The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-06-25
A CANINE MATCHMAKER
BY AILsA JENNINGS.

per syndlcate.)
"Br--r--wow!" barked the lean and
hungry-looking dog at the back door.
"Shool" scolded Biddy, shaking her
apron at the stranger. Get away
wild ye. Scatl"
What is the matter now, Biddy?''
laughed Helena from her bedroom win
dow
"'Tis a mongrel dog, Miss Helena"
wopl" snapped the
dog mournfully, sidestepping Biddy's
broom.
HE is hungry" decided Helena,
leaving the window. "Ill come down
Biddy."
"Ah!" lamented Biddy with another
vicious though futile assault with the
broom. Feed him ye will and thin
there'll be no gettin' rid of the brute
Helena was patting the strange dog
while she spoke to him in soft tone
His big brown eyes looked appealing.
ly at her; his plumy tail, snarled with
burs and briers, thumped the ground
He's an Irish setter. Biddy," said
Helena.
''Shure, he's no credit to the race.
mum! Here, ye good-for-nothing beg
gar, drink all the water ye want!"
Biddy's attitude toward the dog
changed at once. She petted him and
fed him. and even scrubbed him until
the silky coat glistened.
One day there appeared at the Ap
pletons' gate low-swung, wicked-look-
Ing racing machine. Its owner, thin,
red-haired young man with very bright
red-brown eyes, jumped out and en-
tered the yard.
AS the gate changed, the dog, lying
at Helena's feet, lifted his head.
growled delightedly and bounded down
the path.
Helena turned to watch him.
The rad-haired motorist opened wide
his long arms and chuckled with Joy
as the big dog clumsily embraced him. ]
EASY - easy - Captain!" laughed
the man. Glad to see me, eh? Old
fellow, I've missed you like the
dickens!"
Captains recognition of his master
was most convincing. The dogs JOY
was a most touching tribute to the
young mans capacity to inspire canine
affection. Meanwhile Henry Dacre was
looking at Helena with frank curiosity
In his brilliant eyes.
Il believe we are old acquaintances
after ALL" he smiled.
''Indeed?" returned Helena, siffiy.
She already hated him cordially be-
cause he had come after his dog. II
do not remembers
'You used to call me Red-Headed
Hen, and once you slapped my face"
he explained. 81 lived next door to
you in Ashley street."
OH" There was world of recol- |
lection In Helena's face. "You were
such hateful little boy!" she cried
impulsively.
Finally he went away, bearing three
things with him:
One was the joyful dog, another |
was Mrs. Appleton's invitation to din
ner and the last but not the least |
was the memory of Helena's lovely, |
scornful face as she gave him the tips
of her fingers.
Fate was so embarrassing at times!
To think she was compelled to love |
a dog when she detested his masterl /
For Helena was just unreasonable
enough to dislike the grown-up Henry
as heartily as she had the little scamp
ish boy.
He told the Appletons that he had
bought place in the neighborhood
and they often saw the low gray car,
with Captain sitting graveIy beside his
master.
In the weeks that followed poor
Captain came often to the Appleton's
door begging for admittance, and
Helena often enjoyed few stolen
hours in his society.
In the evening Dacre's car would
come gliding up the road and present.
ly Helena would hear his laughing in.
quiry for the dog She would sit In
the fragrant gloom OF the porch listen
ing to the rich drawl of his voice as he
talked to her parents.
One summer day Dacre put on his
bathing suit and slipped across the
lots to the beach that bounded his
estate. just as he rounded heap OF
rocks he discovered Helena sitting
on the sand In the shadow of the
pines. Captains .head was In her
lap and the dog was looking up at
her with blissful alteration in his
brown eyes.
"Oh, Captain, DEAR" sighed Helena.
why couldn't you be my own dog?"
HE could. you know" answered
Captains master, with exasperating
candor.
Helena made no reply.
"Of course you saw my shadow on
the sand" went on the provoking
youth, sitting down beside her. !
Helena was silent.
"And you pretended aot to see me
because--oh. well, Helena, why do you
pretend you don't like me? Is 1t be-