St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-08-27

wept, and Major Singleton melted
after an hour. He never could bea1
to see woman weep. Major Single
ton rubbed the bites and reflected
and regretted, and inside of a weel
he was again ready to apologize. Ths
Widow Washburne had risen from
the dinner table right in the midst
of one of his best war stories, but hi
could even forgive her for that. HI
would apologize and look out for hi
legs at the same time.
The opportunity soon came. He
was coming home from his walk
when he met Mrs. Washburne start.
ing out on hers. She had the dog
along on his lead. The major was
hating and raising his hat when the
poodle made half-circuit around q
lamp-post to take him in rear and
bit him on that same leg-bite No
3!
II hope you are not going to COM
plain of little thing like that p
called the widow after him as he
limped away, but he had no grape
shot to fire in reply. Mrs. Sher-
man was called up for the third
time. There were the bites-one-
two-three-and there was the ma
jor. His trunk was open and ready
to be packed. He was not excited,
but stern. He was not vacillating,
but determined. He pointed to the
bites and grimly said:
FWhich-the major or the dog?"
Then Mrs. Sherman sat down and
sobbed and sobbed. If the major
departed who would there be to tell
war stories to make them shudder
No one. They must put up with the
common, everyday murders found in
the press. He always had a hard
boiled egg with his breakfast. Who
would eat that egg now? Twice a
week, he was out till midnight at
his lodge. When he came home he
would always stumble on the stairs.
Who would stumble now? She made
an impression. She melted him for
the third time. He had taken the
bite and never uttered cuss word.
Let him stay on and hope for the
death of the dog. He was there tell
ing his war stories at dinner, but a
little later he was sauntering the
streets and looking for boy. He
wanted to find a peculiar boy-one
who was not constant attendant at
Sunday school. He looked long,
but found him. Then there was a
quiet confab and money passed, and
the non-Sunday school boy went
away saying:
"I'm on to de racket, old man,
and don't you lose any Sleep"
Next day the widow and her dog
walked out. The major didn't. It
was a fine day, but he had inside
business. He walked to and fro. He
expected things. He drew long
breaths. After while cab whirled
up to the door. A minute later
there was scream in the hall. Then
there were shrieks on the stairs.
"Oh, Major Singleton, she's lost
she's lost! Tell the police-adver-
tise-do everythingp'
'@My dear Mrs. Washburne, you
have appealed to the right man.
Everything shall be done. She bit
me, but l love her still. Indeed I
was hoping she would bite me again
today"
The police found no clue. The ad-
vertisements brought no poodle. The
majors hours On the street resulted
in nothing. He took the widows
hand and spoke consoling words. He
referred to his three dog-bites as
nothing compared to the three can
non balls flung at him at Cedar
Creek. He apologized some more.
Only a week had passed when one
evening Mrs. Sherman whispered to
the ladies in the parlor:
Gust think. Three bites of dog
did it~
'What?"
And pointing to the ceiling with
her finger she almost winked an eye
and said:
'FCooing going on! I just passed
the open door of her sitting room
and though she was leaning her head
on the majors shoulder she never
jumpedp'
RnHER NyArEDhaEl