Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-04-08

But, no! for, as l called to him, he
wagged the tip of his stumpy tail in
recognition, and looked with a sort Of
wistful sheepishness; but he did not
the less cease his hostile demon
STATIONS. What could the brute
meanS
Carlos, old fellow, don't you know
me, good dog?" / said, insinuatingly
as paused, and whistled and snapped
my fingers, in my old, accustomed
way.
And the creature blinked, and wrig
gled, and wagged his tail, so long as ]
stood still; but, on my first step for.
ward, he bristled up and growled as
before.
Suddenly it flashed upon me- Dor
Carlos was only proving himself true tc
my former teachings only carrying
out the principles Of honor and faith
| fulness which had so carefully i'm.
pressed upon him in the days of his
puppyhood.
He had accompanied his young mis-
tress to the trysting oak-had seen hel
deposit paper in the hollow, and had
remained to guard it, as in duty bound
with his life or with the life of the rash
person who should attempt to appro
prOprlate it.
Here, indeed, was dilemma. There
in the hollow Of the tree, lay the mo-
mentus letter awaiting me. and here al
its foot, sat the dog, resolved that
should not possess it.
/ looked at his neck and sinewy bow.
legs, and at his stupid, obstinate bull
head and sharp white teeth, and felt
that it would be dangerous to face him
and yet the letter | must have.
In an agony Of suspense and anxiety
| took view Of the situation. The
stout lower branches of the oak spread
to great extent, and overlopped with
those of another not far from where
| stood L saw the advantage thus af-
forded me and lost no time in mount
ing the gnarled trunk of this latter tree,
and scrambling along the branches in
to the other. Then, swinging myself
down the lowest limb, supported by
one hand IAN acrobatic feat which ]
had as q boy often practiced), | thrust
the other into the hollow and drew
forth the precious note.
Don Carlos had at first stupidity
watched my proceedings, apparently
under the conviction that / had retired
from the field. But no sooner did he
perceive what were my real in
tentions than he set up an Internal howl
ing, while he sprang wildly about at
the foot Of the tree.
Thrusting the unopened note into
my breast-pocket, ] was about to COM
mence my retreat, when Isuddenly be
came aware of two persons hastily APP
preaching through the shrubbery. Then
] heard voices.
pm thinkin', your honor, it mought
be q fox"
NO doubt" sarcastically 81 see
him up in the tree yonder. After a
goose, and caught i'll a trap"
" Wull shoot, yer honor~
My blood run cold 1t was old
Squire Wngfeld, attended by his park
keeper.
Hello" [ shouted; don't shoot"
They advanced to the tree, and the
squire, with very red face, glanced
up at me.
Il say, sir" roared he, what bust
ness has brought you here? How dare
you trespass upon my property
| stammered something about the
dog not allowing me to pass
THE dog was right, sir-quite right
He knew you were a trespasser and a
poacher. What is to prevent my hand
ing you over to the county authorities
SIS such?'
You can do as you please about
that. At present, oblige me by calling
off that brute, 50 that | can come
down.
The keeper seized the dog by the
neck, while l descended the tree with
as much dignity rs was possible under
the circumstances, but greatly to the
detriment of my fancy sporting habiii-
ments, the squire meanwhile glaring at
me vindictively.
| will not repeat what he said. I'm
der other circumstances | might have
resented it; but, in the triumphant
consciousness Of my present secret ad-
vantage over him | felt that | could
afford to be magnanimous. In few
hours | should be out of his reach, and
in legal possession of his niece and her
fortune.
| therefore contented myself with
quietly walking off, and, on rea ching
the park pales, drawing forth my
handkerchief and smilingly waving it
toward him III a graceful parting adieu
! saw Don Carlos spring toward me,
and heard him dash against the pales
on one side as reached the ground on
the other.
Pausing at safe and secluded spot,
| FASTENED to produce the note upon
upon which SO much depended. /
searched my breast-pocket in vain; and
then the appalling certainty broke upon
me that the note was lost.
had drawn it out of my pocket with
my handkerchief, and it was this, as it
fell to the ground unperceived by me,
to which that accused brute, Don Car
los, had given chase.
OF course it must, by this time, have
fallen into the squire's hands
Here was q predicament. Inez had,
in that note, fixed an hour for her
and would expect me to
meet her
To warn her Of what had occurred
was simply impossible. | knew that
she would now be TOO rigidly guarded
to admit Of any communication Of
mine reaching her Yet, with note
III my pocket, and in terrible state of
anxiety and suspense, / wandered all
the evening about the park pales and
in sight of the manor house, vainly
hoping for some possible chance Of
sending. 1t was quite dark. and a
chilly rain beginning to fall, ere | could
make up my mind to return to my
inn
Even then | could not sleep. / lay
awake thinking of Inez, and listening
to the course voices, songs and laughter
of the village topers in the room be-
low.
Suddenly there was u hush, caused
by new arrival, and then
| distinguished that the whole crowd
was tramping out of the room together
Something unusual was the matter;
but i my perturbed and preoccupied
state of mind, did not trouble myself
to inniIire into II