Smyrna times., 1936-09-17
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
FOUND: A LITTLE DOG
BY Charlotte Mish

MISS MATHILDA falterea oe.
lNl fore her home. She usually
thought of it as Hattie's home, but
really it was hers too. The little
dog in her arms looked up at her
questioningly, yet confidently. She
could feel its tiny heart drumming
against hers.
Somehow that gave her courage.
Poor lost mite of a dog, 1t was
frightened, too, but it trusted her.
But Hattie disliked dogs so. And
domineering Hattie Griswold had
ruled her sister for so long that
Miss Mathilda usually was not more
than family aware that her life was
not her own
The dog was so cute and so pitt
full. 1t was, moreover, pleasant to
realize that it liked her, trusted her
Immediately. that her advent along
the street actually meant something
to another creature.
Impossible, of course, to think of
keeping it. But she would take it
home and feed it, Hattie or not.
Having watched through the win
dow, Hattie stood waiting; large,
impressive figure, with the Girls
wold nose and puffy eyes, like
turtles.
Heavens above-what's that?"
"a dog" Miss Matilda explained
carefully. "A very nice dog and it's
lost and I'm going to give it water
and food and it's going to stay over
night and then I'll find its home"
Detailing the entire proposition
in one breath left Miss Matilda
somewhat winded. She inhaled
deeply, ready for the next question,
which turned out to be a statement.
"Well, it can't stay here" Hattie
glanced towards the window as If
expecting that Miss Mathilda would
instantly fling the dog out Of it.
1T can-and it will. Hattie" Miss
Matilda declared. Father left this
house to both of US and guess I'll
keep a dog overnight If want to.
Overnight-or foreverl I'm going
to feed her now"
"Her? Don't tell me that it's-w
Hattie could not bring herself to
voice this ghastly suspicion. A fe-
male dog!
Certainly, it's girl dog" Sc
cretly, Miss Matilda herself felt this
admission was slightly shady, but
her tone was admirably matter-of-
fact.
"Ufr Do take it away imme-
diately, Matilda!"
For answer Miss Matilda stalked
into the kitchen and prepared the
little dogs dinner. She was aware
that she hadn't felt so alive nor so
interested in anything for years.
Almost Miss Matilda thought, she
could turn basely dishonest-ignore
the lost advertisements; but, even
so, she realized reluctantly, Hat
tie would certainly see any adver-
bscu eidiAh anu utIduu dCllOH
No claim appeared in the morn
ing papers, and later on Miss Matil-
da set out for a walk with the lit
tie dog. She was gone for hours.
When she returned, her face radi-
ant and in her arms fluff of gold
en- fur, Hattie met her at the door
armed with the afternoon paper.
They've advertisedr Hattie
looked triumphant and excited.
Phone Immediately, Matilda. It's
a penthouse address-and there's a
reward of fifty dollars :" She be
slowed a glance of positive affec-
tion upon the little log. Fifty dol
1arsl / think we should take it.
We're entitled"
'IndeedT For a shocked instant
Hattie thought her sister had said :
"Oh, yeah?" 1t was the tone. IT'S
another dog" Miss Matilda added.
Hattie read slowly, with pointed
emphasis:
LOST YESTERDAY-Small gold
end Pomeranian. Female. An
swers to Dolly. $50 reward"
"Oh, no, this isn't any Dolly"
Miss Matilda returned easily. Hes
q boy dog. I've decided to call
him Petey."
boy dogI" Hattie gasped. But
lyou said-you distinctly said"
"Well, sometimes one makes a lit
tle-mistake. This is Petey. Phone
81 you like"
1t seemed scarcely worth while.
But Hattie telephoned, rejecting
confusedly that perhaps the adver-
tisement contained a mistake" /"
too.
As Miss Matilda heard: "Oh, your
dogs been returned" she performed
a mental Jig. Her heart was sing
ing. She hugged Petey closer.
Perhaps they win advertise to-
morrow" Hattie suggested hope
fully as she put down the phone.
Perhaps" Miss Matilda returned.
Ut was not really an untruth. Per-
maps some one would. But 1t was
unlikely. Most unlikely.