St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-06-11
MRS. O'GRADY WATCHES
Moloch, the Great Dane. Helps.
Bad Cess to Him.

VOUNG SAMUEL PERKINS and his
sister Sarah were both away at a
house party. Cordelia, the maid, and
Helen, the cook, had begged this par
ticular night off for month in advance,
on the plea that they were to be brides
maids at the wedding of Cordelia's sis
ter. Mrs. Perkins knew when they
asked that the Arion ball must be set
for that particular Friday night. Cor
delia's and Helen's relatives always Sc
lected the same night for their we'd
Ilings as that on which the Arion fes-
tivities were held. Father and Mother
Perkins also had planned to take part
in their annual poker game with the
Petersons on that identical night at the
Petersons' home. This disposition of
the household, however, would leave no
one in. the house except Moloch, the
Great Dane. Up to the time of the oc-
currences here chronicled Moloch had
never been credited with any particu-
lar intelligence. In this emergency the
Perkinses summoned Mrs. O'Grady.
She arrived at six o'clock and was in
structed to keep the fires burning in the
study, the kitchen range and the
furnace and to open third-story Win
dow and yell bloody murder if anyone
not known to her as member OF the
household attempted to get into the
house.
All these things Mrs. O'Grady cheer
fully promised to do. She laid her bon
~ ha Ia pf n
dining-room table. hung her cloak on
the hall rack and set her overshoes on
the study hearth to dry. She surveyed
the premises over with evident approval
and pride. She saw the Perkinses out
of the door with as much ceremony as
If they were the guests and she the pro-
prietor.
'.My DEAR" said Mrs. Perkins to Sam
uel the elder as they stood on the corner
waiting for car, Mrs. O'Grady is
such a comfort. II only that silly dog
doesn't take fright from stranger be-
ing IN the house and jump out of a
window or something, am sure, arena
yon?"
''Of course am" said Samuel, who
was SO well acquainted with Mrs.
Perkins that he never wasted time ask
ing her to fill out hiatus.
At half-past five o'clock the next
morning the Pcrkinses approached
their home once more. Before Mr..
Perkins hand reached the knob the
door opened and Mrs. O'Grady marched
out upon them.
''Good morning, Bridget" said Mrs.
Perkins. pleasantly.
Its divil a word of good morning /
have to say to you, Mis- Perkins," re
piled Mrs. OGraGy with surprising
hauteur..
'Why. Bridget" said Mr.. Perkins. OBJ
serving the utter dumfounding of Mrs.
Perkins. "What is it?"
"Well may We ask 'wbs, is it?'" she
said, standing on the sidewalk and
brandishing the umbrella at him.
"Well may We ask. you who keep the
divil's own dog Il worrit the soul of a
respectable lady that until the present
day had no thought but of the greatest
respect for you and all your family"
'Ye black-faced, red-eyed, long
toothed, lazy vilyun," she screamed
with suddenly increased vencm.
Bridget, how dare you speak to Mr..
Perkins so?" said Mrs. Perkins.
.'Oidare spake tommy manas Place"
half screamed Mrs O'Grady, "but Oi
was not regardir' the man, but the
baste!"
The Perkinses looked down and saw
that Moloch. the dog, stood between
them. There was ii drawing up of the
left side of his upper lip that suggested
q satirical grin. Otherwise his face was
rs stupid as ever.
What in the world has the dog done.
Bridget?' asked Mrs. Perkins. .Did
he bite you?"
bite! Let the baste try onct to do
TT
She lowered her tone from that of
wild denunciation to that of spirited
narration.
Sit yS both down." she said, "whilst
I tell We the tale of what the baste has
done by way Of putting insult and bodi-
IL misery on me this night.
Side by side the Perkinses sat on the
top step and the dog sat behind them
and blinked serenely over their heads.
The two of yez." began Mrs.
OsGrady. s.went out of the house ant,
left me alone in it but for the two girls.
and they went soon after. had looked
to the fires and they needed no tending.
The windows they were all down ans
boltefl. went to the top floor, and the
slccrs 10 the root it was likewise shut
md bolted. So then sat meseif down
by the lamp in the parlor with me lace
work, for there was naught else to do,
SD Il xss TOO early to think Of sleeping.