The Osceola times., 1878-07-20

Tom collared him TO prevent q rush at
the mirror dog, and turned his face from
the glaR.
Fanny, after watching the progress oi
the drill for some time, said
"Well, l can't SEQ what you find %
interesting In that dog I never saw
him perform any feat OF genius. He
does seem 10 have q talent for wagging,
however"
"Why, he's the cleverest dog unhungr'
Tom said, warmly. "I've taught him
another trick this week. just zee here.
He's the Booth Of dogs!"
Tom often took Bruno to school with
him and paid his board, for the sake Of
training him.
"Now look here" said Tom, con-
tinuing to show off Bruno's acquire
ments.
ais Bruno sick? Poor Brunos sick." "
Toms tone wss full OF sympathy, and
he gently stroked the dogs back. The
actor Immediately took bis cue. He waa
expected 10 play sick, 90 he began 70
groan 10 great distress.
"Poor Bruno! sick Bruno! Bruno
must lie down. Lie down, poor fellowl'
Down the dog got, In feeble way,
groaning and moaning.
"He's going to die" Tom continued,
shifting and pretending to weep. Bruno
will die" ..
Then the death-struggle began.
"There, said the prompter, Bruno's
dead. Poor Bruno's dead-deadi"
At these words the actor stretched him
self out, closed his eyes, and lay rigid
aud motionless till Tom said. in startling
voice, 4" Bruno, be alive
As by magic the dog bounded up, over
three feet from the floor, the livest dog
Fanny had ever seen.
"He's pretty smart" said Fanny, who
had been interested in the acting,
"Pretty smsrtl" said Tom, with re.
sentiment. Hes q born genius. He
knows more than any girl OF his age in
the county"
"Grandma's calling you, Tom," Fanny
said.
Here, grandma" Tom answered, has
tening out without Q seconds delay.
The boy had fine way of obeying i'm
mediately, especially grandma's voice.
Her lightest word seemed to him i'm.
perative.
Fanny, left with Bruno, undertook to
get him out Of the room. She was
really afraid Of the great creature. She
didn't like to stay in there with him, and
still less did she relish the idea Of leaving
him in the parlor to depredate, % she ex.
pressed ito run riot over her pretty
things. She called to him; she whistled
to him, in that queer, awkward way
which girls have Of whistling.
At the sounds Bruno threw up his
head, turned his ear forward and wage cd
his tail, but made no offer to leave the
parlor. Discovering that she hadn't q
bone or niorsel OF any kind to offer, he
began to stalk about the room, smelling
and shifting.
She ventured up to him and patted
his head to conciliate him; but be look
ed at her as though he considered her an
impertipence. Then he discovered his
image in the glass, and set up a dread.
full barking that made Fanny tremble
In great alarm lest he might charge the
mirror, she seized his collsr as she had
seen Tom do, and tried to face him aDout.
But Bruno pulled vigorously, and
she was brought to her knees Then he
demonstrated his muscular development
by dragging her on with intent to attack
his image.
She got her arm around the piano.leg,
and, still holding 10 the collar, screamed
Bruno bsrked. She pulled back; be
pulled forward. Suddenly the happy
thought Of diverting him occurred 70
her.
"Bruno's sick" she said, in voice Of
emotion; "poor Bruno's sick"
At the magical words the dog began,
as with Tom, to groan a. though In slow
torture. Fanny was delighted with her
success, and continued:
Lie down, Bruno; poor sick fellow,
lie down, down" and down the creature
went as limp as fainting woman.
Bruno will die. Bruno's dying;
poor Bruno,s dying"
The dog stretched cut. gave one
long. dreary, heart breaking moan, and
rs Fanny gave the last cue, "Poor
Bruno's dead ~ the breathing seemed to
stop, 80 perfect was the acting.
"Now," thought Fanny, at could
only keep him dead till Tom comes 10
take him out OF the room I"
She determined not to speak the re.
vivifying words. What were the words,
indeed she asked herself. Were they
"Wake, Brunei" or Come to life 2" or
"Live sgain ?"
She could not determine definitely.
She was like Cassim in the story of the
Forty Thieves" when he was implor>
ing the magic door with "open, barley"
and open every other kind Of grain ex.
cept the right one, sesame. How long
would Bruno lie there II Tom should not
come back? But he did come back just
at thi, point Of her mental soliloquy.
"I've murdered him." said Fan,
laughing. "What is it you say when
you want to resurrect him? IL It, Live
again?'
"No," said Tom "it'a BE alive -"
At the word Bruno bounded in . way
tina. made Fanny scream.
New take him out" she said. "Grand.
ma requires me to keep the parlor tidy,
and yet you take II for q gymnasium for
this beast. wish he'd get lost some.
where. Grandma just lets you do any.
thing since you've begun TO ft for col.
lege."
Fanny was following Tom and Bruno
out of the psrlor q she said this.
Never miud." said Tom: "y0u'll be
sorry tor all this when Pm gone and
buried-in my books" a
Pv this time Tom WA seated In the