The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-29

PuggIe was the pet and almost constant
companion of Miss Lucinda Lay, a maid
en- lady of many years and carrying some
300 pounds of weight In fact, Miss Luz
cinda Lny was so very stout that she
could scarcely walk; thus 1t was that
sometimes Puggie was allowed to saunter
out into the big back yard without the
protection of his very affectlonate mis-
tress who. as a rule. kept her small
squirt eyes on "roggie, darlin' " from
her place OF vantage on the big back
stoop.
But one day while "Dogglc darlin'
was airing himself in the yard under the
eyes of Miss Lucinda Lay, the maid came
TO tell her ladyship that a caller awaited
her presence In the parlor.
''Well, I'll go. Mary, but you must not
leave the stoop till return. Puggle Is
there in the yard, and you must remain
here and watch him." Then, throwing a
kiss to Puggie, who didn't care In the
least for her caresses, Miss Lucinda Lay
repaired to the parlor to meet the caller,
who proved to be another maiden lady,
with much neighborhood gossip to repent.
AS this interested Miss Lucinda Lay very
much, she remained long time with her
caller. really forgetting "Doggie darlin'
In the society of her friend.
Aud the duration of the lady's call was
the cause Of all that happened to Puggle
that morning, for Mary, growing weary
Of remaining on the stoop ito watch
pesky pup" as she put 1t to the cook,
got up and went below TO the kitchen,
where there was more congenlal company.
Now, -Puggle was not a pug dog. He
was a little fox-terrier. He never knew
why his mistress should have called him
"Puggie," for he abominated the sort
of dogs that went by that name. And he
did not particularly care for Miss Lucinda
Lay; nor Mary, the maid; nor Jane. the
cook There was always an unsatls1ed
longing IN Puggie's heart-a longing he
could not quite define In his little puppy
way. But It had to do with getting out
side that house-that yard, and away
from Miss Lucinda Lay. And more than
that. he wanted to go a very long way
off,, too, SO far that none of that house.
hold would ever lay eyes on a hair of
lis hide again.
so soliloquized PIGGY on the morning
of which we speak.
Just as Mary, the maid, left the stoop--
thinking that she would return before
her mistress caller should depart-Pug-
gle pricked up his ears and listened to
something Just outside the back gate.
Beyond that gate was the alley, and
often Miss Lucinda Lay had warned
Puggle against going into 1t when the
back gate happened to be open. There
are always horrid dogs running about
there" said Miss Lucinda Lny. Com
mon mongres whose company would con-
tamlnate my little joggie darlin'."
The noise that Puggie heard sounded
like one of his own creatures smiling
about the edge of the gate and whining to
get entrance. Puggie looked round
toward the stoop, and, seeing that he
was not watched, he quickly ran close
to the gnte and peeped through the mar
row crack.
TO his great Joy there was another dog
outside peeping In; long, lean. rough
haired dog three times as big as Puggle.
But friendIiness shone from his big brown
eyes and Puggle could see that he was
wagging his tail by way of cordial greet