282 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



No one knew her antecedents. or whence the girl 

 came. They only knew that she was a "bound 

 girl" and worked for the family of a distinguished 

 young artist, a man whose sugar-loafed, broad- 

 brimmed cavalier hat, long, curly hair, ruffled shirt 

 front and wide flowing collars were as well known 

 as his pictures and his oft quoted bon mots. 



IT WAS CUSTOMARY ON MARKET DAYS 



for the farmers of the surrounding country to as- 

 semble in town before the break of day, and back 

 their picturesque canvas-covered market wagons 

 against the curb-stones of the brick sidewalk until 

 the closely packed line of vehicles extended many 

 squares. 



With the first rays of the morning sun Mandy 

 Jane usually appeared, walking demurely behind 

 her mistress and toting a big willow basket through 

 the crowds of marketers who thronged the 

 sidewalks. Mandy spread despair in her wake, 

 and mid heaps of country produce she left many an 

 aching heart. But Mandy Jane saved all her 

 caresses for 



A BIG LOUT OF A LOW COMEDIAN, 



a creature with small eyes, uncouth manners, awk- 

 ward gait and dishonest ways. He was, besides 

 all this, as black as your hat ! 



Mandy Jane's affections, in short, were centered 

 on a big", fat black bear, and this is the story: 



