The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-03-31
Tins Tactics
By CECILIA A. LOIZEAUx
Copyright, 1904, by Cecilia A. Loizeaux

~
brought Tim home one evening and
laid the dog in the open arms Of his
pretty wife. She received him enthusi-
astically and bought him an elaborate
collar. He was q cute dog. Even Mrs.
Robinson-Smith, who lived next door
and hated dogs, admitted that-that is,
she said he wasn't bad for monsrel.
And it must be admitted right here
that the dog wasn't of any particular
breed; he was just dog.
He was soon in high favor in the
neighborhood especially with the Rob-
inSon-Smiths, who Wee intimate
friends of the Jones' Browns. Both cou-
| pies were newly married and during
the day while their husbands were in
the city the young wives sewed, talked
and called together.
But to come back to the dog. Ia time
he passed the stage Of puppy fireworks
and was old enough to know better.
| Then Mrs Jones' Browns sister came
| to visit her. And during the same
week Mrs RObinson-Smith had card
| from her nephew that he was coming
down to spend q month with her. He
was nearly as old MS aunt, who adj
mitted that he was fled "catch" in
| town
The expected guests arrived almost
simultaneously-N thel Herriot with
| large trunk apH Jack Marvin with di-
vers battereG luit cases They were
! duly enscOp"'-d with their respective
relatives, as~d then the trouble began.
| On the se>.5nd evening MI and Mrs.
RobinSo' smith trailed their nephew
| across '@,e lawn to call on their nearest
! neighl IL. The two young people were
! introduced. Ethel, as Mrs. Jones'
| Brown afterward said, was unnecessa-
rily embarrassed for girl who had
! been three seasons out
| In the horribly irritating way Of
young married people the neighborly
| quartet Immediately began to talk Of
domestic affairs, leaving Jack and Eth
ell to take care of themselves. They did
not notice that there was an awful 81
lence, 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
patting the dog. Ethel finally said to
the man:
"Why did you follow me out hereT'
Il didn't follow you," said Jack
promptly. If | had known that you
were in this neck of woods you don't
suppose I'd 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 an
aunt out here?" Ethel asked indg-
nantly.
Well" said Jack, Il guess we're
! both innocent, SO we need not quarrel
| over that
Then there was another silence. Tim
jumped down from Ethers lap and
leaped into Jacks. Jack grinned
mice doggie"' he chuckled. petting
him effusively Ethel knew he hated
small dogs She tried to think Of some
thing crushing to say, but before the
! 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
slant, while he said:
$50 glad I've met you, Miss HerriOt
It's awfully jolly that we know so
many of the same people,
Ethel smiled, though her eyes were
blazing wrathfully.
isn't it?' she said. Good night
When Mrs. Jones Brown turned to
speak to her sister she found the girls
| chair empty and moment after heard
her ascending the stairs.
Late that night Ethel rose, lit the
lamp and took from her trunk pack
age of letters, which she sat down to
read. Long before she had finished
them she was crying softly, and when
she did go 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 let
you in?'
Rising ON her elbow, she saw that
the door was ajar and supposed that
her sister had sent the dog to wake
| her.
Tim seemed full of spirits of puppy
hood this morning He would worry
| the bedclothes with his teeth, dash
| wildly across the room to catch some
unseen thing and then rush back upon
her frantic with delight
Ethel lay staring at the ceiling. Her
head ached, and she felt utterly miser-
| able. She wondered how she could get
away from her sisters house and that
man next door. Tim, finding himself
unmatched, worried awhile at some
thing he found on the floor beneath the
| table. then took it in his mouth and ran
| off with it.
eff he only wasn't SO glad,' thought
the girl referring to the man. not the
dog. He shows SO plainly that he's
| cIod ;t,c off,,