The Staying Guest

arrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at

bolstered it up with her determination and enth

and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking

ave to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it. I hate it, I hate it something fearful! But I'm going to do right

, impressed with the spirit of the situatio

madam; my time and talents a

d. "I have here a dog-a most beautiful and

much astonished. "Don't y

h for Ladybird's unstable, though c

ing her head on Cloppy's fat back, she burst in

ents. Had his wife been at home, he would have called her to minister to the sobbin

as a break in the storm and a pair of large dar

it?" said Ladybird, conversationally. "But I really ought to

ocket, and shaking out the ample square of cambric, pol

, glancing out of the window, and desir

business; I'll promise not to cry again: that's over now; but you see I care so very much for my dog that I forgot myself. But my aunt, Miss Flint, doesn't care for hi

t him?" said Mr. Bates

; but besides all that, he's the dearest, best, loveliest, sweetest dog in the whole world. Of course you could

scilla doesn't lik

volous things as flippy-floppy little dogs, and they seem to interfere with her nerves. My aunt, Miss Flint

quiescence. "And your other aunt, Miss Dorind

riscilla does. But that doesn't matter; my aunt, Miss Flint, is head of the house, and she says the dog must go, so

es feared another deluge; but suddenly the child looked up with a bri

et. I'm a business man, you kn

rd con

r thought of that; I don't kno

ou expect me to accept a do

a wonderful comfort, and I guess that counts for a lot! Oh, a

ould stand greatly in awe of suc

uld bark, you know, and rouse the family,

d a burglar away f

cked us in the watches of the night, because I know Cloppy would have barked like fury, and so saved

id Mr. Bates, a queer look of

of it," sa

into Primrose Hall; isn't it s

ew is so forgetful. Why, sometimes he leaves the parlor wi

reassuringly; but his whole big frame seemed to be shaking with

me now. So you take that animated mop back with you and tell your respected aunt that his doom is sealed, but that he will have

n in the fact that the farewell was to be postponed for twenty-four hours. Then with a brief good-by,

Cloppy, but he can't go till to-morrow; they haven't got his room ready; but that's all right if y

r duty; but don't expect to be praised for it every minute. To d

ard, Aunt Priscilla," said Ladybi

nge thing happene

parlor windows unfastened. But in that quiet country neighborh

mity curtains; the objectionable Cloppy was curled up on the foot of Ladybird's bed; and though that sad-h

ad walked boldly, but quietly, across the

e traditional burglar always does, he walked fearlessly and seemed to know exactly where he was going; while instead of a bla

pet. He struck several matches in quick succession, blowing each out and throwing it on the floor; he then deliberately pocketed two or three articles of value which lay on the center-table. An old silver card-case, an antique snuff-box, a

short, sharp yelps from above, which de

et and the window, and then went out the way he came in. On the steps he laid gently the snuff-box and card-case, and dropped the silver tray on the grass in the yard; then turning for a last

ued barking had awakened everybody, and though all were convinced that

ity of donning their fire-gowns and best caps. The servants were variously frightened according to their respective disposi

own, aunty!" she cried, danc

ably a whole gang of burglars, and they'd kill you and then

w, aunty; I think the burglars have gone:

on, M

Priscilla, sternly. "Matthew, go down-st

ees were shaking with fear, and he made no

afraid; I'll go with you," and before Miss Flint could stop her

andle, and hand in hand, she and Matthe

listeners to one of her

aunty; there's nobody here but a hatchet. And your white lady is all smashed to smithereens! And here's

. At first Miss Priscilla was overcome with sorrow at the smashed marble; then appalled with fear at their narrow

," she wailed; "those s

hankful you're here to scrub at them, and not dead in

t blessed little dog! Ladybird, don't you ever hint at giving him away! The Bates

ver to tell Mr. Bates she had chang

, but he seemed much more anxious to hear how the Flint ladies we

d, thrilled by the exciting mental picture, "they dropped

uddenly startled. "Oh, well

stole three things; but they were three of aunty's pet treasures. And what do

real damage?"

mashed Aunt Pr

ha

marble one, or plaster or something; it's cal

c calamity," s

iscilla feels perfectly dreadful about it. But anyhow, Cloppy saved us all from our untime

a smile of deep satisfaction