New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09


behind her The deg looked over her
shoulder at u.s. and his eyes were very watery,
as IL with grief.
i suppose we shall lose that boarder." said l.
despondently. "Catharlne. couldn't you have
made up your mind to wash Ferdy?"
Couldn't you she asked.
But did not reply. l was absorbed in pie
crust
I'm afraid we shant have the L." remarked
my sister. after while. She added emphatically
that she did not believe that anybody threw
In the pugs bath.
The rest Of the day passed calmly. Ferdinand
sat- as usual. at the open front door and snapped
at flies and at passing ankles. If you have never
been obliged 10 go frequently very near dog
that snaps at your ankles. you can have no idea
into what a nervous state you will fall.
My duties called often into that hall and
near the dorm fact, the hall was so small that
you could not go into II at all without going near
the amiable brute who was stationed there. /
used to wait In the kitchen or upstairs. each
time until had screwed UP my courage and
then I would make a dash through the place;
but always heard the teeth snap together as /
brushed by. At last would almost cry when
found that must go there: II seemed mean to
ask Catharine to take my place.
me during those days. 1t not soothing,
either, to the edge Of Miss Billings's frizzes
outside, and to know that she was sitting there
and enjoying herself while was unhappy
Mr.. HeSton had seen me these skrmishes
many times He was a middle-aged man. who
was quite stout He had large face adorned
by a small grZzled mustache. He had answered
our advertisement because he wanted great
deal Of fresh milk. He drank two or three
quarts daily. and said at breakfast each MORN
Ing that the milk did him vast amount OF
good. but that COMPOUNDED pug boarded
in the same house with him that fact neutralized
all the benefit go he really not any better
off than when he left the city.
When he would say this Miss Billings would
remark that dearest Ferdy her one comfort
in this world and she could not see why people
were not willing he should live. Mr.. Heaton
would then sniff and say with great contempt
that he should try and not be the cause Of re-
moving Miss Billingss sole comfort. but he could
not that he should not some time KICK
that pug into the next word.
The three other boarders would try to laugh. as
II these remarks were pleasantries. Occasion
ally Mr. Marks. very young man who SAID
he had not a drop OF Jewish blood In him. woud
break out into indignant words addressed TO MT
Heaton but tn. elder gentleman withered MIN
directly.
Miss Billings would cast expressive glance
of the most ardent gratitude at he young man
and he would blush. We all understood mat
Mr. Marks admirer Of Miss Billings lie
had even been known TO carry Ferdinand Tor
her In spite Of his growing and grinning all the
time She would walk beside and pat him-the dog'
Won understand-and tell him that the darling
petsy ought to know his friends, and she must
punish him II he did not. But she never pun
ished him. That pug was almost as bad IN the
house as a modern child would have been--not
quite so bad for nothing is as bad as the modern
child SO my sister and used TO tell ourselves
10 han nj n
stead Of a child 1885,,
For" said Catharine. one day. In confidence.
and in a burst Of gratitude. "a pug may be
poisoned but little boy or girl could not be
treated In that way"
No, that we ever dreamed Of poisoning Ferdy.
Mr. Heaton seemed to wish to be very klna.
He had witnessed as | have said my transits
by the pug. one day he appeared In the Kitchen
with a long-legged pair Of hunting boots IN MS
hand He said he hoped would excuse him.
but he would suggest that put on those boots
when went near that COMPOUNDED little beast
He said they would s've me feeling OF saiey'
| and he thought would like them. was ex-
| tremelv glad OF them. II is true II was bother
| TO be obliged to stop 10 put on hunting poo's
| every time went into the front entry; but was
| pad FOR my trouble in the sense OF security they
| gave. , -,
| II was Joy to be able to saunter calmly by
! Ferdinand and to see him slowly raise ms uppe,
| lip until his dear little teeth became visible; anu
| ne thrust his head for"ard and snarled knew
| that the leather encasing my feet ana ankles
| was tough. and the knowledge gave me So
had been wearing these hunting boots on my
visits to the front entry for nearly week when
| Miss Billings had that interview with us con-
| corning the dogG bath BY the time the neNl
day dawned | was Convinced that something
| ough, ~ he done Without consulting my sister.
7 sought Miss Billings after breakfast. and told
nor that although we could not ourselves WASH
the pug we would permit her to have the use
Of the kitchen and the kitchen sink for that pur-
Mr. Marks was sitting with her at the time.
lie had Just been reading Lucille to her. W hen
| | caught sight OF this volume | recalled the re-
mark made by Mr. Heaton the day before. lie
said ne knew young man VINO e.eIs I'M ne
fell In love always borrowed his sister COPY o,
Lucille to read to his inamorata. He finished
his remark by asserting that there were Always
plenty Of iackasses In the world ,
Miss Billings thanked me with some eHusioh'
bu, she said she did not know what would De,
come Of poor Ferdy. for even though she shoui9
die she could not was. him herself. She turned
sweetly to Mr. Marks and explained to him now
the mugs washing had always been thrown H.
and she had no idea what she should DO Out
she hoped she should live through It,
I said that I hoped so. too: and then Ieit
them. feeling that | had done all could even
II was with considerable surprise that found
AR Marks in the kitchen that afternoon. when
| came downstairs after my daily nap.
He turned very red. hut he managed 10 say,
stammersng good deal. that ne hoPeu "0"''
I looked at him. I could not imagine what
he wanted there but Sald WOuiu Pduuo hi'N
He grew more red and he stammered worse
than before and said again he really trusted !
would overlook 1t in him. | assured MN |
wound overlook t. I sat down. 1t would not
no time to begin to get supper for an hour yet.
Mr. Marks now informed me that was very
good | did not deny this assertion lie APP
reared 10 struggle with himself for moment
and then he remarked that he thought he had
seen me wearing a large apron that must be
great protection to my gown. began TO be some
what alarmed at this. for 1t seemed 10 mint AZ
incipient madness. But | told him pleasantly
that I had such an apron, and that II was
great protection. I thought Of adding that hhnt-
Ing boots worn in the front entry. were also
very useful under existing circumstances; put
did not know but such an observation might irri-
tate him. and did not yet know now mao ne
was. 49, 49,,
Now he asked me. poin. blank. If / would lend
49,,