Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-27
DOT AND DIMPLES.
An Engineers STORY,

time. 1t was so odd not to be Whirling
along till the fields and trees and pretty
little cottages and snug gardens seemed
flying by in wild dance It's q sin
gular thing to be always looking at
vanishing things-and yet, if I was in
clined to mOralize, might say that life
IS made up Of it for every one, though
not In the same way it is for an engi-
neer. But | had some pretty steady
pictures in my mind, and they did not
seem to disappcar-a vision of dear
little cottage of my own, and sweet
faced woman who would call me hus-
band, and, perhaps, a golden haired
little fodder who would run out to
meet me when | went home. Natural
iy, | thought good deal of this on my
off week. 1t was holiday time, too,
and the stores were full of suggestions
Of happiness. | used to stare at the
big dolls and wish [ had some one to
surprise with one, or those wonderful
Noah's arks with the animals always
tumbling out Of the door. l was III
sort Of reverie Of this kind one evening
when [ heard a sweet voice say:
ooh, there's that poor vagrant dog
a.
Christmas for him."
"What queer girl you are, Dorothy.
Here you haven't got decent suit to
your back, and yo're wishing for the
dog instead Of yourself. l think Miss
Mangles might give you Christmas
present"
cha, hal" the musical tones sang out
Imagine it! Why, the idea would
paralyze her; but shall be eighteen
next week, and then I'll be free to earn
wages, and one of the first things I'll
get will be dark-blue serge suit like
that"
| turned and looked at the speakers.
The one called Dorothy was a pretty,
fair, slender thing, very shabbily dress
ed, with only thin shawl on, though
the night was bitterly cold. She was
STOPPING to pat the most forlOrn SpeCi-
men of q vagabond dog had ever seen.
! am not very fond of dogs myself, but
there was something of dumb misery in
the eyes that this one lifted to the young
girls face that went to my heart. The
companion, rather coquettish and
dressy young person, was growing i'm
patient.
Come" she said, you'll freeze here,
You can't do anything for HIM"
eyes, | can. | have ten cents. |
will buy him some liver for a Christmas
present"
"You goose! and you might buy a
ribbon for your hair"
81 shall enjoy this more. You don't
mind; there's a butchers round the
corner see, the poor fellow under
stands! What speaking eyes, and how
he ways his tall
The dog did indeed seem to vibrate
with JOY from head to foot. He lost
little of the wretched, vagabone air as
he trotted by Dorothy's side, and gazed
up at her with something in his eyes
that looked like soul, only they say
dogs have none-Who knows?
There now, you poor, forlorn, dog
gy," said Dorothy, as she came out of
the butchers with brown paper par
eel in her hand 'It would be better
to keep it for two meals [ suppose, but
can't and you shall be happy for once
in your life"
The dog snapped at the delicious
gift with very little regard for the
hand that offered it; but when it was
swallowed he seemed to bethink HIM
self, and fawned upon her by way of
thanks and apology, and he seemed re
solved to follow her.
| did the same at little distance,
and saw the young girl stop before a
small house on which was a large sign
'Miss Mangles, Fashionable French
Dressmaker." The vagabOnd dog
seemed much inclined to 60 In, and
Dorothy's distress was great at having
to turn him away with any degree of
severity. | had discovered that she
would not hurt the feelings even Of a
dog.
When the animal com pretended at
last that he could not go into the house
and that the piece of liver comprised
all his happiness, he gave areproachful
howl and went down the steps with his
tail In a very depressed condition. He
did not go very far, but took his station
by the nearest lamp-post, and fixed his
melancholy eyes upon the house that
had swallowed up the wondrous being
who had given him glimpse of hap
piness.
l went over and stood by him with
strange sense of sympathy and com
partnership.
We both like her, don't WEI" said
!, and we want to see her again, Ell,
old fellow ~
The dog did not look at me, but he
feebly waged his tail, and / left him
there, l went back to the place where l
had first heard the sweet voice, and in
the window near by | caught sight of
the pretty blue serge costume. An in
splrahon came to me. Dorothy should
have Christmas present after all.
bought II, and had it addressed ''To
Miss Dorothy, at Miss Mangles'," L
didn't know the rest of her name, but
It went all right, for I saw her wear it
on Christmas afternoon, and The
sight warmed my heart. I did not rest
till | knew her, and | accomplished this
through friend for whom Misa Man
giles worked. Dorothy brought home
the dresses, and made such good use
0 my opportunities that before the
roses bloomed l had won her and the
day was fixed.
"But there's one thing you must
promise" she said, as her head rested
shyly on my shoulder. Gas we are to
have 81 little cottage of our own, want
to give my poor Tramp home. He
knows me now, and waits for me every
day"
Tramp is welcome to a home-that's
certain, as long as we have one but YOU
do not marry me for the sake of accom-
modating the dog, Dot?" | said.
I called her Dot because she was too