The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-08-12
= BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY, AUGUST 12 1856 . -

had Bitten with them, and a serv-
ant who brought towels and batbino
suits and silk cushion. The first thing
taev all dld was to see that Bitten had
ms bath. How. carefully they bathed
MN and then dried him on fine towels
ana then the servant put down the
cushion IN warm nook and spreading
SOFT towel over it put Bitten down
1or nap. Then the children prepared
to bathe. They came out of the bath
house all dressed for the sea, and a
very lovely couple they looked as they
oimpied the smooth sand of the beach
with their pretty pink feet. They
plunged into the surf and had glorious
time OF it. The boy could swim and he
was trying to teach his sister. Pedro
almost enjoyed seeing them in spite of
himself. They had been in quite a
good while when the servant called
them to come out.
"Ali right, shouted the boy; "Flor-
ence may go out and I'll take one more
SWIM and then I'll come" So he turned
ms face toward the horizon and struck
out boldly and made glorious headway
against the waves. He was pretty far
out, when there was cry, he threw up
his hands and the golden head disap-
peared beneath the waves.
Pedro was ON his feet in moment
nd and had run halfway down the beach.
ihe boy was drowning. He had heard
That same kind of cry once before. He
would plunge in and save the boy. That
was his first thought. Then he stopped.
NO." he said, "rll have nv reyenoe.
| That boys father ill-treated me-bis
dog bit me; let the little cur save him
ii IS no business of NINE" and he
turned to 60 up the beach again.
Help! help!'' came from the water.
The sister heard it, and ran out of the
clearinghouse, followed by the servant.
ihey 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 bv 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. Will he have
strength to get this heavy weight to the
shore? He feels his strength is goinp
fast. The father has heard the cry Of
his daughter and is flying to the beach.
Blitzen has walked and stands staring.
wondering what it all means.
One wave nearer shore, now on the
crest of another, now in the surf. now
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 praysl
Yes, he's alive; he's opening his eyes.
Pedro is rested little, and comes and
looks on, while they wrap the boy in a
blanket and then he says to himself.
''Well, l can't do anything more. I
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 go away.
What is this we see? Yes;a strong
man falling on this dogs neck and kiss
ing his shaggy head, while the great
tears roll down his cheeks-a pair of
fair young arms thrown about poor
Pedro's black and dripping body, while
a rare pale face buries itself in his
shaggy fur and weeps for Joy. Pedro
is an outcast no longer! The sunshine
is coming in upon his life now 1t came
through doing simple duty, as most
sunshine comes. = -+A~>
Pedro has a 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 |
will lay his hand on his head |
and tears will fail on the black fur and
the dog will hear him say, in voice
that trembles good deal: "God bless
our Pedro. that saved my boy!'-Wm
N. Round, in ST. Nicholas.
4 Novel Cure for Cuts.