Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-11-29
TAKING HIM DOWN.

',rntending to read. The hammock is
,wu g und 'rneath huge oak tree which
stands in the lower end of our garden.
NJ book on this particular afternoon
Is not interesting, and | finally fling it
,Iside i'll disgust Just then a slight
noise attracts my attention, and a mo-
ment after, to my great astonishment, a
bulldog of the ugliest description APP
pears in sight from behind the tree. The
animal walks gravely to within few
feet of the hammock, deliberately seats
himself and stareS solemnly at me, with
his nose very much in the air. He wears
a collar, on which his name and that of
his o vner are engraved.
lean out of the hammock at peril
Gus angle and examine this collar, as l
am afraid to touch the ugly little beast.
Presently l 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 a more up
right position, fluff up my curls tritie,
and glance meditatively at my negligee
costume.
feel convinced that the dog is only
the heral of his master, who can not
he far behind. l decide lazily that it
viii not pay to dress for Sylvester, we
re such extremely old friends, having
become acquainted in tender infancy.
Although not actually related, enter
tain for Sylvester a somewhat cousinly
regard. To be sure, l think him rather
ronceited, and feel assured that the
riliancy of his intellect will never
Il zzie any one-to put it mildly. Never
theless, he is always so good natured
and obligng that we have ever been
most excellent friends. 1 have not seen
him for year or so, however-not since
he went to college.
l am wondering idly, whether college
life has improved him, when hear foot
,teps approaching and listen for his
we'll known Hello. Nell!"
l listen in vain.
The footsteps come nearer, and finally
Mr. j. Sylvester Hutchinson appears in
sight from behind the tree; but he says
nothing for a moment, while l give a
little gasp of astonshment, 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
!he 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 a high collar, which is
rainly 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 examines me attentively
for moment. a faint CLEAN of intelli-
gence then appears in the dull vacuity of
his countenance. He moves forward
and drawls languidly:
by Jove! Helen. didn't know you at
first-didnt, for fact. Glad to see you.
Just got back yesterday. Ran right
over, YOU see.
can hardly believe that this eXtraor-
dinary creature is really my old play
fellow. | am unable to speak at first;
self very ginSery upon a rustic bench.
The bulldog Immediately springs up and
seats him elf by his masters side. he
pair sit there and gaze at me solemnly,
while | mentally conclude there are
pair of them.
"'Pon my word, Helen" Mr.. Hutchin-
son remarks after a pause, you don't
give chap very warm welcome.
colecU my scattered senses and say
feebly:
Il beg your pardon, Sylvester; but
the surprise o seeing you startled me
littIe-and then, you have changed some
what, you know-and-"
break down in the middle of my SEN
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 deuced
bore to me now. Don't know what to
do with myself in this beastly place.
Cad! l wish you would ask that Miss
Armstrong to visit you-saw her photo,
you know. Deucedly fetching girl.
Most extraordinary eyes. Like to be
looked 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-
tarily, 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
IDENTIFY seen nothing; he is staring straight
before him with look of blank idiocy
on his face. Irun my eyes over his cos
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" l remark sweetly.
II have already invited her to visit me;
she will be here very soon-to- morrow,
in fact.
A faint expression of interest actually
dawns upon the impassive face. The
eyeglass droops in consequence.
"By Jove! but that is quite too awfully
Jolly" he exclaims. "Deucedly glad to
hear It'll" Then he relapses into the lam
guild drawL But is she as fetching as
har nhoto thouphP Want YOU to coach