The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-23
BOTTLES.



"There! Bottles! Another seven-and-
siXpenny worth of useless dog!"
She had said the same thing every
January for eight years; it was a stand
ing Joke between her and Bottles, but
they never tired of it, being one of those
exquisite satires whose brilliance is not
dimmed by time
"Once more am licensed to keep one
dog, and you may wink impudently at
the next policeman you meet-he can't
say anything to you. It's been hard
matter to find the shillngs, but not SO
bad as some years"
And the leaping Bottles perfect en-
bodiment of joyous welcome, spoke love
and thanks enough to repay much
dearer tax, and as he actively superin-
tended the preparation of their tea, he
was the happiest dog in the world.
Yet they had known vicissitudes, these
two friends since he had been given to
her--a foolish ecstatic, romping pup
eight years ago, by the boarder down
stairs.
She had been i'll sometimes and not
able to go to business for weeks or even
months, and this meant hard times for
both. But Bottles, whether lean or fat
bore their reverses with cheerful pa
tience and loved her dearly through
them all. He also loved one other, the
ledger next door in the dull cheap street,
who had been formerly the boarder
downstairs.
His mistress and this man were both
something in the city; they went to-
gether every morning, and a tender
friendship flourished between that was
hardly hopeful enough to be called love,
For they were both so poor and stuggl-
ing that marriage looked as far off as
heaven. There was sort of under
standing between them that when his
income reached a hundred and fifty
year they should marry, but they rarely
alluded to such an impossible future
and worked on to meet the necessities
of each day.
Such discipline made the man stronger
and more patient but the woman re-
belled; she was younger, with a consti-
titution that could i'll bear the strain of
daily drudgery; 1t tired her, and some
times a sharp word betrayed this, for
she was naturally sweet tempered But
her friend-ay. and Bottles too-under-
stood this WELL cheering her with love
and every little thoughtful kindness
that affection could suggest At first
sight there does not seem much that one
toier can do for another but in num-
berless unobtrusive ways he lightened
for her the burden of life
Because he could do great things,
John Sinclair was all the more faithful
in little services, and Bottles rejoiced
in them both with no divided mind, and
for once the old adage concerning the
unsuitability of three was made null and
void.
Eight times this harmonious trio had
seen the old year die into new, and per-
haps only Bottles knew how happy they
really were how dear the companion
ship was in spite of toll and poverty,
and the strict economy which made
Bottles keep his bone preserve as much
a secret from predatory cats as he
could. The only feline thing he toler-
ated was the landlady's kitten, but per-
haps that was mere policy, for he was
a knowledgeable dog, understanding the
blind side of elderly ladies' Eight times
his tax had been insisted upon by an
implacable Government, and then there
came change Lucy's uncle-also
something in the city, but very mon
eyed something-lost his wife, and
knowing that at least for year the
etiquette of grief prevented his taking
another, he suddenly called to his mind
his poor relation, remembering that she
was ladylilze and pleasant to look at
He actually invaded the cheap street
which until then had never contained
so expensive a person since 1t was made
and seemed to gid Lucy's shabby
room with the superfluous atmosphere
wealth which he threw off as though
unable to consume 1t on the premises. |
Without wasting much time or many |
words he told her she could come and |
keep his country house for him, and be
mistress of during the present year if
she wished, and that he would give her
a suitable allowance for such a posi-
ton.
"You must dress well, of course" he |
said, with a glance that withered up |
her frock. "There are visitors always |
coming and going at my place, and YOU |
must be UP to the mark. You won't |
know yourself in well made clothes and
a little good jewelry."
Hardly waiting for her answer he was
off in the whirlwind Of his self salts
faction, never dreaming that she could
hesitate over such a handsome offer;
nor in truth did she, for it meant, prac-
tically, a year of rest, of change and
even luxury. She was so jaded that
the mere anticipation of such things
seemed new life to her. she gloried in
them until she remembered John Sin
clair and the difference her going would
make to him. The parting would be
heavier to bear for the one left behind
in the old drudgery, and she saw the
patient face grow paler as she told him.
But for her sake he tried to be very
cheerful.
''It will do you no end of good" he
said, land we can write to each other
of course we can write frequently!
suppose you will leave Bottles with
me?"
But she was quite indignant at this.
"No, indeed I cannot spare him.
Where go, Bottles goes Uncle Marsh
said / might bring him
So in very little while John Sinclair
got leave absence for an hour to see ~
Lucy off by the Brighton train. The
parting was cruel to both when it came.
Bottles, labelled and disconsolate, look
ed wistfully from one to the other, con-
Of |