Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-01-05
IN RETREAT
By TROY ALLISON
Copyright, 1899, by Troy Allison

The dog beside her growled, and the
woman, looking up from her novel,
| saw the man coming down the path,
fishing tackle in hand.
The path Was overgrown with weeds.
| and there We're few indications that
| it was used except by the cattle com
| ing 10 the creek for water
The dog arose, alertly pugnacious,
| and the fisherman suddenly became
conscious Of the fact that his favorite
| spot was pre-empted
Il fear | must crave your protec-
| ton" He took OF his tweed cap with
| humorous gravity and smiled, first ut
the woman, then with conciliatory
| air into the face OF the bristling dog.
She took the dog by the collar and
| drew him toward her
Il can AT least offer you a reprieve
| from sudden death" She held the ami
NAL with firm. white hand, and Fer
| rods he had intended using as Il club
should the necessity arise.
Perhaps he is sticlller for ETH
| quette," he suggested, "and might re-
| gard my civilities with less-er-ani-
| mostly if | offered him my card"
Il must admit he shows more ami
| ability toward people to whom be has
been introduced"
He took cigar case from his pocket
| and offered 1t to her, his name printed
In gilt letters on the side
KINDLY introduce me to him prop
erly," he implored. II wouldn't fur
Their offend his sense Of propriety for
worlds"
She patted the dog on the head and.
| pointing toward the newcomer, made
the introduction with exaggerated po-
| likeness
"Billie, most able bodyguard OF an
unprotected spinSter, allow me to
make you acquainted with one DR..
James Ferroll."
quite charmed. old fellow, l assure
you" Ferroll bowed extravagantly
You'll excuse my not shaking hands
You will? That's exceedingly kind. for
l would be slightly nervous about try
ing 1t on first sight"
lie will behave properly now" She
paused, evidently expecting Ferroll to
continue upstream.
IF you wouldn't mind" he spoke
hesitatingly, Il will ask permission to
fish here In fact, / have been dream.
ing about this very spot since my va
cation last summer. BY Jove, | caught
some beauties here"
In less than an hour she had dropped
her novel on the grass by the side o,
the now placidly sleeping Billie anG
was taking her first lesson in the ar
of bass fishing.
You did that just right" Ferrol
whooped when she triumphantly land
ed her first fish. you let him take II
under like an experienced hand. I'm
| proud of YOU" And he beamed on his
| pupil with an approval that caused hei
to feel more enthusiasm than n whole
bushel of german favors had ever in
| duced
| When she finally took up her novel
and hat preparatory to leaving lie look
ed at her with frank friendliness.
I'm going to be here month. hope
/ will have the pleasure Of seeing you
again"
Billie and ! spend hours in this spot
every day II you do much fishing
you will probably meet up with us oc-
| casionally.'
She smiled goodby, and the big dog
| followed her into the woods.
After a half mile walk she reached
a log hut that was built in so small a
clearing that the break it made in the
foliage was scarcely noticeable.
I'VE are suffering from an outrageous
| hunger. Sally" she said to the buxom
negro woman that met her at the cab
in door IF you will cook some OF
that funny corn bread you make so
beautifully and fry this fish | have
| brought / will experience the novelty
of eating dinner | worked for
| When Miss Winchester had first an
nounced that she was tired Of her usual
summers at Newport and had told her
married brother that he might use her
| cottage for the season her people had
| wondered why she should desire any
thing different from the lovely cottage
| where she had spent her summers for
| the last ten years.
| When she mad told them she was go
| ing to spend three months in a little
| Virginia country place that they could
not find on the map they shrugged
| their shoulders and congratulated them
| selves that Julia was the only one in
| the family who had ever shown symp-
| toms of eccentricity.
With the help OF the farmer who
owned the cabin she had fitted it up
! for rough camping life The negress,
! Sally. had been recommended as q
| good cook and an able protector from
| ordinary calamites The farmer had
added an old fashioned dinner horn
TO The establishment, and Miss Win
cEcster ge!t ccntcut That II the ECCes-
sity arose Sally and Billie could hold
the camp until the men from the near
| est farmhouse could answer the sum
mons Of the horn.
Next day Ferroll had been in luck
and half filled his basket when she
reached the creek.