Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-03-09
any dog that madeals appearance, aud
''crOssed his heart intoken,Of absolute


secrecy, sityssss1T y e1.,
nErapk was not TO act as escort to any
I atp lady. / had an idea that he in
4 a Offering his services to Miss
u and chuckled to myself when I
thought, how I,hAd got ahead of him.
not forgetting. however. that it was
good Of him to 'aowhat he was doing
for his successful SriEal.9 81
/ was to go on ahead while Frank.
kept in the rear, aud IL the dreaded dog
an not make his appearance, Frank
.wta. to keep out Of sight II. on the.
other hand. the dog did appear, Frank
was to come boldly forward and drive
him away, as II he merely happened to
come along just then. Z
jamie was ready whenI called for
her, and we started away, both feeling
very awkward and embarrassed at the
hovklty Of our position, for jamie had
never before had an escort, and 1t was
the first time a lady had ever taken my
arm. It was but a short distance to
Farmer Trufant's house, and we were
soon at the gate. My hand was on the
latch when old Tobe came bounding
around a corner. barking furiously and
making straight for the 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
panther more easily than could face
that bowling, shideous, open-mouthed
dog as he came on in the moonlight
snarling and growing.
I Still Frank did not appear, and, un-
miRdful Of my duty to jamie, unmind-
fpl Of every thing but my own cowardly
fears, suddenly mounted the fence
and swung myself up among the
branches Of tall maple-tree that stood
by the gate. Then Frank suddenly ap-
peared.
Get outI"' he cried, opening the gate
and giving lobe a, kick that sent him
h0wiing away. Then, to my amaze
ment, he gallantly offered to Miss jamie
his arm, which she instantly accepted,
and they walked into the house, leav-
ing me up in the tree
/ was about to descend and follow
them when old lobe, attracted by a
slight noise ! made, again appeared.
barking as loud as 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
Dafked as If he had 'treed" game
which he certainly had done. l could
not, dared not, descend while he lay
there, and he showed no disposition to
go away. Others came to the party.
but Tobe did not mind them. He was
too much occupied with the game he
had already freed.
Time passed. From my perch in the
leahess tree could look into the
large, old farm ''living-room, the win
dow-shades Of which were not lowered,
and see the merry-makers, every one of
whom knew, engaging in game of
..'weevily wheat" jamie and Frank TAX
ing the lead. Then / saw them 'wading
the swamp together, after which jamie
.s'kept post-ofIiee," and had letters for
no one but Frank.
While they were measuring tape
tOgether--it vas now almost time for
the party to come to AM end--a rabbit
darted lightly out from q cover of brush
near by and ran across the road. Tobc
saw it and wildly gave chase over the
snow. This gave me a chance OF
escape, and | hastily descended and ran
home. OF course I could not go to the
party at such an hour How chagrined
and angry I.wasi My emotions could
not have found vent in words.
! pretended to be sound asleep when
Frank came in an hour later. but 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 awaken
'tOh, you'll find out whether am or
not, II you say much 10 meP' / said.
Grossly. II suppose you think you're
very smart, but tbefore I'd do any thing
as mean as you've done, I'd, Pd''-
Climb atree, ehP" said Frank, with
a chuckle. We'll, now, wasn't it a
good joke, SileP jamie and I laughed
about it all the way home"
And they laugh about it yet every
time l go to VISIT them, for jamie has
been my sister-in-Iaw for fifteen years.
Youths Companion.