The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-02-09
Tins Tactics
BY CECILIA A. LOIZEAUX

DA'''f''N 4 ll4i liOIl.t pllF 'N'iitAAr7 fiiA
laid tie dog in the open arm Of his
pretty wife She received him cnthusi
astculy and bought him an elaborate
collar He Wa~ Il cute dog Even Mrs
RobinSon-Smith WHO lived next door
and hated dogs, admitted that that is
she said he wasn't I'D for uonlrel.
And ii must be admitted right here
that the dog Va Il Of any particular
breed; lie was just dos
He was soon in high favor in the
neigl,borhood, especially With Tire Lob
insDn-SmithS. who We intimate
friends of the Jones Browns Both con-
pies We're newly MARI ed aua during
the day while Their husbands 0cre in
the city the young wives ,e0ed talked
and called together
But to come back 10 The dae In f#me
he passed the stage Of puppy fireworks
and was Old enough l. know better
Then Mrs. Jones Browns SISTER emo
to visit her And during the Saue
week Mrs Robinson Smith had "A ear1
from her nephew that he WAS coming
down to spend month With hcr lie
was nearly rs old as his aunt. WHO adj
mittcd that he was called Il catch" i'll
town.
The expected guests arrived almost
simultaneously Herriot with "a
large trunk and Jack Marvin With di=
Vers battered suit cases They We're
duly enSconced with their respective
relatives and then the trouble began.
On the second evening Mr. and Mrs
Robinson Smith trailed their nephew
across the lawn to call on their nearest
neighbor The two young people We're
introduced. Ethel, rs Mrs. Jones
Brown afterward said, was unnecessa-
rily embarrassed for a girl who had
been three seasons out
In the horribly irritating way Of
young married people the neighborly
quartet Immediately began 10 talk of
domestic affairs leaving Jack aud Eth
81 to take care Of themselves. They did
not notice that there was an awful 81
lencc during which Ethel was threat
ened with mental hysteria and was
saved only by Tim, the thoughtful who
opportunity appeared and jumped into
her lap She began to talk to him. and
the day was saved temporarily. Still
pattiug the dog Ethel finally said 10
the man.
why did YOU follow me on here"
II didn't follow you" said Jack
promptly. IF | had known that you
were in this neck of woods YOU don't
suppose Id have disturbed it, do YOU
Then he added, why did You come TO
stay next door TO my aunt
How was to know YOU had IN
aunt out here" Ethel asked india
nantly.
We'll, said Jack. Il guess we're
both innocent so we need not quarrel
over that"
Then there was another silence Tim
jumped down from Ethel's lap and
leaped into Jacks. lack grinned.
mice doggie" he chuckcd. petting
him cffusively. Ethel knew he hated
small dogs She tried to think of some.
thing crushing to say, but before tie
words came Mr. and Mrs Robinson.
Smith rose and said good night. and
their dutiful nephew rose with them.
He put out his hand. and Ethel WAS
forced to let hers touch it for an in
stant while lie said
so glad I've met YOU. Miss Herriot
It's awfully Jolly that we know SO
many Of the same people"
Ethel smilei though her eyes were
blazing wrathfully.
Isn't it?T she said. Good night"
When Mrs. Jones Brown turned to
speak to her sister She found the girls
chair empty and - moment after beard
her ascending the stairs
Late that II GIN Ethel rose. lit the
lamp and took from her trunk n pack
age of letters. Which she SAT down To-
read. Long before she had finished
them she was crying softly. and when
she did 60 to bed again it WAS To lie
wide eyed and staring till nearly morn
ing She was awakened by Tim. who
was licking her hand. She patted his
head
Naughty Tim, Did the missus lei
YOU inT"
Rising Oh her elbow. she saw that
the door was aiar and supposed that
her sister had sent the dog to wake
her.
Tim seemed fun of spirits of puppy.
hood this morning. He would worry
the bedclotheS with his teeth. dash
wildly across the room to catch some