The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-02

mestic. there's lidy in the front parlor what
claims as 'ow she howns this ere dawg"
Indeed mused Jack. "Then Minerva
B. has arrived. Tell the lady / will see her
| Immediately"
During this diaiog Blaruey had casually
| wandered upstairs and entered the parIor,
| whence there straightway issued suppressed
screams of delight and the sound of rapturous
careSses.
Minerva has found her lost darling" said
Jack. " / suppose / shall have to go up and
explain his residence here. It's a nuisance,
| and 1 loathe elderly spinsters, but the sooner
| one takes pill the sooner the nasty taste is
| gone. Here goes for the old maid"
However, when Mr.. John Van Tromp Ship
| ley entered the parlor he was utterly taken
| aback. On sofa, with both arms around the
trusnt terrier. sat young grl-ths prettiest
and freshest young girl Jack had ever seen in
| or ont of society. She rose biitheIy on his ap-
pearance and said with a smile, Mr. Shipley,
| are you not?"
| Jack bowed, and within the next two min
| utes became hopelessly entangled in his ac-
| count Of Blarney's finding.
1t was so good of you to take care Of hin" ("
cried the young lady, hugging Blarney little
closer Do you know, when got your letter
felt sure you must be some benevolent old
man who went about playing the fairy god
father and doing all sorts of good things"
THAT is odd, said Jack, who was patting Blar.
| ney's shaggy coat affsctionateIy 81 thought
| that you were some elderly female who had
| lost one Of her menagerie of pets. / am afraid
the name signed to your advertisement had
something to do with my misapprehension."
Biarney's pretty mistress laughed gayly and
Jack could not help thinking that her laugh
was like a song.
''But Minerva is really my name" she said :;
Minerva Bellingham. / am usually called
Minnie, however, which does not sound quite
so formidable"
Jacks hand was now stationary on Blsrney's
head, perilousiy near the hand of the young
lady.
VERY well bred dog Barney is" he re-
marked. 81 showed him to number Of Judges
this morning and they all praised his points"
" believe he is thoroughbred" replied Miss
Bellingham. When / lost him yesterday
morning you have no idea how miserable felt.
l fear he must have given you lot of trouble,
but there is one thing in his favor. He always
keeps himself so perfectly clean"
Jack smiled within himself as he thought of
the terriers tramish aspect On the previous
night.
Barney is splendid dog" he observed,
" in many ways, and have begun to feel quite
friendship for him. It will really be blow
when he leaves me, although l am necessarily
pleased to be able to restore him to his rightful
owner Ter wish, Miss Bellngham, that you
WOeiu permit me 10 call occasionally az your
house, just to see-Blarney-you know"
Oh, please do come" exclaimed Miss Bel
lingham. 4" / shall be-that is, Barney and /
shall be delighted to see you. And now must
go, or mother Will be wondering if have not
been lost like Barney"
Banks was sent to fetch cab while the young
people chatted pleasantly on the doorstep The
terrier came in for more petting than he had
ever before experienced and looked thoroughly
master of the situation. At parting Miss Bel
lingham gave Jack her hand and smilingly
repeated her invitation to call upon Barney.
As the cab rolled up the street the woolly
face of the dog, closely pressed against the rosy
smiling checks of its owner, appeared at the
window.
Jack looked after them until they disap-
peared from view at street corner.
Then entering the house again, he rubbed
his hands and exclaimed delightedly: "That's
what | call liberal reward, indeed!"
"Our Dog" as The Shipleys call Barney has
never since been brought face to face with the
question of sleeping in the cellar, but on the
contrary enjoys all the luxures which its
owners, Banks the butler, Buttons and the rest
of the house able to bestow upon him.
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