The Democratic advocate., 1909-11-19

must himself have hooked the grand
father of all trout. but it was nothing
like so game.
Hi, thar. you. up tree! You better
come down. the Ennis boy shouted,
but the fisherwoman remained lnVls-
ibIe. That's nobody but just that
little Joe Lane You know, I've told
you she wasn't more'n half gal, he
confided in low aside to Wilmer, VINO
nodded comprehension.
He had been hearing things ABOUT
Toe. a wild piece. motherless, brought
I'M nv a mad old grandfather, to the
scandal of all the overgood, for sne
had never been sent to school and had
done exactly as she pleased all through
her nineteen years of life. More than
that, she had way-a way that fetch
ed all the fellows in the countryside
only to be sent about their business
again. even Steve Batson, who had
store and three farms.
The big trout moved slugglshly. Ii
was simply marvellous how that max
line had held him. Wilmer was W1ld
to ask what bait had lured him even
though his own quarry filed his hands.
He was reeling in deftly, but slowly,
making gains now of foot, now OF an
inch. He had not yet got sight OF his
prize. Suddenly, in spite of reeling IN
the line slackened. He saw at the wa
ter's surface the snaky head and neck
of a big swapping turtle. An instant
the creature held fast. permitting itself
to be drawn toward the bank; then 1t
severed the line and sank back to its
fastness of roots and rocks.
There came a tinkling laugh from
the willow tree, followed by merry
voice crying: "Please go away, you
two, want to come down before
your big fish comes and eats up mine"
"Let us help you; you'll never lano
him alone" Wilmer called back.
"Oh, I can't-not until you CO." the
voice returned.
At Just that moment the trout gave
wild. running leap showing clear IN
the air. then sounding viciously.
The fisherwoman held fast, but IN
NN-->
went splash into the pool. AS she fell
Wilmer understood-her feet were alb
solutely bare. He plunged in. The
pool was we'll over his head, but it was
nothing to bring the girl safe to the
bank. She still held the line. The
Ennis boy snatched it from her and
Dlunced in himself, winding line as he
trod water across half a dozen yards;
then with a quick dive, reached the
tired trout, held him fast and scram-
bled in triumph to the bank.
Confess that you envy him." the
girl said. nodding toward the Ennis
boy. She stood dripping, but happy.
making no effort even to wiring the wa
ter from her skirts. 81 can't under
stand why you chose to pull me out
instead of the fish," she went on. Il
fear you are no true brother of the an
gle"
"Well. you see, it was your fish. and
l wanted it badly" Wilmer pleaded in
excuse.
The girl shook her head. 'Thats a
question: she said. 'True, hooked
the trout. with, oh, such a big worm
for bait, but | didn't land him. Gran
dad will have to decide the point of
ownership. He used to be judge,
you know. and is. Pm sure, much
wiser than Solomon"
"Take me to him at once" Wilmer
commanded. The girl nodded and
darted along a footpath, beckoning the
others to follow. Soon they came upon
a red brick house with wide. hospitable
piazzas and open doors.
Judge Lane sat at ease there, Smok
ing and dipping into a big shabby vol
ume Of Izaak Walton. He did not
seem shocked at Joe's plight.
"You, miss, have no sort of claim to
the fish. You lost it disgracefully
through Ewes sin of curiosity" he
said GAS for those others, l think
they can settle it between them. But
hark you, Jacky Ennis, you've made a
worth at least So"
Wilmer paid more, but the trout was
not sent away. Instead it was cooked
for dinner in the Lane kitchen. And
some six months later Wilmer came
asking the judge for Josephine. The
old man listened in silence and at the
end said with twinkling eyes:
''Humph! 1t seems that fish case is
mighty hard to settle. What if you
did pull Joe out of the water-d'ye
happen to know she can swim like
mermaid? ?"
''What has that to do with it?" Will.
mer demanded. "You admit did pull
her out. 1t was on that ground you
gave Jacky the fish. Surely you don't
mean to reverse yourself?
"No, for if I did might be re-re
Versed." the judge said, laughing soft.
ly. Besides. I'm a stickler for prece.
dent, and Josephine always has haG
her own way"