The Associate Hermits

of the lake intently fishing. By her side stood Phil Matlack, who had volunteered to interpose himself between her and all the disagreeable adjuncts of angling.

life which she had not anticipated. Her husband was in a boat some distance out on the lake, and he was

ittle distance Margery was sitting at her easel making a sketch of Martin as an artist at work in the woods. The two young men had gone off with their guns, not perhaps because they expected to find any legitimate game at that season, but hoping to secure some ornithological specimens, or to get a shot at some

etch on which she was working did not resemble her model, n

nt to see how Martin was getting on. "I think," she said, "those dark ducks improve the picture very much. They throw the other things back." Then she stopped, went to one side, and gazed out over the lake. "I wonder

ation. "If you know how to fish, and there

id Margery, "and I do no

said Martin. "Can you

But I have fished as Aunt Harriet

e only real sport. It is as exciting as a battle. If you would let me teach you how to throw a fly,

o it yourself, t

ply to enjoy ourselves, though I must say that I-" And then he suddenly stopp

ce turned towards her, and the

hat trouble. Uncle Archibald has two or three times asked me to go out with him, and

g; "it's Phil. I suppose

nt, and Martin behind her carrying the drawing-

THE OTHER T

flies," she said, "and perhaps, if Uncle Archibald doesn't

considerable warmth; but he checked himself, and merely remarked that wheneve

ery went up to Matlack, who was on his way to th

she, "that we have invited Mr. Clyde

told me," said he, "but I don't kno

t I don't wonder; they must do awfully poor cooking for themselves.

d he, "but I shall be satisfied

by that?" asked

That bicycle chap don't know no more about a gun than he does about makin' bread, and I wouldn't go out huntin' with him for

adful!" excl

their camp he wouldn't go out with a gun again. But it w

?" asked Margery. "What'

g in this part of the country. He's got his laws, and he sees to it that people stand by the

t the people out here in

n a room on the top floor, and there was a leak in the pipe in the cellar, and that gas just went over the whole house, into every room and closet, and even under the beds, and I've often though

hen she said to Matlack: "I think we ought to k

ere's one I think of now, and that is that no wom

exclaimed Margery. "Women

ck. "I'm only tellin' you what Peter

away, her head thrown back a lit

tlack to himself, as he went to the cabin

ore was very marshy, and it was impossible for him to get it. He thought it was a heron, or a bittern, or perhaps a fish-hawk, but whatever it was,

d I don't believe I will do it. If I had the things to stuff them with, that would be

hat a forester's life is as bold and free to him as it is to the birds in the

ught Margery, "when Mr. Sadler takes your

were inveterate hunters, and that they would spend their days in long tramps. He did not at all ap

at. Pipes had been filled and preparations made for the usual evening smoke and talk, when a man was seen emerging from the woods at the point where the road opened into the clearing ab

from his shoulder was a small leather bag, and in his hand he carried a closed umbrella. Advancing towards the fire

lemen," said he, and his voice

Archibald, and then for a

w-comer, looking about h

mp," said M

was really unnecessary for me to allude to it. May I ask t

cene. "Well, sir," said he, "have you any busi

iness," said t

er to everybody here?

but I

ct rules against strangers stoppin' in any of them. If you've lost your way, I'll tell you that this road, if you don't tu

It's a shame," she said, when the guide had approached her, "to send that man away without ev

d I guess he's a regular tramp, and there's no order

good-mannered man comes to us and asks simply to be allowed to rest, I don't want him to be drive

ched the stranger. "Where a

behind him, and then at the rest of the compan

nces," he said, "I th

"When do you expect t

vely, "that I am always going there, and I

er, and let him rest. There will be time enough for him to get to Sadler

no harder on my fellow-bein's than other people, but

ramp, but it is a mistake. I am not a tramp. If you will allow me, after I have eaten a little supper-a meal which I must admit I greatly need-

had resumed his seat and his pipe. "I believe he is a wandering act

see by his tread and his air that he's never been on the stage. He's more like a travelling salesman.

I believe he is a Methodist minister with a dead horse. They ride circuits, and of c

red of waiting before the stranger finished his meal and approached the fire. His face

y much-indeed, I crave it as a favor-to place myself before you in my proper light. May I have permission to do so, madam and sir?

rchibald. "Sit down and

little back from the circle, and nearer to