The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-07-14

Otner adorned the snowy whiteneSS OF
his brow. His master examined the
wounds with a careful gentleness that
Alice liked. Then he pulled the dog
around and prepared to take leave Of
his new acquaintance
IF there is anything l can do" he
was beginning when suddenly the
slackened leash was torn out Of Alice's
| careless hand. and the excited Mullins
darted away across the lawn, startling
the confident robins and squirrels into
instant flight.
"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 stranger I shall prob
ably lose him forever"
'I'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-dont 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 COW
er, and after awhile small boys and the
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
Ieaped 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 Alices 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.
mo. 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.
'If 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 I'M
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? don't want q step
mother. l know shall positively hate
her, though everybody says she Is per-
fectly lovely. I'm going away from
home. When they come back l won't
be there"
The stranger laughed shortly. ''It's
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?"
mo, but my mother is, and to man
j I've never seen. l came back from a
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 came home last night,
and when the poor mater confessed l
! was so mad l walked out Of the house
and haven't been near her since.
Beastly Of me. wasn't it? But some
! how l couldn't help it." He frowned
| into the distance and quite overlooked
the surprise in Alice's brown eyes.
Don't you like the man-your
mother is going to marry?' she asked
after awhile.
! "Never saw him or heard Of him
till last night and have positively de-
| CI4uCu " uCCI ILL., IL u AAA0 ~
punch him." he added vindictively.
when Is it going to be-the we'd
dingT" pursued Alice.
"This afternoon at a. he was be-
ginning when she interrupted him.
Your mothers name is POmroy?"
she demanded.
He nodded speechlessly.
''Then she's going to marry my
father" cried Alice dramatically.
"Why. don't see how you can OBJ
ject to him. for there never was
better or dearer man than Henry
Ransom"
81 can believe that now" he said
slowly. but you know you seem TO
have a prejudice against my mother
You can't blame me under the circum-
stances
mo: / cannot blame you," said Al
ice slowly Then all at once they be-
gan to laugh.
With jealousy gone there remained
pity and love for the middle aged
couple who were making a new ven
ture in life. They talked about the