The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-11-13
OF giving your mother a son-in.lav with
fortune and position, in spite OF her
SELF" he replied.
Mr.. Sommerbcck's Dog.

| "Is DuuuuieIutChfS DUS,
81 love my dog" said Mr.. Sommcr.
beck. "Man's faithful friend; always
devoted to his master; always vigilant
i'll his protection untiring in his efforts
to please docile under discipline, for.
giving in his disposition, kind mud
faithful, man does not half appreciate
him nor understand him. I have bought
dog, one that will in his infantile days
be a source Of unccasiug mirth to us all
by his innocent gambols, and, as age de-
velops his sterner. qualities, will be q
faithful, vigilant guardian of our slecp-
ing hours. Let us love him mud deal
with him gently and tenderly, and his
very life will bo devoted to our service.
Come, Herzegovina, come come il and
get acquainted with your friends"
He tied him to tue back fence with n
piece of tho clothcsline, and sought his
downy couch. Ho had been in bed
about ten minutes when q howl OF mos.
unearthly import smote the air, dying
away il prolonged, shuddering gurgle
that lifted every hair on Mr.. Sommer-
beck's head, and emptied all the shrek
ing, faintipg women in the house into
bis room in one wailing, hysterical tor
rent. Again and again the howl came
swelling up through the closed windows,
as though it walled out Of the very walls
Of tho house, then ono would come
series OF choking, gurgling gasps and
asthmatic groans that we're too full OF
horror TO listen to without shrieking.
He dressed and took the lantern and
revolver and went out. Guided by tho
terrible sounds lie came to where ho had
tied the dog. No dog was visible, but
tho rope that was stretched tight across
the top Of tho fence showed where he
was. The docile animal had jumped
over the fence and the rope was Just
long enough 10 let his hind legs touch
tho ground. As long rs he could stand,
tho dog could howl till he hushed the
railroad whistles, and when his weaken
ing legs .buckled aud lot him down, the
rope tighteued and shut off his wind in
series Of chokes and gasps uud gurgles
that were too awful to think about.
Mr.. Sommerbeck climbed painfully over
the fence and tried to lift the dog back
into tho yard, and as ho pushed the
howlipg animal over the fence, it paved
the top OF his bald head until il looked
like q map Of the Sevian war. Mr..
Sommerbeek wishell the faithful dog ut
the Centennial. Then it crawlei its
hind legs down the neck Of his night
shirt, aud braced its fore paws against
the fence aud pushed back, and walked
oil over Mr.. Sommerbeck's upturned
face, bowling all tho time. Finally Mr..
Sommerbeck pushed him over and heard
him drop with heavy thump on the
ground. Then lie tried to climb over
himself. II was a slow, painful task,
for Mr.. Soumerbeck il not light
weight, nor is he so young as he once
was. At last he got one leg over the
top Of tho fence after many grunts, and
with great groan Of satisfaction BAL
anced himself on top. His sudden ap-
pearancc seemed to fill the dog with
terror, and in fash, just as Mr.. Son.
merbeck dropped on the inside OF the
fence, the faithful dog went up like n
rocket and shot ont Of sight on the
other, and recommended his hideous
howls and gasps. Mr.. Sommerbeck felt
us thoughhs couldn't groan deep enough
nor fast enough as he prepared to scale
the dreadful fence. It was discouraging
work, but he got 10 the top OF last,
lost his balance and went down on the
other side like q land slide, falling
plump on the faithful dog and killing it
so quick that the doomed animal never
whinel o protest. Mr.. Sommerbeck
limped slowly down the alley and up the
street to the front gate. He got in the
house and went to bed, aud in response
TO the anxious inquiries Of the women
as to what was the matter, lie merely
told them TO pull on tie clothesline in
the morning and they would find out.