The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-09-03

ton OF Donald, the gardener, and can
see that they are scofingly skeptical of
Ladies' sagacity, and inwardly dis
gusted at having to turn out of their
warm beds and face the bitter winters
blast
"Dinna trouble yoursels," I hear old
Donald say. "The mistress is right
enough. Aud Laddie is cleverer than
mony Christian, and will find some
thing in the shaw this night
"Don't sit up, JESSIE" say, as we
start; "we may be out half the night
on this wild goose chase
"Follow Laddie closely" is all the
answer she makes.
The dog springs forward with JOY
Gus bark, constantly looking back to see
if we are following. As we pass
through the avenue gates and emerge
on the moor the moon struggles for a
moment through the driving clouds
and lights up with sickly CLEAN the
snow clad country before us.
cts Like looking for needle in a
bundle of hay, sir" says John, the
coachman, confdentially; Z" to think as
we should find anybody on such night
as this. Why, in some places the snow
is more than couple O feet thick, and
it goes agin' Season to think that dumb
animal would have the sense to come
home and ask for help"
"Bide a wee, bide a Vice." says old
Donald. 81 dinna ken what your
English dogs can do, but collie,
though it has ma been pleasing to Prov
idence to give the creature the gift O.
speech, can do mony mair things than
them wad deride it,"
ct amt deridin' of EN-" says John.
q I only says as how if they be SO very
clever I've never seen il"
Ye wull, though, We wull," says old
Donald, as he hurries forward after
Laddie, who has now settled down into
a swinging trot and is taking his way
straight across the loneliest part of the
bleak moor.
The cold wind almost cuts us in two,
and whirls the snow into our faces, nearly
binding US. My finger tips are be-
coming numbed, icicles hanging from
my mustache and beard, and my feet
and legs are soaking wet, even through
my shooting boots and stout leather
leggings.
The moon has gone in again, and the
| light from the lantern we carry is barely
sufficient to show us the inequalities in
the height of the snow, by which we
are guessing at our path. I begin to
wish I had staid at heme. "L'homme
propose, mais Ia femme dispose" I sigh
to myself, and I begin to consider
whether may venture to give up the
search (which have undertaken purely
to satisfy my wife, for [ am like john
and won't believe in Laddie), when,
suddenly, hear shout in front Of me,
and see Donald, who has all the time
been keeping close to Laddie, drop on
his knees and begin digging wildly in the
snow with his hands. We all rush for
ward. Laddie has stopped at what ap-
pears to be the foot of a stunted tree,
and after scratching and whining for a
moment, sits down and watches, leaving
the rest to us. What is it that appears
when we have shoveled away the snow ?
A dark object. Is it bundle of rags
Is it-or, alas was ia human being
We raise it carefully and tenderly, and
wrap it in one of the warm blankets
with which my wife's forethought
had provided us.
"Bring me the lantern" I say, husk-
lily, and John holds it over the PROSTATE
form, of not as we might have expected,
some stalwart shepherd of the hills, but
over that of poor, shriveled, wrinkled,
ragged old woman. l try to pour little
brandy down the poor old throat, but
the teeth are SO firmly clenched that ]
cannot.
"Get her home as quickly as may be,
sir; the mistress will know better what
to do for her nor we do, if SO be the poor
creature is not past help" says John,
turning instinctively, as we all do in
sickness or trouble, to woman's aid.
So we improvise sort of hammock
of the blankets, and gently and tenderly
the men prepare to carry their poor
helpless burden over the snow.
81 am afraid your mistress will be in
bed," I say, as We begin to retrace oul
steps.
"Never fear, sir" says Donald, with
triumphant glance at John, 8" the mis-.
tress will be up and waiting for us
She kens Laddie dinna bring us out in
the shaw for naething."
"Pll never say nought about believ.
ing a dog again." says John, gracefully
striking his colors. "You were right
and was wrong; but to think there
should be such sense in an animal
passes me !"
As we reach the avenue gate I dis
patch one of the men for the doctor
who fortunately lives within stones
throw of us, and hurry on myself tt
prepare my wife for what is coming
She runs out into the hall to meet me.
"WellY she asks, eagerly.
"We have found poor old woman,
say, "but we do not know whether
she is alive or dead"
Ny wife throws her arms around me-
and gives me great hug.
"You will find dry things in you
dressing room, DEAR" she says, and this il
, the revenge she takes on me for my skep
ticism. The poor old woman is car
ried upstairs and placed in warn
bath under my wife's direction, and be
fore the doctor arrives she has show
some faint symptoms Of life; SO m.
wife sends me word. DIR. Bruce shake