The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-02-25
CONTINUED from our last issue. }
CHAPTER VIII
Afternoon Tea

CHAPTER VIII
Afternoon Tea
Allan, lying at the window of
the sunny bedroom, and wonder
ing if they had been having
springs like this all the time he
had liven in the city, heard a
scuffle outside the door. HIS
wife's voice inquired breathless-
ly of Wallis. "Can Mr.. Allan
see me? Oh, gracious
don't Foxy. you little black gar
goyle! Open the door, or-shut
it-quick, Wallis." .
But the door, owing to circum-
stances over which nobody but a
black dog had any control, flew
violently open here, and Allan
had a flying vision of his wife,
flushed, laughing, and badly
mussed, being railroaded across
the room by prancing exuberant
French bull at the end of a leash.
'He's-he's cheerful dog"
painted Phyllis, trying to bring
Foxy to anchor near Allan, land
| don't think he know how to
keep still long enough to pose
acress your feet-he wouldn't be-
come them anyhow-he's a real
man-dog, Allan, not an interior
decoration. Oh, Wallis,
he has Mr.. Allan's slipper! Foxy,
you little fraud! Did him want
a drink, angel-puppy?"
did you get him for me, Phyl-
LISP" asked Allan, when the tu-
multi and the shouting had died,
and the caracoling Foxy had bur-
led his hideous little black pansy-
face in costly Belleek dish of
water.
Yes" gasped Phyllis from her
favorite seat, the floor; "but you
needn't keep him unless you want
to. Only l thought he'd be COM
pany for you, and don't you think
he seems-cheerful?"
Allan threw his -. picturesque
head back on the cushions, and
laughed and laughed.
Cheerful" he said. Most as
suredly! Why-thank you, ever
so much, Phyllis. You're an aw-
fully thoughtful girl. always
did like bulls-had one in col
lege, a Nelson. Come here, you
little rascal"
He whistled, and the puppy
lifted its muzzle from the water,
made a dripping dash to the
couch, and scrambled up over AL
Ian as if they had owned each
other since birth.
Allan pulled the Hopping bat
ears with his most useful hand,
and asked with interest, why on
earth did they call French bull
Foxy?"
Eyes, SIR" said Wallis. Il un-
derstand sir that he was the most
active and playful of the litter,
and chewed up all his brothers
ears, sir. And the kennel peo-
pie thought it was so clever that
they called him Foxy"
1.-The best tempered dog in the
litter! cried Phyllis, bursting i'll
to helpless laughter from the
floor.
THAT doesn't mean he's bad
tempered" exclaimed master and
man eagerly together. Phyllis be-
gen to see that she had bought a
family pet as much for Wallis as
for Allan. She left them adopting
the dog with that reverent emo
ton which only very ugly bull
dogs can wake in mans breast,
and fitted out, happy over the
success of her new toy for Allan.
do you think Mr.. Allan will
feel like coming into the living
room today?" she asked Wallis,
meeting him in the hall about 2
o'clock.
why, he's dressed, ma'am, !"
was Wallis astonishing reply,
"and him and the pup is having
a fine game Of play. He's got
more use of that hand an arm,
ma'am, than we thought"
do you think he'd care to be
wheeled into the living room
about AZ" asked Phyllis.
"For tea, ma'am?" inquired
Wallis, beaming. 81 should think
so, ma'am. I'll ask, anyhow"
Phyllis had not thought of tea
-one does not stop for such leis-
urely amenities in busy public
library-but she saw the beauty
Of the idea, and saw to 1t that the
tea was there.
| Phyllis herself saw that the VIC
trola was in readiness, and clear
ed a space for the couch near the
| fire. There was quite a festal
feeling.
| The talking machine was also
a surprise for Allan. Phyllis and
Allan were as excited over II as a
couple of children, and the only
drawback to Allan's enjoyment
was that he obviously wanted 10
take the records out of her unac-
customed fingers and adjust them
himself.
| After the thing had been play
| ing for three-quarters Of an hour,
Phyllis rang for tea. It was get.
ting little darker now, and the
wood fire cast fantastic red and
black lights and shadows ovei