Morris tribune., 1880-07-08

birthstone colored envelope, and opening
the enclosure, presented it to the aston
ished gaze of his neighbor.
ssGood graciousi said Miss Mehitable,
hastily snatching asimilar envelope from
her own pocket.
The CAPTAIN advanced to the pallng
which separated the two gardens, and
Miss Mehltable came down to, her steps,
and the twin mlssives were mutually ex-
amined, to the laby's bewllderment.
"tou see, marin, SAID tho captain.
gently, to-day is the fust OF April. The
hull thing is q trick-an April fool''
1.-THE land sakesl"
81 am ashamed to think that have
allowed myself to be made fool of said
the captain, gravely. "And beg par
don for anything hasty and ungentleman-
~ that might have been led into say
ing to q wamon. But you see, marin,
mans dog is his friend-his best friend,
marm."
sand am sure Spice is my FRIEND
said Miss Mehitable.
"Certainly, certainly" acquiesced the
captain, checIfully.
sand of course my feelings were hut
when I thought you wanted to shoot her.
"Fur be it from me marin, to hurt the
feelings of any woman"
''It is an outrageous mean trick ~ said
Miss Mehitable. "Nobody would have
dared to take such liberty with woman
who had father and brother to pro-
tect her. 1t is only lone woman they
will take advantage of"
"And lone man, marin. can sym
pathize with you on that point" and
he sighed audibly.
Miss Mehltablc looked down, and ad-
justed a struggling raspberry spray. The
captain rubbed his head and broke the
silence by some vague remark upon the
neatnees of her garden.
"Why, the hens do scratch up consid-
erable," Miss Parsons complained, point
ing to some dusty holes under the oppo
site garden fence. ..-~..e.-,--r.,..s.' .--
"Mebbe could find remedy fol-
that" the captain suggested. "Patty al.
ways Kept fowls, and depended on me to
keep them in bounds. If you are agree.
able, Miss Mehitable, 1 will step over
snytime-say this afternoon-and fl
your fence at the bottom, go as they CAM
reach undes."
"I'm sure I'm obleeged, if you DOM
rally mind the trouble, Csp'n Teller"
| The two parted amicably. Miss Me
hitable gave Sally positive orders to keel
an eye on Spice, and by no means to al
low her to go on the fence; and Captain
Teller sternly commanded Pickle on NJ
l hot g. 10. kka l. l.
during the remainder OF the day.
I Both he and Miss Mehitable on look
ing from their front windows, observed
Master Dick Purnell, with one or TIVE
congenial spirits, collected at the door o.
his fathers Office, and surveying then
with unusual interest ana Unsurpassed
grins.
The captain regarded them with serene
benevolence. He seemed unusually
cheerful that day, and punctually a
four o'clock repaired to the next doc
premises, where he put the fence in beau
t!ful order, and neatly nailed back tn
trailing raspberry vines.
! That evening, as he was preparing hi
supper of muddy coffee and half raw
half burnt chops, there was timid knocl
at the door, and enter Sally, bearing
tray of steaming chocolate, delicat
waffies and other dainties, the sight ant
fragrance of which caused the captain
mouth to water and the tears to start t
his eyes.
He emptied the china dishes into hi
own crockery, made Sally SUMPTION
present of stuffed parrot and shel
work-box, and sent her home, wonder
ing and exultant, with a message to he
mistress that, if agreeable, he woul
call next evening, and thank her in pei
son.
What transpired en- the occasion of tina
visit we can only conjecture, from til
tact that in exactly three weeks from tn
, first of April there was private wed
, ding at little chapel around the corner
followed by family supper at Miss Pal
sons pleasant cottage.
, Patty was there, all smiles and happ
ness at her brothers good fortune, anC
1t was observed that, with the exceptio
! of one brief moment of forgetfulness o
!, the part of Pickle, he and Spice conduc
ed themselves in an irreproachably CO..
> rect manner. Also, it was marked b
. the wondering Sally that the captain 81
cretly possessed himself of huge chun
of wedding cake, which he surreptitiou
ly bestowed upon Dick Purnell, WIN
mounted upon the front pailings, VS.
straining his neck for indistinct glimpse
Of the bridal company within.