New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
BOTTLES.
A VICTIM OF PROSPERITY.


document the table.
There Bootles Another scNen-and -sXPenfy
worth Of useless dog
She had said the same thing every January
for eight years; it a standing joke between
her and BOTTLES, but they never tired Of 1t, be
ing one Of those exquisite satires whose pillI-
lance is not dimmcd 10y time.
"Once more am licensed to Keep one doE'
and YOU may wink impudently at the next po-
Mceman you meet-hc can't say anything TO you
It's been "A hard matter to find the shiillhs''
but not so bad some years.
And the lcaping Bottles, perfect embodl-
ment Of joyous welcome, spoke love and thanks
enough To repay much dearer TAX ana AZ ne
actively superintendcd the preparation OF ther
tea he was the happicst dog in the world.
Yet they had known vicisstudes. these TWO
friends. since ne had been given to her-a FOOL
ish, ecstatiC, rOmpinS pup-elght years ago, ny
the bOarder downstairs.
She had been i'll sometimes and not able 10
60 to business for weeks or even months ana
this meant hard times for both. But Boobies
whether lean or fat. bore their revcrses with
cheerful patience and loved her dearly through
them all. He also loved one other. the iodSer
next door i'm the dull cheap street, VINO had peeh
formerly the boarder downstairs
His mistress and this man were both some
thing in the city; they went together every
morning and a tender friendship hourish' q be
tween them that was hardly hopeful enough to
be called love For they were both so poor ana
struggling that marriage looked as iar Oh as
heaven. There was sort 81 understandings pc-
tween them that when ms income rcd'heu Il
hundred and fifty year they should marry,
but they rarely alluded 10 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 rcbcllcd; she was
younger. with constitution that could Ill Dear
the strain of daily drudgery; 1t urea hcr, ana
sometimes Il sharp word betrayed TINS, Tor she
was naturally sweet tempered. But her friend
-ay, and Bottles too-undorstood TINS wen
cheering her with love and every little thought
full kindness that affection could suggest Az
first sight there does not seem much that one
toer can do for another, but in numberleSs uh-
ohtrusve ways he lightened for her the ourueh
of life. CT
Because he could do no great things, John SIN
clair was all the more faithful in little services
and Bottles rcjoiced in them both with no al
Vided mind, and for once the old adaGe con
corning the unsuitability of three was maze
null and void. -,
Eight times this harmonious trio had seen the
old year die into the new ana perhaps 4 p
Bottles knew how happy they really We're, now
dear the companionship was in spite or ION anu
poverty. and the strict economy when Hladc
Bottles keep his bone preserve as mucn a secret
from predatory cats as he could. Inc only
feline thing he tolerated was the landlady ,
kitten but perhaps that was mere policy, TOT ne
was knowledgable dog, understanding the
hind side Of elderly ladies. Eight times MS TAX
had been insisted upon 10y an lmpldcabe Gov
eminent and then there came change. Lucy
unclc-also something in the city, but very
moneyed somethng-lost his wife, ana knowing
that for at least a year the etiquette OF grei
prevented his taking another. he suddenly can 81
10 mind his poor relation. remembering that she
was ladylikc and pleasant to look at lie actu
allv invaded the cheap strcct-WhiCh until then
had never contained 50 expensive a pefs n since
il was made-and seemed to gid Lucy's shabby
room with the superiluOus atmosphere OF wealth
which he threw off as though unable TO consume
it the premises.
Without wasting much time or many words
he told her she could come and keep his cOun-
try house for him, and be mistress Of IT during
the present year If she wished, ana mat ne
would give her suitable allowance for such a
position. go
you must dress well Of course" he said. with
a glance that withcrcd 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 we'll made clothes and
a little good jewelry."
Hardly waiting for her answer he was off in
the Whirwind Of his sclf-satsfacton, never
dreaming that she could hesitate over such
handsome offer; in truth did she, for it
meant, practically. year Of rest, of change.
and even luxury She was 50 jadcd that tn.
mere anticipation of such things seemed new
life to her; she gloried i'm them until she rem m
berod John Sinclair and The difference her going
would make to him. The parting would be
heavier TO bear for the one left behind i'm the
Old drudgcry. and she saw the patient face grow
palor she told him But fer her sake ne tried
to be- very cheerful.
1T Will do you no md Of good ne said, and
we can write to each othcr-of course We can
write frequently ! suppose you VIII leave Boo
ties with mc?'
But she was quite indignant at this "No. in
deed, | cannot spare him Where | co. Bottles
goes Uncle Marsh said might bring him"
So I'm very little while John Sinclair got
leave Of abs nee fJr an hour 10 see Lucy off by
the Brighton train. The parting cruel to
both when it came. Bottles, labelled and dis
consolatc. looked wistfuly from one to the other.
conscious Of something sadly amiss. His
mistress had told him that they were going
down into the COuntry-a lovely place, where
rabbits grew wild, but rabbits save Of the
Ostcnd ana cooked variety were a dead letter to
the cockney Bottles. and her encomiums pro-
voked no doggish enthusiasm Their destina-
ton however, troubled him but little as long
rs he and she were together, that was the main