Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-02
WIBBLEDEN'S FIX.

WI5ble1ea Is not member OF the So
eiety for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
! Animals. Nevertheless he is particu-
larry humane man and dislikes, as he
says. TO see any OF our four-footed
/ friends abused" About a month ago
he happened 70 behold driver OF bad
| ly overloaded wagon brutality whipping
bis emaciated horses and jerking at their
bits. There was no policeman handy,
50 Bi5bIeden took the matter into his
own hands and by knocking the driver
down twice and finally shaking him by
the collar until hewas giddy, brought the
man 20 sense OF his inhumanity. He did
not know that his pretty little next-door
| neighbor. Miss Sealinder, witnessed the
AFFAIR, but he did know that the smile
be got from her when she appeared on
the back porch the next morning was
| about the most delightful thing he had
ever experienced.
Not long after that Wibbleden infor-
maliy made the acquaintance OF the
young woman's mother and the mother
made him formally acquainted with the
daughter. Then Wibblsden called and
| the young woman told him how perfectly
splendid and noble and several other
adiectives she considered his conduct
with reference to the driver who beat the
horses. Her eyes shone when she said
these things and 1t was quite evident that
she believed them
Wibblsden went back to his little fiat
completely enslaved. A man likes to be
| appreciated. He made one or two other
calls and learned that Miss Sealinder
was extremely fond of animals-particu-
larly kittens. She thought they were so
cunning
Wibbleden is an enthusiastic fisher
man. It is his custom to spend every
summer vacation in some place where
there is good fishing-in florida for tar
pom or In Wisconsin for muskellunge, as
the case may be.
Well. on one warm day Wibbleden
felt the pIscatorial fever. He felt the
premonitory symptoms In the Office
when be was Obliged to get up and pull
down the window shade to prevent the
sun from shining on his desk That eve
ming be got out his hooks and flies and
looked over them until bedtime. To tell
the truth. he almost forgot about Miss
Sealinder
| He went to bed and dreamed of big
catches and the next morning the fever
vas undated. He got his bass rod out
Gifts case. jointed 1t and put on line and
an artificial minnow and then went out
on the back porch to see II his hand had
forgotten Its cunning in casting. He
made two casts-one at an inverted
dover pot and one at the ash bin. He
had tust reeled in when an unlucky mot
tied gray cat ran lightly along the fence
sideration, Wibblsden made the third
cast
There was mad squawl and the cat
shot down from the fence and began
careening wildly about the back yard.
The hook had become firmly fastened in
It's tail. Wibbleden had landed some
pretty gamy fish in his time. but never
one with the activity antl energy of this
mottied gray cat. Twenty times In
minute 1t was on the point of climbing
the fence and breaking away and 1t was
only by the most consummate skill that
Wibbleden prevented It. He did not
want the poor thing to 60 away with the
barb in its tail
The two boys in the house at the other
side happened to come out on their
! porches and began to cheer madly and
their shouts brought other spectators.
Wbbleden felt pretty badly. but at last
the cat showed symptoms of firing and,
| cautiously maintaining the right ten
sion on the line, he descended the steps
to the yard BY this time the cat was
making no further effort to get away
but was plaintively yowling in the CEN
ter of the yard Carefully and foot by
'oot Wibbleden approached him calling
soothingly as he did so. and at last
caught him with sudden grab.
He had quite little fight on his hands
before he got the hook out and his
knucklas were bleeding from the
scratches he received but he preserved
aud in a minute or two the released cat
want over the fence like gray streak
and Wibbleden climbed up to his porch
again.
As he reached the top OF the step be
saw. to his horror Miss Sealinder on her
porch. evidently awaiting him. Her
eyes now were sparkling with indigna-
ton aud her cheeks were flushed.
How cruel of you. Mr.. Wibbleden!"
she cried "You ought to be ashamed Of
yourself"
Really" said Wibbleden, earnestly,
'T didn't mean to do it."
You didn't mean to! How can you
tell me that when saw you deliberately
throw at the poor thing. was never
more surprised in my life. had such
good opinion Of you"
She turned away Wibblenden felt
that II was all over with him, but just
as she was entering her door he called
! desperately to her.
We'll. what is it, Mr., Wibbleden"
she asked. coldly.
'T want TO explain" said the young
I 4. L., Ax1tx 4ar.