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

about .'the society,"" by which pre-
sumo she meant the X. =. II. G.. A. Al
together, / was extremely thankful
when ! arrived safely with Pipkin at
my lodgings
My ladylady, Mrs. Popham. hop
pened To be in the hail as l entered.
''Lor' Mr.. Hedward@ she exclaimed,
Whatever ave yer got there
tMrs. Popham, may explain. was for
many years cook I'm my fathers family,
and has known me from child)
ITS one OF my Uncle James prize
puppies, Il told her, ''of which the old
gentleman has made me a present. I've
promised TO keep II with me here, Mrs.
Popham"
We'll, l neverl Then that's two un-
usual dodgers come TO me on the same
day." remarked my landlady. quite
"a coincidence"
What do you mean?" inquired.
no is the other?"
"A lady, SIR
"A LADY, / am surprised 10 hear that.
Mrs. Popham, and 1 must say. rather
disappointed. / always understood that
you only let lodgings to gentlemen" i
said.
"Nvell. You see, Mr.. Hedward. my Sec
ond fioor frent. ave 'steod hempty for
some weeks. and times is bad, so /
couldn't afford TO wait no longer. Be
sides. she's a very quiet, staid young
pusson, as won't interfere with no one"
she certainly shall not Interfere
with me-" | said. I'm not going to be
put out by any young person. j can tell
you. And now, Mrs. Popham, as Fn
rather exhausted by the trouble I've
had in getting Pipkin here. / should like
my tea as soon as possible"
Very good. sir. Clarer shall bring IL
10 g.. A -
dawg will want something 10 heat, too"
II suppose SO. But / really don't
know what What do they feed pup,
pies on. Mrs. Popham?"
Blessed if / can tell you. I'll ask
the gaffer."
Nothing much happened in the course
OF the evening. Perhaps Pipkin waa
rather awed by his new surroundings.
At all events he remained pretty quiet
mostly snoozing-in one of my arm
chairs. But when the time came To re-
tire for the night | was perplexed as 10
what I should do with him. 1 didn's
want him i'm my bed room. / didn't
think Il safe 10 leave him alone in my
sitting room. / therefore rang for Mrs.
Popham and consulted her. She said
She didn't mind his lying i'm the kitchen
of nights. He couldn't do much harm
there. and they rather wanted a watch
dog. He was taken down, therefore,
and turned lose Ina the kitchen.
But next morning, as emerged from
the bathroom i'm my dressing gown.
Mrs. Popham confronted me. Her face
was very red and indignant. She was
dragging the reluctant Airedale by the
scruff
Mr.. Hedward" she exclaimed in a
shrill excited voice, this ere brute of
dawg don't sleep in my kitchen no
more"
why. what's the matter. Mrs. Pop
ham?" / inquired. What has the dog
done?"
Done? What 'aven't he done would
be a more properer question" she
cried. her voice growing shriller with
every word. Eve a-tore hup the
carthrug. and achieved the roller
towel. and a-been sick on the dresser.
and eve crowned it orl by heating
Clarer's best cap and hapron, wot she
answers the door in of "A nafternoon"
Dear mel answered. soothingly.
How very provoking. But it's only his
play. | expect. Mrs. Popham.'
"Ho, indeed" exclaimed my land
lady. with great warmth. And If
that's is play. what's lis hearnest a
going TO be like Mr.. Hedward? Hany-
ways e don't enter my kitchen no
more"
After breakfast / turned Pipkin out
for a run in the back garden. as being
safe place for him. while 1 went in
doors 20 write some letters. | had not
been long thus occupied when Clara
burst into my room in a state of furry
and agitation.
IF you please. sir. would you mind
going down into the garding at once.
The gaffer wants YER
What is it? What has happened?"
j inquired surmising, alas! too easily.
what the matter was.
It's that hary-tale of yers." said
Clara. THE gaffer We been a-chasing
i'm all round the garding, and can't
catch i'm
l hurried down. Popham met me at
the garden gate. He was breathless.
excited. and very angry.
Il tell yer what ii is, Mr.. Hedward.'
he exclaimed. This amt good enough,
sir. I'll not ave my garding turned into
a playground for that dam terrier"
"Has-has Pipkin been doing much
harm them | stammered.
Depends what you call much arm
replied Popham, with savage irony.
Not much, | daresay, compared with
what 'es capable OF, but not bad for.
one morning. Eve a-scratchei up a
bed of carnations and a-blt orr two
young rose trees at the root, and a
played 'ide-andseek i'm the geraniums
tiil there am uam bloom lett on one
of em and. as II that didn't satisfy
i'm, eve gone and Topped 'isself
through my cucumbey frame and broke
eight squares OF glass. which. II ed
a-cut 'isself / shouldn't have minded
50 much; but there amt a sign OF a
scratch. 50 FAR as | can see. on Is ole
carcase. SO I'll trouble yer. Mr.. He'd
ward, sir. next time You wants TO give
i'm hair and hcXercise. 60 take i'm ont
ycrself on the igh-road."
And ~ it bad TO be. ! was obliged
to takf ont Pipkin for exercise twice
daily in what Popham was pleased TO
call the 'igh-roads. You may be sure.
however. ! got, him as quici,ly as pos
sihie into the least frequentcd places.
The common was my favoritc resort.