"Well, If you intended to boss me liB
that am very glad that the fish int
rupted your proposal"
"Then you intended to accept me?"
II never said So"
"And you obeyed me like a wife ,
ten years. standing"
"Well, I'll never do it again."
"Ill never ask you to again"
Her face suddenly sobered, for 81
thought he meant he would never as
her to be his wife again, and now TIL
her anger had turned to laughter 81
was only teasing again. He saw Il
Is change and with another burst
n laughter brought the boat about
that the sail was between them and Il
le fishing feet that was rapidly asse1
T. bling because he had been seen stru
Cling with the big fish. Just what ha
a. pened behind the sail Is better guess
1t than told, but when they reached t
ID little dock again Leona's mother call
i. to them:
ot "Catch anythingr'
le And they both answered:
- NVou -