The Washington herald., 1913-10-30
DAILY SHORT STORY

finally pulled up her anchor and rowed
toward camp. Miranda watched ths
stranger in his boat as she drew away.
but he seemed not TO have known she
was there.
Would ne be there the following day7"
was the question upperSnost In the girls
mind as she fell asleep. Fishing, ufser
all. IL healthful." she csriced when she
awoke to another day.
Her father had gone for q few days to
a neighboring camp to hunt with friends
for small game. Miranda made ND her
mind to go fishing early. A delicate tan
had already crept over her fair skin and
her nose revealed many tiny freckies.
The girl only laughed at her reflection
and ran out to her boat with two great
braids Of copper hair exposed TO sun and
wind.
She did not know whether she waited
impatiently for the nibble of the big fish
she had determined to catch or for the
man who had failed to look at her. When
he rounded a curve Of the lake Miranda
knew which 1t had been.
In this way days few swiftly into q
week. Miranda had entirely forgotten
her complexion and sat for hours with
the sunbonnet hanging down her back.
Apparently her mind had centered on
fishing.
The day the big fish snapped her bait
was q never-to-be-forgotten one In the
memory of Miranda and the bronze
Apollo.
Instead Of the fish taking the bait on
her pole line 1t had chosen the morsel
on one OF her drop lines, and when
Miranda lifted the great weight at the
side OF her boat II was either the excite
ment of sport or the weight OF the game
that sent Miranda suddenly into the
water.
She had not screamed. nor had she 50
much as seemed frightened at the unex-
pected bath. but the stranged- had leaped
swiftly In after her and carried her to
his own boat and put her safely within
n Wren M had climbed IN be looked af
her with a laugh In his eyes.
You should never 20 fishing In .
round bottom boat--a tub like this Is far
safer"
Miranda threw the wet hair from her
face and laughed. "EvidentlyY she ad-
mitted and glanced at her overturned
boat do You suppose my hsh IL still
on the hookF' she asked
1--WE will tow your boat to camp"
the man said and picked up the oars
After a few moments Miranda spoke
again. They were rowing laboriously
shoreward towing her boat behind them
She felt curiousiy shy about speaking
and wondered at her unuSual dmidity.
IF there is a fish weighing over five
pounds on my line I won't have to fish
any more" she told him
II know" said the man. He looked
at her with a queer light in his blue
eyes Miranda felt peculiarly warmed.
even though her garments were dripping
cold lake water. "Your father told me
all about it. He even commissioned me
to fish near you so that might be on
hand when anything like today's events
He looked again at Miranda
and this time her eyes dropped
Papa IS very thoughtful" she found
voice to tell him.
They had reached the shore and the
man leaped out. He waded first along
side Miranda's boat and felt the drop
line.
He is here all right" he cried out
and held up a great shining fish. "znd
he has swallowed hook. line, and bob
oerP'
I'VE viii go fishing again tomorrow"
exclaimed Miranda from her new found
happiness. that was also the bronze
Apollo's.
Tomorrow and the next day and the
next" he added and helped the sun
burned, freckled. and no longer nekle
Miranda from her boat
Ccpynsht. lsl3l