Towson University - Tower Echoes Yearbook (Towson, MD)

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THE TOWER LIGHT streamed down his bulbous cheeks and another button fell to its fate. Mrs. Wiillebottom stopiped in her tracks. Her face, once red, was fast becoming a royal sha e of purlple. Her mouth twitched, then opened. But, for once she was speech ess--with rage. Oh, I've n-never seen anything so funny in all my born days, panted her husband. A At that, Mrs. WifHebottom's voice returned. Egbert, she said slowly and clearly, to make certain that her words made the correct impression, there's only one thing to be done. That dog must go. He is ruining my garden. And what's more-just this morning Mrs. Jones brought one of your best nightshirts over. She said she had snatched it away from Sparky who was about to deposit it in the midst of her rose-bushes! The only way out of this perpetual tor- nient is to get rid of him. Sell him-lose him-anything, only get rid o him! But, Maria, isn't there something else that can be done? I-I just couldn't art with him now. I-we understand one another. I couldn't do it, plleaded Mr. Wifflebottom. But his wife was determined, and he knew her well enough to realize that once her mind was made up, it stayed that way. Very well, said Mr. Wifflebottom, resignedly. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find a good family for him. Make sure that this unfortunate family has no turnip-beds, was his wife's parting shot. wk Pk PK Sl! I wonder why Mamie hasn't written to tell us when she is com- ing to visit us, mused Mr. Wifflebottom at the dinner table that eve- nin . gMrs. Wifilebottom shuddered. Please don't bring up that subject, Egbert. You know how I dread her visits. I spend two weeks of ab- solute misery while she's here. Why, last time she did nothing but complain of the number of stitches the doctor put in her after the oper- ation. Really, I don't see why she insists on visiting us every year, do you, Egbert? Egbert! I'm speaking to y-, merciful heavens ! This apparently extraordinary remark was not really extraordinary at all. I'm quite sure that if you had been there, you, too, would have said merciful heavens. Standing in the doorway, and wagging his tail happily, was the pride of Mr. Wifllebottom's heart. Gripped tightly in his mouth was an object of no particular size or dimensions. Trailing from one of Sparky's cocky ears was a long, betraying turnip-top! Mr. Wifilebottom was the first to recover. Jumping up from the table, incidentally spilling his coffee in his haste, he ran toward the dog. After retrieving the as yet unidentined object from unwilling Sparky, 11

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THE TOWER LIGHT Dog Sense HE creak, creak of the chair as it groaned resentfully beneath the weight of its occupant was the only disturber of the silent late afternoon. The person to whom the rocker so strongly objected was extremely rotund, measuring every bit of live feet in circumference. His eyes were small and gray, and possessed a perpetual twinkle. This twinkle was accentuated by the lines of humor that ap eared around his eyes and mouth whenever he smiled-and this was oflgen. His nose, which was short and very broad Ccoinciding nicely with the rest of his personD, was at this time the precarious perch of a pair of spectacles. His ventral expanse taxed to the utmost the strength of his vest, already shy two buttons, positive proof that Mr. Wifllebottom had once more exceeded the limits of his or his vest's capacity. Suddenly came a terrific disturbance in the rear of the Wifflebottom abode, a series of tantalizing yip-yaps coming from the throat of S arky accompanied by the an ry squeaks of an enraged female. Mr. Vgifllebottom moaned. He haf expected something of this sort, and was, in a slight degree, prepared for it, but this revolution being en- acted in his backyard was very remote from his expectations. Ever since Sparky had become a member of that household, si- lences were continually being disturbed. It seemed that this animal just couldn't stay out of Mrs. WiHlebottom's turnip-bed. Repeatedly Sparky's master had taken him aside and given him lessons in bow to stay where he belonged. But it was useless. Sparky would get into the turnip-bed. This was only one of his misdemeanors. Another annoying habit of his was to carry away everything he saw lying around. The fact that daily the Joneses received two evening papers, and the Wiflle- bottom's none at all, was attributed to Sparky. Yet, with all his faults his master liked him, and was determined that whatever befell, he Would not part with his dog. The noises came closer and closer to Mr. Wifllebottom's agitated ear. A haunted expression crept into his eyes. A sigh escaped his trem- bling lips. Then Sparky roun ed the corner of the house and raced into full view. The cause of this great speed was due, beyond a doubt, to none other than his beloved master's wife. Armed with a garden rake, and puffing noisily with exertion and anger, Mrs. Wifllebottom also rounded the corner in hot pursuit. This was too much for her husband. Seeing Sparky tearing around the place with the sad remains of what once ha been a perfectly healthy turnip clutched tightly in his mouth, pursued by his ordinarily stoic wife, was, as I said before, too much for Mr. Wifflebottom. The haunted look disappeared from his eyes. The sigh turned into a chuckle, and the chuckle turned into a laugh. Tears -10

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THE TOWER LIGHT he began a minute inspection. Suddenly an ejaculation of surprise es- caped his lips. What is it? asked his wife, bending down in order to keep from missing anything. Why, it's a package, addressed to you-and it has never been o ened! he cried. Looks like another one of Sparky's pranks, he added brightly. Well, go on, open it, commanded his wife, impatiently. With clumsy fingers Mr. Wifllebottom untied the strings and tore off the muddy paper. Here's a note inside, he said, handing it to his wife to read. Eagerly, she tore open the envelope while her husband delved curiously into the contents of the package. ' 'Can you beat it? asked Mr. Wifllebottom. Well, I do declare! beamed Mrs. Wifllebottom. . Look here, said both, simultaneously. He took the letter and began to read. CAn exact reproduction of that epistle is given below.j May 26, 19- DEAR MARIA! I thought I had better write you a. short note letting you know when I will visit you this spring. The Erst two weeks of next month would suit me very well. However, if you are planning something else at that time, I suppose that will be all right. But these are the only two weeks I have open so if it is unsuitable for me to come then, I'll have to put off my visit till another year. If you do not have other plans, write and let me know what time you will meet me at the station. As you know, I have not completely recovered from my operation, and the doctor said not to overdo. By the way, I have sent a package of pills for Egbert. He had such trouble with his stomach from overeating last time that I am sure these will do him no harm. Aifectionately, MAMIE. Mr. Wiflflebottom chuckled. Why, Maria, it's way past the mid- dle of june now, and-, but he was talking to thin air. Maria was nowhere to be seen-nor, for that matter was S arky. But in the kitchen could be heard noises that sounded remarkablly like a mixture of a pet dog being fed the choicest pieces left of the fresh ham that ordinarily would not be touched until the Sunday dinner and a female voice mur- muring endearing phrases to this same dog. Mr. Wifllebottom smiled. Walking over to the window, he deftly tossed the package of pills into the yard. Chuckling, he resumed his meal. GBRTRUDE G. JOHNS, Sopla. 1. A12