Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-10
MRS. PEASLEE'S NEIGHBOR.


bad" cried Miss Jane Peaslee, ex-
citedly. II never could abide old
bachelors, and here one of ems gone
and moved in right next door. He's
got great, horrid dog, too. I'll war
rant he'll be the plague of our lives. "
'Mebbe not, Jane, mildly expostu-
lated her sister, Mrs. Webb. "Old
bachelors amt apt to be meddlesome,
gener'ly."
Him! l mean the dog" snapped
Miss Jane. "Of course he'll be run
ming over here. tormenting the cat and
digging holes in the flower beds next
summer fur cool place to lie in, or a
chasing the hens an stealing the eggs
when they've made nests in the weeds.
But won't put up with it an ! shall
tell him so plump the very first chance
git"
1.-The dog, Janep"
''The dog! OF course not. l mean
the crusty, grabbed old bachelor him.
self"
.'Oh, Jane! You don't think he
would steal the eggs and make holes
in the flower beds, do youp"
.'Fiddlesticks! Amt you got nc
sense at all, MelanceyP A body might
as well talk to close prop as you!
said the dog would steal the eggs, an
| shouldn't put up with it an should
tell the old bachelor so, too. Now dc
you understand? An so | will I'll
take the broomstick to him, too See
if Il don't she concluded, emphati-
cally.
Miss Jane and her sister owned the
10 in ;ah
which was about all they did own, and
managed to exc out living by doing
plain sewing, dressmaking. or any
thing of the kind they could get TO do.
There's the gate open and Sam
Pickles old bell-cow a-tramplin'
round in the truck patch, of course"
and snatching up a sun-bonnet she
darted out to put a summary stop to
the old bell-cow's depredations among
her garden truck
Meanwhile the old bachelor next
door was taking a survey Of the situa-
ton.
1.-TWO women folks. and one of them
an old maid, I'll bet pocketk nife.
The other looks like she might be a
widow, from allus dressing in black.
Thunder! What did | ever move in
here for? Paid six months rent, too.
Confound it all. man amt safe any
where hardly these days. OF course,
they'll both be Asserting theil caps to
ketch me, but won't be caught! I'll
keep out OF their way as much as pos
sible, and even if ! meet one of 'em
face to face III look another way. l
see they keep parcel of old hens, too
If any of 'em come a-scratching about
here I'll set the dog on 'em, sure. /
amt to be pestered by old maids or
their hens, either. I've hired man
servant a-purpose to keep out of their
clutches, an | amt a-going to be took
in by the smartest woman that ever
lived"
He was by no means the crusty,
grabbed old bachelor Miss Jane had
declared him to be, but rather fine.
looking man, with pleasant, dark eyes
and only a few threads of silver shin
ing in his abundant brown hair.
Moreover, his canine follower wa.
not great horrid" dog, but very
curly and froliosome Newfoundland
puppy.
There's that dog a-worryin' tn,
chickens agin," screamed Miss Jan,
one morning, and, snatching up tn,
broom, she hurriedly gave chase.
Finding himself pursued, the pupp,
at once released the Leghorn rooster
tail. which he had been playfully shak
ing to the great disgust of its owner
and with bark of delight seized th
edge OF Miss James homespun petit
coat which showed beneath the rim o