The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-10-01


The shy young man is at times calmer
than more self possessed elders, but he
seemed nice boy, and told him to sit
down and eat his lunch For awhile he
talked fish disjointedly, but when we had
filed his pipe after lunch, the conversation
became more autobiographical He in
quired with much interest whether | lived
in the neighborhood and told him more
or less about myself, and gathered that he
was staying at the village inn, and had
got leave to fish the river by the simple
process of demanding it from its owner
Then he remarked, after meditative
pause;
Il expect | ought to tell you who am .
oh. don t, if You don like" said.
Il don't mind Besides its rather
funny. he answered. MY name Is Col
uuhoun. and IN hiding down here
Are you? | said. s.Duns?
No. he went on 1T really is rather
funny. I've had to run away because |
didn't want to be married
very funny, | said, in some amaze
meut. is the young lady in pursuit.
1t ism one young lady, he explained,
solemnly
Dear me- said in still greater amaze
ment. How many Of them may there
be-
Ne, it no one in particular, he went
on. it : the guy nor
Il don quite understand the story,
| said
1t ism exactly story it theory Of
the guy nor :. He saws all young men
ought to be married before they re %,
and he : going to see that | am. He's a
rummy old beggar, my father
He seems To be little dictatorial, |
suggested
oh, he : all right, he said. when
he not suffering from theory | wonder
why fathers always have such very un-
pleasant theories, II | had a son | should
say to him. Ny boy, just you 20 and en-
joy yourself thoroughly while you re young,
aud have a good time. But they don I
DO that do they
Il should say it was uncommon, | ad
mittcd
And his Is such CHASTITY humbug,
he went on Just think Of insisting on
chap of my age marrying, whether he
wants TO OF not Why in the world should
! marry
II m sure | don know, said.
"Of course. girls are all right to talk to
and al that he pursued; but my father
seems to think YOU want to marry every
girl sou meet Why, if he finds me talk
ing TO any one more than about once, he
always explains either that be can thor
oachly recommend her, or else that be
can l. Once be actually waddled off to
the girl parents OF course, was afraid
TO go near her again, and then he ciphered
out somehow that I made a fool Of him
Hard hines. isn { il
Very. said, with some amusement.
1T become a positive nuisance lately,
be chattered on. After | came down
from Oxford last year, he said he give
me time to look about me like looking
about me | haven seen half the thing,
I want to see yet; but the guy nor says
( 1t high time | married and began TO re.
( aliEe the erayer side of life don want
the graver side Of life till it chooses tC
come along Of itself ike the SUNNY
side Of Pail Mall just at present You
aren Young for 50 very long, are YOU?
1t certainly must be delightful to fee
50 very young, suggested maliciously
,Oh | dare say | am very young, bu
F Ike IT, he answered blandly, 'AnC
/ don YOU feel that way yourself sometimes
( What would You have said if some on,
had insisted on proposing to you just a
/ you saw that biz trout, He woulda hav,
had much Of a look in. would he2'
Possibly not. 90 | admitted with a smil'
OF astouishment. tie certainly was a sur
/ pri,inc boy
Well that just what happening t,
me. he explained And it all rathe
ike fishing You see, should like t,
land really good one when the tim
CONES. and ii | m in too much ofa hurry
| may find she was only a half pounde
after all Hang it all, am getting quit
poetical.
Quite epic, said.
.Oh, | know it isn much in my line
he ratified on. well, there was a clima
last week. I'm nearly 25-you needn
look - surprised, but | am-and my poo
dear old father has been getting worse an
worse about me lately. He delivered wha
he called an ultimatum He began b
saving that had become man abou
town. Now. candiily, would you hav
accused me OF being man about town?
Certainly not, | said truthfuly.
He 20, quite hectic after bit dar
say | did rux him up rather-and at las
he told me that unless | saw my way t
being married or thereabouts by the en-
Of the year, he d cut supplies of. II
meant it. too and then lost my tempe
and we went at it hammer and tongs. ;
| Eve come to think things over here. "
been considering the question of marryin
some respectable milkmaid about here, ju,
TO scare him off What would you advis
me TO do?'
Il should advise YOU to begin fishing,
| said. The fish are rising again.
I'm awfully sorry, he said, as "
moved off, ITO have bored you 50 muc
with
II WASH bored, replied; ,'it wa
very entertaining
saw no more of him that afternoon
EXCEPT in the distance | fished on wit
varying success, but the sport was not 5
GOOD as il had been in the morning; an
when Uncle George arrived to see how
was getting on and to help to carry m
spoil. the air had turned chilly and it Wa
time to 90 home However, | had nC
done 50 badly. | had eight brace, an
they sealed % pounds 1t had been
thoroughly enjoyable day, and really tha
boy had contributed to its enjoyment.
The next few days were almost repe
tition of that day except that the fish dl'
not1run so large Somehow or other tn
first days sport is generally the best
Perhaps one fishes with more keenness
or perhaps the trout get to know one. y
any rate. it is less distressing tc have tn
best day at the beginning than at the end
Then the sight of the river from the trair
is woe too deep for tears. The boy al
1 / ! Al