Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-03-04

The gravity of the great horse breeder de
serted him at her first question. He smiled
as he acknowledged that he was Mr.. Hardy.
man." he smiled as he offered her chair
"No, thank you, SIR" she said, with q
quantity pretty inclination of her head.
am only sent here to make her ladyship's
apologies. She has put the poor, dear dog
into a warm bath and she can't leave him.
And Mr.. Moody can't come instead of me. be-
cause | was too frightened to be of any use,
and SO he had to hold the dog. That's all.
We are very anxious, sir, to know if the
warm bath is the right thing. Please come
into the room and tell u.s."
She led the way back to the door. Hardy
man, naturally enough, was slow to follow
her. When man is fascinated by the charm
of youth and beauty he is in no hurry to
transfer his attention to sick animal in a
bath. Hardyman seized on the first excuse
that he could devise for keeping Isabel to
himself-that is to say for keeping her in the
drawing room.
Il think shall be better able to help you, "
he said, . if you will tell me something about
the dog first"
Even his accent in speaking had altered to
a certain degree. The quiet dreary mono
tone in which he habitually spoke .quickened
little under his present excitement As for
Isabel, she was too deeply interested in Tom
mics welfare to suspect that she was being
made the victim of a stratagem She left the
door and returned to Hardyman with eager
eyes. "What can l tell you, sir r. she asked,
innocently.
Hardyman pressed his advantage without
mercy.
%oI1 J,afc nfI hos se.211
eyes, sir"
''How old he issn
eyes, sir"
''What his name is?-what his temper is?-
what his illness is?-what disease his father
and mother. r.-what-'
Isabels head began to turn giddy 'One
thing at time, sir!' she lnterposed with
gesture of entreaty. ''His name is Tommie
We are obliged to call him by it, because he
won't answer to any other than the name he
had when my lady bought him. But we
spell it with an i e. at the end, which makes
it less vulgar than Tommy with a " l am
very sorry, sir, | forget what else you want
ed to know Please to come in here, and my
lady will tell you everything"
She tried to get back to the door of the
boudoir. Hardyman, feasting his eyes on the
pretty, CQdDgeIui lace UIaU lOOkeu dU ulIU
with such innocent confidence in his author
ity, drew her away again from the door by
the one means at his disposal He returned
to his questions about Tommie.
''Wait little, please. What sort of dog
is hep'
Isabel turned back again from the door.
To describe Tommie a labor of love.
''He is the most beautiful dog in the worldr'
the girl began, with kindling eye. ''Re has
the most exquisite white curly hair and two
light brown patches on his back, and, oh!
such lovely dark eyes! They call him a
Scotch terrier When he is well his appetite
is truly Notwithstanding comes amiss to
him, sir, from pate de foie gras to potatoes.
He has his enemies, poor dear, though you
wouldn't think it. People who won't put up
with being bitten by HIM what shocking
tempers one does meet with, to be sureD call
him a mongrel Isn't it shames Please
come in and see Kim, sir; my lady will be
tired of waiting
Another journey to the door followed those
words, checked instantly by serious objec-
ton.
s'Stop a minute! You must tell me whaE
his temper is, or | can do nothing for him.
Isabel returned once more, feeling that it
was really serious this time. Her gravity