The Press., 1905-05-17

 brought Tim home one evening ana
 laid the dog in the open arms Of his pretty wife. She received him enthusi- astically and bought him an elaborate collar. He was a cute dog. Even Mrs. Robinson-S Smith, who lived next door and hated dogs, admitted that-that Is, she said he wasn't bad for monSrel. And 1t must be admitted right hers that the dog wasn't of any particular breed; he was just a dog. He was soon in high favor in the neighborhood, especially with the Rob- inson-Smiths, who were intimate friends of the Jones-BrOwns. Both cou' ples 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. In 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 q card from her nephew that he was coming down to spend a month with her. He was nearly as old as his aunt, who ad- mitted that he was called ''catch" in town.
 The expected guests arrived almost simultaneously-Ethe Herriot with a large trunk and Jack Marvin with di- vers battered suit cases. They were duly ensconced with their respective relatives, and then the trouble began. On the second evening MT. and Mrs. Robinson-Smith trailed their nephew across the lawn to call on their nearest neighbor. The two young people were introduced. Ethel. as Mrs. Jones' Brown afterward said, was unnecessa- rily embarrassed for q 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 el to take care of themselves. They did not notice that there was an awful si- lence, during which Ethel was threat ened with mental hysteria and was saved only by Tim, the thoughtful, who opportunely appeared and jumped into her lap. She began to talk to him, and the day was savedstemporarily. Still batting the dog, Ethel finally said to the man:
 'Why did you follow me out hereT'
 'I didn't follow you," said Jack promptly. If I 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 I to know you had an aunt out here?" Ethel asked indig- nantly.
 Well" said Jack, "I guess we're both innocent, so we need not quarrel over that"
 Then there was another silence. Tim jumped down from EthePs lap and leaped into Jacks. Jack grinned
 Mice doggien' he chuckIed, betting him effusively. Ethel knew he hated small dogs. She tried to think of some thing crushing to say, but before the words came MT. 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 1t for an in- stant, while he said:
 ''So 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 a moment after heard her ascending the stairs.
 Late that night Ethel rose, lit the lamp and took from her trunk a 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 unwatched, worried awhile at some thing he found on the floor beneath the table, then took 1t in his mouth and ran off with it.
 If he only wasn't so glad" thought the girl, referring to the man, not the dog. He shows so plainly that he's glad it's offr'
 Before she got up she determined to show Jack that he wasn't the only one who didn't care. She would treat him as stranger, and she would flirt with him, too, and make him sorry. She de scended the stairs, explained that her pale face was due to a nervous head ache, for which she would try a long walk, and departed in a smart blue skirt and white shirt waist and very pretty slippers.
 During this walk it was her intention to map out her campaign, and her thoughts were busy as she strolled along. Finally she climbed high bank by the roadside, walked along the grassy ledge for awhile and then sat down on the brink of an old stone quar- ". She was swinging her small French heels and throwing stones into the blue water far beneath when somebody be- hind her whistled a we'll known strain. She answered before she thought and then started, almost losing her balance, and clutched at the bank to save her self. Her face was hot. and she felt some one seize her from behind, for it had all happened too quickly for her to