Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-09


very glad you have caught your fish
And I'm very sorry ever hooked
him" says Hal, If I've spoiled your
dress.
She laughs. and just touches her
torn skirt. with good-natured con
tempt
1T matters not-not in the slight
est, she repeats. How he did
jump Have you got any more OF
them?"
Hal goes down on his knees siid
opens his basket.
Five" he says.
And she bends forward and peeps
in curiously, extending a finger and
touching one OF the trout, with lit
tie musical laugh
What pretty fellows," she says.
And you caught them all? watched
you coming around the valley, and
wondered what you were doing. 10
that little hy what you caught them
with?7
Eyes" SAYS Hal, and he places the
fly in her hand, his shyness vanishing
slowly under the charm of her frank
ness
what a little thing to catch SO
large a hsh!"
Hal laughs.
Here are some MORE" he says.
and opens his aybook
As she takes It in her hand, Hal
notices for the first time in his life
how white and small it is. And she.
If the truth must be told, wonders as
much at the provinces of his; from
his hand to his face is 70 great DIS
tance-indeed. it is very near her
own. as they both ben6 over the fly
book-and she looks up. wondering
again at the deep tan which extends
from ear to ear, forehead to chin.
Quite unconscious of her gaze, Hal
turns over the leaves of his book
dearer TO him. alasl than any volume
ever printed-and points out the va.
rious flies.
All" she says. lit is interesting,
this fishing win you not go ana
catch some more2r
This seems so remarkably like
you may go now that Hal jumps to
his feet. and catches up his basket
with boyish flush.
Yes" he says. "Tll go now"
But not far please" she says.
with naiyete which is irresistible.
Il should like to see you catch an
other"
"All rightlT says Hail. immensely
relieved. and, adjusting his line. he
goes little distance and begins
again.
: The girl folds her hands around her
knees, aud watches him under her
broad. tilted hat, watches him with
the pleased interest of child, and
Jet with a certain gravity which does
not properly pertain to her years. Hal
goes on step by step, and is almost
in the way of forgetting his compan.
ion, when suddenly he hears a cry OF
pain, and feels his line caught
both at the same moment.
He turns quickly and sees the girl
standing few yards behind hmm,
holding her hand to her arm, In which
the hook has caught.
oh says Hal, with dismay Il
had nc lea YOU were so near!"
Il came up to see you catch fish"
she says, with little smile, "and
see. / am caught myself"
And she laughs as she tries to free
the line
Stop! Watt" cries Hal. in alarm
Don't pull at it--you'n fix 1t firmer
BY George!"
And. with a troubled face. he drops
the rod and takes hold of her arm.
rs it fixed so tight?" she says,
quietly. Cant pull it ous?"
Aud she gives the line little jerk.
and utters low exclamation of pain.
'stop-stopi" says Hal, holding her
hand. You mustn't pull it,"
Its gone right through the sleeve
of my dress and into my arm" she
says, with naive smile. Now
can understand. I'm a very big fish
you've caught am / NOT"
And she laughs.
But Hal utterly refuses to be
merry: ne knows how very muen
easier il is to get trout hook. small
as il Is, into the ffeshy part OF the
arm than it is to get it out: and he
looks grave rs Judge. Taking out
his penknife he cuts the line. then
hesitates-he doesn't like to pun up
the sleeve
Guessing al what he wants. she
round. white arm, In which lies the
pulls It up for him. and reveals
small hook. which has already drawn
drop of red blood,
Flushing. Hal takes the arm-how
soft and warm and smooth it feels IN
his brown paw! and feels the treacn.
erous bit OF steel
"rm-Im afraid it hurts you" he
says, himself terribly afraid TO touen
il.
NO NOT much" she says, smiling.
What wicked little thing it is!
Why don't you pull it outy''
Hal shakes his head
Il can't get a hook out by pulling II
at least never did 1t would hurt
YOU awfully, Confound the beastly
thing"
Bat | cant so home with hook