New Ulm review., 1901-09-11
A Versatile Dog.

paid $4,000 for the gem and .tooksit
to Elsie to have it readyeif she would
accept me for husband. had seated
myself beside her, with the ringain my
hand, and in my confusion droppedsit.
Elsie did not see it. She was tying q
ribbon. But the dog did. Whatzhs
thought it was goodness only knows,
but he jumped down from the dear
girls lap, followed the rolling gem,
overlook it, Tapped it up and swallowed
1t.
What I would have done cannot
now imagine; but, at the very depth
of my extremities, in came the butler
with card. It was a business affair.
Would excuse her one moment? Ger
tainly. AS the dear girl and the serv-
ant disappeared | arose, grabbed that
dog, went to the window, raised it and
pitched him into the street. Then /
started for the hall, only to be met at
the door by Miss March as she was re-
turning.
''Oh, excuse me one moment, Miss
March! / will be back Immediately"
''Why, what has happened?"
"Oh, nothing, only-only just raised
the window for an instant, and Jokko
went out into the street, and
'0h, my poor, poor Jokko!" exclaim-
ed Elsie, suddenly realizing her loss.
"Oh, Mr.. Arden, how could you have
been SO careless? I'm sure he's lost.
Poor doggiey'
II hope and pray that he isn't" said
I, with a shudder at the thought.
please hurry. do! Oh, my poor
Jokko'-
But had seized my hat and plunged
wildly out of the house and down the
steps.
Well, recovered the dog, slaughter
ed him, recovered the ring and bought
another dog, an exact mate to Jokko
except for one white hind leg. took
him home and in the cab adjusted
old Jokkos collar to the new Jokko's
neck.
So the new Jokko was the exact
match of the late lamented Jokko, ex.
cept that he was a female with one
white hind leg. l stopped and bought
bottle of black Ink and then care
fully painted that left leg till it was as
dark and glossy as the rest Of her. I
went up the steps of the house in Sau-
marex square in triumph.
Elsie met me at the door, Oh, If she
would only welcome me with half the
warmth she did her '1ong lost Jokkom
The cur thought 1t great fun and a
moment later gorged itself on dainties
from her hand. Poor Jokko" she
cried pityingly. did they steal you
away? 1t was a shame-indeed it
was. You must be famished, poor
doggier'
After dinner (for it was so late now
that had been pressed to remain and
dine) we grayitated toward the very
spot where the interrupted drama of
love was enacted in the afternoon.
resumed the same Informal topics to
break the ice once more. There Jokko
was upon her lap. enjoying her petting
hugely. "Why, see how gray Jokko's
left leg is gettingr' said Elsie.
'Yes," said I. 1T Is a popularity of
French poodles." Then, before that
opprobrious leg could betray me, risk
ed all and made the desperate plunge.
Thank goodness! She did not refuse
me. She was grateful-yery grateful
for this highest honor which is mans
privilege to pay woman She would
think it over with great care and give
will ~,
Then she held out her trembling finger
tips to me, and took courage to bend
down and press them to my lips in tri-
umph. A little later smuggled that
cur into a dark corner, gave his hind
leg another coat Of ink and departed.
Daily for the next three days l call
ed to pay my court to the most adora-
bic woman on earth and to paint that
dogs hind leg. On the third day she
gave me the sweet assent so coveted,
and l pressed home upon her fair fin.
ger the beautiful ruby with a tender
blessing. She raised her calm eyes to
mine, my arms were intwined about
her and my lips were just melting
upon her warm, cherry red mouth as
that mischief making dog entered. She
had fallen into a tub of water, and her
left hind leg was as white as snow.
or course | thought 1t curious COIN
cidence and said SO, but I had heard
that chameleons and French poodles
had an exclusive way Of changing
their coats at will. Probably the leg
would be black again by morning.
vxyoc crtf nd ho 81 ~