Morris tribune., 1880-07-08

set in order for his arrival, his clothes
washed and mended, and his meals nice
ly cooked and served; but since Patty's
marriage, he had been thrown upon his
own resources, and had found woeful
change in his home.
His friends had suggested that he
should follow his sisters example, and
take unto himself helpmate, but the
captain was rather di ffident on this point,
and averred that he had no time to waste
in courtship. If tho right woman were
to turn up, who would marry him right
away, without any decentralization and
tooling, why he might DO induced to think
oft, for his clothes were woefully in want
of repair, aud his cooking was none of the
best, to say nothing of seuse cleaning, and
other such elrudgery, for the execution of
which women had been specially created,
by wise and consideraie Providence.
AS it was the captain slowly shook his
iron-gray locks, and bravely announced
his own and Pickles intention to rub
along together, and rough it out as best
they might-maybe something would
turn up in time.
The captain was of a philosophical
turn of mind, and inclined to take things
easy. Not so Pickle, who made an occa-
sion of demur or aggression of e, erything
that fell in his way.
And thus it had been, indeed, that
Capt. Teller had had the misfortune of q
misunderstanding with Miss Mehitable
Parson, before he had been three days
her neighbor.
1t had sill come through Pickle and
Spice. Spice had throughout her life
enjoyed the undisputed privilege of daily
siestas on the summit of the fence-post
separating the two gardens; which
Pickle, observing, had resented and re-
sisted as an unwarrantable intrusion up.
on his own and his masters domestic
| privacy.
A deadly feud had thereupon sprung
up between these two, resulting In more
than one bloody encounter, wherein
Pickle had nearly lost an eye and
Spice had narrowly escaped with her
| life.
Miss Mehitable had taken part with
her prosecuted cat, and Capt. Teller had
defended the cause of his aggrieved dog;
so that the GOODNESS existing between
these two ANIMALS had extended to their
owners.
| No one, however, not even Mehitable,
had dreamed OF the captain S carrying the
matter so far as to threaten to murder her
precious cat.
Spice was the best known and most
highly respected cat in the town, and,
with the exception of that incorrigible
youngster, Dick Purnell-Lawyer Pur-
nell's son. to whom most of the mischief
In the place might be traced-no one had
ever yet dared to shy brickbat at Miss
Parsons favorite, or to shave her tail
and string 1t with spools of assorted
sizes.
AS for pickle, boT-legged, crop cared
bull-terrier, his master often declared
him to be the perfection of the canine
species, with whom he would not part
for his weight in gold. Pickle had one
weakness, the captain sorrowfully admit
ted, and that was cats.
On this particular April morning, Cap
tain Teller, having paid an early visit to
the boat, returned home to his seven
O'Clock breakfast. He entered at the
front door with a cheerful countenance,
followed by Pickle; but when fifteen
minutes later, he made his appearance IN
his back garden for the purpose of cut
ting wood for his fire, his broad, honest
and not uncomely countenance wore 8
thoughtful and severe aspect, and his
eyes rested sternly upon Sally, as she fled
into her mistrsss's back door with SPICE
Capt. Teller turned over log with
his foot, and muttered to himself:
"Rum 'un, she is! All women are
rum 'uns, seems to me. Glad I have got
nothing 'whatsumdever to do withum
I'm independent Nv the hill set, ami"
He turned to the log again, looking
for favorable spot whereupon to com.
mence operations, glanced at mis- tattered
coat and trousers airing on the bach
stoop, and sighed.
"Not but what there might be som.
good ones among them, if body only
knew where to find them, as the di'manC
washer said to the pebbles. A smart, ii
dy, cheerful, willing housekeeper would
be convenience to hev about ones
home; but-ahem-she is rum speci
men, there is no denying. What's GO
her back up so sudden this time, ik'
that peSky Cat OF nerS-
It was at this moment that Miss Par
sons, with virtuous indignation In he
eyes, and outraged innocence in her as
pect, made her appearance on the bacl
porch.
"Capten Tellerw
"Good morning, marm!" responded
the person addressed with much dignity
~ am surprised at your said Miss Par
sons by way of commencement, and will
marked emphasis.
"Same to you mann, if may be per
mitted to express myself moth
ing disrespectful to a woman"
Miss Mehitabies face flushed.
II don't see, Cspten Teller, why 20,
should be surprised at woman having
word to say for herself, when she i
abused and ill-treated."
VERY sorry, marin, If you have bee
worried. Pickle never meant it for you
So long as your cat will aggregate hin
by invading his premises, he can skeers
ly be blamed by showing the inderpend
ence OF his nature. If she would keep OF
her own side there would be no Difficult
ty."
"My cat has sat on that fence, for owe
three years undisturbed, till you ant
your dog came here to meddle and wor
+, ry and make fuss in the neighborhood.
"What harm does the cat do? It is al
owing to that nasty. ugly, mean natures
dog of yours. And you dare to think @
shooting my Spice for sake of an ugl
: brute like that2
Captain Teller stood erect, and wit
one hand resting on the handle of tn
axe and the other extended in a nobl
oratorical attitude, replied, with kindlin
!, eye and flushed face:
''Marm, fur be it from me to stoop I
worrit and badger helpless woman
But when it comes to situation such q
the present, when you call my dog
dog like that marm,-pointing to Pick
who, with head ana tail erect, was sniff
! ing in the direction of Spice, doing j
= the window hen you call him mast,
aud mean-natured, and threaten to pize
him. all on account of a peskv critic