The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-08-14

Pedro was on his feet in moment
and had run halfway down the beach.
The boy was drowning. He had heard
that same kind of a cry once before. He
would plunge in and save the boy. That
was his first thought. Then he stepped.
"No," he said, I'm have my revenge.
That BOYS father ill-treated me-his
dog bit me; let the little cur save him
IT is no business of mine" and he
turned to 60 up the beach again.
"Helpi help!" came from the water.
The sister heard it. and ran out of the
clearinghouse, followed by the servant.
They screamed, too. for help, but no
help was at hand. The pretty sunny
head came in sight once more, and was
gone. The women wrung their hands
in agony. Pedro could not stand it.
he turned, plunged down the beach,
in through the surf, out on the rising
and falling waves, battling them furious
ly, as he swan.
Now there are two heads side by side
"a black. shaggy head, sunny head
and pale face. There is no cry now,
the poor little blanched lips are too
weak for that. Pedro gives little moan
of desperation, seizes the bathing jacket
by the neck and turns. viii he have
strength to get this heavy weight to the
shorep He feels his strength is going
fast. The father has heard the cry OF
his daughter and is flying to the beach.
Bitten has walked and stands staring,
wondering what it all means.
One wave nearer shore, now on the
,r,ck ~ IN Tho
on the white beach! Pedro drags the
boy up on the sand, and lies down beside
him. He is almost exhausted. They
don't drive him away now. Perhaps
they hardly notice him in this awful
moment. They are working over the
boy. O, the blanched face Of the father.
and the fearful face of the sister! The
servant has run for blankets. They are
rubbing the child and trying to detect
some signs of life.
Now the mother comes-she sees her
boy lying there stiff and pale-and
gives quick cry Of pain. and then
stoops over him and puts her hand anx-
iously on his heart. Yes-yes-it
beats, but SO feebly! In a minute it
may stop. She claps the little hands
and prays-oh, how she prays!
Yes, he's alive; he's opening his eyes.
Pedro is rested little, and comes and
looks on, while they wrap the boy in
blanket and then he says to himself:
swell, l can't do anything more. l
guess I'll be going;;" and he goes and
touches the little hand with his tongue
to be sure there is some life there. and
turns to 60 away.
What is this we see? Yes; strong
man falling OF this dogs neck and kiss
inc his shaggy head, while the great
tears roll down his cheeks pair of
fair young arms throwns about poor
Pedro's black and dripping body. bile
rare pale face buries itself in his
shaggy fur and weeps for Joy. npdro
is an outcast no longer! The sunshine
is coming in upon his life now. 1t came
through doing a simple duty, as most
sunshine comes.
Pedro has home now. No bed is
too soft for him-no food too choice!
He might have the whole roast off the
table any day he chose to ask for it. He
wears silver collar, and he sleeps in
the family sitting-room and they pet
him, and talk to him and sometimes the
gentleman whom he followed that
morning will lay his hand on his head
and tears will fall on the black fur and
the dog will hear him say, in a voice
that trembles q good deal: "God bless
our Pedro. that saved my boyr'-Wm
M. Round, in st. Nicholas.