The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-24
Selert Shrg.
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.
By Charles Redde.

By Chdrte6 hedue
Two women, sisters, kept the toll-bar
in Yorkshire. 1t stood apart from the
village, and they often felt uneasy at night
being lone women.
One day they received considerable
sum of money, bequeathed to them by a
relative, and that set the simple souls all
in hutter.
They had friend in the village, the
blacksmith's wife; 80 they went and told
her their fears. She admitted that theirs
was lonesome place, and she would not
live there for one-without man. Her
discourse sent them home downright
miserable.
The blacksmith's wife told her husband
all about it when he came in from dinner.
'The fools" said he, chow is anybody to
know they have got the brass in the
house?" .. -
"Well," said his wife, "they make no
secret of it to me; but you need not go to
tell it to all the town, poor souls"
''Not l." said the man "but they will
publish it, never fear Leave woman
folk alone for making their own trouble
with their tongues"
There the subject dropped as man and
wife have other things to talk about be-
sides their neighbors.
The old women at the toll. bar, what
with their own fears, and their Jobs
comforter, began to shiver with appre-
hension as night came on. However, at
sunset the carrier passed through the gate
and at sight of his friendly face they brigh-
tened up. They told him their care,
begged him to sleep in the house that
night. "Why, how can 2" said he. "Pm
due at----.' But ] will leave you my
dog" the dog was powerful mastiff.
The women looked at each other ex-
pressively. "He won't hurt us, will Le2"
sighed one of them, family. "Not he,"
said the carrier, cheerfully. Then he
called the dog into the house, told them
to lock the door, and went away whist
ling. .,.,......
The women were left contemplating
the dog with that tender solicitude which
apprehension is sure to excite. At first
he seemed staggered at this of.hand pro-
Ceeding of his master; it confused him;
then he snuffed at the door; then as the
wheels retreated, he began to see plainly
he was an abandoned dog. He delivered
a fearful howl, and flew at the door,
scratching and barking furiously.
The old women fed the apartment, and
were next seen at an upper window
screaming to the carrier, "Come back,
come back, John! He is tearing the
house downp
"Drat the varmintp said John. and
came back. On the road he thought
what was best to do. The good-natured
fellow took his great coat out of the cart,
and laid it down on the floor. The mas
tiff instantly laid himself on it. "Now,"
said John, sternly, "let us have no more
nonsense; you take charge of that till l
come back, and don't let nobody steal
that there, nor yet t'wives brass. There,
now, said he, kindly to the women, II
shall be back this way breakfast time,
and he wont bulge till then"
And he won't huFtus, JohnP"
lord, no. Bless your heart, he is as
sensible as any Christian; only Lordsake
woman, don't ye 60 to take the coat from
him, or yon'll be wanting new gown
YOURSELF and maybe a petticoat and ALL"
He retired, and the old women kept at
respectful distance from their protector.
he never molested them and indeed.
when they spoke cajolingly to him, he.
even wagged his tail in dubious way,
But still as they moved about, he squint-
edat them out of bis bloodshot eve in a
way that checked all desire on their parts
to try on the carriers coat.
Thus protected, they went TO bed ear,
Iier than usual, but they did not undress
they were too much afraid ofeverything,
especially their protector. on The; night
wore on and presently theiTshafpehed
senses let themaknow wdthat theudot was
getting restless; he snuffed, and then ne
groWledy and then he got up ana battered
about 1muttering to himself. Strafohtl
way withn furniture they barriCaded tba
door, through which the eif protector frdInat
pass to devour them. l.hia f'N7 ~
But BY and by, listening acutely, theyV,
heard e acrapirg and a grating outside
the WIndoW OF The room where the dog
was, and he continued growing low
This was enough. They, slipped .ort the,
back doc, and left their money IN save
their lives. They got into the village
it was pitch clark, and all the houses
black but two. One was the public house