The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-07-25

uOBS' lUu We BoI w nave 'dWut lol
dogs TO understand them. You told me
that the reason don't 90 into ecstacy
over that lank baby of Mrs. In
aersolPs is because haven't the maternal
instinct Well, you don't like dogs be-
cause you haven't the canine instinct
81 like a poodle, il it's washed and
combed every day" said Fanny. ..
"Pshaw a poodle is toy'dog. Com.
pared with such noble animal as Bruno,
it is what a doll would he compared to
Mrs. IngersolPs 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 room,
in her endeavor to escape the guns
threatening muzz,e.
81 told you that gun isn't loaded" ="
said Tom.
"But it may BE- loaded" Fanny ar
gued,
But it isn't; remember distinctly
of firing it of 49,.
"But some of the load might have
been LETT in it," Fanny persisted.
Tom laughed and called her al alb
mrdity, explaining that such a thing
was impossible.
"Well, no matter" said Fanny; "you
keep that muzlIe, or whatever that hole
is, turned away from me. There, the
holes looking right at me again J" and,
to escape it, Fanny now went over q
chair behind Tom.
"What a coward you arel" said the
brother. "Im going to shoot you dead
with an empty gun"
With this he stood up, wheeled upon
her, and put the gnn to her head, his
finger on the trigger.
"Murder murder lnurder!" shrieked
Fanny, dropping on her knees anc
putting her apron up over her face anc
head. Her cry brought grandma to the
scene.
"Tom Tom what are you about p
grandma cried,
Tom burst out laughing. OTIS moth
ing, grandma. Fans afraid iii kill hel
with an empty gun"
"Thomas," said grandma, very sternly
considering she was addressing Tom
"put that gun down. It's not thin&
to play n joke with"
"Anything to satisfy you, grandma,
said Tom, lowering the gun, but sorely
tempted to pull the trigger first. "But
| hate to see Fan such coward; 81
foolish do believe if | should poin
ramrod at her head, she'd scream ant
, run. What's the sense Of her teinl
frightened if | know the gums no
Ioaded?"
"But you don't know it."
81 am sure of il, grandma"
"No, you are not,' said grandma
cit is not probable that it is loaded, bu
it is possible
2 Tom was nettled He didn'nt want t
A contradict grando.a, but he was sure b
9 was right in his desire to demon
! strate that he was, he put the muzz'e
his mouth and was about to pull tn
| trigger
"Thomas ~ said grandma, with grea
! severity. ..,
, Tom, flushing, lifted his head. l." Here
Bruno !" he sad adding mentally, "P
show them Pm right"
He stepped to the door as the do
came up, and placed the gun against tn
shaggy neck.
| "Rruno, be dead !" he said,
, Before bis intention was apprehe1ded
he pulled the trigger. There was stun
ming report, puff Of smoke, low moan
and poor Bruno lay there just at tn
dOor--dead
For a moment the three stood speech
. less with awe at thought Of the create
= tragedy 80 narrowly escaped, and the
,, all moved in the hope of relieving Tn
dog.
8 Tom took out his handkerchief, an
: with tears dropping on the noble heat
tried to staunch the blood.
y "There's no use" said grandma,
: she bent over him. he is dead"
Then Tom got up, and without lool
ing at the others, went out alone. y
=, Brunos kennel in the back yard he 80
down, and there Fanny found him whe
she went to call him to tea. She sa
) that he had been crying.
lie took her hand with uncommo
: tenderness, and walked to the hou'
with it clasped in his, almost happy,
+ spite of the dead Bruno, in thinking no
much worse it might have been.
They passed in by the door whe
Bruno yet lay. =.
"Bs alive, Bruno!" said Tom, wit
a fickering smile, which was piteous
see.
), "pd be willing, Fan, to say that ov
y and over ten thousand times, if at la
" he'd answer by that grand leap OF b
Dear, noble old fellow !"-[ You'll
7. Com pspiOn,