The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-17

THAT CALF HAS SIMPLY BEEN EVERY
WHERE"
calls l shall have to make tomorrow, and,
Just think Of 1t, shall see the calf for the
first time since she left usl'
"Y-e-e-s," remarked Greville apprehen-
sively. "I'm afraid--that is, l think-that
Christmas hasn't grown as much as you
might expect during the winter. It's been
bad winter, you know" anxiously.
"Why how do you know about herf"
asked Miss Minna, astonished. "You
haven't seen her since Christmas, have
your
"well, yes dlned once or twice at the
Willoughbys. forgot to mention about
It, The calf wasn't well-quite as robust
quite as fat, mean, as you might like
But then'-with a miserable effort at a
smile--"I think that's all the better.
don't care much for fat calves myself"
"She ought to be fat, " said Miss Minna,
lapsing into anxious reflection. "She ought
to be very, very fat. You have made me
quite anxious about her. I'll call there the
first thing. Perhaps their food does not
agree with her."
"No," said Jack, "perhaps IL doesn't I
should think myself that browsing of the
back fence and an occasional rejection of
the clothesline wouldn't agree with most
calves.
"The calf will fattcn up all right now
In the spring weather." remarked Mr..
Percy, with an evident effort at cheerful
ness. From what have heard, she"-
"what, Cousin George" said Miss Min
ma, shave you actually heard something,
| too, and never told meH"
A rather weary look overspread Mr..
| Percy's usually calm, genial face. Yes,
| few times going in and out on the train, I"
| he said, "the matter has been mentioned
| to me. The whole neighborhood seems to
| think IL has a proprietary interest In
that calf and that 1t Is my business to
| keep It fat for it. But these things
mean nothing. I've tried not to allow
myself to be annoyed by them"
Miss Minna looked grave and triflo
angry. "One need not be annoyed" she
said; "they might be made solicitous. 1
wish you had spoken to me after the very
first remark you heard. Something is
surely wrong" And she rose from the ta-
BILE and left the room with decided air OF
distress
"There's going TO be bully time over
that calf, remarked Jack when she had
gone out of earshot. "We'll hear nothing
but calf now for the next six months"
at fear so," said Mr.. Percy wearily.
And Greville looked grave and troubled.
|
Bright and early next morning Miss
Minna stepped briskly down the lawn
with an anxious glitter In her eye As she
turned outside the gateway, she came face
to face with Mrs. Merington, wife of the
artist whose bold canvases were the talk
of the town, and whose suburban home
Il a. a. H.
"Ah," said Miss Minna, show glad
am to see you. was going to call on you
later In the day. I'm getting up a little
luncheon"
"Miss Gascoigne" interrupted Mrs.
Merington sternly and ignoring the mon
tion of call or luncheon, sis it-can 1t bt
possible that you gave that calf to the
Willoughbys' J. N
eyes" said Miss Minna timidly, hei
heart sinking down into her boots, for SHE
knew now that something awful was II
the air, and her spirit was weak In ad
vance, "I did. Why"
"Miss Gascoigne, said Mrs. Merington
her voice growing higher and her utter
ance more and more rapid as she wen
along, sis 1t possible you can ask me why
Is 1t possible you are not fully aware thai
that miserable calf Is starvedS It's mo-
credible that the wretohed brute can have
been chasing all round the country de
stroying property--yes, property OF botl
house and land--in search of food withou
your knowing it."
"I never heard a word" said Miss Min
ma, "before last night, and then orl.
enough to make me suspect something.
was just going over to learn the trutl
now"
"Just this moment" continued Mrs
Merington, ~ have chased the brute ou
of Mr. Merington's studio. VIII you thinl
of it3 Win you think of that starved brut
actually demolishing a corner OF my hus
bands canvasi 1t has done 1t. IL ha
licked his palettea 1t has smeared, tori
and trampled everything 1t has LITERAL!
ruined tho studio. 1t has wound up b.
eating the crown out OF my husband
hat"
A tear stood In Miss Minna's eye Sh
was overwhelmed at this chapter Of de
struotion, yet sorrow for the calf was up
permost
'sPoor Christmasr' she said. MRS
Merington. lam sorry for all this. Wha
on earth shall do about itfY
Get It hack, get II back without day
delay. II you don't, there's no telling
what win happen The whole neighbor
hood Ia mp In arms and those Wilioughb
] - 49,, .s5.,,a..s s..-...-u...