n to cast, measuring the
distance with the fly still in the air. She could hear the faint
whistle of the line, and some idea of what he was doing came to her.
And then she heard an exclamation, synchronous with a splash in the
pool.

"Got him!" said he. "And he's one sockdollager, believe me! We've got
hold of old Grandpa Grayling now--and if things just hold----"

"Here," said he after a while. She felt the rod placed in her hand,
felt a strenuous tugging and pulling that almost wrenched it away.

"Hold tight!" said he. "Take the line in your left hand, this way.
Now, if he pulls hard, ease off. Pull in when you can--not too
hard--he's got a tender mouth. Let him run! I want you to see what
fun it is. Can't you see him out there now, jumping?"

Tim, eager for any sport, sprang up and began to bark excitedly. Her
lips parted, her eyes shining, sightless as they were, Mary faced
toward the splashing which she heard. She spoke low, in a whisper, as
though afraid of alarming the fish. "Where is he?" she said. "Where
did he go?"

"He's out there," responded her companion, chuckling. "He's getting
rattled now. Don't hold him too tight--that's the idea--work him along
easy now. Now shorten up your line a little bit, and sit right where
you are. I'm going to net him. Lift the tip of the rod a little,
please, and bring him in toward you."

She obeyed as best she could. Suddenly she heard a splash, and felt a
flopping object placed, net and all, directly in her lap. With
eagerness she caught it in her hands, meeting Tim's towsley head,
engaged in the same errand, and much disposed to claim the fish as all
his own.

"There's Grandpa!" said Doctor Barnes. "I've lost my bet to Sim
Gage--that fellow will go over three pounds. I didn't know there was
such a grayling in the world."

"And now tell me," said he, as she felt him lift the fish from her lap,
and with woman's instinct brushed away the drops of water from her
frock, "isn't life worth living after all, when you have a day like
this, and a sky such as we have, and sport like this?"

He looked at her face. There was less droop to the corners of her
mouth than he ever had seen. There was a certain light that came to
her features which he had not yet recognized. She drew a long breath
and sighed as she dropped her hands into her lap. "Do you suppose we
could get another one?" said she.

He laughed exultantly. "I should say we could! Just s