The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08

latter needed help at one time, was
presented with Dandy. He says that
last nights impromptu performance
was one of Dandy's cleverest tricks,
and one which he has witnessed a
number of times; he described it to
me, himself-the feigned illness and
death, and although Dandy gave us
pretty scare, l will say that he &C
quilted himself very creditably.
However, l think we may enjoy it
better the next time, being more
fully posted on the subject. Harris
says that he meant to give me the
dogs history long ago, but had for
gotten the matter until I mentioned
it today"
For some little time after this we
watched Dandy rather curiously, ex-
pecting further developments, but
there was positively nothing that sa-
vored of circus life in his actions and
l fancied that he was trying to for
get that experience which, poor
doggie, was probably associated with
beatings, hunger and tedious, weari
some training.
Dandy had conceived great dis
like for my golden canary, Twitter,
due no doubt to jealousy. He would
often give low, short growls while
the bright, sweet-tempered little bird
sang in his cage on the low window
seat where he spent his days. On
entering the room, one morning, a
woeful sight met my eyes. Twitter's
cage was in its accustomed place,
but surely that could not be Twitter
in it, for Twitter had the most beau
tiful tail-feathers in the world; and
what was this absurd little yellow
ball, without shape or comeliness9
I went nearer. 1t was Twitter-such
mortified little bird, too, that it was
cruel in me to laugh at the ridiculous
figure he cut. But my next thought
was that the thief, whoever he might
be, must receive the punishment due
him, and began to make investiga
tions. / had not far to look. A
feather or two in the proximity of
the sofa led me in that direction and,
peeping under, beheld Dandy, eyes
closed, but with tell-tale bit of yell
low down on his whiskers. | saw it
all in an instant. By standing on
his hind legs he could just reach the
cage, and while Twitter futtered
around in terror, Dandy had snatched
at one little tail-feather after another
and tweaked every one of them out.
Doubtless on hearing me laugh at
the poor brides fight, he was de-
lighted to think that his rival should
appear ridiculous in my eyes, but af-
ter day or two in the cellar, enliv-
ened only by his own unearthly
bowls, it is possible that he changed
his views on the subject; at all events,
he was very circumspect in his con-
duct for days after, and never while
with us even approached the cage
where he had wrought such ruin. In
time Twitter recovered his tail-feath-
ers, and with them his good spirits,
and for while peace reigned in our
household.
sack" said 1, one day, 81 am
afraid that Kate isn't honest"
"Why, my DEAR" said Jack, 81
thought you considered Kate model
servant. And she was with your
mother so long that l can hardly be-
lieve her untrustworthy."
81 know all that" l persisted, "but
I am at my wits end to account for
the clothes that are lost in the wash
every week. l know that Maggie is
not the one, for during the two weeks
she was ill and at home it was worse
than ever. Kate is very sensitive
about it, but can give me no explana-
ton, and meantime my wardrobe as
we'll as yours is suffering in conse-
quence of these mysterious depreda-
TONS"
Jack told me to try it for another
week and if at the end of that time
there should be no improvement, he
would report the case at the police
station. Fat, good natured Kate, l
could not bear to suspect her, but |
was puzzled to know what to do. The
following Monday l babe her keep a
closer watch than ever, adding cheer.
fully that | hoped we would catch
the thief in the very act. She looked
troubled, but promised to do her
best. In the course of the morning
as l was leaving the house for walk
/ heard Kate asking for me, and went
back to see what she wanted.
30 ma'am, please step down to
the laundryl" she gasped, all out of