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

tho brute has lived through 1t, how you
have never heard of i'll understand
neitherp'
"ADd l thought" put in Miss Minna
feebly, that Christmas would be so happy.
They said they would care for her so, and
the lovely house they had for her"
"Housel The beast has never seen the
inside of a house. Tho house is filled with
coal 1t wandered the other night over to
the Holts', and Mr. Holt gave 1t shelter for
the night. Next morning it broke out and
devoured his crocus bed. Oh, what and
where has it not devouredp' she cried, grip
ping her umbrella and extending it with a
sweeping right arm gesture which seemed
to embrace land and sea. "That calf has
simply been everywhere"
The case was looking dreadful. Miss
Minna felt as though she could have sat
down by the roadside and wept hut the
| hour was one for action, and with fear at
her heart she pulled herself together to
confront the Willoughby household. "I
am going there direct now," she said. "I
will see what can be done. If they were
people who could be made to see things
| like anybody else would have no anxiety;
but, unless they actually want to get rid
of the calf, hints will avail nothing Mr..
| Willoughby lives in literary dreamland,
and, unless Mrs. willoughby wants to, she
simply won't see anything"
"Well" said Mrs. Merington, giving
with every word she spoke savage pound
on the sod with her umbrella, "they've got
to be made to see It. Complaints have gone
in day after day with no result. Those
people would drive any one frantic, and II
you can't bring matters to crisis the vii
lage soon will and condemn that calf as
public nuisance.
With this parting shot, Miss Minua
moved mournfully forward, and Mrs. Mer-
ington stamped away
As she entered the Willoughby gate she
could see the ample, light hearted mistress
of the household busily plying rake
round the hydrangea bush. MIR. Willough-
by, with pen still moist in his hand and
his usual, anxious, absorbed expression of
countenance, stood on the doorstep. At
sight Of Miss Minna, after n cordial greet
ing, he plunged into the subject upper
most in her heart
"She's busy raking up after the calf"
he said. "Lots of that to do all the time.
Great institution, that calf"
"Ah," thought Miss Minna, with a
bound of hope, "this is my opportunity"
And a smile lit up her face Yes, that's
Just what was thinking, Mr.. Willoughby.
| came over 10 ASK MTS. WlllOuRnDy 10
lunch ON Friday, but l thought at the
same time would speak of, say, borrow
ing the calf--borrowing it just at this
time, you know when 1t could have such
splendid run through our big paddock
In the spring all calves long for freedom
and will burrow at everything, you know,
II they haven't lots of space"
"Bless your heart" said Mr.. Willough-
by cheerily, "nothing of the kind Spring
makes no difference. This calf Is always
cheerful, always burrowing-torn up ev-
erything from the day we got her. Chill
dren adore her. Let her go everywhere she
wants, do what she pleases. /"
"Heighol" gasped Mrs. Willoughby,
joining the group, her buxom figure and
good natured face betraying results of
hard exertion. "I'm so glad to see you,
Miss Gascoigne. I've been raking up after
the calf. 1t has perfect mania for the
hydrangeas."
"How is the calf, Mrs Willoughbyf
You know I've never seen her since Xmas
day"
"Oh fiourishing I should say IL Is
fourishing--got life and energy enough
, for six calves. never see 1t myself, that's
fact But see it's traces, and 1T certain
ly must be the liveliest, strongest calf that
ever was born. 1t tears up everything"
"Yes," said Miss Minna, a spice OF
acidity In her tone which no amount OF
, the Willoughby ignorant amiability could
induce her to repress, ~ have just heard
| that it got into Mr. Merington's studio
, and tore everything to bits, Mr.. Merington'
hat included.
"Did ity' said Mrs. Willoughby genial.
I ", not rufile disturbing her face. "That's
just the way 1t does everywhere Just
: yesterday 1t demolished the cooks bon.
net !"
Z swell, it's been great boon to us, any.
way" said Mr.. Willoughby. "We hardly
see the children since we've had it. Don't
let 1t get at my papers, my love, today.
They're strewn about there. must be off
. Perhaps you'd better lock the door,"
, Despair was settling in Miss Minna't
4 breast. One might as we'll come in contact
3 with stone wall as with the Willoughby
q understanding. "Do you think, Mrs, Viii
Z loughby," she said timidly, THAT Il
q wouldn't be well--your place is small, you
know-to take Christmas over to our plao'
I for little ohangeS l always, said Miss
! Minna, steeling herself to the falsehood
q "intended to ask you that when weather
like this came round"
"Let her goY My dear, not for a day
I couldn't keep house with the children
a And as for room, why, my dear child, thai
8 calf isn't confined TO this place. Why, 4
goes all round the country. There coulC
r not possibly he another calf with anything
q like the freedom. Oh, no." said Mrs. Viii
a loughby, wagging her head with determi
I nation; 1--WE will never, never part with
the calf"
|. "You will come on Friday, then," sale
!. | Miss Minna, who felt that she could no
d stand five seconds longer of this, or possibl.
y take a view of the calf.
4 She made her round of calls, and at ev
& cry house she entered she had to sit ant
a listen to more recitals OF damage done b.
}. the calf, more pleadings that she woul'
h take some prompt action, and more ant
d more revilings OF "those Needless, headless
reckless Willoughbys"
/. With sense of hopeless depression, sh
v made her way home. The world just thel
1 looked very black, for IL was character
h istio of Miss Minna to take darkly gloom,
view Of even ordinary trials, and the cas-
|, Of the calf she felt to be no ordinary tria
Il whatever As she turned up the avenu
k she heard a hurrying footstep behind her
q and looking up found Greville beside her.
; II thought would run out this morn
u ing--that you wouldn't mind having m
n 10 lunch. thought probably that / Nigh
y do something-that you might be worries
y that, In fact, you might have seen tn
a calf"
~ hayen't seen her, said Miss Mimi
10 sadly. II don't think l could bear to, bu
D. I've heard eyerything-more even thai
D you suspect. Oh, Mr.. Greville, l woui
give ah, shing in the world to get that cal