The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-10-07

SUMPTION or dignity.
eff you will try, sir, you viii find how
it can be done," said she loftily.
"And if don't want to try?"
"Then the other puppy must make
you. Here he is, Just in time. Here,
Rolla, good dog; bite at him, sir!''
And Sue clapped her white hands TO-
gether, and tried to whistle, as she had
seen her papa do, to the great amuse-
ment of the gentleman.
But, instead of gallantly rushing to
the attack at command of his mistress,
Rolla frisked up to the stranger with
extravagant demonstrations of delight.
80 he knows you," said Sue, con-
temptuously, land SO you didn't run" :"
eyes; Rolla knows his friends. In
fact, he's my namesake--an honor con-
ferred upon me by the admiring par
tiality of farmer Hawes."
"He belongs to me now, and I mean
to change his name" said Sue posi-
lively.
''Pray don't You have no idea how
fancied some wood nymph-or-d -dryard
now, does he? Happy dog!"
And he stopped and patted Rolla's
head.
She turned sharply.
"Are you going away sir, or shall I!'
she demanded.
ooh, I would not for the world in
commode youl And beg you to re-
member that came only because 1 fam
cied you were calling me, having prob
ably seen me passing. I saw you from
the bank above. Pray excuse the mis-
take, and allow me to wish you good
evening"
And with a courteous bow, he disap-
peared among the bushes.
She stood looking Indignantly after
him until he disappeared.
'"The impudent puppy" she murmur-
ed; 81 never heard of such assurance. :"
And then a slow smile rippled over her
face which she remorselessly checked by
biting the corner of her under lip.
'Come, Rolla,' she called, in sub
dued voice, "come, sir, and go home;
and see how you get into scrapes again. :"
She climbed the bank into the meadow,
the dog followed with subdued and
culprit-ike mien. But suddenly he
gave short, sharp bark, and at the
same moment another and stronger
| sound smote upon Sues ear. It was a
low, hoarse, sobbing murmur, which
! seemed to swell into an angry roar,
IF | were in Africa, 1 should fancy
that lions roar!'' thought Sue, curious
ly looking around.
In an instant her cheek became deadly
| pale, and she stood breathless and trans
| fixed, as huge animal, with lowered
| head, and eyes cleaning through shaggy
| forelocks, emerged from thicket at
| some distance, and came slowly toward
| her, tearing up the earth with hoofs and
| horns.
| Rolla, after a burst of obstreperous
barking, turned and ANONYMOUSLY fled.
| She strove in vain to follow his exam
pie. Her limbs felt paralyzed, and she
turned faint and sick.
The bull came slowly onward. now
lowering his head, then uplifting it, and
staring fiercely and threateningly at the
| figure in the center of the field.
Suddenly voice shouted:
Don't be afraid Throw away you
red shawl! Now run-run to the neares
fence-while I keep him off p
The assurance of help at hand in
spired her. She tore off the light zephyl
shawl, which had attracted the attention
of the bull, and ran as fast as her trem
bling limbs would carry her.
How she got over the fence she neve
knew. Indeed, she knew nothing dis
tinctly until the gentleman she hat
characterized as an " impudent puppy,
lightly leaping the fence, threw himself
rather breathlessly and heated, on tn
ground near where she had sunk tn,
moment she had found herself in safety
"Oh, said Sue, half sobbing, 81 an
so glad you came ! That awful creatur,
would have killed me ?"
"I fortunately heard him believing
and, remembering you, came just il
time to keep him off -
Weren't you afraid %
"Oh, no! used when a boy to bal
these animals for my own amusement
But you see I can be of more use to yo
than the other puppy Where is he
"Gone. Deserted me in my hour c
need" she replied, smiling family, a
she dried her tears. ''But I've ha
enough of him. I'll give him away an
get better and bigger dog to accompan
me on my walks, if they are to be q
dangerous as this one" ..r
Gam I big enough?" inquired th
gentleman. "I'll take the best care {
you" -....-
so, [ don't know you yet, you SEE
] will ask papa" she answered demurel,
Certainly-by all means ask papa!
said he eagerly.
I'm going home now," she sale
rising.
"Won't you permit me to see vo
safe? There may be more cattle arount
to say nothing of snakes and owls"
''Well, think you may come, thoug
We are near home now. 1 can see par
sitting on the verandah, reading; an
there in the orchard is my basket of al
plies, which I gathered for the pigs.
you won't mind, I'll feed them now, an
carry the basket back"
eth enjoy it of all things, he asserte,
Lifting the basket he carried it for h,
: to the stye, where she amused herse
with tossing the fruit, one by one, to Il
eager, pushing crowd within.
| $50 you take an interest in those poet
animals?" remarked her companion,
he stood curiously looking on.
: "I feel sorry for them, they are
/ ugly and dirty. Nature seems to ha'
Y treated them unjustly, poor things,
!, making them so inferior to other animal
But then, the little ones, with their phi
4 noses and funny eyes, do look so chubl
!. 1 and innocent f-.
She tossed some apples to the lit
{ ones, and looked thoughtfully.
"They remind me of n picture Sc
a lately-Circe, surrounded by herd
swine, into which she had transform,
her admirers, and would never have il
| ngined how much expression there W
{ in the way that they wriggled n
groveled at her feet" 800.
: "I see that picture now, at least som
thing like it" the gentleman remarke
+ looking from Sue to the pigs.
q And again Sue repeated to herse
4 "What an impudent puppy" as s.
It dropped more apples into the stye.
n And this was the spectacle whi'
greeted the Mortified gaze of Mrs. M,