Smyrna times., 1905-10-04
BELHNDA'S
INTERVENTION
By A. NJ. Davies OGDEN
Copyright 1905, by A. NJ. D. Ogden
\ !. g.

anu One-nalt years, regarded her new
treasure with slow, contemplatiye
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.
81 expect you might live as long as
ten years." she speculated, land bv
then l shall probably be maEried and
not miss you If anything did"happen."
AT which satisfactory conclusion she
yielded to her surging affection and
Rugged the puppy close, an attention
which he returned by q series Of damn
kisses from small red tongue.
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 o 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
culcating 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-
sibllity. 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 IT,
Now, daintily fresh and sweet in the
crispeSt of white muslins, Miss Ferrars
sat on the wide, cool veranda, embroid-
ering some pretty trifie. The sudden
apparition Of a shaggy, painting puppy
in her lap caused her to emit little
shrek. Then her eyes met Belinda's
earnest face
''It's my new puppy" exclaimed Be
linda. 81 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; a misty film crept over her
eyes. Miss Ferrars' heart softened.
"Well." she relented, "if he is kept
in the stable, perhaps Why, Belin-
da"-struck by new thought--"where
did you get him?"
Belinda waved a vague arm. cover
there" she observed Importantly. "a
man gave him to me. He said his
name was Frank, so that's the puppy's
name. l 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 upbringingl 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, BelindaT'
And Belinda nodded blissful Yes. -
From that day the two were insep-
arabic. If Miss Ferrars had hoped
that Belinda might grow tired of her
acquisition, the hope faded. Wherever
the chubby little legs wandered, close
behind stumbled the faithful puppy
1t soon became impossible to enforce
the stable order; Belinda insisted upon
{, the constant companionship Of heI
| treasure.
Miss Ferrars grew restless. The
pretty soft pink of her cheeks begar
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 o
taking long walks in the country, lin
gering along the shady woodland paths
She wished to be out If he called, sh'
told herself.
But he did not call, and Miss Fer
rars' eyes began to have a tired, un
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 sh
hated the dog.
Belinda, vaguely conscious Of some
thing wrong, watched her aunt wit
childish, wistful anxiety. Did aunt
really not like Frank? She said sh
did not, but once Belinda had com
upon her patting the rough little bac
and Belinda had seen that there wer
tears. really tears, in auntie's eyes
Belinda was sorely puzzled. She longe
! for some one with whom she coul
consult. But mamma was away o.
across the ocean, and Frank, thong
= striving his best to console, was
s use as adviser. And then suddenl
, Belinda gasped under the force of
i daring inspiration.
If she could find that nice young ma
: who had given her Frank-if she coul