The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-08-28

them if they weren't his" she said
with laughing dignity.
ats providence" said Frank from
the other side of the fence. ''Get your
handkerchief or something ready, Miss
Moody. We can treat the other peo-
pie"
Dear me! What was that, Mr..
Knapp" Beth queried.
1t was an ominously low growl.
"a dog!" said Frank from a lower
limb of the tree. Does your Uncle
John keep one?'
No." Beth responded. 'tMr. Knapp
mercy! Do you know-why, how
could 1? How stupid! 1t isn't Uncle
Johns yard; his is next. Don't you
see? The two are so much alike, and
in this light Do come down Mr..
Knapp! somebody's coming"
1t was too late. A burly form,
grasping the chain of the big dog
which followed, came trotting pant
ingly round the corner of the house, as
Frank stepped to the ground.
Hold on there, young man!' a
wrathful voice called out. 'sDon't ye
stir step, or yen be sorry for it!'
And the burly man, breathless and
red with anger, confronted him.
''Keep still, Tiger! Guess l can man.
age him." he muttered grimly. ''Now
then, young man, I'm going to have
the law on We. I've said I'd do it with
the first one | ketched in my peaches,
and here We be-"
Mr.. Mullet-it is Mr. Mullet, isn't
itP'' Beth gasped.
1.-TWO of ye, be there?" said Mr.. Null
let, cycling her sharply. "Yes,m, that's
my name"
1--WE thought, said Beth affrightedlv,
''that this was Uncle Johns place. We
wouldn't have thought of getting your
peaches. Mr. Mullet.''
.'Ye can't get around me that way,
young woman!' said Mr.. Mullet
with sarcasm. ''I'm going to have the
law on ye; said | should, and l will.
You can get ready to go long to the
jestice's with me; that's where ye're
going"
Sir, said Frank Indignantly, .'do
you doubt this young lady's word?"
'.WelI, rather" Mr.. MuIlet respond
ed gruftiy.
''3ut you know my Uncle John Cor
don, don't you?" Beth implored. He
lives next door. And won't you be-
Heve mcp'
'.Yes'm;I know ohm Gordon enough
to know you amt no kin O. his-not
much" said MI. Mulletirately. Come
! now, yen find l mean what l say. I'm
going to take We to the iestice."
You'll allow me 10 settle with you,
won't you, Mr.. Mullet?" said Frank
with amused eyes. II hadn't taken
any peaches. | believe l brushed one
! to the ground, and you'll probably find
it there; but in case it was injured, al
low me to reimburse YOU"
He held out Il coin TO the scowling
old man.
mo. sir" said Mr.. Mullet with surly
obstinacy-''no, sir. I'm goin to have
things settled 'cording to my notions.
I'm going to have the satisfaction of
the law
He tied the dog to the tree. and stood
grimly waiting.
Frank got over the fence coolly.
Never mind, Miss Moody" he wh;s-
3ered, drawing her arm through his
own. Don't be distressed don't,
please. Of course you know the JUS
tice?r'
ooh yes-Squaire Dowell," Beth re-
joined strangely quieted by his unex-
cited tones and his gently protecting
air.
.Well, of course word from you
will be enough. Theignorant old cur
mudgeon will get the worst of it; and
nobody will hear of it in all probabili-
ty. Don't you see? There isn't the
slightest cause for alarm, Miss Moody.
Why, l regard it as quite a joke. 1t
would have been rather dull if some
thing hadn't happened"
And Beth, soothed and comforted des-
pite herself, found herself smiling with
him.
s.Well, Mr.. Mullet?' said Frank
briskly, and all three went forward.
Of course it was embarrassing for
Henry, standing at the corner with the
Dowells, whom he and Miss Knapp
had met, and seriously discussing the
weather and like eminently proper
topics-of course it was embarrassing,
the sudden appearance of his cousin,
his 1fd1acee, and Mr.. Mullet-Mr. Null
let, common old person to whom he
had never even spoken!
And the ensuing occurrences were
still more embarrassing.
His cousin-a relative of his-and the
young lady he was to marry, in such
predicament!
1t made no difference that it was all
smoothly settled-that everybody, with
the exception of himself, was laugh
ing quite wildly, and that even Mr..
Mullet departed finally, grimly smil-
ing.
1t made no difference; he was
shocked, offended, seriously displeased.
He took Beth's arm as they turned
homeward.
"You appear to consider it mere
joke Beth" he said severely.
''But 1t was funny, Henry" said
Beth mirthfully.
at was an absurdly undignified af--
fair!'' Henry pronounced with stern
ness. 1T was highly discreditable.
If it should become known, I should
be deeply mortified. lam by no means
pleased
Beth walked at his side silently for a
while. Then she drew her arm from
his, and drew his ring from her hand,
and put it into his own.
ssJlonit think am anCrv with Won