The Washington herald., 1911-05-07

at some time or another, but | do
not think that any OF you can have
- been in such an uncomfortable po-
stion as was once placed in, and,
unfortunately, entirely through my own fault,
so that | had not even the sorry consola.
tion of being abe to blame someone else
for my misfortune. At any rate. ] will tell
you all about it, so that You can Judge for
yourselves.
One winter. a good many years ago. ac
cepted an invitation to spend the holidays
with some cousins OF mine who lived in the
country.
II was a glorious, o'd fashioned winter,
with plenty OF skating and fishing. and Il
bright, cold dry air. that eXhilaratcd and
made on enjoy TO the utmost every kind
Of outdoor exercise.
were completely frozen over, but the river
which ran short distance Off had much tCo
swift current for Jack Frost to do more
than fringe It's edges with jagged irregular
coating OF ice: Here we used frequently to
come, and taking out punt, fish for some
OF the larger pike with which the water
abounded.
Many an exciting afternoons sport We had
and though. perhaps. measured by the g-
gantc catches one reads about, ours did not
justify the absurd pride we took in them,
still they were the fruits of untirinr persc
verance and may ! say-skillful fishing.
Toward the end OF my visit one of my
cousins came OF age, and my aunt and uncle
utttTHllntN 10 ttleDTdtP tne event DN u SIN'-
cial gathering of friends. For some days pre-
viously everyone was deeply occupiCd with
elaborate preparations. and the whole house
was almost turned inside out to the gre It
discomfort OF my Cousin Irving and myself.
On the afternoon of the eventfu day my
aunt asked me if | would mind calling at
the village for a bracelet that she had sent to
be mCndcd. was only too glad to be out of
the way until it was time to dress so started
willingly on the errand.
Ttar ,ntt hn n1,r', I a L..
still had about an hour to snare, and thought
that | would fiji it IN by calling and seeing a
certain Mr.. Harden, with whom ! was ON
rather friendly terms.
He was a strange character, and lived in n
little cottage on the u,skirtS Of the village.
his sole companion being a large mastiif call
ed Pepper.
What his past life had been nobody knew,
although rumor had supplied the deficiency
by every conceivable kind Of tale What
ever it had been like the rough mode of iv.
ing he had now adonted never made him
forget that he was a gentleman, Though a
poor one.
His cottage was filed with every variety
OF sporting implements most of them Of
his own construction, While over the mantel-
piece hung an old cavalry sabre, a souvenir
OF scenes that he on no account opened his
lips about.
lie used TO spend most Of his time fishing
and during the five years that he lived near
III" river, he had acquired a pcriect knowl
edge Of all the best trout and pike haunts
for miles along its banks
lie used frequently TO start on a rambling
excursion lasting for davS, and would leave
Pepper, with a plentiful supply Of food, in
charge Of the place.
:, Now the dog had one wc'lknown pecu-
lmrity, and this was that, while allowing any
one who liked to enter the cottage during
his masters absence. he would on no ac.
count let them leave until his return.
] was well aware Of this. and ought to
have seen il Mr.. Harden were at home he.
fore vcnturing in. Instead however, Of do