The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-17
A DOGS PART
by JANE OSBORN.

i ed. "the girl that was going to take
the part has the numps. just at the
last minute, and she has been learn
ing how to somersault for a month
and none of the rest of us can dc i
in short notice, | almost can, but I
get stuck half way over The dog
has to come into the play and bark
and growl, and then when the hero
comes home from the war he comes
in and somersaults. 1t is one of the
hits of the play. I'll tell you just what
to do before every cue. Ii We didn't
have the dog the play would be a
failure
Two minutes later Ansel found him
self alone in locker room under the
little theater stage with large. woody
dog outfit before him. and which IL
was hts duty to don in all possible
haste. Unfortunately though not at
gantic in stature, Ansel was built along
generous lines, and after he had got
his legs and arms into the encasement
he found that he could never get his
head adjusted without aid. Then he
heard Daisy's sweet voice outside tho
locker room.
Are you readv?" she whispered.
Ansel stuck his head out of ths
door.
"oh. dear" said Daisy, cant you
get in? kneel down and I'll pull I
didn't know you were so dreadfuhy
big
You might practice barking while
am getting you in. Daisy suggested, !
Row wow wow, Bow-wo WOW
wow" said the professor on his knees.
Wonderful" exclaimed Daisy, and
then with a jerk that made no allow
ances for his nose, and that made An
sci vince. the struggle was over and
in second more he was fastened into
his costume.
II Ansel had specialized in barking
and surrersaufttrg instead OF IN rrt-
iolopy he could not have carried eff
his part in better manner. and during
the intervals between his appearances.
when he followed Daisy around the
stage dog fashion or stood up To help
her with the scene shifting, or sat In
corner OF the dimunitive wings. no
SAW what no other professor of Clay
burn ever saw before, and he learned
more about college women than 10 US
uaily expected of young instructors
But for the most part he was watch
ing through his dog eyes the agile
young figure of Daisy.
Later. when the play was over. and
Daisy had hurried him out OF his dog
skin and he had returned to his little
office, he heard the voices of the col
lege girls fn the audience cheering
They called for the heroine and the
hero and the rest of the cast. Then
his heart thrilled within him as he
heard them cheering for the hard
working Daisy Next. like cold wind.
came another cheer, The dog the
dog" he heard them calling. We
want the dog We want the dog,
Ansel was alarmed indeed What IL
Daisy had TO tell What II the faculty
found out! Ansel sat there in his little
room in terror, and finally as the light
of day faded and the cheering ceased
he forgot his fear and remembered
only the charm of Daisy.
Then Daisy came back to his office.
She had come in to thank him and TO
tell him that no one would ever know.
AS she turned to go she blushed, and
then as he looked at her she blushed
again Then, somehow, Ansei got up
his courage to tell Daisy that he loved
her, and Daisy, because she was SO
tired and hot from the scene shifting,
cried a few tears on his shoulder and
told him in a whisper that she was
the happiest girl in Clayburn. And
the old Minervas of Ansefs dreams
vanished forever.