The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-07-23

1Ou uTC UOuFSeV w u VtuSS HOuSo.
It was past two in the morning when
Mark allowed Mr.. Childers to depart,
and the old man was obliged to steal into
his own house through one Of the dining
room windows, left unlocked by mistake,
and to ocreepto bed like whipped school
boy. The next morning at breakfast he
wore q subdued and pensive air that at
tracted Kitty's attention. He let his
coffee cool beside his plate. hddled with
his knife and fork, and finally fell into .
long muse. Tom" said he at length,
after looking drearaily at Kitty for some
time, eff | were you would sell the
mastif. he is an ugly brute, and, as l
have learned from Denis, came near
last week tearing q telegraph boy in
pieces. We shall get into trouble il you
insist in keeping him on the premises.
Higgins, the butcher, will give you fifty
dollars for him, understand, and II !
were you should close with the offer at
once. You will probably never get an
other half as good, for he is . vicious
animal and his character Is well known
in this town"
Sell the mastifP exclaimed Tom,
half choked with astonishment, "when
we got him on purpose to protect the
premises from the attacks of the people
next door,"
"But you don't seem 10 see, Tom" re-
turned the old gentleman, mildly argu-
mentative, that they might get nd Of
him any day by throwing . piece Of
poisoned meat over the wall Meantime
II he chews up q messenger boy we shall
be forced to shoot him, and the money
you have put into him will prove . dead
loss"
Tom looked at the old gentleman Is II
he thought he had gone Of his head.
Mr.. Childers drummed Rbstractedly with
his fingers on the table, and disregard
ing Toms startled expression turned to
his daughter behind the tray and said;
what do you think. KittyT'
Kitty gave start and nearly dropped
the tea cup out Of her hand, for her
thoughts had been wool gathering. II
think, papa" she said slowly, 'it Is per-
fectly absurd for Tom to behave as he
does with his great savage dog and his
pistol practice, as II we were living on
the frontier and in danger Of an attack
from saVages at any moment, when our
neighborhood is perfectly quiet, respect
able and orderly. Il IL dreadful, papa"
continued Kitty, growing earnest, "and
l know It worries mamma in her weak
and nervous condition"
DO you hear, sir, /" said the old gentle
man sternly, do you hear what your sis
ter says1 Do you know you are annoying
your mother? Don't Ere pistols any mora
about these premises, and go and take
that mastif of the place Immediately
before am called into court to answer
for the life Of the letter carrier or the
grocer's boy. He can't be kept any longer
about these grounds Dye hear, sir7"
Tom settled back in his chair, and
looked at his father stupidity for some
time with his mouth open. He longed
TO whistle, but did not dare. There was
Q sternness in the old mans eye that
cowed him. He got up meekly from the
table, put his hat squarely on his head,
went ont and took the great mAstiR by
the chain and led him over to Higgins
shop. But he did not propose to sell
him to Higgins. He merely asked Hig-
gins to take care Of him until the gov
ernor's mood changed Meantime he
determined to watch the old man closely
to see II he could detect further signs Of
mental breakup in him.
After breakfast Mr.. Childors called
Kitty into the library, and solsmnly shut
and locked the door. He made two or
three turns through the room, fdgeted
about, moved the books on the table,
looked out Of the window for Q moment,
and then came and sat down close TO his
daughter, who was all the time eying
him curiously and with . shade Of anxi-
ETY. IN her look. kitty, my child, |" he
began nervously, taking her hand and
than slipping his arm round her slender
waist, would you be willing to confide
in your old father, 10 reveal to him the
enact state Of your heartl You know,
my dear child, what my wishes have
been; bow have hoped you would favor
Mr.. Rigsby's suit, He has 6ne fortune
and . handsome person, presentable in
any company, however select; uncom-
monty wen dressed always. Egad, one
Of the finest matches going, and no
had habits that ever heard Of. Young