The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-05

live found an inpudert man." was the reply.
 Found a what? I've lived n Bakersville ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and I've never run across an impudent man yet How was he impudent?"
 He looked at me. He raised hia cap and bowed. He sang and whistied. | When had hooked a fish he came and wanted to boss things. And oh. aunty. 1t was such a lovely fish. and such big one and he was So willing to be caught
 When Aunt Mary had extracted all the information possible she went to the kitchen door and blew the horn for dinner, though 1t was half an hour | ahead of time. Uncle Joe came up from the lot in which he was working. and in answer to the surprised leok on his face Bessie told her story over again. When she had finished. Aunt Mary drew herself up and added:
 And now, Joseph Warner, you will eat your dinner and then start out and find that impudent young man and give him a piece of your mind. He has got to be talked to good and hard. and if you are not the man to do 1t, 1 am."
 An hour later Uncle Joe went down to the postoffice to make inquiries con- | cerning the strange and cheeky young man. All he could find out was that the newcomer was stopping at Whites. at the other end of tho hamlet, and was | thought to be a college student on his vacation. The old mill was next vis- tied, and there 1t was found that Bes- sie's pole and line had been recovered and left In a conspicious position. | Uncle Joe carried them home and told his story. and Aunt Mary threw up her arms and exclaimed:
 Did any one fin all this world ever 1 see such a case of impudence! Joseph. if you were a man you'd so up to Whites and take that young man by the ear and make him beg Besaie's par don. She can't go fishing again as long as he is hanging around here"
 But I willl" declared the girl. as she flared up and stuck her chtn in the air. "I'll show him. whoever he is that he can't scare me off. I'll be right there tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. and If he dares speak to me again Tll--I'ii-- we'll, after I have given him look he won't dare to, that's all"
 And Miss Bessie Foster was there at the hour named. She saw nothing of l the impudent young man, but board had been placed across two logs to make a seat for her. and she instantly | suspected that 1t was his work. She | refused to sit down. For ten minutes, or while she was getting real mad. she wouldn't go within fifteen feet of the seat Then the sranger suddenly made his appearance from behind the old mill, and to show him what she thought of him she laid down her pole and picked up the board and pushed it l into the water. To her chagrfn the young man didn't seem to be aware of 1 her presence. He was catching all the fish. and she wasn't getting a nibbIe l He made a great fuss every time he oyNI nnfl wlrF( herself wishing that he would tumble l in. He could have told her that her ] line was In only two feet of waten l and that crab had eaten off her bait as soon as the hook touched the bottom. but he had nothing to say. He even | grinned because he had nothing to say.
 Half an hour had passed away when Miss Bessie changed her position. It | did not seem to he a secure one but | in her defiance and chagrin she was willing to take chances. She rebaited and cast in her hook and within a minute something seized 1t. She re- pressed a cry and was taking frmer grip on her pole. when the blanks under her feet gave way and she went Into the pond with a shriek and a splash. She rose to the surface. gnrgling and gasping, to find the impudent youns man beside her and saying in her ear:
 q expected 1t. Don't struggle and you'll be all right. We have got tn go over the dam. but I can swim ashore below with you"
 The girl ought to have given him "one of her looks" but she did not take advantage of the occasion. The water was very cold and the fall over the dam ten feet She gasped with fright and clutched the young man, and thea night seemed to have come She had fainted away When she opened her eyes again she was in bed at Aunt Mary's and the doctor was saying:
 She will do nicely now. I hap pened to be driving by the old mill and saw 1t all. That young fellow man. aged like a hero. There was no boat and I could render no assistance, and two or three times thought they were gone"
 "Aunty," asked the girl after the doctor had gone. did I fall into the | mill pond7"
 And go over the dam?" Yes"
 And how-how was saved?"
 "Why, that impudent young feller had the impudence to jump in after you and bring you ashore. If things | are to go on this way, I don't know where they will stop. I'll just bet hell have the nerve to call here and ask after you"
 | Aunt Mary was right. That evening the young man did call and make in- l quiries and leave his card, and twenty four hours later he was again ushered | into the parlor, to find the rescued maiden able to be about. Aunt Mary heard a great deal of talking and some l laughing, and at the end of half an | hour when the caller withdrew she was ready with the observation:
 Well. 'spose it's some more of his impudence?"
 IT think I must have been mis- taken all the time, Aunty." replied the | girl with a blush.
 "What?" Wasn't it impudence?" Moo. I guess he knew more about | fishing than did"
 Aunt Mary looked at her for long minute. and then sagely shook her head and turned away with the observa- ton:
 'I don't know about that, young lady. I should say it was right the other way. You may not have caught a whale. but that ain't saying you haven't caught something else"
 There may be good fishing in the 1 Bakersville mill pond again this year. but there will be no further lmpudence on the one hand nor indignation on the | other. Affairs have progressed too far and too agreeably for that. Tn | the language of Aunt Mary. "A girl comes a-vislting-shee goes out to flsh-she meets an impudent feller-she falls into the pond-he saves | her lffe-they-"