St. Landry democrat., 1878-08-03

must lie down. Lie down, poor feliow!"
Down the dog got, in a feeble way,
sroaning 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 BruDo's dead--dead!"
At these words the actor stretched him
self out, closed his eyes, and lay rigid
and motionless till Tom said, in a startling
voice, " 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 smart!" said Tom, with re-
sentiment. "He's 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 a 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, as 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 wagged
his tail, but made no offer to leave the
parlor. Discovering that she hadn't
bone or norsel 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 he look
ed at her IS though he considered her an
impertirence. 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 collar as she had
seen Tom do, and tried to face him ABOUT.
But Bruno pulled vigorously, and
she was brought to her knees. Then ne
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 to the collar, screamed.
Bruno barked. She pulled back; he
pulled forward. Suddenly the happy
thought of diverting him occurred 70
her.
V "Bruno's SICK" she said, in voice of
emotion; ''poor Bruno's sick.''
At the magical words the dog began,
as with Tom, to grosn as though in slow
tofSare. 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 out. gave one
long, dreary, heart breaking moan, and
as Fanny gave the last cue, "Poor
Bruno's dead !! " the breathing seemed to
stop, so perfect was the acting.
"Now," thought Fanny, eff I could
only keep him dead till Tom comes to
| LdHC AlLu Out vi tnC AUOu
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 ?" or
olive again? %
She could not determine definitely.
She was like Cassim in the story of The
Forty Thieves" when he was implor>
ynor ho hop
and open every other kind of grain ex-
cept the right one, sesame. How long
would Bruno lie there if Tom should not
come back? But he did come back just
1t this point of her mental soliloquy.
"Pve murdered him." said Fan,
laughing. "What is it you say when
you ws1t to resurrect him? IsEt, Live
again -"
"No," said Tom &c it's BE alive ,"
At the word Bruno bounded in a way
tina! made Fanny scream.
'Nsw take him OUT" shesaid. "Grand-
ma requires me to keep the parlor tidy,
and yet you take it for gymnasium for
this beast. l wish he'd get lost some
where. Grandma just let's you do any
thing since you've begun TO fit for col
lege."
Fanny was following Tom and Bruno
out of the parlor as she said this.
"Never mind" said Tom: "you'll be
sorry tor all this when Pm gone and
buried-in my books"
Ply this time Tom was seated in the
sitting room with gun across his knee,
and was manipulating the lock, ram.
rod, etc. .....-.
8: See how delighted Bruno is," said
Tom, as the dog stood at his knee, wag-
ging his great tail in most remarkable
manner. Its because I've got this
gun. He recognizes it; he smells it;
he knows it means a hunt. It brings
visions Of hares, and coons, and foxes
it appeals to his imagination-and to
memories of the past He snuhs the
chase from afar."
Fanny burst out laughing at Toms
sounding language. .-. -"a
-" tell you it's so,' he said, warming
!" You don't know how to appreciate
dogs. You've got to have talent for
dogs to understand them. You told me
that the reason don't 60 into ecstacy
over that lank baby Of Mrs. In.
gersoll's is bacauseI haven't the maternal
instinct. Well: you don't like dogs be-
cause you haven't the canine instinct.
"I like poodle, if it's washed and
combed every day." said Fanny.
"Pshaw a poodle is toy.dog. Com
pared with such noble animal as Bruno,
ii is what doll would he compared to
Mrs. Ingersoll's sweet baby"
- " Well, I wish you would point that
gun in some other direction" said