Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-07-18
WHERE DOBBIN LED
BY MoLLlE MATHER
20. 1923. western Newspaper un,on'a


Deauty OF the situation. Here his prob
iems might be solved; the intricate
workings of the plan which troubled
MIN brought to successful fulfllment
linen, too, his health would be benefit
cd. His privileged housekeeper of
many years service had meaningiy told
him that his nerves were "pretty
ragged on the edges
Richard drew plans for great build
lngs and great bridges. He had decid-
ed to rent this old house in the coun-
Try after a chance auto drive in its
direction.
Mrs. Brewster, his housekeeper. was
interested in the garden. She enthused
over the vegetables they were later
to enjoy, and Richard absently agreed.
but his happy peace was to be dis
turbed. Mrs. Brewster, her face red
with Indignation, came to him.
We'll, now" she exclaimed. IF we
haven't moved next door TO fighting peo-
ple-dlctating to you what you'll do
with this and that, an you an archi-
tect. If Dobbin does wander into her
pack yard, need she write an impu-
dent note?"
Richard, perplexed, brushed the hair
from his forehead. "Debbin?" he
questioned.
"Dobbin is an old horse that the liv-
eryman rented to me for the time of
our stay here, so that may drive into
town and back with our marketing.
And If he did get into that red-headed
woman's garden"
Richard interrupted. 'Let me see
the note" he said.
It was evidently a hurried note.
our horse" the communication be-
gan abruptly, 'is running my potato
patch. He comes over and rolls on It.
If you do not keep him stabbed I'll
have to charge you damage.-Nora
O'Nen."
Richard, glancing from the window,
saw an angular woman, with bright red
hair, in the garden opposite.
"Dobbin," declared Richard, must
be kept away from Miss O'Neil's gar
den. have no wish to enter into an
argument with that determined person
and I don't want to pay for her DO
tatOeS."
He reached for pad nearby and,
lazily amused, scrubbed line:
"Dear Miss O'Nen: Pardon our wan
dering steed for trespassing. The liv-
eryman did not inform US of his fond
ness for potatoes. We will endeavor
to keep him stabbed, Notwithstanding
the fact that we have no stable. If,
however, he should again roam from
the shed that shelters him you are at
liberty to use any means at hand to
drive him from your garden.-R.
Standlsh, neighbor."
Distastefully the housekeeper deliv.
cred the note to the red-headed woman
in the opposite inclosure-who as un-
graciously took it.
To Richard, now seriously engaged
with his drawings, came presently an
answer.
'"That idiotic animal is in my garden
this moment. He has ruined about ff-
ty dollars worth Of potato vines and is
cavorting toward the lettuce bed. In
stead Of writing silly notes come and
get him.-Nora O'Neil."
Richard, in his absorption, was In
no mood to be rudely ordered regard
Ing an old horse. But In Mrs. Brews-
ter's eye was the light Of enjoyable
battle. If he was to live in continued
peace in this retreat he would have to
see the irate woman next door himself.
Impatiently he went forth to the task.
There was no one in view, so he strobe
on toward the vegetable garden, there
to see wildly-ge sturing figure, almost
obscured by playful horse Dobbin
was giving the woman a chase Then
a huddled object in the potato patch
caught his eye-a girl In blue. her
cheeks rose-colored from evident exer-
ton, her brown hair blown and curl
ing. 1t was she who accosted Richard,
rising angrily to her small height.
"Now," cried the girl, "you take that
animal off yourselfw
Then, from behind the dividing
AChSC1 NduuC, SOOIlll11Sly, NILS. DICWS-
ter's voice: Come, Dobbin, come"
Obediently Dobbin came
The red-headed woman stared at
Richard, the little brown-haired one
gazed at him reproachfully. at was
my first garden" she said, 'and it took
me so long to learn to be a farmerette,
and was going to carry on mothers
old home every summer, and make
money for us. And this years work Is
almost completely spoiled"
Richard had been gazing into the
soft blue eyes. Eagerly be grasped at
the possibility of the last regretful
sentence. almost" said Richard;
then you think there might still be
hope for the garden?"
"They plant some potatoes in June"
the girl answered, wonderingly.