Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-04-10

LAUGHED TILL ROLLED OVER
board from an ex-fiance, you can call
me goat"
This struck me as so funny that /
laughed till rolled over on the grass
but my master didn't even smile.
"Will you give me that note?" he
asked.
"What forp''
"To show Mrs. Manning"
"Jack VIII you really break with
her?"
My master gave a funny little hard
laugh.
This time tomorrow Mrs. Manning
will have struck me off the list of her
acquaintance"
'Thank Godl said the gentleman, land
now, Jack. that your eyes are opened to
your own folly, let me warn you Of an
other danger that is threatening you.
You are breaking your wife's heart
but that isn't the worst of it. While
you have been foolish, others have been
but too wise-your little wife needn't
go begging"
''Great heavenl man, what do you
mean"
THAT you had better look out for
yourself. When pretty woman is un-
happy there is never any lack Of nice
fellows ready TO cheer her up"
With that they walked away and i
heard no more.
The next morning, TO my great sur
pYise, my master and mistress came out
TO me together. He had his high hat on
and shining boots, SO, as that tiresome
Patrick had tethered me on the wrong
side of the brook, he would not cross to
talk TO me, but just looked and called
to me. saw, however, that they
looked happy and could hear all they
said.
"After to-day / won't go to town
again all summer" said my master,
"and now that we have not a critic to
fear your face must wear nothing but
smiles for the future"
Then he went off down the road, and
I laughed to myself because | was in
the secret and knew just why he would
not go to town any more. ] called to
nv mistress and asked her TO come and
| unite me, and promised TO let her into
the secret if she would, but she was so
busy looking down the road after my
master and kissing her hand to him as
| he turned the corner that she did not
hear me. Perhaps as 1t turned ont 1t
was better she did not hear me.
ate lot Of grass that morning
more than had dared TO since began
| TO watch for critic. | heard my
mistress singing in the garden, she was
evidently feeling happy, and too was
| happy in knowing that we had nothing
more to fear from n critic-for the
strain of watching for him was begin
| ming TO tell on me. had been so busy
scanning every one who went up or
| down the road, and listening 20 hear if
| my mistress cried as they went by, that
had not had time 10 eat and ! was
getting thin and poor, and beginning to
| be afraid Crisficld would come and
make veal of me-a disgusting practice
that did not want 10 countenancc.
I gambolled with JOY as | thought
| that this would be the last few hours of
| my watch-to-morrow my master would
| not go away any more. critic was
settled, and my mistress was never go
| ing To cry again. | wonder what had
settled critic, and supposed he was
| dead and made into veal or beef or
whatever they make out Of critic. /
was little sorry that we were rid OF IL
because should greatly have liked to
have had one chance at II myself-but
so long as it was gone ! supposed that
| ought to be contcnted.
| BY and by my mistress came gayly
| out OF the garden with her work and Il
book and all the dogs at her heels, and
sat down under the willow.
She had been there some little tiine
| when the little man with the whislkers
came. The moment | saw him hated
him afrcsh, and longed TO be near my
mistress TO protect her. | tugged ut my
stake, and II made me so mad that l
couldn't move IL, and that l was on tho
wrong side OF the brook, that ! cried
aloud. and missed the beginning OF tho
| conversation.
| "Yes, ! am alone" was the first
words heard, "but my husband says his
business will be finished to-day and he
won't go TO town again this sum mcr."
The little man with the whislecrs
gave another of those horrid laughs OF
his.
81 don't suppose he viii. think he
Ia going TO bring his business down
here"
"What do you mean?'
"On Saturday he was at tho Rossin
House on the hill arranging about board
for lady"
My mistress gave short cry, and
then looked him square In the faco.
at Is not true" she said, proudly.
III think you'll say 1t is when tell
| you the name OF the lady he has half
engaged the room for Is Mrs. Lou Man
ming"
My mistress stood looking at him for
n moment without speaking. but the
expression OF her face would have told
any one but that horrid little man with
the whislscrs that he had hurt her very
much AT least she gave a funny little
cry, and then began talking TO herself
under her breath.
"What shall do! What shall dor
heard her say.
| The little man with the whislScrs
came up close TO her, but she was so
4 unhappS that shc did not notice him, 1