The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-01-28

"Really?" Marcia murmured, and
added, 1T doesn't pay to keep any
thing but blooded dogs"
We'll, my little dog was pretty
NICE" Burton insisted, and then wilt
ed at Marcia's Indifferent Really"
Billy Bates. who with Mrs. Wells,
had forged ahead, came back now,
with the information: Here's a dog
for you, Burton" He guided them to
box where bull terrier, with a
blue ribbon In his collar, stood look
ing out upon the yelping. barking,
whining world, with the calm glance
of thoroughbred
"Therep' Billy said, and fell back
that Burton might look. He has a
pedigree as long as your arm, all his
points are perfect, and he's for sale
It's the chance of lifetime
"Oh, you beauty" Marcia cried. Her
indifference was gone, her eyes spar
killed.. You beautyi3'
But Burton was not enthusiastic.
There was something repellant in the
SNUG self-confidence OF that short
nosed dog. 1t was bad enough to have
friend who looked down on you, and
valet who condescended to you, but
to be burdened with dog whose pedi-
gree was longer than your own would
be unbearable"
He tried to bluff 1t out. "Oh, / don't
know he said, I'm afraid
shouldn't want him In my rooms"
Il should want him anywhere"
Marcia told him. He's ducky dog,
Mr.. Burton You would love him in
a week."
But Burton knew he wouldn't love
him. He knew that the SNUG little
dog would keep him at a distance, and
he would be out In the cold as he had
always been with Billy's friends, and
even with Billy.
"Oh, l don't know" he hesitated
again.
Marcia leaned over and took the
dogs black muzzle in her gloved
hand.
"Old fellow" she said softly, and
looked deep into his eyes, and his tail
began to wag slowly. and his lips
wrinkled back from his teeth In a
grin of happiness
AS they stood there together, the
girl and the dog, Buron felt that they
were two Of kind, In that back Of
them both was prideful ancestry, and
In both Of them ran patrician blood.
He was seized with an inspiration.
Let me get him for you, Miss Mar
cia," he said, he won't look at me
after seeing YOU"
"Oh, no." Marcia refused quickly;
but her mother interposed: 1T Is very
kind of Mr.. Burton, dear, and we can
take him down TO Weilsboro with us
next week"
The brightness had all died out of
Marcia's face, and her perfunctory
thanks chilled the little fires of Bur
toms hopes.
But for every naughty withdrawal
of her daughter, Mrs. Wells always
made compensating advances, and
now, as the tag made him the proper
ty OF Miss Marcia Wells, of Wellsboro,
was tied about the neck of the Snug
little dog, Burtons dropping spirits
were revived by the mothers tactful:
You have done so much for Marcia.
You mustn't mind IL she is a bit over
powered"
"Now, she shouldn't feel that way"
little Burton protested. Il like to do
things for her, Mrs. Wells, She is a
beautiful girl And Mrs. Wells said.
I'VE think So"
And then Burton bore them off radi-
antly to lunch and they ate In great
goldeD-lighted dining room, and Bur
ton ordered the grape fruit and the
lobster Newburg and the chiffonate
salad and the dainty wines, and tried
to enter into the gossip of the elect.
But Billy and Marcia talked only to
each other; Marcia. composed out
wardly. but glowing with some inner
fire that lighted her eyes and tinged
her cheeks with pink; Billy, express
Ing by every intonation OF his lowered
voice his alteration.
And In the face of their preoccupa-
tion. Burton grew more and more de-
spondent as the courses progressed,
until Mrs. Wells made remark that
sent the blood singing to his heart
We want you to come to Wellsboro
for Christmas week, Marcia and l.,
Billy will be there. and lot of young
people. and we expect to have some
good times"
Burton's effervescence following the
Invitation was a thing that made Billy
stare
we will see you soon" the little
man said, as late that afternoon he
put them down at their own door.
"And hope when get to Wellsboro
you will have welcome for me-
Indeed we SHALL said Marcia's
mother, but it was at Marcia that Bur-
ton looked And Marcia's eyes were
on Billy--the tender eyes OF loving
woman And In that moment the little
fires OF hope In Burton's bosom died
out forever.
Billy he said slowly, as they