Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-09-06
CHAPTER x.
Advent OF the PilEics.

1he next day it was raining. 7 set
off alone to make ready for the arrival
of the Pilligs. l was standing on my
kitchen porch talking to Mike when
they arrived. It was d memorable mo-
ment. I heard the sound of wheels,
and looked up. A wagon was ap-
preaching, driven by an old man. Be
side him, beneath cotton umbrella,
sat a thin. woman in black, with gray
hair and worried look. Behind them,
on a battered trunk, sat Peter, who
was not thin, who wore no worried
look, and who chewed gum. Beneath
the wagon, invisible at first, trotted a
mud-bespattered yellow pup. The wag-
on stopped.
"Good morning, Mr.. Upton" said
Mrs. Pillig. This is me and Peter
where's Buster?' said Peter.
At the word Buster, the yellow pup
emerged from beneath the cart, Wag-
ging the longest tail, in proportion to
the dog, ever seen on a canine. It
would be more correct to say that the
tail wagged him, sor with every ex
cited motion his whole body was IN
dulated to the ears, to counter balance
that tail.
went out and aided Mrs. P1llig to
altght, and then Mike and I lifted the
trunk to the porch. I looked at the
dog, which had also joined us on the
porch, where he was leaving muddy
paw marks.
"Do 1 understand that Buster is also
an arrival?' said I.
ooh, dear me, Mr.. Upton, you must
excuse me-" Mrs. Pillig cried anxious
ly. Mrs. John Barker's boy Leslie
gave Buster to Peter a month ago, and
of course I sent him right back, but
he wouldn't stay back, and yesterday
we took him away again, and this
morning he just suddenly appeared be-
hind the wagon, and | told Peter he
couldn't come, and Peter cried, and
Buster wouldn't go back, and I'll make
Peter take him away just as soon as
the rain stops"
''Well, hadn't bargained on Buster,
that's a fact" said l. 1 didn't like
dogs; most people don't Who've never
had one. But he was such a forlornly
muddy mongrel pup, and so eloquent
of tail, that I spoke his name on an
impulse, and put out my hand. The
| great tail Wagged him to the ears, and
with the friendliest Of undulations he
was all at once close to me, with his
nose in my palm. Then he suddenly
sat up on his hind legs, dangled his
front paws, looked me square in the
eyes, and barked.
That was too much for me- "Peter,
said [, you may keep Buster"
"Golly, I'd "a had a hard time no
to-" said that young person, immedi
ately making for the barn, with Buste
at his heels.
Mrs. Pillig and I went inside. Whil
she was inspecting the kitchen, Mix
and 1 carried her trunk up the bacl
stairs.
Il hope your bed comes today" sai'
} I, returning. you see, the house i
largely furnished from my two room
at college, and there was hardl
enough to go around"
Mrs. Pillig looked into the sout
room. Did you have all them book
in your two rooms at collegew sh
asked.
l nodded.
: ''They must "a been pretty bi
rooms" she said. "Books is awfu
things to keep busted"
,, (Which reminds me-" smiled, lea6
! ing her over to my desk, at which
/ pointed impressively. "Womanv' sal
! 1, in sepulchral tones, 'that desk
never to be busted, never to b
touched"
T. She looked at me a second with he
: worried eyes wide open, and then
smile came over her wan, thin face.
I "I guess you be MT SO terrible as 20