Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-04-05


swing in his hammock and smoke his
pipe every pleasant day after dinner,
but on moonlight nights he brought
thither his violin and played till the
very cats on the surrounding fences
joined in from sympathy. Indeed,
Miss Penniman declared that she could
not tell which was which; and that,
more than once, when she had risen
from her bed to drive away the many
feline intruders, she found, too late,
she had been finging her brush and
slippers at Mr.. Merridew.
For several weeksthe only intercourse
between the two households was of the
distant kind; but at last, one bright
morning, the serving-man was seen
coming through the garden to Miss
Penniman's back door. ,....
"What can he want?" said Suky
Ann.
"To borrow something, you may be
sure" answered her mistress; but I'll
soon put stop to all thatr'
A tall and not ill-looking youth was
the man-servant, whose most prom
inent points, as he now presented him
self, we're: pair of plaid pantaloons,
short sacque (which, like the tadpole,
seemed yet undecided whether or not
20 develop tail), red necktie and q
cap set iauntily on one side. Beneath
the cap was growth of short, dark
curls and pair OF shrewd brown eyes.
As the kitchen door stood open, he
crossed the threshold without the cere-
mony of knocking; and glancing from
Suky Ann to her mistress, said:
Miss Penniman, I presume?"
That is my name; and you, sup
pose, are Popgun?"
Popkins," d" said he, smiling, "My
master, Mr.. Merridew, sends his COM
plimcnts, and requests you'll be kind
enough to shut up your fowls for few
weeks"
"Shut up my fowls!" gasped Miss
Penniman.
"Only till planting is past, madam;
they're SO exceeding troublesome about
scratching up the seeds"
"Tell your master I'll accommodate
him with pleasure, if ell have the good
ness to shut up that dog of his"
Wnat, WaSSle, ma am
He may be Waggle, for anything
know. I mean an ill-favored little cur,
that comes nosing about my back door,
frightening the cat out Of her seven
senses!'
T." I'll deliver your message, ma am"
said Popkins, bowling a good morning.
"Shut up my fowls!' cried Miss
Penniman, watching his rctreating fig
ure. "Was there ever such impudence! i!
However, guess I've given the old
gentleman his quietus. Look there,
Suky Ann! That Popkins has left a
track on the floor; get the mop and
wipe it up, wonder what men were
made for, anyhow, unless it was to
track round and make work for women!
I'm sure they never did me any good!'
" That long lout's at the door again,
askin' for you" announced Suky, a few
days afterward.
What long lout ?"
"POpkins, num-"
"Show him in, said Miss Penniman.
grimly.
" Wall, sir?' as he appeared at the
parlcr door.
"Mr. Merridew is sorry to trouble
you again, madam; but he saws if YOU
don't shut up those fowls he really shall
be obliged to take measures"
"Ask your master if it's any worse
for my hens to scratch up few seeds
than for that dog to steal the meat from
my pantry and the griddle-cakes from
my table? However, he's welcome to
take measures if he wants to. I've no
sort of objection. can take measures,
too!'
Yes, ma'am."
So the fowls were allowed to roam in
freedom, as before; and several times
each day they might have been seen
skurrying over the fence from Mr.. Mer-
ridews garden, followed by a shower
OF stones and brickbats, while Just as
often small dog might have been seen
leaping the fence in an opposite direc-
ton, pursued by an incensed female
with broom or pan of hot dishwa-
ter. tt..
"Go tell that internal woman" said
Mr.. Merridew, one day, when this had
happened on unusual number of times.
ego tell that internal woman that if
she doesn't shut up those fowls, I'll
wiring their cursed necks! Heavens! if
I'd known that house was occupied by
o cantankerous old maid, never would
have taken this one!'
1t is not probable the polite Popkins
would have delivered this message ver-
batim, or that his master intended he
should; but he was saved the trouble
modifying it, for when he opened the
gate ne was confronted by Miss Penni-
man herself, with sun-bonnet on her
head and trowel in her hand. She
stood before him, an embodiment CT
OF indignant virtue, and before he could
open his mouth said, waving her trowel
with a gesture of defiance:
Tell your master I've lived on
these premises ten years and am salts
fed to remain here. Those that don't