The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-01-03
DOG AND
DIPLOMAT
BY LOWELL OTUS REESE
COpynsht. 1904. BY Lowell Ohn Reese


Carleton saw her ON the avenue one
morning He watched her enter a GER
tain house with magnolias in the front
yard. She entered with an air of pro-
prietorship, and Carleton promptly de-
cided that it was her home. He strobe
away to the nearest drug store and by
skillful diplomacy elected from the
benevolent old gentleman with specta-
cles that the house was occupied by
Colonel Barclay of New York, and
But Carleton promptly forgot the
rest of it as being irrelevant, incom-
petent and immaterial." He remem-
bered the name, however, and he saw
her again that evening-afar off.
He was modest fellow, and he tried
to keep out of sight However, he
and finally he dreamed about her. This
was getting serious. To think all day
about girl you've never met and to
dream about her all night Is alarming
and an indication that it Is time for
you to leave town or hunt up mutual
friend.
Carleton knew no one In Magnolia,
and he could not induce himself to
leave. He continued to haunt the
beach and drive and tell his troubles
to the big pointer, who always listen
ed with an appreciative thump of the
tail and a tremendous droop of his
cavernous jaw.
One evening Carleton was lying upon
the grass half mile from town when
suddenly the pointer sprang up with
startled bark and rushed out into
the middle of the bicycle path, frisking
and ready for romp He was just in
time to collide with Miss Barclays
wheel and send that frightened young
lady to the ground in an undignihed
heap.
Carleton ran out in a perfect agony
Of cOntrition. Its all Don's faultn'
he cried. Il hope you won't-are you
hurt?" he finished anxiously.
The young lady was regarding her
muddy costume with mingled wrath
and modification. Her face burned a
rosy red, and she sprang quickly upon
her wheel and started with all speed
from the scene Of her tumble.
Hes a horrid. muddy beast" she
half sobbed. land If l owned him
would have him shot" Then with a
half glance at the abject young man,
who stood hat In hand, she swept
around a bend in the road and was
gone.
Carleton stood benumbed. Its all
over now" he sighed Don, you've
done 1t this time all right" The poor
pointer hung his head and skunk away
to lie down behind a tree and watch
his master with agonized, apprehen-
sive eyes. He was guilty, but so sor-
ry.
Carleton regarded him long and
thoughtfully.
Don. old boy" he said ITS up to
you. You've got to be sacrificed. 1t
goes hard with me, old chap, but she
has condemned you, and that settles
it."
Don wagged his tail anxiously and
with doubt He didn't understand, on
ly that things were not at all right and
that there was trouble ahead.
When Miss Barclay came down the
next morning she found the big point
er tied to magnolia tree In her front
yard Affixed to his collar was card.
She stood for moment In blank
amazement looking at the dog. Don
sat down and smiled at her, thrashing
his tail vigorously among the leaves
to tell her he was sorry, but mighty
friendly.
The girl approached slowly. Don
watched her, but made no extravagant
demonstrations. 1t was point in his
favor and went far toward excusing
his Ill chosen frivolity of the day be-
fore.
Miss Barclay laid tentative hand
upon his head Don looked into her
eyes gravely. but made no effort to
presume upon the short acquaintance
by unseemly fawnings
The girl smiled finally. Whose dog
are you. anyway she asked quizzical-
ly.
The pointer opened his wide jaws
and laughed with a soft, painting
breath. Then he sOlemnly raised the
right paw and laid it in Miss Bar
clay's hand. Curiosity took possession
Of the girl, and she tore the card from
the dogs collar and read 1t:
Don, pursuant to your expressed wish Of
yesterday. Perhaps 1t is BIT oowardly.
but confess I haven't the heart to kill
him myself. He and have been chums a
long time, and he is the only being I
know in the whole south. So while l ex-
press my deepest regret for Nne annoy
ance he caused you yesterday, let me be-
speak for him an easy and painless death,
for he has his good points. Very respect
fully ROBERT CARLETON.
"Wellr calculated Miss Barclay
when she had read it. "Oh, myr' She
glanced furtively up and down the
street and across the way and seemed
about to run. Nobody was in sight,
however, save a ragged negro boy car
rying a valise around the corner. How
foolish of mer' she smiled. She re-
read the note and looked at the dog.
Don wigwagged her friendly signal,
and the tears came to her eyes. XIII
such dear fellow! Neyer,'
She sat down on the grass and puck
cred her brows as she thought. Pres
emily light came into her eyes and
she gasped. Then she frowned and
smiled.
"Impudent rascal" she said. Hes
trying to get acquainted with me. It's
perfectly outrageous of him" She
tried to be angry-very, very angry.
But somehow she did not quite sue
,eed. She remembered the picture of
A tall, flushed young fellow with a
well bred face standing before her
with look Of miserable apology, and
she was bound to confess that she was
not able to feel just as indignant as
she ought. She read the note once
more.
'Impudentr' she said to Don I'm
)udent-but but cleyerr' and she
aughed. The dog laughed back and
the ground violently with his
all
Then the real serious part of the puz-
lie occurred to her. She did not know
he mans address. How then could
'he send this valuable animal back to
limi And really did she not owe him
IN apology for her rude remark to him
He had not been to blame,
and he had tried so hard to apologize.
After awhile she decided to advertise
-discreetly. 1t seemed the best solu-
lion of the distracting problem. She
lntied the rope and led the dog around