Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-02-15
OBJECTIONABLE PETS.

cottage opposite, and they were mortal
enemies lie despised her because she
kept two cats and a canary, and she
loathed him for his affection for a huge
mastin and nh old knock knecd horse.
why on earth the man don't try to
get "a decent horse Is more than | can
imagined" she would say. as be plodded
up to the door II 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 horseHesh for the purpose Of an
noying her.
They never spoke. but yet they man
aged to keep up a perfect warfare by dis
agreeable anners aud wrgthful chances
She sat hour after hour beneath the
canary bird in the window. with her cat
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 him a hot bath, which sent him
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
inclosure and devoured his turnips and
ca5bages. and he led her home and in
formed Miss Briggs that a second oiTcnso
would give her a comfortable pasture in
the pound.
For two years they lived and fought.
and no one could bring about peace DO
tween them. 1t was a pity, the neigh
bors all said. for Miss Briggs was a dear
little soul. and there was not n finer man
la the country than Mr.. Perry.
Julia. my love" said Mrs. Perkins n
afternoon, as she entered the coy par
Tor, 81 am going to have a party. and ]
want you 60 come down in the afternoon
to tea and remain during the evening
Every one will be there"
"Wil the old bach over the way be
there2"
Mr. PerryR Oh, yesl We could not
get along without him"
Then that settles the matter, l shan't
GO"
Now. Julia, don't DO 80 foolishl II
you remain at home he will think that
you are afraid of him"
Miss Briggs thought the matter over
Well, it would look a little like that.
and she would not AVE 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.
Sho vas a pretty little woman, and II
was always q puzzle to every one why she
never married. She had q round, rosy
face, clear brown eyes and beautiful hair,
and If she was thirty, there was not n
smarter woman in town.
She stood before the looking glass in
her chamber, and fastened her lace collar
over the neck Of her dress with q plain
gold brooch, and began to think that shc
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
DO ih a very good humor, but said moth
ing, allowing the good lady to smile as
long and pleasantly rs she wished.
She understood it all when supper time
came, and Mr.. Perkins entered, followed
by Mr.. Perry. This was q well laid plan
to 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 tho
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 70 him with easy and pleasant
Familiarity.
The party was a success, and although
the sports were generally monopolized by
the younger portion, they found room for
tho old maid and her enemy. and several
times they found themselves doing most
ridiculous things in the way of paying
forfoits.
At the end of the evening Miss Briggs
was at the door ready to depart. when he
called:
miss Briggs, l am going right up your
way. VIII you rider"
Would she ride behind that old horse,
and beside that detestable manY She was
wondering whether she would or not.
when Mrs. Perkins came and triumph
antly led her out. and packed her into tho
carriage.
1t was as dark as pitch, and they had
60 let the horse 60 his own way and find
It the best he could. He did 80 very well
until they reached the cottage. and then
he was bewildered.
Mr.. Perry spoke, jerked the reins. but
90 no purpose. He then took IL the
whip. Whether his natural dislike to
that article. or the memory Of the indig
mites he had suffered from tho hands OF
the owner Of the cottage overeame him It
Is hard to decide. but at all events ho
kicked up his heels, ran a few yards and
fell, overturning the buggy and its pre-
eious contents.
Miss Briggs was up In a moment, un
harmed, but Mr.. Perry was silent as the
grave. She ran shouting through the
darkness until MI. Perry's 'help" came
with a lantern to her assistance.
They found the poor man half dead be-
meath the 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 be was senseless, and they
bore him home and sent for tho doctor
Upon examination they found his leg e
be broken. and thus Miss Briggs enemy
was at 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
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