South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-12
HOW MADGE CAUGHT HER
FIRST FISH AND WHAT HAP
PENFD WHEN DICkY SAW
III-R INSTRI- (vrOR

I do not know why l was not
frightened into Mysteries when the
bearded man whose face I had last
seen peering wildly at Dicky and me
through the underbrCsh. came to-
ward me as I sat on rock by the
side OF the mountain stream
waiting for Dicky and asked me why
I was not fishing
was amazed that my only emo
ton upon hearing the question, and
looking into the mans face was one
OF pity But the child-like quality
that l had noticed in his voice before
turned and recognized him was
even more strongly marked in his
face and his great mOurnful brown
eyes / had no more fear Of him
than ] would have had of a gentle
boy.
I had time for a comprehensive
look at him before I answered MS
question. He was a man of average
height and Of spare frame, on which
worn but neat clothes hung as If the
man had wasted from former flesh.
VI
through the underbrush / had
thought his beard was brown.
but as I looked again I saw that
while it and his hair had originally
been brown. both were now heavily
streaked with silver His face was
pale and almost emaciated, but his
eyes could not have changed since
his long-past boyhood Gentleness
and goodness looked out from them.
together with an indefnable some
thing else which told me that the
brain behind those eyes was more or
| less clOuded.
He had fixed his eyes on the waite
MS ne asked the question of me.
When I did not at once answer, he
turned 20 me again
us II that YOU do not like 70 fish ?"
ne asked as if puzzled.
answered him truthfully. 7 felt
inexpllcably that IL would he as i'm
possible to give him an evasive ans
wer as il would be TO put aside an
earnest child's questioning.
Il should very much like TO fish.
I hut 7 do not know how" | returned.
Where is the man >" This was his
next question. and I resolved 10 find
out the reason of his unreasoning
flight up the hillside when he had
first caught sight of Dicky and me.
do you mean the man who was
with me when you ran away up the
hill ?" I asked.
/ He hung his head as small boy
caught in a fault might have done.
L was frightened at first" ne
mumbled. 81 thought ii was the
people my sister is so afraid of
always run when see anybody that
looks like them. Then l kept on
watching YOU and you looked so kind
and good 7 knew you weren't one Of
those people But there was man
with YOU Why has he gone away
and left you alone? Who is he ?"
HE is my husband" I returned
quietly. HE has gone up the stream
a little way TO try his luck. Then he
is coming back"
wouldn't YOU like 10 catch a fish
while he is gone ?" the gentle voice
went 81 know how to cast very
well and I should be charmed to
teach you"
The Oddness Of the mans cOurtly
words in contrast to his child-like
demeanor affected me curiously. Il
was almost like hearing the catch
phrases of society from the lips Of a
large doll. I was about 70 refuse
when 7 met the mans eve. They
we're shining UNANIMOUSLY at me. fill
ed with eagerness To have refused
his offer would have been ike de-
Ipriving a child Of some pleasure.
The First Cast.
Thank YOU" said quietly You
lare very kind I shall be glad to
have you teach me"
4 He came down the bank eagerly
land picked up the rod lying by my
side.
You do not need 10 move from
where YOU are standing" he said.
had arisen from my seat upon the
stone when he came down the bank
Just take the rod in your hand so, -
He placed the rod in my hand and
put my thumb against the reel. His
touch was gentle and delicate as a
woman's.
Look" he directed This re-
leases the reel. When YOU cast be
careful not 10 let your line get tan
gled among the stones. or caught in
the trees over your head. Just lift
YOUR rod in this fashion So" He
raised my fingers as they ciasped the
rod and illustrated his meaning.
lifted my rod and made my first