The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-23
Ry DONALD ALLEN.
Copyright. 1911. by the Associate
Literary Press)

copyright. 1911. by the Associated
Literary Press.)
II WAS no Use for Miss Amanda
Eprigxs TO try and conceal the fact
that SHE had lived long enough to be
csassea as an old maid. AS a mat
ter of fact. and as the very best way,
she didn't try to conceal 1t. but own
ed right np to IS years. and then
aaied:
$50 YOU can see that there Is one
woman in this world who isn't ready
70 Jump for any man. that comes
along. I don't propose to be married
one month and divorced the next"
Miss Spriges was well to DO. After
living for number of years In a cers
tain village she bought rather pre-
tentious house and grounds in the
suburbs of q town. On the day she
mayed into the house she had sty
come on her right eye. 1t WAS large
enough fer the eye of an OK. Miss
Spriggs. like other old maids. carried
a chip on her shoulder, and when the
ety came she was in fighting mood.
Mr.. Alexander Smith was an old
bachelor. That is. he was 81 years
old, and when any of his friends twit-
ted him about it his reply was
THE rest Of you can go and make
fools of yourselves about matrtmony.
but none for me. thank you"
And then he would smile In pity
Ing way, and shake his head to show
how sorry for them ne was. and
saunter along prepared for row with
the first man that trod ON his Goa.
tails.
Mr.. Smith had lived at his club. His
club got tired Of his dog and rat and
knocking bird and revolver practice,
and after few hints he bought him
a house and announced that the rest
OF the world could 60 TO some place
FAR away. He hadn't the slightest
idea that he was neighbor to Miss
Spriggs.
Mr.. Smith and his old housekeep
err were iust getting settled, and Miss
Sprsggs was just developing that sty
when the bachelor fell off a step
lasder aud sprained his ankle. Or
the very next day his dog took ad
vantage Of the occasion to trot acros,
The grass on to the old maids prop
srty. and attack her cat and cause he,
10 suffer various painful emotions But
for that sly Miss Spriggs would have
walked over to the other house ane
lind it out with the master. Instead
she wrote the following note to be
handed In by her servant:
Sir Your dog has attacked my cat
without the slightest provocation ant
nearly killed her Yon must keep him
chained up or Kill him. ] am. sir. re
specially yours"
"Oh. You are. are you" exclaimed
Mr.. Smith after reading the note
Wen see about that Til neither
chain up Billy nor kill him for one
woman's cat. Must he an old nait
or hot-tempered widow"
And he wrote and dispatched b.
his housekeeper:
MADAM. MY dog is four years old
and never have l known him to at
tack a cat unless he felt himself abus
ed or insuHed. If you XIII your ca
or keep her chained up there can b.
no more trouble Believe me, | an
ever yours"
Miss Spriggs didn't fall down IN |
faint or a fit when she read that note
There were three chairs standing
handy by, and she Kicked them over
one after the other. and thus save
her life.
As MIR. Smith didn't know abou
the sty. he rather expected cal
. Two DAYS passed and then his dol
came bowling home. He had bee
Investigating around Miss Spriggs
back door, and her servant had scald
ed him. When Mr.. Smith got hi
breath back he wrote and dispatche
the following.
sssss ssAfa Ann There In a law to punis