The Osceola times., 1878-07-20

dogs. You've got to have q talent for
dogs to undemtand them. You told me
that the reason don't 20 into ecstacy
over that lank baby OF Mrs. In.
gersoll's is because haven't the maternal
instinct. Well, you don't like dogs be-
cause you haven't the canine instinct.
al like poodle, II It's washed and
combed every day." said Fanny.
"Pshaw! . poodle is . toy.dog. Com.
pared with such noble animal q Bruno,
It Is what doll would he compared 70
Mrs. Ingersoll's sweet baby" ...
"Well, wish you would point that
gun In some other direction" said
Fanny, who had been shifting about until
she had occupied every seat in the rom,
In her endeavor to escape the guns
threatening muzEle.
al told you that gun isn't loaded"
said Tom.
"But it may bs loaded" Fanny ar>
gued.
But il isn't; ] remember dIstinctly
of firing it Of"
"But some Of the load might have
been left In it," Fanny persisted.
Tom laughed and called her an ab-
surdity, explaining that such . thing
was impossible. t. l..l
"Well, no matter" said Fanny; "you
keep that muxxle, or whatever that hole
is, turned away from me. There, the
holes looking right at me again !" and,
TO escape It, Fanny now went over q
chair behind Tom.
"What . coward you are !" said the
brother. "lm going to shoot you dead
with an empty gun"
With this he stood up, wheeled upon
her, and put the gun to her head, bis
finger on the trigger.
"Murder murder inurder!" shrieked
Fanny, dropping on her knees and
putting her apron up over her face and
head. Her cry brought grandma to the
scene.
"Tom! Toni what are you about ?"
grandma cried.
Tom burst out laughing. "It's moth
ing, grandma. Fans afraid I'll kill her
with an empty gun"
"Thomas," said grandma, very sternly,
considering she Was addressing Tom,
"put that gun down. It's not thing
TO play joke with"
Anything to satisfy you, grandma,"
said Tom, lowering the gun, but sorely
tempted TO pull the trigger first. "But
l hate to see Fan such q coward; 20
foolishl do believe II should point
II ramrod at her head, she'd scream and
run. What's the sense of her Icing
frightened II know the guns not
loaded?"
"But you don't know It,"
al am sure of 1t, grandma"
"No, you are not" said grandma.
-" 1t is not probable that 1t is loaded, but
1t i. possible"
Tom WAS nettlsd. He didn'nt want 10
contradict grandma, but he was sure be
was right. In his desire to demon.
strate that he was, he put the muxxle TO
his mouth and was about 10 pull the
trigger.
"Thomas !" said grandma, with great
severity.
Tom, flushing, lifted his head. /" Herr,
Bruno !" he said adding mentally, "I'll
show them Pm right"
He stepped to the door as the dog
came up, and placed the gun against the
shaggy neck
"Rruno, be dead I" he said.
Befors hi, intention was apprehended,
he pulled the trigger. There wssa stun
ming report, a puff of smoke, low mosn,
and poor Bruno lay there just at the
door-dead!
For moment the three stood speech>
less with awe at thought of the greater
tragedy 20 narrowly escaped, and then
all moved in the hope Of relieving the
dog.
Tom took out his handkerchief, and
with tears dropping on the noble head,
tried to staunch the blood.
"There's no USE" said grandma, %
abe bent over him; "he is dead"
Then Tom got up, and without look
Ing at the others, went out alone. On
kennel in the back yard he sat
down, and there Fanny found him when
uhe went to call him to tea. She saw
that he had been crying.
He took her hand with uncommon
and walked TO the house
with IL clasped In his. almost happy, in
spite of the dead Bruno, In thinking how
much wors, It might have been.
They passed in BY the door where
Bruno yet lay.
"Be alive, Bruno!" said Tom, with
: Pickering smile, which was piteous TO
see.
"I'd be willing, Fan, TO say that over
and over ten thousand times, IL at last
he'd answer by that grand leap Of his.
Dear, noble old follow l"-[ Youths
C0m nanion.