Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-02-10

F1do and Peter striding behind me and
pretending not to see each other-I no
ticed with growing alarm that Alicia's
air Of preOccupation grew ard grew,
until at last, not being able to stand it
any longer, l suddenly asked, EVERY
body well?'
why. George!" exclaimed Alicia.
'Why, George, what a strange ques-
ton 70
And Alicia looked at me reprovingly,
while 1 noted with new alarm that she
had discarded the little white frill that
she usually wears round her neck, and
that instead of her customary pompa-
dour, her hair was combed back and
parted on one sideI
Whereupon, not knowing what else
to do, l sought to cover my confusion
by giving Fido bit of meat, which he
proceeded to eat with such an air Of SUI
periority and disdain at our other pet,
that Peter, looking inexpressibly pirat-
zeal, snatched Fido's morsel, and made
his exultant way to safety behind our
kitchen range.
whatever is the matter with FidO
and PeterY' 1 cried, quite aghast at
such scandalous behavior.
''Pay no attention to them, George"
said Alicia. 'They have been that way
ever since 1 returned"
"ReturnedT / asked. Returned,
AliciaY'
'Yes." said Alicia. From the So
ciety."
From the society?'
eyes, the society. And 1 was elected
secretary"
Peter, having finished his meat be-
hind the range, came out from his re-
treat, and sitting on the threshold of
the dining room, in plain view Of us
all, fixed a bland look on Fido, and
began to make his toilet with every
appearance of a happy cat who has
had his dinner and is thankful.
Fido, seeing this hateful sight, wrin-
kled his nose and worked himself into
a temper, punctuating the rumbling of
his thunder by a smart = } Of barking
every time Peter lengt' ned his arm
and drew his paw round the back Of
his neck.
Peter, seeing that this item Of his
toilet was particularly irritating to
FidO, broke forth into his loudest song,
and gave all his time and attention to
washing the back OF his neck. And
the more Peter washed, the louder Fido
parked; and the louder Fido barked,
the more violently did Peter wash; un-
til 1 reached down at last to take Peter
by the scruff, as a preparatory step to
dropping him out into the night, at the
same time giving Fido a sympathetic
and reassuring glance.
l had immediate cause for regret
ting that glance, because the moment l
took my eyes off Peter he ceased his
additions, stood up like bear, reached
for my descending and unconscious
hand, clawed it, waved his tail, circled
the room, tented at Fido, and slipped
through the door and up the stairs
with such an insulting ease that 1
could not help but remark:
'Drat that cat"
"Why, GeorgeT' cried Alicia. "Why,
GEORGE"
/ hung my head in shame.
"And didn't l hear you use that same
slangy word this morning when you cut
yourselfT' continued Alicia, with
touch OF her old-time spirit.
l hid my face behind the table fern,
and could only preserve silence until
aroused at last by a gesture over the
fern dish. 1 looked up, and followed
Alicia's finger as 1t pointed to her lit
tie windmill bank that stands upon the
corner Of our sidebOard.
Every time you use that word again
you mast put quarter in the bank"
said Alicia. And l will keep 1t for the
society; we're out Of funds"
A week passed, and Alicia still comb
ed her hair back, and was so strict and
dignified with the pets that Fido spent
his evenings in signs and mournfulness.
AS for Peter, that independent cat
stayed away altogether, and his history
became fragmentary. He was heard
one day as fighting a strange dog, and
seen a few days later limpiug along
rakishly on three legs, and caring not
for any man.