Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-16

Nvthihs tonsue On Tie mans cfleek
de succeeded in muddying Mr.. Stages
suit with his front paws, and almost
east the angry man full length into 3
mud puddle.
''Drat the beastl" calculated Mr..
Stage. I'D rather have an epileptic
mt loose around here than him. Now.
look at these cIo'esl / declare, Car.
Ign. you've jest got to tie that mongrel
up-and keep him tied!n
All the time, Uncle Joe?" whis-
pered the little girl.
Yes, ma'am. all the timel If 1 find
him loose again, I'll tie bag of rocks
to his neck and drop him in the deep
est hole in the brook"
After this awful threat Prince lived
a precarious existence. and his mis-
tress was much worried for him.
Aunty Rose said nothing. but she
saw that both the little girl and her
canine friend were very unhappy.
Mrs. Kennedy, however. had watch
ed Mr. Joseph Stagg for years. In
deed, she had known him as boy.
long before she had closed up her own
little cottage around on the other road
and come TO the Stagg place TO save
the hardware merchant from the con.
tinued reign of those "trifling crea-
lures" of whom Mrs. Gormley had
spoken.
AS IA bachelor Joseph Stage had
been preyed upon by certain female
harpies so prevalent in country COM
munity. Some had families whom they
partly supported out of Mr.. Stages
larder; some were widows who looked
upon the well-to-do merchant as b
marrying proposition.
Aunty Rose Kennedy did not meet
the position of Mr. Stages housekee5-
er and could not be accused of assum-
ing 1t from mercenary motives. Over
her back fence she had seen the havoc
going on in the Stagg homestead after
Hannah Stagg went to the city and
Joseph Stages final female relative
had died and left him alone in the big
house.
One day the old Quaker-like woman
could stand no more. She put on her
sunbonnet, came around by the road
to the front door of the Stagg house,
which she found open, and walked
through to the rear porch on which the
woman who then held the situation of
housekeeper was wrapping up the best
feather bed and pillows in a pair Of
the best homespun sheets. preparatory
to their removal
The neighbOrs enjoyed what followed.
Aunty Rose came through the ordeal
as dignified and unruffled as ever: the
retiring incumbent went away wrath
fully, shaking the dust Of the premises
from her garments as a testimony
against "any sich actions"
When Mr.. Stagg came home at sup
per time he found Aunty Rose at the
helm and already different air about
the place.
Goodness me, Aunty Rose" he
said, biting into her biscuit ravenous-
ly. II was a-going down TO the mill
hands hotel TO board. couldn't stand
it no longer. If you'd stay here and
do for me, I'd feel like a new man."
you ought to be made over into q
new man. Joseph Stagg," the woman
said sternly. "A married man"
mo, no! Never that" gasped the
hardware dealer.
IF | came here, Joseph Stagg. Il
would cost you more money thpa
you've been paying these no-account
women
Il don't care" said Mr. Stage reck-
lessly. go ahead Do what you
please. Say what you want. I'm
game"
Thereby he had put himself into
Aunty Roses power. She had reno
waited the old kitchen and some of the
other rooms. If Mr.. Stage at first
trembled for his bank balance, he was
made so comfortable that he had not
the heart to murmur.
Of course, Carolyn May let Prince
run at large when she was sure Uncle
Joe was well out Of sight of the house,
but she was very careful to chain him
up again long before her uncle was ex-
pected to return.
Prince had learned not to chase any
thing that wore feathers: Aunty Rose
herself had to admit that he was a
very intelligent dog and knew what
punishment was for. But how did he
know that In trying to dig out a mole
he would be doing more harm than
good?