Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-07-23

8 Love Me, Love My Dos S


use of for once. If it is to be yes put
on her blue ribbon. If no yellow
one. l shall call to-day, and if l see
the color l long for on that black Great
ure's head l shall at once beard the
lion and assert my rights"
"Phoney, it shall be bluel Fetch
blue, darling" said Phyllis, with
joyful smile.
And l walked slowly out of the
room to the boudoir beyond. When l
brought the blue ribbon back she
laughed again.
But had laid my plans. Whatever
this yes" was to mean, Mr.. Roft
hoped to read it in the color of my
ribbon. But 1 meant him to read mo"
l would show him that a dog of my
breeding could be something more than
mere catspaw in his plot.
l rolled over and scratched until the
ribbon came off and lay on the ground.
Then trotted into the garden with
it and buried it in my favorite corner,
where l hide my best bones.
knew l was doing wrong, but
Phyllis would not really mind, and
owed Mr.. Roft grudge or two.
Often when my ribbon came off l
used to take it to my friend the parlor
maid and get her to put it on again.
SO now, as l sneaked down from the
boudoir with yellow one in my mouth
and met her at the foot of the stairs,
she said with a laugh:
what, your fine bow off again,
PhOney? What an untidy dog,'
l wagged my tail as she tied it on.
For civility lowers no one and she is
nice girl. Then l sat down on the
dOOrmat to watch for Mr.. Roft.
At last the gate clicked and he came
up the steps with light spring. But
as his eyes fell on me such look Of
astonished despair crept into his face
that my heart quaked within me and
l hung my head.
He stopped over me as though he
could not believe his eyes, and as l
felt his warm breath on my face l
rolled over on to my back in terrified
submission.
silly brute" he murmured, get
up. Have you been stealing? Don't
give yourself away like that, Pho
ney."
He looked at me fiXedly without
saying anything. Then. STOPPING again
he took off my ribbon and stuffed il
into his pocket.
That night Phyllis was worse, and
; no one could understand why. AND
; the next day she lay silent, looking
out of her window with such distress
ed eyes that l could not bear to look
at her.
And Mr. Roft did not come near the
house, which proved that he had really
= meant goodby.
. At last l could stand it no longer
. Surely Mr.. Roft could make thing:
I right again. l would go to him.
. SO one afternoon l crept silently on
r into the road. He did not live far off
! and, as fate would have it, l cam,
across him outside his garden gate
/ He smiled when he saw me.
g "Why, Phoney! Come to see you
8 friend" he exclaimed; you're onl,
e just in time, my girl. 1 start to
night"
! l wagged my tail and opened m.
r mouth. AT his feet l laid the earth
+ sOiled blue ribbon. He stared at m
d in amazement "Phoney, you're
n brick! You're trying to tell me there
been some mistake. I'm coming bac
= with you to make sure. Lead on, yo
n imitation Mephistopheles, and may tn
r real one have you if I'm misreadin
II you"
r What race that was! 1 felt my
q self really warming to him for under
standing me so WELL
V And when we got to the house,
r. crept stealthily in through the Ope
l. door, enticing him up. until we stoo
,r like two thieves within the boudoi
where Phyllis lay on couch by tn
10 window.
AS she turned her head to look {
1t me her eyes fell upon him, and sh
crlmsoned with delight. Then sui
ct denly she became quite pale, and sal
at in a cold voice:
It. Good evening, Mr.. Roft."
If He stepped up to her, and held oil
k the ribbon 1 had given him.
is Phyllis" he asked, sis this the ri
bon you put on Phoney that NOR
lie ing"