Wichita eagle., 1888-10-25
OBJECTIONABLE PETS.


Briggs was al old maid He lived in the
brick house ON the hill, and she in the
cottage opposite, and they were mortal
enemies. He despised her because she
kept two cats and canary, and she
loathed him for his affection for huge
mastiff and an old knock kneed horse
why on earth the man don't try to
get decent horse is more than can
imaginei' she would say. as he plodded
up to the door Il believe that he is too
mean and misery to buy one.
Miss Briggs would have hardly felt
pleased had she known that Mr.. Perry
rode back and forward on this worn out
: piece of horsefesh for the purpose Of an
moving her.
They never spoke, but yet they man
aged to keep up perfect warfare by dis
agreeable manners and wrathful chances.
She sat hour after hour beneath the
canary bird h the window, with her cet
perched upon the sill and her knitting in
her hand, throwing glances of scorn to
the opposite side, where he, with cigar
and newspaper, received and paid them
back with interest.
His detestable dog came over and ran
through her garden, destroying all her
beautiful tulips and hyacinths, and she
gave ulIu u uUb UdIu, WHICH SEM IlIu
bowling to his master, and when said
master demonstrated, sent word that she
would treat him worse next time.
> Her little red COW broke through his
Enclosure and devoured his turnips and
cabbages, and he led her home and in
formed Miss Briggs that a second offense
would give her q comfortable pasture in
the pound
For two years they lived and fought,
and no one could bring about peace be-
tween them 1t was pity, the neigh
bors all said, for Miss Briggs was dear
little soul, and there was not o finer man
IN the country than Mr.. Perry.
Julia, my love-" said Mrs. Perkins one
afternoon, as she entered the coy par
lor. 81 am going to have a party, and
want you to come down in the afternoon
to tea and remain during the evening,
Every one will be there"
'Will the old bach over the way be
there2"
MIR, Perry? On, yesI We could not
get along without him"
"Then that settles the matter, l shan't
CO."
Now, Julia, don't be SO foolishl If
you remain at home he will think that
you are afraid of him"
Miss Briggs thought the matter over.
Well, it would look little like that,
and she would not have him think so for
the world-the conceited wretch.
Mrs. Perkins went home, and it was ar
ranged that Miss Briggs was to spend the
afternoon and remain for the party.
She was pretty little woman, and it
was always puzzle to every one why she
never married. She had round, rosy
face. clear brown eyes and beautiful hair,
1and if she was thirty, there was not
smarter woman in town.
4 She stood before tho looking glass in
her chamber, and fastened her lace collar
over the neck Of her dress with plain
gold brooch and began to think that she
looked very well. There was a bright,
healthy flush upon her cheek. and her
eyes were full of life and beauty.
She walked into Mrs. Perkins sitting
room and found her awaiting her with a
smiling face. She thought that she must
be in very good humor, but said moth
ing, allowing the good lady to amile as
long and pleasantly as she wished.
She understood it all when supper time
came, and Mr.. Perkins entered, followed
= by Mr.. Perry This was well laid plan
ITO make the two become friends.
Miss Briggs bit her lips and inwardly
vowed that nothing should tempt her to
'give that man" her hand in friendship.
She hated him, and always would.
He was placed directly opposite at the
table, and many times forced to pass the
biscuits or preserves, and Miss Briggs &C
cepted them. although she declared to
Mrs. Perkins after supper that they nearly
choked her.
Before evening they were both per
suadcd to overlook the horse and cow
difficulty, and be civil, and Miss Briggs
was frightened when she found herself
talking to him with easy and pleasant
familiarity.
The party was q success, and although
1.-The sports were generally monopolized by
!. the younger portion, they found room for
the old maid and her enemy, and several
times they found themselves doing most
ridiculous things in the way of paying
forfeits.
At the end of the evening Miss Briggs
was at the door ready to depart, when he
called:
Miss Briggs. am going right up your
way. VIII you rider"
Would she ride behind that old horse,
and beside that detestable man2 She was
wondering whether she would or not,
when Mrs. Perkins came and triumph
,antly led her out, and packed her into the
carriage.
1t was as dark as pitch, and they had
TO let the horse 60 his own way and find
| It the best he could. He did SO very well
until they reached the cottage, and then
he was bewildered.
MIR. Perry spoke, jerked the reins, but
TO no purpose. He then took out the
whip. Whether his natural dislike to
that article, or the memory of the indig-
mites he had suffered from the hands Of
the owner of the cottage overcarne him 1t
Is hard to decide, but st oil events he
kicked up his heels, ran few yards and
fell, overturning the buggy and its pre-
cious contents
Miss Briggs was up in moment, IN
harmed, but Mr.. Perry was silent as the
grave. She rau shouting through the
darkness until Mr.. Peiry's help" came
,.Sith lantern TO her assistance.
They found the poor man half dead be-
3neath tho carriage, and while Dan was at
work Miss Briggs ran home for her own
Servant. After much hard labor they
succeeded in extricating him from the
wreck, but he was sonseless, and they
boro him homo and sent for the doctor.
Upoa examination they found his leg to
be broken. and thus Miss Briggs enemy
was st her mercy.
Tho DAYS and weeks that followed were
dreadful ones to the sufferer. but Miss
Briggs never left him. Day and night
she stood beside him, and her plump
hands administered 20 every want
L.