The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-02-09
Tins Tactics
By CECILIA A. LOlZEAUX

( By CECILIA A. L0lzEAUx s
( Copyright, 1904, by Cecilia A. Loi1eaux :
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It al began when Mr.. Jones-Brown
brought Tim home one evening and
laid the dog in the open arms OF bis
pretty wife. She received him enthust
astically and bought him an elaborate
collar. He was q cute dog. Even Mrs.
Robinson-Smtth, who lived next door
and hated dogs, admitted that that IS,
she said he wasn't bad for mongrel
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 wece 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. 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 card
from her nephew that he was coming
down to spend q month with her. BE
was nearly as old as his aunt, who ad-
mitted that he was called catch" In
town.
The expected guests arrived almost
simultaneously-E Herrtot with a
large trunk and Jack Marvin with d.
vers battered suit cases. They were
duly enscoDced 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 were
introduced. Ethel, as 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 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
opportunely 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 here"
II 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 your
Then he added, "Why did you come to
stay next door to my auntT
"How was I to know you had an
aunt out here?' Ethel asked indig-
nantly.
We'll" said Jack, II guess we're
both innocent, 80 we need not quarrel
over that"
Then there was another silence Tim
Jumped down from Ethel's lap and
leaped into Jacks. Jack grinned.
"Nice doggier' he, chuckled, petttng
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 itr' 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, 1t 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 90 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 Tin! Did the missus let
you iny
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 mfser-