Love me, Love my Dog

Love me, Love my Dog

The narrative follows Young Van Bibber, who arrives at a house party in Southampton, Long Island, where the focus is on Miss Arnett and her beloved collie, Duncan. The dog goes missing, causing distress among the guests, particularly Miss Arnett, who is inconsolable. The men at the party, eager to alleviate her grief, encourage Van Bibber to search for the dog, leading to a wager on his success. Van Bibber reluctantly accepts the challenge, donning a great-coat and preparing for the cold. He sets out in a dog-cart, but his search is half-hearted; he finds the weather unbearable and the task daunting. Despite the stakes, he prioritizes his comfort over the hunt, eventually deciding to abandon the search and return to the warmth of his room. As he relaxes by the fire, the other men return empty-handed, and Van Bibber remains smug in his decision to forgo the search. However, just before dinner, he spots Duncan limping back across the lawn. Seizing the moment, he chases the dog, tackling it just in time to return to the house as dinner is about to be served. Miss Arnett is overjoyed, and the men acknowledge Van Bibber's success, prompting him to downplay the effort and keep the details of the dog's whereabouts a secret. The story concludes with Van Bibber enjoying his victory while maintaining an air of mystery about his adventure. The themes of love, loyalty, and the absurdity of social expectations are woven throughout the narrative, highlighting the humorous dynamics of the house party and the lengths to which one might go for affection.

By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1903 · Genre: Comedy, Romance, Adventure · 2,416 words

First lines

Young Van Bibber had been staying with some people at Southampton, L. I., where, the fall before, his friend Travers made his reputation as a cross-country rider. He did this, it may be remembered, by shutting his eyes and holding on by the horse's mane and letting the horse go as it pleased. His recklessness and courage are still spoken of with awe; and the place where he cleared the water jump that every one else avoided is pointed out as Travers's Leap to visiting horsemen, who look at it gloomily and shake their heads. Miss Arnett, whose mother was giving the house-party, was an attractive young woman, with an admiring retinue of youths who gave attention without intention, and for none of whom Miss Arnett showed particular preference. Her whole interest, indeed, was centred in a dog, a Scotch collie called Duncan. She allowed this dog every liberty, and made a decided nuisance of him for every one around her. He always went with her when she walked, or trotted beside her horse when she rode. He stretched himself before the fire in the dining-room, and startled people at table by placing his cold nose against their hands or putting his paws on their gowns. He was generally voted a most annoying adjunct to the Arnett household; but no one dared hint so to Miss Arnett, as she only loved those who loved the dog, or pretended to do it.

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Love me, Love my Dog is listed on Textopian as a short story by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1903 CE.

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Romance · Fiction · Novel · Love Story · Relationships · Dogs · Pets · Companionship · Friendship · Family · Marriage · Social Class

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