Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-09
MAKING AN
IMPRESSION


door OF his home and turned King H.,
MS bulldog, out for run in the big
yard, himself following to smoke
cigar and incidentally gambol a bit
with King, his most valued posses,
sion.
KING H. Is so bow-legged, SO promi
nent of tooth and so splotched and
generally so terrifyingly ugly that the
mere sight of him is enough to drive
nervous person into Mysteries OF
into the nearest tree This, Of course,
enhances his value in the eyes of the
owner
King saw the cat first. 1t was not
the sort of cat one would expect tc
mo wandering in back yards, being
White and silky and languid Ill it,,
movements. Perhaps the fact that the
cat moved haughtily, like one accus-
toned to reign over It's surroundings,
was what irritated King. At any rate
he showed his resentment in the
usual way.
"Good-boy!" chortled young Bar
nard. Good work."
1t was not that he wished to see the
cat hurt, but King certainly needed
exercise and there was not much dan
ger OF his catching the quarry Around
the yard the two flew like two con-
tinuous streaks, the cat disdaining to
climb the fence and escape. 1t kept
exactly two yards ahead of the dis
gusted bulldog. Barnard stood on the
steps grinning and encouraging King,
whose tongue had begun to hang out
from exhaustion.
suddenly there was rush from the
other side of the high fence bordering
the next yard. A mass Of brown hair,
two indignant brown eyes and two
widely waving hands burst upon the
vision of young Barnard.
"Trixie! Trixie!" shrieked the girl.
Hell be killed! He will! Why don't
| you call off that horrible dog? Trixie.
come here!"
Young Barnard glared back. us
that your cat?" he asked why don't
you keep it at homer"
The cat had leaped agilely to the
fence and into the arms of Its res
cuer. Then 1t tdrned and sneered at
the frantic bulldog that was dashing
itself against the fence. Young Bar
nard naturally Went to the comfort of
his dog, thereby approaching the fu-
rious young pelGon across the fence.
"A cat" she said, holly, has per-
feet right to climb fence if it wants
to and I'd have you know that Trixie
had taken three blue ribbons and,
anyhow, l don't see how human be-
ing can have such dreadful looking
creature around as that dog Of yours!
Why. he'd have killed Trixie in two
bites!"
King is as gentle as a child!"
young Barnard retorted "He was
Just playing with your foolish cat"
The young person across the fence
| elevated her eyebrows disbelievingly
and shifted pointedly Anyhow" she
insisted. he's probably scared Trixte
into heart diseased" There were tears
in her eyes as she stroked her pet
Young Barnard, his wrath cooling,
took time to observe that her skirts
were to her shoetops and she was
small and slight. He felt little
ashamed of himself for quarreling
with child, being as himself. More
over. she was very pretty.
See here. little GIRL" he began mol
lfyingly. you mustn't feel angry.
Your cat really isn't hurt and"
Her eyes flashed furiously. You're
ruder than your ugly dog!" she de-
clared. Il know whore the dog got
Its bad manners!"
Young Barnard found himself alone.
gazing at the door through which a
tempest of brown hair, flashing eyes,
short skirts and white cat had Just
disappeared.
Now what the dickens Is the mat
ter with that kid?" he muttered be-
wildered.
Il didn't know you'd met the Vests
niece" said his sister when he en-
tered the house.
| Neither did l." said young Barnard.
shortly.
| We'll, you were having chatty lit
tie time with her Just now!" persisted
his sister. "Exer since heard she
was coming I've wanted you to make
a good impression On her. She's ter
ribly fashionable and awfully popular
and has been abroad six times. Did
you ever see such exaggerated styles
as she wearsP Her skirts are two
inches shorter than any other girls
and she looks about 16. instead OF, %,
but she's dear!"
Great guns!" groaned young Bar
nard. suddenly grasping the situation.
And called her Little girl!' No
wonder she exploded! Oh. made q
fine impression. all rightts
Now, Billy Barnard" said his sis