St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-04-20
eay dog that made Its appearance. and
''croesed his heart" in token Of absolute

eay dog that made Its appearance. and
| ''crossed his heart" in token Of absolute
secrecy.
| Frank was not to act as escort to any
young lady. had an idea that he in.
tended Offering his services to Miss
jamie. and chuckled to myself when
thought how ! had got ahead of him.
not forgetting. however. that it was
good Of him to do what he was doing
for his successful rival
/ was to 90 on ahead while Frank
kept In the rear. and il the dreaded dog
did not make his appearance. Frank
was to keep out of sight II. on the
other hand. the dog did appear. Frank
was to come boldly forward and drive
him away. ~ II he merely happened 70
come along just then
jamie was ready when I called for
her. and We started away. both feeling
very awkward and embarrassed =: t;ss
novelty Of our position. for jamie had
never before had an escort. and e was
the first time lady had ever taken my
arm. 1t was but a short distance to
Farmer Trufant's house. and We were
soon Mt the gate. My hand was on the
latch when old Tobe came bounding
around a corner. barking furiously and
making straight for tho gate.
On he came. but Frank did not ap-
pear. drew back trembling while
jamie clung to me. 1t seemed to me
that ! could have faced bear or a
panther more easily than / could face
that bowling, hideous. open-mouthed
dog as he came on in the moonlight.
snarling and growing.
Still Frank did not appear. and. un-
mindful of my duty to jamie. unmind-
full of every thing but my own cowardly
fears, suddenly mounted the fence
and swung myself up among the
branches of a tall maple-trcc that stood
by the gate. Then Frank suddenly ap-
pearcd. &.
Get out!" he cried. opening the gate
and giving lobe kick that sent him
bowling away. Then. to nv amaze
ment. he ga.lantly offered to Miss jamie
his arm. which shc ins:antl Accepted.
and they walked into the use. lesv-
ing me up in the tree.
| was about to descend and follow
them when old Tobc. attracted by .
slight noise / made. again appeared.
barking as loud rs before. and In my
terror clambered back into my perch.
Tobe growled under the tree for
awhile. and then. to my dismay, lay
down by the gate, glared up at me and
barked as If he had ''treed" game
which he certainly had done. ! could
not dared not descend while he lay
there, and he showed no disposition to
60 away. Others came to the party.
but Tobe did not mind them. He was
too much occupied with the game he
had already treed.
: Time passed. From my perch in the
leaaess tree l could look into the
large. old farm ''living-room. the win
of which were not lowered.
and see the merry-makers. every one of
whom / knew. engaging in q game of
"weevily wheat" jamie and Frank TAX
ing the lead. Then saw them ''wading
the swamp" together. after which jamie
..kept post-off;ce," and had letters for
no one but Frank.
While they were measuring tape"
was now almost time for
the party to come to an end-a rabbit
darted lightly out from cover of brush
near by and ran across the road. FObc
saw it and wildly gave chase over tho
snow. This gave me chance Of
escape. and hastily descended and ran
home. OF course I could not 60 to the
party at such an hour. How chagrined
and angry was! My emotions could |
not have found vent in words
/ pretended to be sound asleep when
Frank came in an hour later. but l was
really wide awake. and when he lay
Down by my side. chuckling and gig
Cling. he gave me a nudge and asked:
Hi. Sile. are you awake?"
'Oh. you'll find out whether ] am or
not, il you say much TO met l said.
GROSSLY. Il suppose you think you're
rery smart. but before I'd do any thing
Is mean as you've done. I'd. I'd
Climb tree, eh?" said Frank, with
} chucklc. "Well. now. wasn't II 2
good joke. Sile? jamie and l laughed
about it all the way home"
And they laugh about it yet every
lime l 60 to visit them, for jamie has
,een my sistcr-in-law for fifteen yeara