The Press., 1905-11-22
BELHNDA'S INTERVENTION
By A. M. Davies Ogden
Copyright, 1905, by A. M. D. Ogden

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 Miss Belinda Tremayne, aetat, seven and one-half years, regarded her new treasure with slow, contemplative gaze. A brief past, checkered by the speedy demise of various cherished chickens, goldfish and birds, had rem dered her somewhat skeptical as to the value of birds, but this puppy looked encouragingly healthy.
 'T expect you might live as long as ten years," she speculated, "and by then shall probably be married and not miss you if anything did happen" !" At which satisfactory conclusion she yielded to her surging affection and hugged the puppy close, an attention which he returned by series of damp kisses from a small red tongue. 1 But there was still Aunt Lillian to be reckoned with. Aunt Lillian did not like dogs. In fact, Belinda was not sure that she had discovered what Aunt Lillian did like, and Miss Fer rars herself was beginning to have doubts on the subject. When her sis ter's health had necessitated a sudden trip to Europe Miss Ferrars had eager ly offered to take charge of Belinda. | The results had been startling. Miss Ferrars, filled with conscientious en- thusiasm, set herself to the task of in- educating the precepts of wisdom into the youthful mind, but Belinda, placid, unmoved, pursued an unimpressed course Miss Ferrars sighed. She had imagined children as clean faced, curly haired infants with gentle, obedi- ent ways. Belinda was rarely clean; no amount of twisting could persuade a curl into those unruly locks. Miss Ferrars began to wonder whether she had been wise to assume this respon- sibility. She admitted to herself that she did not in the least understand the child, but she loved her, which helped a lot, even if Miss Ferrars did not know 1t.
 Now, daintily fresh and sweet i'll the crispest of white muslins, Miss Ferrars sat on the wide, cool veranda, embroid- ering some pretty trifle The sudden apparition of a shaggy, panting puppy in her lap caused her to emit little shriek Then her eyes met Belinda's earnest face.
 "It's my new puppy" exclaimed Be- linda ''I love him lot and he loves me He will love you, too," she added generously Miss Ferrars hesitated.
 "But Belinda"- Belinda's lip began to tremble; misty film crept over her eyes Miss Ferrars' heart softened.
 "Well," she relented, eff he is kept lvN @6n foh 1v lin da"-struck by new thought-"where did you get himT"
 Belinda waved a vague arm. "Over there" she observed importantly. "A man gave him to me. He said his name was Frank, so that's the puppy's name. named him for him."
 "Whatv' cried Miss Ferrars. She had flushed a deep, lovely pink; then the color had faded. Frank! He was back, then. With a quick movement she pushed the puppy from her lap. How had he dared speak to the child? Of course she must not allow Belinda to keep his dog. Yet, to break her word-a thing against all her theories of upbringing! A troubled frown puck cred her white forehead.
 "You may keep the puppy" she de clared reluctantly, 'but he must not come near the house. Do you under stand, Belindaw
 And Belinda nodded blissful "Yes."
 From that day the two were insep- arable. If Miss Ferrars had hoped that Belinda might grow tired of her acquisition, the hope faded. Wherever nHI,h nd N1OSQ behind stumbled the faithful puppy. It soon became impossible to enforce the stable order; Belinda insisted upon the constant companionship of her treasure.
 Miss Ferrars grew restless. The pretty soft pink of her cheeks began to pale. Why had Frank Halstead come home? Did he mean to stay? This possibility of running across him made her nervous. She fell into the habit of taking long walks in the country, lin gering along the shady woodland paths. She wished to be out if he called, she told herself.
 But he did not call, and Miss Fer happy look. If only he would go away. And this constant hearing of his name, ''Fwank, Fwank, Fwank," all day long! Miss Ferrars felt sometimes as if she hated the dog.
 Belinda, vaguely conscious of some thing wrong, watched her aunt with childish, wistful anxiety. Did auntie really not like Frank? She said she did not, but once Belinda had come upon her batting the rough little back and Belinda had seen that there were tears, really tears, in auntie's eyes. Belinda was sorely puzzled. She longed for some one with whom she could consult. But mamma was away off across the ocean, and Frank, though striving his best to console, was no use as adviser. And then suddenly Belinda gasped under the force of daring inspiration.
 If she could find that nice young man who had given her Frank-if she could talk things over with him! The mem- ory of the merry blue eyes, the kindly smile, still dwelt in the child's grateful little heart, though since that day she had been forbidden to go near the gate, and consequently had seen him no more. He could not live very far away. And he would help, she felt sure. To think, with Belinda, was to act. A moment later she was tramping down the long avenue to the gate. She would find him.
 Up at the house Miss Ferrars wait- Nd. Where could Belinda be? The child's supper hour came and went; the slow shadows began to darken. Miss Ferrars grew alarmed; it was not like Belinda to be late for meals.
 Hastily catching up lace scarf the girl hurried toward the gaze. some in stinct warning her whitlaer the little truant had fed On the path just across the road lay crumpled, much soiled handkerchief. With quickening heart beats Miss Ferrars ran down the