The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-18
: WHY TtEhIE UNDERSTOOD :
BY JANET REESE.

A long, low whine came from a cor
ner of the Charlestons' comfortable
living room, and ceased abruptly at
sharp exclamation of Impotence
from young Mrs. Charleston. A little
brown body quivered perceptibly at
the rebuke, and then sank its sleek
head hopelessly on it's front paws and
gazed mournfully into space.
For three long, agonizing days
Teenie's one beloved puppy, the last
of the litter, had been missing. Pa
tiently Teenie had searched the large
house from garnet to cellar, but no
baby was to be found. Then she had
searched the lawn and the outhouses,
all without avail. Spurred by anxiety,
she had surreptitiously made several
tours along the broad, white road
which ran past the house, a place on
which she was forbidden to venture
alone, lest she be crushed by the In
solent chugging cars which sped past
the house. But up hill and down dale
no puppy was to be found.
At first Teenie gave vent to her
grief by oft-repeated sobbing little
cries, but these had grated upon the
nerves of the pretty mistress, and she
had slapped Teenie smartly. 1t was
after the slapping that Teenie had
crept to the living-room corner, and
only in moment of forgetfulness did
she now wall forth her suffering-mo-
ments that usually came when she
walked from a troubled doze to the
hor ~ Of 70
emptiness.
If Ahe mistress could have made
Teenie understand, she might have
told her that the puppy had gone to
live two miles further up the white
road, with people who would be very
kind to him, and where there were
little children who would love him
dearly. But Teenie, unusually intelli-
gent as she was, could not have I'M
derstood so much, and probably would
not have been reconciled had she
known the facts; and the young mis-
tress, not always as thoughtful as she
might be, perhaps would not have
taken the trouble to enlighten the lit
tie dog had it been able to understand.
And SO the mistress went on reading
her entertaining little book, and Teenie
| lay in her dark corner nursing the
dull ache of her heart
A half hour went by, and no sound
came from either. Suddenly hurried
footsteps sounded along the uncarpet-
ed hall. A tinid knock came upon the
closed door, and disheveled, red-eyed
nurse maid appeared. At sight of the
mistress the maids face went white,
and for a moment she could not
| speak
What is the trouble?" asked the
| mistress sharply.
| "Oh, ma'am, Master Jacks not in the
| house or the garden. Thomas and mes
been searchin' for him for the last
hour. Amt we, Thomas?"
Eyes, ma'am?" sputtered Thomas,
| gazing pop-eyed over the maids Shout
der at the mistress.
From then on pandemonium reigned.
Already it was growing dusk, and dry
eyed and terror-clutched, the young
mother alternately paced the floor and
watched from the windows. There was
nothing to do but wait, wait, while her
hastily summoned husband and the
servants searched the surrounding
country for her five-year-old boy. At
last the fear and agony within grew to
| such proportions that for sheer relief
the mistress gave vent to trembling
cry, and, sinking upon the floor, buried
| her face in her hands. And then, from
a dark corner of the living room, came
an answering cry, and the next mo-
ment hot, feverish little muzzle tried
to force itself gently between Mrs.
| Charleston's tense, white fingers. For
a brief moment the fingers did not
relax, and then the hands fell slowly
from the face of the mistress. AS
they reached her lap, they clenched,
and a hunted look crept into her eyes
as a new thought took shape in her
mind and grew rapidly. Suddenly she
cried out:
''Teenie, Teenie, you know, you
know! And it was I, who took away
your little one, who made you suffer
| as I suffer nowi And then, oh, Teenie,
| Teenie, punished you for crying! And
now you try to comfort me. May the
Blessed Mother forgive mel"
1t was then that the telephone bell
rang, and Mrs. Charleston sprang with
nervous haste to her feet, almost up
setting the little dog. In response
to her trembling "Well!" there must
have been exciting news.
Obi" sobbed the mistress, joyfully,
at your house? We thought he was
lost, Mrs. Doom. I'm so glad, so glad!
Came after the puppy because Teenie
cried for it? Oh, Mrs. Doom! Well, if
you don't mind returning it-Teenie's
been so unhappy. You'll bring them
both in the car? Thank you, thank
you, Mrs. Doom!
'Teenie, darling!" cried the mistress,
they're coming home, Jackie and the
puppy, and they'll be here-here-''
but just then the mistress tainted from
happiness, and Teenie barked excited.
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