The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-01-19
meat, George. Throw it when Peter

! while we were cutting a bit of meat
to the proper size, the pets perceived
il, and every time We started to
throw it to Fido. Peter up-endej with
a jovial air, making a pass at Fido's
nose as he did SO, until finally, when
! we solved the problem by handing
the bit Of meat to Fido in person,
Peter snatched it from the dear old
dogs very mouth, and ate it himself
so openly. SO noisily, so ostentatious-
", SO insultingly, that Alicia was NOV
ed to open championship Of Fido the
Wronged.
Poor oil Fido." she cried. Its a
shame. I'll fix that wicked Peter,
though Ill fix him."
And with determination written
large all over her dear little person,
Alicia cut whole slice OF meat into
appropriate little bits, poured gravy
On them, and showed the net result
to Fido who sighed, while Peter, pur-
ring in a very ecstasy, showed Fido
back, and indicated to Alicia that the
place for her to put the plate down
was right in front Of him.
Nov, George" said Alicia, you
hold Peter"
Hold h:m?" we asked. We had held
Peter before under similar circum-
stances. Cant We shoo him into the
pantry and close the door,"
No" said Alicia u want to pun
ish Peter by letting him see Fido
eating"
Here, Peter, Peter We began,
without making too much noise about
it. He won't come" we concluded.
George" cried Alicia, as no one
but Alicia can.
On that moment we seized Peter,
and Alicia put the plate down.
Hold him." she cried. Hold him,
GEORGE"
Fido advanced upon the plate with
such proprietary lCok Of anticipa-
ton that Peter simply couldn't stand
il, and struggling free with one fcen-
1ied contor.ion, he bounced upon the
plate SO temEestuous!y that his
whiskers and the end of his nose be-
came beaded with gravy
This gave him very fierce and un-
usual look, SO that, together with the
noise he made and the way he cut
of all approach to the plate, Fido got
nothing but one wretched, bony bit,
that gave him more trouble than it
was worth, anyway.
But what's it all about" we crie.t
after Fido had scuttled away under
the sofa with a long, husky, despair
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 l saw it all.
And Fido"-a mournful tap of tail
sounded underneath the sofa. Good
old FidO!" 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 yafj!" 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, Il was just
going to wake Ndo up. so that he
could go out and mind his bones.
when what did l 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
rule whenever Alicia illus
rates by pantomine. How"
Like this!" sac cried, and intently /
tiptoed back to her chair again.
All" we murmured.
YES" cried Alicia, with spirit, "I
vas looking through the pantry win
low, and saw it all. And when Peter
got close behind him, he crouched
Town, dashed his tail, and sprung upon
him."
And Alicia, breathless, showed US
lust how with her hands
"Sprang on him." we repeated.
"Sprang on him." cried Alicia, still
,reathless. and showing us how again.
And, George-of all things! II
'ou'd only seen that spotted dog run
,ut of our garden! And Peter after
lin. Something fierce!" she cried.
t is Alicia's only bit of slang. George,
t was something fierce!"
"Blt why does
"Well, when Peter came in the