Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-03-01
THE FAITHFUL HOUND.
BY EDGAR L. HAMMOND.

West Riding of Yorkshire and having
succeeded perfectly to my satisfaction, set
out on my return-which | expected
would occupy about two days-with a
considerable sum of money in my wallet.
1t vas a fne evening in the early part
Of May, when l alighted at the door
Of an inn, where it was my inten-
ton to spend the night. 1t was pleas
ant, comfortablc-looking place enough,
with every sign of neatness and thrift
about it and the prospect of nights
entertainment in such a place, after n
long and hard days ride, was by no
means an unwelcome one. Landlord
and hostler made their appearance stimuli
taneously, ard giving my horse to the lat
ter, requested mine host to provide me
with an apartment, and let me have sup
per as soon ag might be.
The first was at my service directly,
and the second was promised in the space
of few minutes. The Landlord con-
Quoted me to my room, and there left me
to attend to ahars below, while proceed
ing to cleanse myself from the dust o
travel. A plenteous shower of cold wa
ter a supply of fresu linen from a por,
n4nteau carried With me, and free
u.e IF the clothes brush, soon combined
to rsnovata my entire appearance and
thus refreshed, dsscendeG the stairs to
look after my horse.
A visit to the stable door assured me
that ha was well cared FIR, aud in few
moments | returned across the yard to
tho inn door As did so, observed a
shaggy and somewhat gsunt looking
hound sitting just by the sill--haying TAX
en- up Als station there during my visit
to the stable. Ho was by no means
handsome, fer be vas both lean and .
rough bat, accustomed by experience /
to Judge of neither man lor beast entire
ly By smoothness Of coat or sLapIiness Of
LIMB, | looked for some redeeming quail
ty.
Ii wa; there; and more than one, as l
found. The gaunt limbs were siuewy
ard strong the rough coat concealed a
frame Of iron, the head vas well made,
the countenance kind and good tempered,
the eyes fine, bright, serious and intell-
gent and they watched me with a wish
ful, coniemplstive glance as crossed to-
wards The door, l wListled 10 him he
frightened up, waeged his tall aud ris-
ing came to meet me. Just then, mine
host appeared in the doorway.
"A fine dog, sir" said, stroking the
head of my canine friend fine dog"
May ask if he belongs to you ?"
No, sir; I never saw him till yester-
day answered the landlord and then
he came into tho inn yard alone, He
has made himself al home about he.e ev-
er slnce then; but ask whom | will no
body seems TO know anything about him.
A fine dog doubtless, as you say, sir
though to be sure not the hanisomest as
ever was. VIII you have supper now,
sir? 1t ia quite ready"
l went in, tho dog accompanying me :
as far as tue door, where he took his seat !,
again. As passed the threshold, an
ill-looking fellow came out from the inn =.
kitchen, and passed me casting an evil .
glance at me, as he did so. He was fol-
lowed by a companion of an appearance :,
quite as unprepossessiDg as his own and =,
both went out.
Who were those persons p asked O
Of tho landlord, as he led the way to the b
cosy little paror where my supper was a
prepared. h
"O-Jack Brown, and one of his fell il
lows" answered mine host " a couple # a
the greatest rascals out of Jail ] won r.
der what they are hanging about here j.
for? Some mischief or other, I'll war "
rant me" a
l had concluded my repast, and gone Il
up to my bedroom, where l sat down by "
an open easement to watch, as | ever low b
ed to do, the rising OF the moon, when s.
suddenly ] heard the deep, angry growl- 81
ing of dog, somewhere in the yard be- a
low. looked down, but could see 10 c.
dog about there. The hound which | pD
had previously seen had disappeared rC
from the doorway when came up stairs.
The sound that | heard now seemed. as or
l listened to it, to proceed from that part c;
OF the yard leading around the end of u
the ian and now I had no doubt that it fil
came from the strange dog. It continu- &C
ed for moment or two, intermingled be
with two or three sharp, quick barks, aud ca
now the voices of men, uttering fierce hi
ihrauts apJ rot d, cay, c,r.,o1 a.tk. -,