Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-10-25
TAKING HIN DOWN.

stands in tile lower end Of our garden
nv book on this particular afternoon
is not interesting, and ! finally fling it
aside in disgust Just then slight
noise attracts my attention, and a mo-
ment after, TO my great astonishment.
bulldog of the uglisst description ap-
pears in sight from behind the tree. The
animal walks gravely to within a few
feet of the hammocA, deliberately seats
himself and stares solemnly at me. with
his nose very much in the air. He wears
collar, on which his name and that of
his yner are engraved.
lean out of the hammock at peril
Gus angle and examine this collar, as
ann afraid to touch the ugly little beast
Presently sink back, having discovered
that the name Of the dog is Tiger and
that he is the property of J. Sylvester
Hutchin ,on.
Then / suddenly assume more up
right position. fluff up my curls a trifie,
and glance meditatively at my negligee
costume.
feel convinced that the dog is only
the herald of his master, who can not
be far behind / decide lazily that it
will not pay to dress for Sylvester, we
are such extremely old friends, having
become acquainted in tender infancy.
Although not actually related, l enter
tain for Sylvester somewhat cousinly
regard. To be sure. think him rather
conceiIed, and feel assured that the
brilliancy of his intellect will never
dazzle any one-to put it mildly. Never
theless, he is always SO good natured
and obliging that We have ever been
most excellent friends have not seen
him for year or SO, however-not since
he went to college.
am wondering idly, whether college
life has improved him, when l hear foot
steps approaching and listen for his
well known Hello. Nelll"
listen in vain.
The footsteps come nearer, and finally
Mr. ]. Sylvester Hutchinson appears in
sight from behind the tree; but he says
nothing for a moment, while / give
little gasp of astonishment, and then
stare at him in open mouthed wonder.
For a marvellous change has been
wrought in my old playfellow. He is
attired in a tight fitting checked suit of
the largest and most conspicuous pat
tern. His trousers. especially, are dis
tressingly snug His small face looks
out from under an enormous pot" hat,
very ugly as to shape and color, and
outrageously unbecoming. His chin is
propped up by .igh collar. which is
vainly trying to cut his throat for him.
An eyeglass is screwed into his right
eye. He carries walking stick with
silver top.
AS he catches sight of me he pauses.
He screws his eyeglass more firmly
into his eye and ex mines me attentively
for moment. A faint gleam Of intelli-
gence then appears in the dull vacuity of
his countenance. He moves forward
and drawls languidly:
"By Jovel Helen, didn't know you at
first-didn't, for fact. Glad to see you.
Just got back yesterday. Ran right
over, you see.
can hardly believe that this extraor-
binary creature is really my old play
fellow. am unable to speak at first:
and, meanwhile. my visitor seats him
self very gingerly upon rustic bench.
The bulldog Immediately springs up and
seats himself by his masters side. The
pair sit there and gaze at me soiemnly,
while mentally conclude there are a
pair of them.
@'Pon my word, Helen, Mr.. Hutchin-
son remarks after a pause, ~you don't
give chap very warm welcome.
collect my scattered senses and say
feebly:
Il beg your pardon, Sylvester; but
the surprise of seeing you startled me a
little-and then, you have changed some-
what, you know-and---"
/ break down in the middle of my sem
tence.
"Yes. remarked Sylvester, compla-
Gently; "a fellow naturally changes as
he grows older. He must live in town,
too, if he wants to know what is what
Pom my word, the country is a deuced
bore to me now. Don't know what to
do with myself in this beastly place.
| Gadi wish you would ask that Miss
Armstrong to visit you-saw her photo,
you know. Deucedly fetching girl.
Most extraordinary eyes Like to be
booked for jolly little Irritation with
her-would, for fact.
Imove uneasily as the sound of Syl-
vester's newly acquired accent dies
away, and hurriedly, almost involun-
tariIy, glance upward. For the briefest
possible moment the leaves which hide
the seat overhead are thrust aside, and
lovely face appears, wearing an en-
treating expression. The finger on the
lips, the energetic shaking Of the head.
all seem to be pleading for silence on my
part
look back at Sylvester. He has evil
IDENTITY seen nothing; he is staring straight
before him with look Of blank idiocy
on his face. Irun my eyes over his cos
tune once more I glance at the cane
and eyeglass, and from them to the dis
gusting little beast at his side, whose ex-
preston seems an exact counterpart of
his masters This rapid survey decides
me.
How strange that you should mention
May Armstrong, ! remark sweetly.
Il have already invited her to visit mes
she viii be here very s00n--tO- morrow,
In fact
A faint expression Of interest actually
dawns upon the impassive face The
eyeglass droops in consequence.
@By Jovel but that is quite too awfulIy
| Jolly, :" he exclainss -Deucediy glad to
hear il" Then he relapses into the Ian
| guild drawl But Is she as fetching as
4 R,or r,l,ofo f1nou0h9 Want vou Ia coach