The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-02

II
| follow me.
| While we remained OH the common,
/ away from people and houses IL was
| all right but on nearing frequented
| places again then i had a time OF II.
/ Pipkin would dash into every open gate
| or door we passed and / had to explore
| the most private premises of perfect
! strangers in search of him and haul
| him out by the scruff. He had also a
| villainOus habit OF sneaking dish cloths
| hung up 10 dry in areas; or. at times.
| he would be seized with sudden panic
| on no apparent cause and bolt for his
| life. often leading me dance of a mile
! or more, until felt that L was becom-
| ing the laughing stock OF the neighbor-
| hood. This was bad enough. 1t was
| fast making my life burden to me.
| But nearer home he led me into worse
| embarrassments.
| | allude TO the young person who had
| lately taken Mrs. Popham's $ second floor
| front. For what must Pipkin do next
but take IL into his head 10 make free
| with hsr apartments? The first ink
| ling ] had of this new deviltry OF his
| was the appearance on my hearthrug
| of a lady's stocking. i rang the bell,
| pointed IL out 10 Clara, and asked her
| TO whom IL belonged
"Oh, that's Miss smith," she said.
'the second floor fronts. / expect your
| Hdirytail has fetched il doAn from her
! room. He's often i'm there, you know.
! see him with 'er nightgound on the
stains this morning"
\ / was aghast when / heard that. also
! greatly incensed. / seized Ppkin by
the collar pointed to the stocking 10
| let him Understand what / meant. Then
| i fetched him soun. .ng spank.
| You needn't give IL him like that,
sir" said Clara. Miss Smith doesn't
mind bit. she says she's used TO
| young dawgs. and likes 'em. She've
| made quite friends with Pipkin already.
1 Shall take this stocking up 10 her
| with your compliments, sir?'
| mol no! Certainly not. L mean, take
| 10 up to her, of course, but don't men
tion my name in the matter Say YOU
! found IL on the stairs"
"Ob. very well, sir" answered Clara,
\ grinnng. (She was always grinning.
| think she was next door TO an imbe-
| cile) ITO be sure. don't see nuthink
10 matter In stocking. But there! III
say what yer tells me!'
/ Now. this / have said. was the first
| inkling / had OF Pipkin's unfortunate
| partiality for Miss Smiths apartments
and decided that he must be cured Of
! the habit without delay. The next
time. therefore, that / caught him Of
fending-it was the following afternoon
ana | saw him with my own eyes come
| running out of the door TO her room-I
| seized him by the scruff and proceeded
TO administer condign punishment. Be
| fore my hand touched him at all. he
| started. after the manner of puppies,
to howl and squedi. IL was iii-advised
| of me not 10 have waited until l had
| him safely In my room. The noise
| brought Miss Smith herself out in a
| fuster OF ill-judged feminine pity
| "Oh, ! beg your pardon. oh, please
| don't beat the poor doggie. 1t was my
1 fault j ought not to have encouraged
| him. But--but I'm so fond of dogs.
| and-and ! didn't think you'd-you'd
| mind his coming TO my room some-
| times"
"Oh. I don't mind" stammered.
| (What else was a fellow to sayO But
| / was afraid you must find him an aw-
| ful nuisance. 1t is not as though he
| were properly trained. He's the most
| mischevous and destructive little dev-
| beast that ever lived. | daren't leave
him alone in my room for two minutes
| together
| meant that to put her off. 1t had
| the contrary effect.
"Ohy' she exclaimed If you-e*er
| want TO go out, and don't know whom
to leave him with. / shall Always be de-
| lighted to take charge of him. He is
| such a dear doggie, and / don't mind
! his mischief one bitl"
OF course, / could only thank her, and
| tell her that she was very kind. L had
| not however, the least intention of
awaiting myself of her offer. AS far as
| Pipkin was concerned indeed. | would
| have made over TO her in toto with un-
! common pleasure but then | could not
\ afford to offend my Uncle James; and,
| besides there was no saying what mis-
| chief tattling tongues might make OF
4 such a transfer, for Miss Smith was
| quite young, and. as women go. not
| bad looking. So that II behooved TEL
1 low TO be very careful.
| | say | had no intention OF availing
| myself but ! had not reckoned on the
| puppy's logged pertinacity. He would
| pay frequent visits TO Miss Smith.
! Nothing that | could do would stop
him. AT last gave up trying in de-
| spair. and Pipkin was allowed 10 go TO
| the lady's room practically as often as
| he pleased.
| Nor will I deny that when / had be-
I c77IITT -rrEtyuFTf 10 TfI1s state Uf Sffafrs
| found myself the reverse OF sorry 10
! be cased of so much OF my daily bur-
! den. II was a blessed relief to feel that
/ | was no longer an absolute prisoner,
J chained, as it were, perpetuaily To a
| troublesome little devil OF "a dog. L VAS
now often i'm the proud position OF be-
| ing able 70 leave my rooms, a freeman,
for a good hour at a time. BY and by,
| IL even came 90 this:
where's Pipkn, C)ara2 With Miss
| smith? oh, yes. Well, just run up
| there's a good girl-and tell her thet
| I'm going out for a bit, ana II she
! really doesn't mind
/ Ard clara would return. Miss
! Smiths compliments. sir. and she does
| not mind Bit
Nay, More than that! one day, when
/ / wished 10 go 20 London, Miss ;. un-
| dertook the puppy FOR the whole day
! Cwhat white day that WASH. promis-
/ ing To take him out with her for exer-
| else. After that she frequently took
| him out with her 1 began To feel
! younger again. Ny step grew lighter.
/ The sparkle returned TO my eye. / be-
| came almost as | was in the days when
| had not known Pipkin. But this was
not 10 last.