Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-01-08

fish eighteen more pugs had Joined their
companion.
Get out. you brute,' shouted the colo
mel as dog insnuated itself between bis
legs. Sylvia. put them back again this
minutel You had no business to let them
out. Put them back"
''But can't, papa. can't catch
them"
She looked helpIessy from him to the
seething mass OF dogs and back again.
where's my gum" began the colonel.
'papa, don't. You couldn't be so crueli
They aren't doing any harm, pool
things"
"If | knew who sent them
perhaps there's something to show.
Yes; here's visiting card in this ham
per-"
Whose is it?" beloved the colonel
through the din.
y. Darcy Henderson, The FRS" read
Sylvia at the top of her voice.
young blaekguardi' bawled the colo
mel.
II expect there's one In each of the
hampers. Yes; here's another-W. X.
Ross, The Elms."
The colonel came across and began to
examine the hampers with his own
hand. Each hamper contained visiting
card, and each card bore the name of
neighbor. The colonel returned to the
breakfast room and laid his nineteen
cards out in row on the table.
"H'mI" he said at last. "Mr. Reginald
Dallas does not seem to be represented"
Sylvia said nothing.
"No; he seems not to be represented.
did not give him credit for so much
sense" Then he dropped the subject, and
breakfast proceeded in silence.
A young gentleman met the colonel on
his walk that morning.
Morning. colonel" said he.
Good morning." said the colonel grim.
ly.
Ger - colonel, Ter suppose Miss
Reynolds got that dog all right?"
ITO which dog do you referT"
at was pug, you know. 1t ought to
have arrived by this time"
yes; | am inclined to think it has.
Had 1t any special characteristics?
''No; don't think so-just an ordinary
pug"
''Well. young man, If you win go to my
coachhouse you will find nineteen ordi.
nary pugs, and If you would kindly select
your beast and shoot it should be much
obliged"
Nineteen said the other in astonish.
ment. why, are you setting up as
dog fancier in your old age. colonel?"
This was too much for the colonel He
exploded.
''Old age! Confound your impudence!
Dog fancier! No. sir! have not become
dog fancier in what you are pleased tc
call my old age! But while there is no
law to prevent a lot of dashed young
puppies like yourself. sir-like yourself
sending your COMPOUNDED pug dogs to my
daughter, who ought to have known bet
ter than to have let them out of ther
dashed hampers, have no Defense"
Sylvia" said the colonel on arriving
home.
"Yes, papa"
do you still want to marry that Dali
las fellow? Now. for heavens sake.
don't start crying! Goodness knows I've
been worried enough this morning with.
out that. Please answer plain ques-
ton in a fairly sane manner. Do you OF
do you not?"
''Of course do, papa"
Then you may. He's the furthest
from being a fool of any of the young
puppies who live about here, and he
knows one end of a gun from the other.
I'll write to him now"
Dear Dallas" wrote the colonel, 81
find on consideration that you are the
only sensible person in the neighborhood.
l hope you will come to lunch today.
And if you still want to marry my daugh-
ter you may"
To which Dallas replied by return OF
messenger:
Thanks for both invitations. will"
An hour later he arrived in person. and
the course of true love pulled itself to-
gether and began to run smooth again.
Boston Herald.