Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-09-04

Like many IN real life, my Lero bad found nis
Ideal where he least expected True, the note
which Muriel had written him by her lathef 5
request. aud traced in a gracefully feminine
hand might have suggested the presence ~
this then prospectivel retreat, OF suitaoie
companion-but the thought, if shaped at all,
was vague and imperfect. Ia Mnrlel Wide,
however, Paul found oHe who was entirely to
his fancy. She filed, more Occeptably than
any others he bad met with-and journalist
social circle is by DO means limited-the Ideal
which be bad bodied forth
4 thing 20 love.
For many years Paul Raymond had vninly
essayed 10 discover this one Being who should
occupy the vet untenanted niche in bis heart,
and receive the sweet homage of his generous
love. And To- after these many disappoint-
ments,-aiter a quiet, longing search through
town and city,-his Other Li!e-his Souls
Affinity had been found, far from the noisy din
of busy world, nesting among the cluster
ing woods Of a smiling valley But what OF
Muriels feelings on this subject? Ny heroine
was one of tie few, whose mind aud heart
were entirely incapable Of being read
Thoughts aud feelings were alike velled SO
closely as to defy the arts Of an hitherto un-
challenged miud-reader. So let US have pa
tieuce, and look TO her actions TO properly IN
terpret Muriel's thoughts.
Paul Raymond had been at Wildeview some
three weeks aud anticipated with dismay ihe
/ quickly approaching time for leaving. Tic
/ had brought with him t. the country his in
separable companion-a big black Newiount-
/ land dog, with glossy velvet coat and not a
/ speck Of white anywhere about him. Bruno
was a scrupulousy neat aud clean dog
! While in town, he always left his masters Of
/ flee twice day, and proceeded leisurcly down
/ the little street to a deep stream at is foot
Here, he would spend an houT, swimming O.
round, diving, splashing and III other ways g,
/ yincing his entire appreciation OF water aud
its uses. Emerging from his prolonged bath,
! Bruno would trot around the tank, keeping
an attentive eye on the ground before him
/ and thus selecting particularly clean patch
/ of waving grass, his dogship would ilu down.
roll over aud over, get up, shake himself ana
/ by dint Of pcrSeyering repetition oi tbs hlgn-
1 ly interesting effort, this pattern ofcauiue god
! liness-becauso cleanly-w0ud N time render
/ himself o very crcdtable looking monster
/ Returning 10 his master, it was funny TO sec
| him pick his way along the dirty street, which
was entirely occupied by large grocery and
/ commission houses-and avoiding all contain
inatiou with the greasy merchandise lining the
curb The majlrty, too, OF his dog-ccusina
were. | am grieyed to add-cxccediugy dis
tasteful 10 Bruno. Their coming 70 close
quarters with him was heraldel by q savage
movement on his part, viz: stopping on hi.
digufed trot, slowly glancing to each side
an hyena-like display OF formidable array OF
serried teeth, and a series Of low growls which
said unutterable things, in dog language, e
the Instantly deoamping CANNES Pursuing
his ablutionary duties, under so many difficult
ties, in town, Bruno was far from nesectine
them at his new country home whercegery
convenience was TO his han--paw. i flowing
brook, teeming grass swaris, and everything
a clean dog could actually want. Indeed
Bill, one Of the farm hands, had cemented @
lasting friendship with the otherwise disposed
canine by placing large piece Of soap On The
banks Of the brook. OF course Bruno rarely
used it, but it was plain be liked 60 see il
there in case he should need it, and appreciated
Bill's untiring energy in rescuing the said
piece Of soap from an Oft threatened watcTy
| grave-catastroph daily brought about by
the dog himself whose scamperngs on the
| edge seldom failed 30 send the valuable adjunct
to a wash, overheard.
The dog kennel which stood in the barn
yard had been renovated, re-carpciel with
paper and straw and rendered Git abode foT
/ Bruno, and he had been formally installed
/ therein. The chain which had been The gall
( Of the late B:imstone's life, was taken away,
! in response TO many significant growls from
! the new tenant. Birthstone, it should here be
explained, was an ugly bulldog, formerly the
| faithful guardian Of the poultry yard After
| long and arduous campaign against ciT;ling
hawks and prowling foxes and cats, the faith
/ ful b. had sickened and passed away tJtbc hap
py Dog Land. They buried him deep in the
| bosom of the " run"
For Muriol, Bruno bad. from the start, "a
ken decided liking maniiesting bis rogaTdin
a variety Of ways, but most conspicuously 10y
following her all arouud the house, and lying
down on the porch at her feet when she was
seated there reading or sewing.