The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-07
Tins Tactics
Ry CECILIA A. LOlzEAUx
Copyright iaOA by Cecilia A. Ioi.eaus

collar. He was cute dog, Even Mrs
Robinson-Smith, who lived next doc
and hated dogs, admitted that--that Is
she said he wasn't bad for mongrel
And it must be admitted right her,
athat the dog wasn't OF any particular
breed; he was just dog.
He was soon In high favor In thu
neighborhood, especially with the Rob
lnson-Smiths. who were intimate
friends of the Jones. Browns. Both cou
Piles 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
srom her nephew that he was coming
down TO spend 4 month with her lie
was nearly as old as his aunt. who nd.
mitted that he was called "catch" IN
| town
The expected guests arrived almost
| simultaneously Ethel Herriot with Il
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 Mr.. and Mrs.
Robinson-Smith trailed their nephew
across the lawn 10 call ON their nearest
nelghbor The two young people were
introduced. Ethel, as Mrs. Jones.
Brown afterward said, was .unnecessa,
rily embarrassed for II girl who hal
been three seasons out"
In the horribly irritating way of
young married people the neighborl.
quartet Immediately began 10 talk OF
domestic affairs, leaving Jack and Eth
el to take care OF themselves. They di
not notice that there was an awful 8
lencc, 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 ths dog, Ethel finally said to
the man:
why did you follow me out herei'
Il didn't follow you" said Jack
promptly. III had known that you
were in this neck OF woods you don't
suppose I'd have disturbed II, do your
Then he added. why did you come to
stay next door to my auntr
How was to know you had an
aunt out here? Ethel asked indig.
nantly.
Well" said Jack, II guess we're
both innocent, so we need not quarrel
over that"
Then there was another silence. Tim
jumped down from Ethel's lap and
leaped into Jacks. Jack grinned.
Mice doggie" he chuckled. pettlng
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
80 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 ltp 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 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 20 to bed again 1t 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 inp
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
worried awhile at some
thing he found on the floor beneath the
table, then took 1t in hts mouth and ran
of with it.
"If he only wasn't 80 glad" thought
the girl, referring to the man, not the
dog. "He shows so plainly that he's
glad it's or" ...
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 a stranger, and she would 6lrt with |
him, too, and make him sorry. She de-
scended the stairs, explained that her |