The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-28
MY TICKLE DIVINITY.
a Story Of Love andsa Little Pug
Dog.

I had been the -footstool- of Adele
| Lorrimer for more than two years.
had run all her errands, brought her
and squandered a small fortune on
! theater boxes She knew that / loved
her, although she never would let me
reach a point where I might declare
myself. So was content to wait and
do all her fetching and carrying, in
spite Of the fact that Jack Richards,
one of Adele's numerous admirers,
had become much too familiar with the
Lorrimers' pretty drawing-room to suit
my taste.
Adele was the greatest girl for fads
and fancies She went through the
| whole category of collections, and had
| to help her establish each new one. I
had myself kicked out of two or three
theatrical Offices trying TO secure the
autographs of some stage celebrities
for her; and l got in with terrible set
of sharpers and had my poclsetbook
emptied in buying rare old stamps, that
afterwards turned out to be clever i'm
itations in water color. These are only
two instances out of many in which not
only my purse but my self-respect suf-
fered; and all for Adele. And then she
caught the pug fever
admire dogs-mastiffs. settlers and
80 forth-but detest those fat, wheezy,
asthmatic little pets with their ribbons
and blankets and bells. The first in
timation l had of this new craze was
one evening while was sitting moodi-
ly in corner at Adele's. l had just
come in to find two other fellows call
ing. One of them, of course, was
Richards. who was monOpolizing all
Adele's attention at the piano. She
was accompanying him as he inflicted
upon US song that might have been
pretty had some one elss been singing
it. They finished at last. and Adele
turned and saw the last mum Der of Life
in my hands.
''Oh, do bring that here, Mr.. Reed
she always called me ''Mr. Reed" when
other men were around-''and let me
show Mr.. Richards picture OF the
dearest. cutest little pug. I'm so
anxious to have pug. Papa is looking
out for one. There, isn't he love?"
and she handed the paper to Richards
with the picture of hideous pug up
permost
Richards duly admired it. He would
have admired anything Adele asked
him to. And then / fairly boiled to
hear him tell her, in his drawing voice,
that he knew just where to lay his
hands on a beautiful pug. well bred,
fine blooded, and all the rest of it. 1
sat in my corner and watched her as
she beamed on him while he reeled off
for her delectation stories of pugs past
and present, and especially of this par
ticular pug, which he would be only too
happy if she would accept.
left early that evening. could not
tolerate the idea of Richards getting
ahead of me, but still present Adele
with one of those disgusting creatures
l would not. For week, at every OPP
portunity could seize, / tried to per-
suade Adele not to accept one from
Jack Richards.
We were out walking one afternoon.
Adele had gone into raptures over
three or four pugs that had passed us.
''How can you admire them, Adele2"
I said, impatiently. Wouldn't you
rather have noble st. Bernard to
worship and protect you?"
''Oh. those horrid fierce dogst I hate
them, Tom; and never could keep it
in the city. How ridiculous of you to
suppose such thing"
Then I grew very bold. adele"
cried. ''do you love ne9"
/ think the suddenness of my eues-
ton startled her little. 20, Tom, if
you're going to be silly I'm going
home" she pouted.
Adele was irresistible when she pout-
ed, but was firm. "You can choose,
Adele, between me and Mr.. Richards
pug. If you accept me you can't have
the pug: if you take the pug, why,
will not come into the house again,
that's all"
What fuss your are making!" she
said, pettishly. "I~haven't the pug
yet"
mo. but you expect Richards to
bring it tonight Now don't deny it."
I had lost my temper. and spoke more
dictatorially than I intended.
She tossed her head proudly. 'I am
not in the habit of telling untruths,
Mr.. Reed Thank you for your kind
offer. 1t is very hard to choose, butt
think I'll take the pug"
] was so astonished by this biting
sarcasm. it was SO unexpected, that
when recovered my senses Adele was
flying up the block. and / was left
stupidity standing on the corner. did
not follow her. | meant, of course. to
keep my resolve; I would not go to the
Lorrimers' house while the pug was
in it.
For whole week I held firm, and
then l gave up, and came to the con-
clusion that 1 would brave the pug for
the sake of seeing Adele, loved her
so entirely and devotedly. and a, times
she had seemed so fond of me. that
could not believe she really meant to
refuse me. So / dressed myself in
faultless attire, and, armed with a box
of candy. as peace Offering, started up
town. She might not receive me- |
trem bled when this thought occurred
to me, just as assembled the steps and |
rang the bell.
Its vibrations had hardly vibrated on 1
the air when great barking and yelp- |
ing commenced inside. After a mo- /
nent il ceased, or rather became muf- /
fed, but burst out afresh the moment 1
the maid opened the door and was /
fairly inside
In clinging white silk gown, and /
seated upon low ottoman, Adele +
formed a pretty picture with the rosy 4