Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-09-30
THE DAY OF THE DOG.
A Little Creature That Was at On
Time q Formidable Rival.

A1CCi0 creature mat was at one
Time q Formidable Rival.
He stretched himself out in the ham
mock with the air Of man who has a
whole summer afternoon before him, and
means to let it dream itself away.
He was absolutely unruffled by what
had occurred. The revelation of her faith
lessness had left him perfectly calm.
He filled his pipe without scattering the
tobacco over his light tennis suit and sue
ceeded in getting a light with the first
match, although the hammock swayed
gently and wandering breeze came and
played under the old apple trees.
But his little cocker spaniel needed no
further invitation than the sad and far
away look in his eyes, for she sprang bold
ly into the hammock and stretched herself
out on his broad chest.
As she placed her paws around his neck
and cuddled her silky head close under his
chin. she knew that the marks of her feet
on his clothing would meet with no re-
proof in such an emergency.
She lay there quietly without licking his
face in her usual demonstrative fashion,
for she was wise little beast and felt that
moist and doggy kisses were not the sort
he would welcome just then.
"Good, old girl" he said. as he drew her
closer to him. 'You are fond of me, any
way. You and the pipe and I are three
great old chums, and we don't care for
any one else. do we? Not muchp'
The spaniel gazed at him wistfully
"She's not worth it, is she?' he continued.
"But you're different. have never done
anything for you but beat you when you
don't mind, and take no notice of you when
you do. And yet you jumped overheard
from the steamer and came near being
drowned, just to save an old straw hat of
mine. But you're only dog, you know,
and that's where it all comes in.
"But she! I've done everything for her
that man can do for woman, when he
loves her.. and now she's gone off with
young De Rocks. But she's a girl, and
girls and dogs are not to be compared in
the same breath. So we'll let her go.
She is
"Just thing of puffs and patches
Made for k1adrigals and catches,
Not for heart wounds, but for scratches
"Ah, you are rehearsing, see"
The spaniel raised her head and greeted
the intruder with jealous little growl.
Then she found herself unceremoniously
spilled on the ground, as the young man
rose to his feet
hcucdTSluS! L uOu
ooh, no; l don't suppose you do remem-
Der, but you were to read Dobson to me,
down by the brook this afternoon. In
stead, find you coolly lying here and re-
peating one of his most cynical sentiments
to that innocent little dog of yours"
Il did not think you would return SO
soon. When I went across the lawn to
your house, l saw you coming down the
drive with De Rocks in his cart"
"You saw my parasol; but I was not
under it."
"How could 1 know? It was held so
low that could see no one else" he said
penitently.
"You might have known. loaned it to
Jennie Whiting. When Frank asked her
to go driving with him she had Fremont
ton that she would look perfectly lovely
in her red dress; but she had no parasol to
match it, so she very coyly forgot hers and
made him stop while she borrowed mine,
and Ia little hotly) gave me chance to
find out how much confidence you had in
me-"
How could know Jennie would be so
artful?"
you will learn more about girls some
day."
II don't care to know about that kind,
1t is perfect woman I am anxious to
study. Will you forgive me and give me
my first lesson this afternoon?"
The cocker spaniel looked up into the |
girls face and then, making up her mind |
that dogs were at discount, started in |
frantic pursuit of a hypothetical sparrow.
Harry Romano in Life.