The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-11-11

ribbons. I knew the coloTs well IN,
always brought the one she said.
But one morning my feelings receivsl
. shock. Phyllis had q letter and wa
very silly about it. kissing it AZ though
It we're q dog or two-legged being. Still
I minded that less than II it had beer
Mr.. Roft. IA a
"Oh, Phoney, listen!" she whispered
- she combed my hair, II am sure yos
viii understand, You dear old thing
I've such dear letter from him. and b
wants my answer, Phoney-the answer
I would not give the day met with my
accident" .s#a. a.. az r.
dropped my ears and lowered my
tail. BY him knew she meantMr. Roft
But what answer did she allude to!
looked tnQuiringly into her gentle, blue
eyes. PC.
She laughed and kissed me on thu
nose.
"You dear old thing! Twill read it ia
you, Phoney." ~
And she pulled it from her pocket and
read out lot of rubbish that seemed
quite unintelligible to me. But, then,
always thought Mr.. Roft half an idiot
and wondered at Phyllis liking him
Then came few words that made me sit
up can tell you. u. -...,~
LET that poodle Of yours be made
use Of for once. If 1t Is to be yes put
on her blue ribbon. If NOS yellow
one. shall call to-day, and II see the
color long for on that black creatures
head I shall at once beard the lion and
assert my rights"
"Phoney, it shall be blue! Fetch'blue,
darling" said Phyllis. with joyful
smile.
And I walked slowly out of the room
to the boudoir beyond. When brought
the blue ribbon back she laughed again.
But had laid my plans. Whatever
this Eyes" was to mean. Mr.. Roft hoped
to read 1t in the color of my ribbon.
But meant him to read mo-" would
show him that dog Of my breeding
could be something more than mere
cats-paw in his plot.
I rolled over and scratched until the
ribbon came of and lay on the ground.
Then trotted into the garden with it
and buried 1t in my favorite> corner,
where I hide my best bones.
KNEW was doing wrong, but Phyllis
would not really mind, and owed Mr.
Roft grudge or two.
Often when my ribbon came OF used
to take 1t 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 laugh:
What. your fine bow of again,
Phoney? What IN untidy dog!"
l wagged my tail as she tied it on.
For civility lowers no one, and she Is
a nice girl. Then l sat down on the door
mat 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 a look of astonished
despair crept into his face that my heart
quaked within me and I hung my head.
He stopped over me as though he
could not believe his eyes, and as I felt
his warm breath on my face I rolled
over on to my back in terrified submis-
sion.
"Silly BRUTE" he murmured. "get up.
Have you been stealing? Don't give
yourself away like that, Phoney."
He looked at me fixedly without say
ing anything. Then. STOPPING again. he
took of my ribbon and stuffed It into his
pocket.
That night Phyllis was worse, and no
one could understand why. And tho
next day she lay silent, looking out Of
her window with such distressed eyes
that could not bear to look at her.
And Mr. Roft did not come near tho
house, which proved that he had really
meant good-by.
= At last I could stand It no longer.
Surely Mr.. Roft could make things right
again. would go.to him.
So one afternoon crept silently out
into the road. He did not live far of,
and, as fate would have it. came across
him outside his garden gate. He smiled
when he saw me.
why, Phoney! Come to see your
friend" he exclaimed; you're only just
in time. my girl. 1start tonight"
I wagged my tail and opened my
mouth. At his feet L laid the earth
soiled blue ribbon. He stared at me in
amazement. "Phoney. you're q brick!
You're trying to tell me there's been
some mistake. I'm coming back with
you to make sure. Lead on, you imita-
ton Mephistopheles, and may the real
one have you If I'm misleading you"
What race that was! felt myself
really warming to him for, understand
ing me so we'll.
And, when we got to the house, I
crept stealthily in through the open door,
enticing him up, until we stood like
two thieves within the boudoir, where
Phyllis lay on couch by the window.
AS she turned her head to look at me
her eyes fell upon him, and she GRIM
soned with delight. Then suddenly she
horn mo nnite nala and aaid IN a no1d