Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-03-04

of pleasure to Mrs. General Ollapod.
In the twenty-four ensuing hours the
colonel encountered the pretty child half
score of times, and the child invariably re-
coied from him, until he marveled at her
conduct Was she one of those unfortu-
nate bundles of nerves that would be
thrown into commissions by II mouseS
But thoroughly schooled as the colonel
deemed himself, he had something to learn
yet. BY one of those rare chances one sci
dom is cognizant of outside novel or play.
the colonel overheard brief dialogue be-
tween Mrs General Ollapod and an I'M
known companion that gave him novel
sensation. Mrs General Ollapod was
pleading earnestly; her tone was mplOring,
while her words shaped themselves into eX-
postulations. which were suddenly cut
short by the unknown companion.
please don't say anything more, Mrs.
Ollapod. | beg of you to let the matter
! drop. | have the best reason for the pro
found dislike | have expressed. repeat,
detest that odious man, Colonel Maxwell"
The colonel's complexion, Judging from
| his sensations, must have been a mixture
of saffron and coppery tints. He thought
! he would choke. On the contrary, he flung
! his cigar away as he turned to retrace his
steps, when, horror of horrorsl his foot
/ caught in an overturned chair. he made a
| desperate, a gallant effort To regain his
| equilibrium but the treacherous screen
that the strong shoulder relied upon for
an instants aid gave way and with crash
that caused innumerable unsatisfactory
surrnises in neighboring groups the frail
structure fell to the ground, exposing to
! full view the proportions of Colonel Max
well to Mrs General Ollapod and the bril-
liant brunette
The colonel's complexion was altogether
coppery now The gaslght's rays for the
time being spoke for the trio. The colo
nell more by force of habit than through
exercise of the wonderful tact lac was cred
| tied with, bowed to the ladies, turned and
strobe away.
Mrs General Ollapod told her husband
sit was all over now" and the general
unsympathizing as husbands often are,
laughed boisterously on hearing the story
"Gad!' he exclaimed as he made her re-
peat it, "rd give a months pay to see the
picture you made"
1t often happens that when mortals re-
tire from contest chance or fate inter
poses in a mysterious manner that sets
things to rights speedily.
The following day, as the colonel strolled
out leisurely on the crowded steamboat
pier that iuts out into the Chesapeake a
commotion near at hand attracted his at.
tention. Women shrieked and men shouted.
The brilliant beauty he desired to avoid
was pressing toward the edge frantically.
The colonel thought of the beautiful child
as he glanced at the water below them.
Certainly something CLEANED on the top
of the huge billow that looked like the
golden tresses of child. Whether she had
Col nI off IL L.
did not stop to inquire. His attention for
the moment was given to the beauty to
whom he was so repugnant. His voice was
as calm, his manner as self possessed as
though he was discharging an every day
duty, IS he turned to his friend.
General, will you see to herr"
While the general, with equal presence
of mind, took charge of the lady, the colo
mel tossed his hat, cane and cigar from him,
and without pausing to doff his light coat,
took header from the pier that was the
talk of Old Point the remainder of the sea
son.
The little sreck on the wave disappeared
simultaneously with the faint streak of
gray that the colonel's descent resolved it.
self into as the multitude looked on with
bated breath. 1t all happened so quickly
that none seemed to comprehend the truth.
There was pressure on the landing. heads
craning over heads, as the crowd of guests
looked down upon the sea, awaiting the re
appearance of the colonel.
Meantime General Ollapod, with the
forethought and decision that marked his
Indian campaigns, hurried the widow to-
ward the hotel. AS they passed the crowd
men and women turned to look at her in
commiseration, until a head appeared
Al
the people parted and made way for the
widow and her escort. The widow gave
but one glance-she looked long enough to
see that the colonel held something in his
arm-then she pressed eagerly to the shore
The colonel was superb swimmer. The
guests on the shore, seeing the crowd on
the pier looking into the sea- and hearing
their shouts, took off their hats and bon
nets and waved them as they cheered the
colonel. Women cried and men blew Their
noses and affected to look with indiffer-
ence upon the scene as the colonel swan
to the beach and was met by the widow
and the general.
But not until the colonel, with the state
ly manner which characterized him wher
he was at his best, leaned forward and gen
tly deposited in Mrs. Osborne's arms hei
dog Fido, did that charming woman betray
the weakness of her sex. Not until poor
Fido, limp and bedraggled in manner
bearing a marked resemblance to "A worn
out dishclout or IA frayed doormat, looked
up at her piteously and shivcred did sine
shed tears. Then she said brokenly:
Dear colonel, how can repay you"
Needless to add that the Sossips had ,
nine days topic inthe relations established
between the widow and the colonel aftel
he saved her dog. II was when the GOSSIP
was at flood tide that Mrs. General Ola
pod, sitting beside her friend, crochet
needle in hand one afternoon in Lent, sale
J suddenly;
"By the way, Grace, you never told M
why you called the colonel an odiou
MANI"
Didn't II" said the charming, changea
bic widow.
Let me explain" said the colonel, VIII
T. approached them unawares. "Grace some
how conceived that | was-in fact, enter
tanned an aversion for her dog. Whimsi
cal, isn't it2"
Very" said Mrs. General Ollapod.
And it was, wasn't IT'D. L. in Pitts