Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-12-27

suasively pulling at a fly which had lodg-
ed in one of the branches of bush. Ly-
ing down he had been hidden from the
angler, who, seeing him rise, gave some
thing of a start.
Pardon me. sir" said the stranger
in labored and very English sounding
French, 'can you detach that fly for me?"
Major Butler" said O'Rourke to him
self. rs this Major Butler, l wonder?"
He answered, also speaking in French
that he would do his best, and walked
to the bush. O'Rourke secured the branch
to which the fly was attached, and cut it
away, after which he disentangled the
hook, and the angler and he raised their
hats to each other.
Major Butler, for O'Rourke's not I'M
natural guess had hit the mark, express
ed his obligations with some little diff
Guilty, and O'Rourke, who was Paris bred,
responded that he was infinitely delighted
to be of service. If this were Major But
Ter, thought Nv O'Rourke. 1t would be
good fun to conquer his prejudices. and
apart from the amusement, it would be
| agreeable to have a country house to call
at during his stay. Then he thought of
that charming girl.
He began by asking after sport, and
the qualify of the stream and the fish,
and the major, who was an accessible and
friendly soul when once the ice was brok-
en- with him, displayed his take, and f1oun-
dered on with his French in a very cour-
ageous and adventurous manner.
Presently he hooked a half-pounder
who behaved in a very lively manner, and
was finally grassed workman-like
O'Rourke looked on with interest.
They give plenty of sport" he said
Capital sport" replied Butler, heart
lily. They're not feeding well to-day,
though. Two or three days ago a young
friend of mine, an American. who's stay
ing at my place, fetched out seven pounds
in half an hour. Used a fly quite strange
to the water, too, gaudy American thing,
but very killing"
"There can't be any Americans over
here"
Only one that know Of" said the
major. 'Maskelyne." He had time
enough to think that this was the novel
list, ten to one, and a very different sort
of fellow from the man he had expected.
PLEASED to meet you," he said. "Shall
be glad If you'll look me up"
Thank you" said O'Rourke, sweetly.
THANK you very much indeed. Maske-
lyme and 1 are very old friends"
mot the novelist" said the major, ST.
lently. "Of course not. Spoke much too
intimately from the first mention Of him
only to have met him yesterday"
"You are Major Butler?" asked
O'Rourke. There are ways and ways OF
putting this sort of interrogatory. But
Ter bowed assent. "Maskelyne told me
with whom he was staying. My name is
O'Rourke."
"ohw said the major, blankly; you're
not the"
I'm afraid 1 am" answered O'Rourke,
with so admirable good humor that But
Ter could not refrain from a SMILE 1--WE
needn't talk politics If we differ, as ]
dare say we do"
Honestly, if Major Butler could have
withdrawn his invitation he would have
done 50, and he was a little annoyed
with himself for having given it. But
he bethOught him, the man was a friend
of Maskelyne's, and Maskelyne spoke Of
him in the very highest terms. But then
again, there was something about-peoplt
talked-they said the Irish members were
here to make terms with that infamous
old scoundrel Dobroski, a rascal who
: thirsted for royal blood and wanted chaos
to come again.
do you stay long?" asked Butler, with
diplomatic purpose.
Eyes, a week or two, perhaps more. A
friend of mine-I dare say you know hin
he's really a very distinguished man
: Farley, the novelist-is staying in th'
same hotel with me at Janenne, and Sc
| long as he stays l shall stay"
Angela and Maskelyne were each goot
D deal surprised half an hour later to SEE
e Major Butler coming down the avenue
r toward the chateau side by side with
8 O'Rourke. Perhaps at bottom the majol
himself was little surprised, but he wa,
4 certainly vanquished. He confessed thai
Q he had never met pleasanter man in hi
4 life than this Home Ruler, whom in ad
vance he had been prepared to detest.