The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-11-08
MARIETTA
BY MILDRED WHITE.

kind of French poodle she especially
desired was not to be found. Caros
whims were so many and varied that
ii was fOrtunate-Or unfortunate, as
the case may be-that her inherited
wealth was not taxed in their fulfill
ment
She had tired of the luxurious new
car, the sailboat and the city apart
ment; her much-tried guardian was at
his wits end to please Yet not to
please Caro- was to be himself miser-
able. For David Blair, junior law
partner and trusted friend of the girls
departed father, had loved Caro- with
deep, unselfish love, from the trium-
plant epoch Of her first long dress and
"dOne-up" hair.
She, unconscious. perhaps Of this
love, had led her devoted slave a merry
dance from the time of his instituted
guardianship. David was given little
anxiety concerning the various admir-
ers who fiOcked in her train. Caro-
herself dismissed each promptly in
turn. Now, it seemed her overwhelm-
ing desire was for some pet upon which
to lavish her affection.
"A dog" Caro- told her guardian, us
faithful creature, responding I'M
questionably to ones moods"
"But why" David asked patiently,
"must it necessarily be a white dog,
and very small?"
"White, because I shall have to keep
ii bathed and cared for" Caro- an
swered; Small so that I may hold it
in my lap"
The guardian sighed CarO's expla-
nations were as unsatisfying as the
smile which accompanied them was
charming
Better wish for a dog of that de-
scription," he suggested. "FOr you TO
wish is to have-is it not Caroline"
There was a saddened note in the
guardians voice.
"Not always" Caro- replied; she
looked at him quickly with inscrutable
eyes.
But as She drove her car that after
noon beyond her accustomed way a
small dog of exactly the kind she de-
sired, came dashing out across a bar
ren field to bark furiously at her
intrusion.
CAIRO stopped the car, but the little
animal continued to bark, until at
length it paused breathlessly, to listen
to her caressing voice.
Come" coaXed the girl; "you dear
little thing" And as she sprang down
into the road the dogs feathery tail
wagged fervently in greeting.
Before her astonished gaze he arose
presently, waving his two fore-paws in
the air, and executing a solemn dance
around her.
"You funny thing" she exclaimed.
'You little trick dogr" Before she
could forbid the little white creature
had leaped into the car, grinning at
her in dog fashion from the front
seat
Hes mine" Caro- told herself def
antly; 'T wished for him." But the
guardian failed to rejoice with her.
when he learned the discovery.
Though the dog devoted himself
iealousIy to Caro-, David Blair insisted
upon placing an advertisement in the
Found" column of that evenings pa
per, and following closely upon its ap-
pearance came a pitiful reply.
"The little found dog is my F'id-
get" came scrawled in a childish
fashion. He is all I have to love.
He acts with me in the circus. Please
bring him back to, Marietta"
And though there was no further di-
rection or adress, David and his re-
bellious ward drove that evening with
Fidget between them to the faraway
grounds where the travelling circus
pitched it's great tent.
The little dog of the loved Marietta
was at once recognized by welcoming
watchers.
"She didn't sleep last night" a
painted clown said. "Fidget is all the
folks Mariettas got now, you see. Her
mother didn't live long after her dad
was killed in his famous jump last
year. The circus had sort Of 'dopted
Marietta since. Every one likes to
zee the kid dance with her dog, tho 1t
amt much of an act after all. Mariet-
ta," called the clown, "come here,
honey" And Marietta came.
A vision of flying golden curls and
short ruffled skirts, she flew toward
her pet, and had him in her arms.
Then tear-f1lled the child's blue eyes
sought Caro'S.
I'm sorry" she said, that you can't
have Fidget, butt love him. And
/ haven't got anything else to love-"
The Dalton heiresS nodded under
standingly; her guardian noted in dis
tress that her eyes were also filed
with tears.
Suddenly, impulsively, the girls
arms closed tight about the childish
form.
Dear" said Caro-, "do you suppose
that you could possibly learn to love
me? Would you like to come and live
in a big, stone house with a garden