BOOK OF THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 15 



short cut from the back road from the Bluffs down to 

 the village. Soon a shout came from the same direction, 

 and going toward the wall, I saw Mr. Vandeveer strug- 

 gling along, his great St. Bernard Jupiter, prize winner 

 in a recent show and but lately released from winter 

 confinement, bounding around and over him to such 

 an extent that the spruce New Yorker, who had the 

 reputation of always being on dress parade from the mo- 

 ment that he left bed until he returned to it in hand- 

 embroidered pink silk pajamas, was not only covered with 

 abundant April mud,but could hardly keep his footing. 



At the moment I spied the pair, a great brindled cat, 

 who sometimes ventures on the place, in spite of all the 

 attentions paid her by the beagles, and who had been 

 watching sparrows in the barnyard, sprang to the wall. 

 Zip ! There was a rush, a snarl, a hiss, and a smash ! 

 Dog and what had been cat crashed through the sash 

 of my Dahlia frame, and in the rebound ploughed into 

 the soft earth that held the carnatio'ns. 



The next minute Mr. Vandeveer absolutely leaped 

 over the wall, and seeing the dog, apparently in the midst 

 of the broken glass, turned almost apoplectic, shouting, 

 "Ah, his legs will be cut; he'll be ruined, and Julie will 

 never forgive me ! He's her best dog and cost $3000 

 spot cash ! Get him out, somebody, why don't you ? 



