The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-11
The Euening Story
A Dog and Cat Affair.
(By Louise Oliver.)

I
turned out the burners of the gasoline
stove. She surveyed her mornings
work proudly. Even mother couldn't
do better" she exulted. land this is
my first attempt All afternoon in the
| hot sun on the porch to evaporate the
| extra moisture and my sun cooked
! berries will be fit for a king
Lifting one platter at a time in hef
| strong, white arms, she carried them
| to a bench on the back deck of the
| llouseboat which the Cardwells
| spent four months every summer.
| The last platter placed in position
| for it's sun bath, Madeline rested her
elbows on the rail and looked over at
| the water. A cool breeze blew the
moist little rings of hair about her
eyes, and even in her berry-stained
| gipghant dress she was not by any
means the least attractive object in
very beautiful landscape.
The spot chosen for anchoring the
Crescent. the CardwelPs houseboat.
was an arm or bayou of the beautiful
Merribec river. The water here
stretched out like lake and the trees
all around grew close to the waters
edge. On an island a short distance
below, was Greenglade a fashionable
summer resort. with an immense no.
tel in it's center.
Madeline, leaning over the water,
heard a whistle and listened intently.
There's the steamer with the new
arrivals at the dock. I wonder if Aus
tin Maycourt, the much expected, is
among them. Here 1 am up to my
ears preserving berries for mother to
give as Christmas gifts to our relatives
next winter. and every other girl with
in radius of ten miles is primping
for the dance tonight She tossed
hack the curls and stood upright. rails
ing her arms high above her head ST
q fl0f
than any of them for all their sham
pooling and primping. What's more, L
don't care whether Mr.. Austin May
court looks at me or not She pi-
rouetted up the deck. MY. but it's
hot when the wind stops. 1 believe
I'll get into my bathing suit and have
swim TO cool off,
In a few minutes, a figure in a blue
silk swimming suit and rubber cap
climbed on the top of the rail, gave
little spring and disappeared like a
knife blade under the smooth surface
OF, che water. There was scarcely a
ripple.
Bravo cried young man in fan
neis, who had just appeared on the
island shore unseen by the water
nymph. That was a bully Give, Ly
George! Here, Krist, come back,
sir; to his dog. But Krist, big
wolf hound, was in the water headed
for the boat and refused to turn.
Madeline, swimming under water.
came up on the opposite bank, then
turned and to her horror saw a dog
swimming for dear life toward the
may and plunred instantly into the
water again. IF he gets there first
he'll ruin them.' wondering why she
had been SO foolish as to set them so
close to the floor 81 can Just see
him sticking his tongue into every one
of the plates, the beasti'' And she
strained her muscles to extra effort.
But the dog won the race! Just at
first, he didn't see the berries, but
sian cat, that Madeline had locked in
the dining room. But, giving it up
as bad job, he returned to the porch
and, 10, the berries, A long, red
tongue shot out and he tasted, he
Tapped a while, essayed another
search for the cat. and then returned
to sample another platter.
Krist! Here, Kristi Come. here.
sir! the man commanded from. the
shore. But Krist was having a good
time and merely shook himself-a
heavy shower Of drops flying into the
fruit-laden platters.
Madeline pulled herself up the steps
and saw the devastation of her morn
ing's work. She gave a little scream
of dismay. You nasty, horrid beast,
get out of here! I'D like to kill
you'll
''Krist, here Krist!" And this time,
being satisfied, Krist went.
Madeline went to the dance that
night in belligerent mood. Now,
dear" admonished her mother, who
had returned, be careful what you
do and say. It's only a matter of a
few berries anyway and what is that
to having reputation for being
Madeline finished "A termagent.
Just because I'm honest and indie
pendent and say what / think, the
other girls think I'm odd Well. won't
be a hypocrite, and / get along just
as well as they dol"
80 far you have, dear, but indie
| pendence isn't good thing always,
nor intolerance. If we expect toler-
ance from others
| "Oh. mother dear, pigeonhole that
| particular lecture, please. My motto
is, Never do anything to require toll
| erance and you won't have to ask for
it. That man had no business to let
| his dog get away. I'm sure 1t was
Austin Maycourt, and that only makes
ii worse. He's spoiled and petted
| wherever he goes, and he links the
mother, dear. Don't sit up. Come
along, Bob" to her brother. rs the
launch ready?"
That evning Austin Maycourt asked
for dance after he had been pre-
sented, and Madeline refused, saying
she was tired.
well, I'd rather sit it out with you
anyway, il 1 may" he suggested.
Madeline did not answer
II take it that silence gives con-
sent" as he sat down. You see. I'm
anxious to find out what my dog did
today
| She told him briefly and forcibly;
also what she thought of the whole
| matter.
But you'll let me pay for the ber-
ries, surely!' he cried in consterna-
| ton.
You can settle with mother if you
like, but l gave up good game of
| tennis for those berries, and 1 can't
see that you can help that much" And
do what he could, Austin could not
make Madeline unbend-
Evidently I'm in wrong here" he