Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-03

behind her, until she was afraid to look
again, and her breathing grew a little
! hurried
"Nobody's any business TO have such
dog!' she gasped in whisper. Its
awful"
"She seems to be scared about some
thing" thought Tsar. "Girls are apt to
be timid. An, I see It's those ragged
rascals coming down the road. William
looking vagabonds. If there is anything
in this world that hate, it is a tramp
This is.a universal sentiment among
dogs Of Tsars social standing; but the
three ruilians whO were now approaching
were either ignorant of that fact or did
not know that such dog was so very
near
'Dreadfll men, had beent the unspoken
thought in the mind of Percie Lee, and il
was followed by doubt as to whether she
should ever ever again dare to come down
TO the cove.
81 mu,t sketch the island" she said,
''but will! come in the forenoon
The three men were walking abreast
now, and they were plainly determined
not 10 turn 10 the right hand or the lett for
Percie Lee. She had just time to grasp
that terrible idea and to feel her heart
Jump when one of them actually spoke
to her.
She never knew what he said and her
only reply, as she retreated few steps,
was an altogether unintended little scream.
1t was not loud one, and there was
more surprise in it than fear, but it was
followed by remarkable consequences.
Tsar had quickened his lordly pace full
twenty seconds earlier, and for some
reason of his own he had advanced d
| itlle under the shadow of the fence; but
his eyes had not wandered from the human
beings in the road before hilu. His head
and tail were raised IL trifie, and there was
IL very peculiar expression on his broad,
hairy face. There WAS no love of tramps
| in it at all.
"Oh, now, we hain't hurt you. You
needn't squal."
That was what the second of those
three ruff ms began to say, when an awful,
wrathful, roaring growl, rs of warning
sounded from some deep jawed cavern
among the shadows at the right of Percie
Lee. 1t was followed, in one long, elastic,
power expressing bound, by huge dark
| form that in one second was crouchlng IN
| front Of her.
The first and second tramp upset the
third, and tumblei over him. so sudden
was the retreat they made, while Tsar,
for their special benefit and more at
length, repeated his growl, with supple
mentary snarl that sounded fearfully like
the announcement of another spring for
ward
The remarks made by all of those vag-
| ILL.,. MAJ I,la1 n thait, feat
were in a manner complimentary to Tsar,
although not intended to be so.
Perce Lee stood behind her protector,
and she could not see, as they did, the
white rows OF cleaning teeth and the
fierce green light in the threatening eyes.
She could perfectly understand, howev-
er, that there was an enormous amount OF
very good dog between her and any
further approach to rutfianly insolence.
She was a.mcst astonished at the sudden
feeling of security which came upon her
and at the entire ease with which she
began to breathe again.
Tsar did not spring. He did but crouch
in that picturesque attitude until the near
est tramp was fifty yards away, on a
steady run; and then he stood erect,
Gus "whoof oof," to keep them company.
Good dog' good fellow
"Ur r.r.r," was the gentle response of
Tsar, and he even wagged his tail, moder
a,ely, but he did not condescend to look
around He walked slowly on up the
road, and it was now Percie's turn to
follow him.
Il do not think had better leave her, ~
said Tsar to himself; mot even when we
get to our house"
1t was not until they had reached the
turn of the road, away beyond Or. Cor
hamss, iha: he at last stood still. Percle
wished very much to pat him, but she
could hardly muster courage, and while
she was hesltatng there came sound OF
wheels, aud - light buggy pulled up in
the middle CT the road.
"Dr. Gorham.'
"P,rtie lee. Is that you? | declare !!
Miss Lee-lnd that big brute-its all my
fault. DID ne scare you much. Percie,-
Miss Lec?'
"ls it your dog, Heber -doctor9'
"Tsar! Come here, sir!''
"Oh, doctor, don't scold him. lie has
been taking care of me, There were three
of lhem.n
Dogs, Miss Lee9"
No, sir. tramps. Dreadful looking
they epoke--he is Il splendid dog; beauti'
full"
"lIc? Ah-wel-it's IA good thing he
didn't take hold of one of them. There'd
been a fine surgical case prepared for me
in no time. But how did he happen to be
out? Unmuzzled, too. remember, now.
All my fault
81 guess he must have been left out to
take care OF me, DOCTOR"
"Ain't glad OF it though? Now Miss
, Lee, YOU must step right into nv buggy,
and let me carry you home. Tsar, 60
home, sir!'
He turned to obey. but small white
hand was on his head as he did so.
Good dog, Tsar; thank you, sir. y
1t was odd, indeed, but something in
that remark seemed aimed Mt the dog
J and it must have hit him, too by the proud
way of his walking off; but some of ii
2 went further. The young physician assist
ed Percie into the buggy, and drove
| away; and it was quite distance around
[ the corner of the main road that they
passed dimlv discernble and quite
; OfohtnesS group tuit ieouou "5".ho' -
} fence Nobody going by in buggy
+ could have heal d them mutter:
Tell We what boys, that was the awful
| est dog ever seem
Guess we won't try that there road
f again to night. He's loose"
"All them sort O. dogs has got to be
3 killed off, or the roads won't be safe.
Perhaps but at that moment Isar was
!. re-enterlng his owp yard, for he wenl
, straight back to his quarters. He stood
for a moment turning over his empty
muzze with his paw and then lay heavily
down. lie thought he understood the
, entire matter now.
"Heber Gorham knew that young lady
would be in need of me. It's all right
but I doubt if | did my whole duty
Unmuzzled, too. A lost opportunity"
As to the tramps, yes, but not to the
+ other parts of his performance. lie never
knew how it afterward came to pass, but
, before long he had discovered that he had
formed habit of going down to the cove
( with percie Lee, to see her take sketches