The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-29
THAT DOG 1WEEOLE
BY MAY ELLSWORTHY.

One morning I came downstairs 70
find the dining room in confusion, the
silver gone, and Mrs. Briggs in a
faint beneath the table. Upon the
floor sat the woolly dog, looking at
me reproachfully, as if to say: You're
a nice sort Of householder. to let bur.
glars come in the night and stuff me
SO full of delicacies that l can't eat
any breakfast" That is the sort OF
dog Tweedle was.
! He was the most useless dog I ever
knew. All he could do was to run
round, eat, and utter his shrill little
bark. One day he came to me with a
ball Of blue yarn in his mouth. A
thread stretched into invisibility at
the end Of the garden. Presently I
saw somebody coming across from un.
der the peach trees. 1t was the girl
who lived in the house behind the
garden. Sometimes l would see her
she was dressed in white and had
blue eyes, and she was holding the
end Of the wool.
oh, please, your dog has taken my
skein,' she said TREMENDOUSLY.
After that 1t seemed easier to make
the girls acquaintance. Sometimes I
would venture to sit beside her under
the trees. We found we had a lot to
talk about, but our meetings generally
lapsed into silent ones. and yet we
both felt perfectly satisfied with them.
She introduced me to her mother and
brothers, but paid them little atten-
ton. used to think lot about the
girl, and was glad she was fond
! of Tweedle.
I had to 60 West for six months
to settle up an estate. told the girl.
She looked at me with a sort Of in
quiry In her eyes. So explained how
sorry I was to go, and that 1t was
unavoidable. I was not going to rent
the house, though, and-would she
take care of Tweedle, since she
seemed fond of him."
She looked at me very strangely
rs that all-all you want of me?" she
asked.
Il wouldn't dare to ask more of
YOU" l answered.
"Yes-Ill take him." she whispered
and. turning suddenly, ran into the
house. l fancied she was crying.
When went to say good-by was told
she was indisposed. but she sent word
that she would take care Of Tweedle.
I was whole year in California. be-
cause the business had more ramifica-
lions than had expected. l thought
a good deal about the girl, and won.
dered how Tweedle was getting along.
When got back to Montclair 1.-The
house was closed. was sorfy-I
missed the girl and Tweedle.
had no more business in the city.
I spent all my time in my home. I
found was moping. One day Mrs.
Briggs told me that It was said the
house was going to be opened up
again. That was correct; a man and
woman came to live in 1t. Two days
later l saw the girl under the peach
trees. went over to her. She was
surprised to see me.
I'VE have Just come down for
week to arrange about the SALE" she
said. I'VE are living in Washington.
Did you want Tweedle?"
NO" answered, but I want you.
I have missed you. never knew"
She interrupted me. you should
have told me BEFORE" she said. 81
have been married three months now
But think" hysterically-"you had
better have Tweedle."
mo, thank you. I don't want to see
Tweedle," I replied. That is all l re-
member Of that interview, except that
a mans voice was calling somewhere
behind the peach trees.
Two or three years passed. I had
bought the old house and lived there.
Somehow I liked to associate It In
my mind with the girl who had walked
among the peach trees.
liked to sit under the peach trees
when they were blooming. was seat
ed there one day in early May, when
I saw ridiculous little black, woolly
dog come through the gate. The crea.
ture seemed to recognize me, and be-
gan frisking about my knees. When
I stood up my knees were shaking. be.
cause was looking at the girl who
had sat where l was sitting now.
so 1t was you who bought this
place" said the girl.
YES" I answered. looking at her in
wonder. She was changed a good
deal; not In features or figure. but
spiritually. thought.
why did you buy it," asked the
girl.
II wanted to think Of you. You see.
I learned too late that had loved
you"
And never thought you loved me-
answered the girl. THAT was why
married-because felt too wretched
to let my thoughts dwell on you. You
see, was so simpfe-it never oc.
Cured to me that could think of you
after was married to another man"
But you have?" | cried
The peach-tree girls head dropped
down, and saw two tears trembling
upon her eyelashes And then-well,
l forgot that she was married.
She raised her head. "My husband |
died a year ago." she said. "He was
killed in an accident We we're un. |
happy. I did not know that people |
could be unhappy after they were
They can't" I cried triumphantly. |
Not when they are really married.