Morris tribune., 1911-06-16

"There is a little bite on his ear,
and Pm afraid Mullins deserved it, for
look at poor Rags nose!
A long red scratch trickled down the
length of Rags white nose, while an
other adorned the snowy Wh1teness or
his brow. His master examined the
wounds with a careful gentleness that
Alice liked. Then he pulled the doS
around and prepared to take leave or
his new acquaintance.
"If there is anything I can do," hs
was beginning when suddenly the
slackened leash was torn out of AIce's
careless hand, and the excited Mullins
darted away across the lawn, startling
the confident robins and squirrels into
instant fight.
"You catch Mullins If you can," cried
Alice helplessly. "What can you do
with your own dog? I am afraid to
hold him for you, and yet if Mullins
is caught by a stranger I shall prob
ably lose him forever"
'T'll tie Rags to this bench If you
don't mind keeping out of his reach.
Usually he's the most gentle of dogs,
but he seems to be stirred up about
something. I'll bring Mullins back to
you-don't worry"
With Rags securely fastened to the
stationary bench the stranger started
in pursuit of the truant dog. Alice
watched the chase with interest. Poor
Mullins was hunted from cover to cov-
1oil lo ND
roly poly policeman joined in the chase.
Each one saw in anticipation Of Muf-
fms recovery transfer of money from
the pocket of the we'll dressed man to
their own more or less itching palms.
Cornered at last by the policeman
and three small boys, Mullins was de-
livered to the stranger, who distributed
largess among them before he re-
turned to Mullins waiting mistress.
He was a repentant Mullins, and he
leaped upon her and licked her white
veil with his pink tongue, while Rags,
somewhat subdued in spirit, cast yearn-
ing glances toward his handsome mas
ter.
The recovery of Mullins was too
much for Alice's composure, for it had
been an exciting morning ever since
breakfast, when her father had made
his last appeal to her. Now she sud
denly burst into tears, and, leaning her
head upon Mullins ugly ears, she Sob
bed brokenly.
"Oh, what is the matter? I'm sorry
it happened, you know. Is there any
thing can do?" pleaded Rags master
incoherently.
"No. 1t isn't the dog. That's all
right. You couldn't help it, and I'm
much obliged to you for bringing Muf-
fins back. It's something else,'' sobbed
Alice through her white veil.
eff you are in trouble'- The stran-
ger hesitated, looking from the girls
handsomely groomed dog to her own
dainty and costly apparel.
'Oh, thank you! It's nothing you
can do. I'm feeling hateful this morn
ing anyway, and so would any one un-
der the circumstances. You see, my
fathers going to be married"
"Ah! And you naturally object?"
This came after little startled pause.
who wouldn't? I don't want a step
mother l know l shall positively hate
her, though everybody says she is per-
fectly lovely. I'm going away from
home. When they come back | won't
be there"
The stranger laughed shortly. Its
almost funny, but I'm in the same
boat" he confessed.
Alice looked up and dried her tears.
'How is that? Is your father going to
be married also?'
"NO, but my mother is, and to man
I've never seen. I came back from
long stay in the west and found that
she was going to be married. We've
always been great chums, and she was
afraid to tell me about it, so she was
going to get married first and tell me
afterward, but l came home last night,
md when the poor mater confessed l
md haven't been near her since.
Beastly of me, wasn't it? But some
now | couldn't help it, He frowned
nto the distance and quite overlooked
he surprise in Alice's brown eyes.
Don't you like the man-your
mother is going to marry?' she asked
Ifter awhile.
Never saw him or heard of him
ill last night and have positively de-
lined to meet him. I'D like to
lunch him!' he added vindictiyely
when is it going to be-the we'd
Iing| pursued Alice.
"This afternoon at a. he was be-
inning when she interrupted him.
Your mothers name is Pomroy?'
he demanded.
He nodded speechlessly.
Then she's going to marry my
ather!" cried Alice dramatically.
Why, I don't see how you can OBJ
ect to him, for there never was
etter or dearer man than Henry
.ansom"
Il can believe that now," he said