Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-05-11


land, he set out for the continent, followed
only by his dog. His friends knew not
whittier he went. Doubtless the presence
of Bevis, evermore recalling the memory OF
her who had so cruelty wronged him, must
| have torn his heart, and at length impelled
him to destroy the faithful creature But
the shot not having been mortal, the dog,
lI-lmaglne, when he recovered conscious
ness, was led by instinct to seek the house
where his master last slept. No, Monsi-
eur, 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 return
ed to his accustomed place before the fire.
] My parents and the servants had retired to
rest, and prepared to follow their ex-
ample, my bed being placed at one end of
the common hall. While Was undressing
[ heard a storm rising in the mountains.
Just then there came a knocking at the
door, and Bevis began to growl. I asked
who was there2 voice replied, Two tra-
velers, who want nights lodging I
| opened q small chink of the doer to look
o1-t, and perceived two ragged men, each
leaning on large club. / did not like
their looks; and knowing that several rob-
berries had been committed in the neigh
borhood, [ refused them admission, telling
them that in the next village they would
readily find shelter. They approached the
door as though they meant to force their
way IN, but BeYis made his voice heard in
so formidable a manner that they Judged
it prudent to retire. l bolted the door and
went to bed. Bevis, according to his Gus
tom. lay down near the threshold, but we
neither of us felt inclined to sleep.
"a quarter OF an hour passed, when sud-
denly, above the wailing of the wind, came
the loud, shrill cry of human being in dis
tress. Bevis rushed against the door with
fearful howl; at the same moment came
the report of a gun, followed by another
cry. Two minutes after, was on the road,
armed with n carbine and holding dark
lantern; my father and the stranger, arm
ed, accompanied me. AS for Bevis, he
had darted out ofthe house and disappear
ed.
eve approached the defile which
mentioned before. at the moment when a
flash of lightning Illuminated the scene
A hundred yards in advance We saw Bevis
grasping man by the throat. We hur-
rleG on, but the dog had completed his
work ere we reached him; for two men
whom [ recognized as those who had
sought admittance to our inn, lay dead,
strangled by his powerful jaws. Further
on, we discovered another man, whose
bloody wounds the noble dog was licking
The stranger approached him, and gave
convulsive cry, it was Sir Arthur-the mas
ter of Bevisr'
Here M. Dermann paused; the recollec-
ton seemed to overcome him, and he stop
ped to caress the sleeping greyhound in
order to hide his emotion. After a while
he finished his recital in few words:
''Slr Arthur was mortally wounded, but
had lived long enough to recognize his
dog, and to confess that in a moment of
desperation he had tried to kill the faithful
creature who now avenged his death by
staying the robbers who had attacked him.
He appointed the stranger his executor,
and settled large pension on Bevis, to re-
vert to the family of the innkeeper, wish
ing thus to testify his repentant love to-
ward his dog, and his gratitude toward
those who had succored him. The grief
of Bevis was excessive; he watched by his
masters couch, covering his dead body
with caresses, and for long time lay
stretched on his grave, refusing to take
nourlshment; and it was not until after the
lapse of many months that the affection of
his new master seemed to console him for
the loss of Sir Arthur"
AS my fellow traveller finished the recital, |
the diligence stopped to change horses at
the little town of Mantua. Here M. Der
mann's journey ended. and having taken
down his luggage, he asked me to assist
the descent ofhis dog. 1 shook hands with
him cordially, and then called Bevis, who
seeing me on such good terms with his
master placed his large paws on my breast
and uttered low, friendly bark. Shortly
after they both disappeared from my sight,
but not from my memory, as this little
narrative has proved.