The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-08

her own side there would be no difficult
typ
ss'Al cat has sat on that fence, for over
three years undisturbed, till you and
your dog came here to meddle and wor-
~ and make fuss in the neighbour hood. 2
s'What harm does the cat dot It is all
owing to that nasty, ugly, mean natured
dog Of yours. And you dare to think Of
shooting my Spice for sake of an ugly
brute like that2
Captain Teller stood erect, and with
one hand resting on the handle Of the
axe and the other extended in q noble
oratorical attitude, replied with kindling
eye and flushed face:
Marin, fur be it from me to stoop to
worrit and badger q helpless woman.
the present, when you call my dog 9
dog like that narm, pointing to Pickle
who, with head ana tail erect, was sniff
ing in the direction of Spice, doing in
the window s'when you call him nasty,
and mean natured, and threaten to pizen
him, all on account Of a pesky critter
SIGH as that cat Of yours
81 dldn t say word about pizen. It
was you threatened to shoot nay Spice .
said Miss Mehitable, Indignantly.
ssMarm The word shoot hasn't passed
these lips Of mine, that I am aweer of.
But the word pizen I've got writ down
in black and white, as you well know
s'Cap'n Teller, don't know what you
are talking about, and I'm doubtful
whether you know it yourself. What
have got to do with pizens And did
you not send me note this very day
threatnin' to shoot my cat?''
"Seems to me, Miss 'Hltable, you have
got your ideas oddly mixed up this morn
I'M" responded the captain grimly. eff
Pm to believe my own senses, it was you
sent me a note, as I found under my
street door this morning, informing
me Of your kind intention to pizen my
dog, !, ,,. =.
hitable. 'sWhy, ] never dreamed OF
such an outrageous thing! You're max
ing up that story against me, Cap'n
Teller, for no earthly purpose except
for to excuse that note Of yours about
shooting my cat, and you know itp'
Captain Teller manifested no lndlg-
nant resentment at this accusation. On
the contrary, sudden light and intelli-
gence came into his eyes. He uttered
not word, but plunging his hand into
the depths Of his pocket, pulled forth a
birthstone colored envelope, and opening
the enclosure, presented it to the aston
ished gaze Of his neighbor.
"Good gracious! said Miss Mehitable,
hastily snatching similar envelope from
her own pocket. ..f
The CAPTAIN advanced to the pallne
which separated the two gardens, and
Miss Mehltable came down to her steps
and the twin mlssiyes were mutually ex.
amined, to the laby's bew1lderment.
gently, to-day is the fust Of April. The
hull thing is s trick an April fool''
The land sakes!' y ;'
81 am ashamed to think that hav.
allowed myself to be made q fool Of sale
the captain, gravely. "And beg par
don for anything hasty and ungentleman.
IL that might have been led into say
ing to 9 wamOn. But you see, marin, I
mans dog is his friend his best friend
marm.n y !
.And am sure Spice is my friend,
said Miss Mehitable. al
"Certainly, certainly acquiesced th
captain, chee1fully.
Sand of course my feelings were hurt
when thought you wanted to shoot her
eur be it from me marin, to hurt tn,
feelings Of any woman.
ut is an outrageous mean trick !! saii
Miss Mehitable. Nobody would hav,
dared to take such liberty with wemal
who had father and brother to pro
tect her. It is only lone woman the,
will take advantage OFFS
sAnd lone man, marin, can sym
pathize with you on that point, . AM
he sighed audibly.
| Miss Mehitable looked down, and ad
justed struggling raspberry spray. TIL
captain rubbed his head and broke tn,
silence by some vague remark upon tn,
neatness Of her garden.
'sWhy, the hens do scratch up consid
erable," Miss Parsons complained, point
ing to some dusty holes under the oppc
site garden fence.
! ssMebbe could find remedy 70
that" the captain suggested. s.Patty al
ways kept fowls, and depended on me t
keep them in bounds. If you are agree
able, Miss Mehitable, 1 Will step owe
anytime -say this afternoon and &
your fence at the bottom, 50 as they can
reach UNDER.
1 "I'm sure I'm obleeged, if you don
| rally mind the trouble, Cap'n Teller
| The two parted amicably. Miss Ne
hitable gave Sally positive orders to kee
an eye on Spice, and by no means to Al
| low her to go on the fence; and Captai
| Teller sternly commanded Pickle on n
account whatever to enter the back var
during the remainder OF the day.
i Both he and Miss Mehitable on look
| ing from their front windows, observe
Master Dick Purnell, with one or TN
congenial spirits, collected at the door 6
his fathers Office, and surveying Their
with unusual interest anu lll-suppresse
| grins.
The captain regarded them with seren
beneyolence. He seemed unusuall
cheerful that day, and punctually 4
four o'clock repaired to the next doc
| premises, where he put the fence in bea,
tiful order, and neatly nailed back til
trailing raspberry vines.