The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
A NEW KIND OF PET.

About a month ago, a stout, masculine
looking. woman, with a defiant air and a
sharp nose, applied to see the landlord of
a house in Vienna, and stated that she de-
sired to rent two rooms which he had ad-
vertised.
What rent do you ask2n she inquired,
after examining the rooms
FIFTY guldens a month, but before L
rent the rooms to you | want to know if
you have any children to drive the other
tenants out of the house."
~ have no children. Is there anything
else Tve not got to have in order to be al
lowed to pay you fifty guldens a month
for two rooms2"
sDo you keep a piano2n
GIVE got no piano to keep; but I sup
pose I could rent one if you insist upon
it. Have got to have u piano in order
to obtain the privilege of paying you fifty
guldens a month for two little badly.
lighted roomsa
30, no, on the contrary, I do not al
low pianos. Do you keep a dog or one
of those screeching, green parrots that
drive people crazy2"
81 have no use for dogs or parrots.
Are there any other pets that / am not
obliged to have before you viii take my
money for the rcnt2"
NO, you can have the rooms. What
is your namea"
"Cornelia Verardi.n
She moved her effects into the rooms
next day. 1t was true that she had no
children, parrots or musical. instruments,
with which to annoy the other tenants,
but she was accompanied by IN immense
yellow dog. The landlord did not make
this discovery until after his new tenant
had been on the premises several days.
II thought you said you had no dog2"
said the landlord, pointing to the animal
which was curled up in a nj
That's no dog" replied the tenant la
conically.
Well, it's big for q cat" replied the
landlord.
AS the new tenant was a very quiet
person, had paid her rent in advance,
and as it was a bad year for available
tenants, no attempt was made to put her
out. She kept herself to herself and
gave no cause for complaint.
She had an old iona for a servant
who brought her meals and attended to
her other wants.
One night, the new tenant was sudden
~ taken very i'll, and the old woman SER
want had to ooze rapidly out of the house
and rush around for q doctor.
When the medical man arrived with
his. tongue protruding, owing to the fast
time he had made, he found his patient
in an unconscious condition. He hastily
write out a prescription and giving it to
the seryant told her to lose no time in
getting it filed, while he remained with
the patient.
During the absence of the servant, the
doctor felt the fair patients pulse and
was making efforts to arouse her from her
deadly. stupor, when, all at once, he
heard q most horrible growing and
gnashing Of teeth right behind him.
Looking around he saw . huge beast
with shining eyes about to climb all over
him, or perhaps swallow him alive.
The doctors blood curdled in his veins
and his hair stood up on edge with fright.
He was paralyized with terror, but moi
entirely SO, for he managed to get into 3
distant corner Of the room behind a sofa
with a velocity that was almost magical.
Az B as the beast saw that the doc
tor was no longer near his mistress, he
claimed down q little, but kept his eyes
On the doctor with such q peculiar ex-
preston that the learned man was rivited
to the spot.
While the doctor was busy praying,
the old woman returned with the medi.
cine. The doctor was glad. He hoped
/ that the brute's jaw would become Sc
weary devouring the tough old woman
| that lie would have more time 10 make
his peace with Heaven, 9 his escape,
He preferred, however, 70 make his es-
cape.
As soon 81 the old woman saw tht
brute, she exclaimed
Och himnel, dot lion come dot room
oud ven / forget already I lock do
Door ana seizirg the animal uy his CON
~tinuatiou, she dragged him backward
out Of Tie room and locked The door.