The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-14
The Policy =
y Of Peter.
By CECILIA A. LoIzEAux.

on the earth for which she had any
desire. But she saw In one quick
glance that Walter was bringing her
a gift that he considered a fine one,
and she was a woman who never did
things by halves.
So she listened with respect to the
list Of doggy's ancestors ana gravely
considered the markings, though she
knew not one from another But when
he reached the price, $25, she remem-
hered that supper was waiting. Later
that evening when she was making the
unhappy, shrinking little beast warm
bed in the dining room Mary Leighton
said disrespectful words in a loving
tone that caused the pup to lick her
hand and cease his whimpering for the
moment.
you ornery. red eyed, bow legged.
stub tailed little bruter' she cooed. "If
I'd known you were coming I'd have
got in a previous bid for that lovely
hat at Mason's. l didn't say anything
about it to Walter because l thought
he couldn't afford it, and here he has
gone and wasted $25 on you!" And
then because the pup was small and
helpless and soft and she was a wo-
man she got w twice in the night to
feed it warm milk and hush its whim-
pering.
And so in time she learned to love
him and called him Peter and Dragged
about him to Mrs. Carey. who was her
nearest neighbor and who did not love
Peter at ALL Mrs. Carey said 1t was
because he chased her pet chickens to
death and chewed up the dish towels
which blew from the line on wash day,
but Mrs. Leighton whispered into Pc
ters ear, with knowing smile, that it
was because Mrs. Carey was jealous
since her husband had not bought her
a dog.
There never had been any very mark
ed cordiality between the two young
married couples. The men came and
went to their business on the same
trains and would have been good
friends probably, having the same
tastes in tobacco and politics, but that
each man was uncomfortably aware
that his wife wished he wouldn't
After the advent of Peter, especially
after he began to grow into an age of
mischievous intelligence; the neighbor-
ly relations slowly died away until at
the beginning of summer there was a
very thinly yelled hostility.
The two houses, alike as two peas
and built by a corporation, were d.
vided by wide strip of emerald lawn,
carefully watered and clipped by the
two men after work at night and early
in the morning There was between
the front porches distance just great
enough so that ordinary conversation
on one porch could not be heard on the
other.
When Peter, having chased home
wandering hen, would return with a
self satisfied leer ON his ugly face to
his mistress, Mrs. Carey, running into
the back yard to see why her hens were
squawking; would catch a ripple of
laughter from Mrs. Leighton and see
her pull Peters stubby ears affection
ately Being just out of earshot, she
could get only the caressing tones of
Mrs. Leighton's voice; but, being wo-
man, she could very well guess what
kind of scolding Peter was getting.
Mr.. Carey rather liked Peter. He
knew good dog when he saw one,
and Peter was undeniably good dog.
Moreover, he believed In the instincts
of a high bred animal And did not
Peter, after chewing up his wifes dish
towels, stop in his complacent journey
across the lawn to wink one red eye
at Mr.. Carey. secure in the belief that
In spite of the woman's urgings that
gentleman would not turn the nozzle
Of the garden hose his way?
But one evening matters reached
crisis. Mr.. and Mrs. Carey were going
Leightons were not invited. 1t so hap
pened that when the cab ordered by
the Careys drew up at the curb Mr..
Leighton was spraying the dividing
line of lawn with the garden hose.
Mr. Carey came down the steps Of
his porch and waited on the cement
walk in front while his wife put on
the last, dear finishing touches to her
toilet. The men exchanged civilities a
little shamefacedly, and Mr. Carey lift
ed his hat to Mrs. Leighton, who, with
Peter beside her, sat reading on her
front porch.
Hello, Pete, old boyw said Mr.. Ca
rey, and Peter made loving dash for
the friendly voice. Just at that instant
Mrs. Carey, in dainty and elaborate
white garments, ran down the steps.
Peter in his mad course encountered
his masters legs; but, true to his race,
he knew no obstacles and went right
ahead, leaving Mr.. Leighton in an I'M
graceful sprawling position in the
soaking ground. A half second later
there was a scream, for the hose shot
from Mr.. Leighton's hand. and the
spray Of water went straight for Mrs
Carey, soaking her crisp whiteness to
bedraggled limpness in one awful mo-
ment To make matters worse, Mrs.
Leighton laughed, and she could never
make Mrs. Carey believe that the laugh
was not meant for her instead of the
peculiar position of her husband.
That gentleman rose with as much
dignity as he could mustey and offered
profuse apologies, which were accepted
by Mr.. Carey, but not by the drenched
woman.
Mrs. Leighton, who was really cha
grined and sorry, came straight over
and offered her assistance. She cried
out with dismay at the extent Of the
injury and then heartily and gracious
ly offered to Mrs. Carey a new and
beautiful white gown which she had
never worn.
But Mrs. Carey's temper had receiv-
ed the last straw. She turned to her
husband without seeming to hear Mrs.
Leighton You must go alone" she
said land explain to our hostess that
am the unlucky victim of Jealousy"
And then she went into the house and
closed the door
Mrs. Leighton and Mr. Carey parted
miserably, the man making what ex
cuse he could and the woman protest
ing, after the manner of women, that
she should have been more tactful in
her desire TO help.
This was apparently the end Of all
communication between the neighbors,
but Peter grew into a beautiful speci-
men of ugliness. He had his uses, too,
which none could deny The cherry
trees and currant bushes were no
longer stripped by urchins in the dead
of noon, when Nora and her mistress
rested from their labors and lunched.
Nor were the Careys' hens disturbed by
midnight marauders. Mr.. Carey knew
and appreciated this, petted Peter on
the sly and wished that women would
be sensible.