St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-08-20


any dear. my dear" gasped Madam
Stearns, Selling Kathieen's arm. "Into
whose grounds is he taking us Who
are all these people in gorgeous raj.
meptG Kathleen, for the sake Of yonr
reputation stop the beast
81 can't stop him, = cried Kathleen in
despair "This is Mrs. De Peyster's
house and she is having party"
Sure enough. Suppose we join the
festive throng. Chatter, CHATTER, in
among the guests.
Kathleen's face was hot with shame.
Great AUNT Katherine sat up straight
and grim, though dishevelled and dis
! graced.
Pepper drew up under the open
drawing room window, and pricked up
his ears to catch the notes of a song
which flOated out on the air. Higher
aud higher rose the sweet voice with
in. Higher and higher went those
wicked ears.
"Aha :" quoth Pepper, ''Iet us join
and make the solo a duet -
He opened that great mouth of his.
He drew in a good full breath. With
heart and voice he swelled the strain.
CLAW! hawi haw ~
Up the scale and down the scale.
CLAW, haw ha-aw!"
1t seemed as if the noise filed all
space. 1t echoed and it rang. 1t was
louder than full brass band.
CLAW haw ha-aw ~
Kathleen crept into the bottom of
the phaeton, and hid her burning face.
Madam Stearns sat bolt upright, with
compressed lips and commanding
brows. She was majestic still, though
in despair
Forth from the house issued liver
led fOOtman and laid his hand, by no
means gently, on Pepper.
CLAW haw haw !" brayed that in
famous donkey; then dropped his ears
as he was led i'll ignominy down the
avenue, past the bewildered guests,
out at the gate.
"That's Robinson's donkey, sure"
said the fOotman, and the kicks Pepper
had hitherto received were us love pats
compared TO the ones now bestowed
upon his ribs.
Kathleen picked up the reins once
more.
Giles certainly brought to his senses
now" she sObbed.
Pepper trOtted like Il lamb. He obey
ed every motion of the reins. He was
the most obliging, most docile donkey
on earth, until suddenly, with no
warning, in the middle of the dusty
highway, under the full glare of the
blazing sun, far from human habita-
ton, once more he stopped, and plant
ed his front feet stubbOrnly.
There is no one to jerk my bride.
There is no masculine foot to kick me.
Here we remain"
And here they did remain. No ex-
hortation, no coaximg, no flashing with
the whip, made the slightest impress
sion.
81 must get out and see what | can
do" said Kathleen.
She climbed down to the ground,
Pepper watching her out of the corner
of his wicked eyes. She jerked his bit.
That was of no use. She doubled up
her little fist and pounded him. APP
parently he did not even feel her
blows. She curled the whip lash sharp
ly round his legs. He did not move a
hoOf. At last she was driven to ex
IRENE measures. She lifted her right
foot. in its dainty French boot, and
(speak it under your breath) she
kicked Pepper.
With fiirt of his saucy tail, with
an impudent toss of his name, with a
most insulting bray, Pepper took his
revenge.
The reins were twitched from Kath-
leen's hand, and in the dusty road she
found herself standing-a There
in the distance, vanished phaeton,
Great-aunt Katherine, Pepper and all.
An hour later in at the gate of Broad
Elm limped IA disconsolate, fOOt-sore,
exhausted girl.
CLAW haw! haw ~ .jeered Pepper,
sticking his head out the stable win
dow. "Great-aunt and arrived long,
long ago. Hope you enjoyed your
walk. Hope you didn't find the heat
oppressive. WOuldn't You like to kick
me again /? Haw ! haw law ~
In the doorway of the house stood
Mrs. Reed, and 10y her side Madam
Stearns, as stately, as composed, as if
she had not spent two mortal hours
running from Dan to Beersheba. They
received the wanderer in open, COM
passionate arms. Ii was Great-auntl
Katherine herself who bathed Katb-
Ieep's trayel-stained feet and soothed
her wounded spirits.
"You were not to blame. But Rob
insOn's donkey"
"Shall return to Robinson this very
day" interrupted Reed, with emphasis.
And he did return, led by Jacob.
Didn't suit?--I want to know -
that is what Robinson remarked.
''Aud declare, Mis- Reed" reported
Jacob, Hthem twO-man and beasts
pardners in villainy, and Pm biest if !
know which of 'em is the biggest scoun-
drel, Robinson or RObinson's donkey"
i Harper's Young People.