Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-07
On that moment We seized Peter,
and Alicia put the plate down.


ing growl. How did it start?"
George, I'll tell you," said Alicia.
moving the fern SO that she could see
US. First thing this morning that
spotted dog that lives down in the
Hollow-you know-came up the hill,
and what did he do but come right in
our back yard! was looking through
the pantry window, and saw it all.
And Ffdo'-a mournful tap of tail
sounded underneath the sofa Good
old Fdo!" cried Alicia. "And Fido,"
she continued, was asleep in the
kitchen, as good as gold" The
mournful tapping still continued. but
Peter was out in the yard!" cried
Alicia-whereat the tapping noise
stopped In sulky silence. "And what
did that spotted dog do but begin to
scatch up Fido's bones you know, the
bones that he had buried"
And we nodded as Alicia paused for
breath, all rosy with earnestness and
sparkling with the climax still to
come.
WELL" she went on, 81 was Just
going to wake Fido up. SO that he
could go out and mind his bones,
when what did see but Peter, creep
ing UP behind him like this" and
Alicia rose and tiptoed gently to the
pantry door.
How" we asked according to our
Ianvariable rule whenever Alicia Illus
trates by pantomine. "How?"
Like this!" she cried, and intently
tptoed back to her chair again.
"Ah," we murmured.
"Yes." cried Alicia, with spirit, ~
was looking through the pantry win.
dow, and saw it all! And when Peter
| got close behind him, he crouched
down, dashed his tail, and sprung upon
him."
And Alicia, breathless. showed US
just how with her hands.
"Sprang on him?" we repeated.
"Sprang on him!" cried Alicia, still
breathless, and showing us how again.
And, George-of all things! If
you'd only seen that spotted dog run
out OF our garden! And Peter after
him! Something aercei" she cried.
It is Alicia's only bit of slang. George,
1t was something ferce!".
bat why does"
well, when Peter came in the
house he seemed to think that all dogs
were afraid of him. and he started on
poor old Fido. Oh, I've had such q
time with them all day! II put Peter
out. he swaggers round, looking for
more dogs,-he's been down in the
Hollow twice-and II keep him In
he tries to make Fido fight; but Fido's
a gentleman"-the mournful tapping
was resumed beneath the sofa. Good
old Ndo!" cried Alicia. "It's a
shame!"
Well" we remarked, at looks as
II Peter had got over 1t at last"
'sWny?" asked Alicia, who couldn't
Esee because of the fern. why, do you
think 80, George?"
He's down here, playing with Fido. =
we smiled, lying on his back and
rolling over and
George, stop mimi, cried Alicia,
springing up. That's Just what he did
this noon, and"
Bat the warning came too late.
Faithful Fido's howls rent the air,
and as he resolutely refused to stay in
the house any longer with such a
wicked cat, we had to hold him in
under orders-while Alicia opened
the kitchen door and proceeded to
shoe Peter out.
As for Peter, he lodged in and out
Of the kitchen, and the dining-room
with an air of defiant POPULARITY, and
when at last Alicia got the broom to
him, he turned deliberately round in
the kitchen doorway and gave us q
truculent leer.
i We were still comforting Fido when
a terrible noise sounded from up the
garden.
Hes after Mrs. Potter now!" cried
Alicia, in despair, and out we few to
the rescue.
From distant corner of the yard
strange sounds were heard, and
strange sights were seen as Mrs
Potter danced round on alternate feet
and through all this Tapping of wings
and shrill cries of warfare the dim
form of Peter, the wicked cat, could
presently be discerned. crouching in
corner, and wincing and blinking
his eyes apprehensiveiy every time
Mrs. Potter made peck at him.
After Peter had been rescued. and
Alicia had made him make friends
with Mrs. Potter-a task requiring
great diplomacy - we carried the
shamefaced Peter back to the house
Fido trotting along behind with a
singular air of satisfaction.
And here we are. Peter has finally
been persuaded to hold up his ears
with some approach to his usual
jauntdness. Fido is Sitting up" look.
ing pleasant and catching an unheard-
OF number of bits of meat in rapid
succession, while Peter has humbly
tucked his two front paws beneath
him, and is lying by Ftdo's side.
Kiss him, Fido!" cried Alicia. kiss
him nice!"
| And as Fido makes a hasty and gen
eral lap at Peters head, both the pets
sigh with great content.
"Cock-a.doodle-do-o-o!" cries Mrs
Potter, from the garden In sleepy
tones. "Cock-adoodle-dod
And as at last we turn to that ia.
nous old-fashioned sage pudding
with raisins in it-peace, sweet, balmy
peace, has settled on our household
once again.-Youth's Companion
A Pensloner Of Charles x.
! Although France has witnessed thir.
ty-six years of republic, preceded by
twenty-five years of empire and by
some eighteen years more of limited