Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-29

attention Of the bull, and ran a. fast a.
her trembling limbs would carry her.
How she got over the high fence she
never knew. Indeed, she knew nothing
distinctly until the gentleman whom she
had characterized as an "impudent pup
py." lightly leaping the fence, threw him
self rather breathlessly and heated, on
the grass where she had sunk the moment
she had found herself in safety.
"Oh," said Kitty, half sobbing. 81
am so glad you came! That awful crea-
ture would have killed me-"
IL fortunately heard his belibwing.
and, remembering you, came just in time
to keep him off,"
weren't you afraid!"
"Oh, no! I used when boy, to bait
these animals for my own amusement.
But you see l can be Of more use to you
than 'the other puppy Where is hef"
"Gone. Deserted me in my hour Of
need" she replied, smiling family. as she
dried her tears. "But I've had enough
Of him. I'll give him away, and get a
better and bigger dog to accompany me
on my walks, if they are to be as dan
gerous as this one"
"Am / big enough inquired the gen.
tleman. "Tll take the very best care Of
YOU
"Oh, l don't know you yet, you see!
I will ask papa" she answered demurely.
"Certainly-by all means ask papa"
said he, eagerly.
Kitty blushed, with a strong inclina-
ton to smile, which she repressed, as
beneath her dignity.
"I'm going now" she said rising.
Wont you permit me to see you safe'
There may be more wild cattle about, to
say nothing Of snakes and owls!
"Well, l think you may come, though
we are near home now. can see papa,
sitting on the piazza, reading; and there.
in the orchard, is my basket Of apples,
which gathered for the pigs. If you
won't mind. I'll feed them now, and carry
the basket back to Mrs. Halves"
81 shall enjoy it of all things" he
asserted.
Lifting the basket, he carried it for
her to the sty. where she amused herself
with tossing the fruit, one by one. to the
eager, pushing crowd within.
$50 you take an interest in those poetic
auimals:' remarked her companion, as
he stood curiously looking on.
81 feel sorry for them-they are so
ugly and dirty. Nature seems to have
treated them unjustly, poor things, in
making them so inferior to other ami
mails. But then. the little ones, with
their pink noses and funny eyes, do look
so chubby and so innocent"
She tossed some apples to the little
ones and looked thoughtful.
They remind me Of picture which
I saw lately-Circe, surrounded BY herd
of swine into which she had transformed
her admirers. And you would never
have imagined how much expression there
was in the way that they wriggled and
groveled at her feet"
~ see that picture now, at least some-
thing like it." the gentleman remarked,
looking from Kitty to the pigs.
And again Kitty repeated to herself,
"what an impudent puppy" as she drop
ped more apples into the sty.
And this was the spectacle which greet
ed the Mortified gaze Of Mrs. Darlington
as she stepped on the piazza where her
husband was reading and looked across
the lawn to the orchard. The tea-table
was ready, and she was expecting Kitty.
"Mercy on mel" she gasped. "Why.
Mr.. Darlington, only look! There is
actually Kitty. with Judge Bottoms son,
feeding the pigsr
Mr.. Darlington chuckled.
"Well, my dear, / don't see the harm
of it, if they like it. Though where she
could have picked him up I can't i'm
agine."
Meanwhile, Kitty and her companion
leisurely crossed the orchard and the lawn.
"Now I'll introduce you to papa" she
said. "Only / don't know your last
name."
"Oh. perhaps he knows it and will
introduce me to you. Meantime, call
me anything you like"
So Kitty walked straight up to her
father, and putting her hand on his shoul-
der, said:
"Papa, I've had an awful fright. I
was chased by . raging mad bull, and
my puppy, ROlla, ran away from me. and
another, with the very same name, saved