Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-03
CHAPTER ".
(Continued.)

remember that as he entered
our door he spoke in this fashion:
"Baynes, les go fishing. All the
way down the road I've heard the
cali O. the brooks. 1 stopped on the
Dingley bridge and looked down at
the water. The trout were jumping
so | guess they must a got sun
burnt and freckled and sore. l
can't stand too much O. that kind o
thing. 1t rifles me. / heard, long
ego, that you were first-class t1sh-
erman, so 1 cut across lots and
here | am"
His vivid words touched my mag
nation and l have often recalled
them.
well, now by nightly" Uncle
Peabody drew the rein upon MS
Imagination at the very brink or
some great extravaganza and after
q moments pause added: I'VE II
start out bright an early in the
mornin' an go up an git Bill Sea-
yer. He's got a camp on the Middle
Branch, an he can cook almost as
good as my sister"
as your spring work done?"
"All done. an 1 was kind O
thinkfn'," said Uncle ePabody with
a little shake of his head. He didn't
say of what he had been thinking,
that being unnecessary.
Bart, are you with us?" said Mr..
Wright as he gave me a playful
poke with his hand.
MAY l go?" 1 asked my uncle.
n ClZ
yer aunt" said Uncle Peabody.
My soul was afire with eagerness.
My feet shook the floor and 1 tip
ped over a chair in my hurry to get
to the kitchen, whittier my aunt had
gone soon after the appearance of
our guest. She was getting sup
per for Mr.. Wright.
Aunt Deel, I'm goin' f1shin," l
said.
"Fishin'! I guess not-ayes I do"
she answered.
1t was more than I could stand.
A roar of distres and disappoint-
ment came from my lips.
Uncle Peabody hurried into the
kitchen.
THE Comptroller wants him to
CO." said he.
HE does?" she repeated as she
stood with her hands on her hips
looking up at her brother.
He likes Bart and wants to take
him along"
wal, then, you'll have to be aw-
full careful of him." said Aunt Deel.
I'm 'fraid he'll plague ye-ayes!
mo, he won't-well love to have
him"
wal. I guess you could git Mary
Billings to come over and stay with
me an help with the Chores-ayes,
l wouldn't wonder!"
l could contain my joy no longer,
but ran into the other room on tip
toe and announced excitedly that l
was going. Then I rushed out Of
the open door and rolled and tum-
bled.in the growing grass, with the
dog barking at my side. In such
times of joyful excitement I al
ways rolled and tumbled in the
grass. 1t was my way of express
ing inexpressible delight.
I felt sorry for the dog. Poor
fellow! He couldn't go fishing. He
had to stay home always. l felt
sorry for the house and the door
yard and the cows and the grind
stone and Aunt Deel. The glow of
the candles and the odor of ham
and eggs drew me into the house.
Wistfully l watched the great man
as he ate his supper. l was always
hungry those days. Mr.. Wright
asked me to have an egg, but 1
shook my head and said NO. thank
you" with sublime self-denial AT
the first hint from Aunt Deel l took
my candle and went up to bed.
Il amt afraid o. BEARS" I heard
myself whispering as l undressed.
l whispered a good deal as my i'm,
agination ran away into the near
future.
Soon I blew out by candle and
got into bed. The door was open
at the foot of the stairs. l could
see the light and hear them talk
ing. It had been more than a year
since Uncle Peabody had promised
to take me into the woods fishing.
but most of our joys were enriched
by long anticipation filled with talk
and fancy.