The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-08-12

| groaned aloud. Soon afterwards he lay
| down, and all was quiet for the night
| Early next morning he came down, look
ing still more pale than the previous eve
ming, and having paid his lodging, he took
his knapsack and resumed his journey,
! followed by the greyhound, who had eat4
en- nothing since their arrival, and whose
master seemed to take no further notice
! of him than 10 frown when the creature
ventured to caress him.
"About noon l happened to be standing
at the door, looking toward the direction
which the Englishman had taken, when |
heard howls OF distress, proceeding from a
wounded dog that was dragging himself
towards me.
ran TO him, and recognized the Eng
lishman's greyhound. His head was torn,
evidently by bullet, and one of his paws
! broken. | raised him in my arms and
carried him into the house When |
crossed the threshold he made evident Ell
forts to escape; SO l placed him on the
ground. Then, in spite of the torture he
was suffering, which caused him TO stag
| ger every moment, he scratched at the
door of the room where his master had
| slept, moaning at the same time so pitt
eously, that could scarcely help weeping
myself. l opened the door, and with a
great effort he got into the room, looked
about, and not finding whom he sought, he
fell down motionless.
81 called my father, and perceiving
that the dog was not dead, we gave him
all possible assistance, taking indeed as
much care of him as though he had been
a child, so much did we feel for him. In
two months he was cured, and showed US
much affection; we found it impossible,
however, to take off his collar, even for
the purpose of binding up his wounds -
AS soon as lie was able 10 walk, he would
often go toward the mountain, and be alb
sent for hours. The second time this oc~
CURED, we followed him. He proceeded
as far as part of the road where a mar
now defle borders q precipice there he
continued for long time, smelling and
scratching about. We conjectured that
the Englishman might have been attacked
by robbers on this spot, and his dog
wounded in defending him. However,
no event Of the kind had occurred in the
country and after the strctest search no
corpse could be discovered. Recollecting,
therefore, the manner in which the trav-
eler had treated his dog, l came to the
conclusion that he had tried to kill the
faithful creature But wherefore? This
was mystery which could not solve.
''Bevis remained with US, testifying the
utmost gratitude for our kindness. His
intelligence and good humor attracted the
strangers who frequented our inn, while
the inscription on his collar, and the tale
we had to tell of him, failed not to excite
their curiosity. One morning in autumn,
| had been out to take walk, accompa
MED by Bevis. When l returned, l found
seated by the fire, in the common hall, a
newly arrived traveller, who looked around
AS | entered. AS soon as he perceived
Bevis, he started and called him. The
dog Immediately started toward him with
fantic demonstrations Of JOY. He ran
round him, smelling his clothes, aud ut
tered the sort of salutation with which he
honored you just now, and finally placing
his forepaws on the travellers knees. be-
gan to lick his face.
''Where is your master, Bevis! Where
is Sir Arthur % said the stranger, in
English
The noble dog howled pi;eousIy, and
| laid down at the travellers feet. Then
the latter begged US to explain bis presence.
l did so and as he listened, / SAW q tear
fall on the beautiful head OF the greyhound,
who be leaned over TO carcss.
"Monsieur," said he, addressing me,
''from what you tell me, venture to hope
that Sir Arthur still lives. We have been
friends from childhood. About three years
since he married a rich heness, and this
dog was presented to him by her Bevis
was highly cherished for his fidelity, a
quality which unhappily was not possess
ed by his mistress. She left her fond aud
loving husband, and eloped with another
man. Sir Arthur sued for a divorce and
obtained it; then having arranged his
affairs in England, be set out for the Cont
nent, followed only by his dog. His
friends knew not whittier he went Doubt
less, the presence of Bevis, evermore re-
calling the memory of her who had SO
cruelty wronged him, must have torn his
heart, and at length impelled him to des-
troy the faithful creature. But the shot
not having been mortal, the dog, | i'm
agine, when he recovered consciousness,
was led by instinct to seek the house where
his master last slept. Now, Monsieur, he
is yours, and | heartily thank you for the
kindness you have shown him."
"About 10 O'Clock the stranger retired
to his room, after having caressed Bevis,
who escorted him to his door, and then
returned to his accustomed place before
the fire. My parents and the serv ants
had retired to rest, and prepared to fol-
low their example,-my bed being placed
at one end the common hall. While /
was undressing l heard a storm rising in
the mountains. Just then there came a
knocking at the door, and Bevis began to