Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-21
Miss Preliminary,s Companion.

Two Single ldlllcS, MISS Iollihi-
nary and her visitor, were seated ina
Madison avenue parlor.
"My DEAR" said Miss Preliminary,
81 am actually melancholy and lone
some for want of company"
81 am often SO myself"
81 suppose, my dear, it is one of the
results of refinement, one of the pen
altics we must pay for living in q
higher plane than the common world
around u.s."
"But it will never do to lower our
selves TO their level, so suppose we
must entertain each other or do with
out entertainment. Still it is mis-
cradle feeling to want for sympathy,
aid there arc times, dear, do you
know, when l think l could actually
love nice-that is, well bred dog"
"And now you have mentioned it,
Pm going to tell you that have Of
len thought handsome dog, one that
is affectionatc, good natured and i'll
tcrcsting, would be almost-almost rs
companionable as gentleman. But
papa is so opposed to having animals
in the lrouse-he won't allow even Il
dear cat-that l am sure | wouldn't
dare to let him know had dog"
"Perhaps now if you had real in
tcliigent animal, one that could do all
those little interesting tricks, you
know, your papa might take an in
terest III him."
"lIo might, it is true"
So, aided and counseied by her
friend, Miss Preliminary visited a
dealer in CANNES and bought at
high price, miserable little wretch
which the young ladies, however pro-
nounced "a darling"
The animal was taken home, and
Sarah, the maid, was called in
to assist in making things safe ami
pleasant for his dogslrfp. The first
twenty-four hours passed without
anything to disturb the harmony Or
quiet of the Preliminary mansion.
But nature prompted Fidelio to COM
mence barking at precisely midnight,
when the household was deep i'll its
first sleep.
Miss Z. commanded him to "hush
up" but he only barked tine louder.
Old Preliminary was disturbed in
his best sleep by the barks of some
neighbors' dog, as he concluded. lie
swore equal to the army i'll Flanders.
The sounds seemed to come from
above, he rushed up to the roof, re-
volvcr in hand. When OH the roof
the sounds were below, and he rushed
down again and out OH the sidewalk,
but found no dog.
So for Il whole week Miss Prelimi-
nary's pet made every night al cxcit-
ing time for the peace OF the house
hold.
But Just at this time the family
doctor was sent for by Miss p, TO
prescribe for sort of eruption she
found herself troubled with.
The old medical man came, looked
wise at first, then laughed; but nc-
scibcd for her ailment.
"What is the matter with her,
something catching?" demanded the
papa. ''Pve felt an internal itching
myself lately. Here, look at me,
there's something wrong"
The doctor looked and smiled.
What is it, doctor?"
"Thcy arc" pointing to the red
marks, ''only flea bites"
Then there was another explosion
from the old man. Sarah was called
and questioned.
I'll you please, sir" said the trem-
bling Sarah, otis Miss Preliminary's
companion that brought 'em and l
ain'C to blame"
Companion, the devil!''
mo, sir, it's only small dog,
please"
There is no need of going farther
into the details of Okl Preliminary
bad conduct, but the dog and the 9TH
CT annoyances disappeared inmedi-
ately; wnilc Miss p. has, if reports
lrc true, arranged for u permanent
companion.