Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-09-15
TSAR.

He was Il huge dog, and lie stood by the
kennel, in old DR.. Graham's back yard,
in an attitude of deep meditation. There
was one subject for dog-thought lying
right before him, and another lay only
yard or so beyond the first.
The one was IN empty ''muzzie" that
lay upon the grass, close by the couple OF
well-picked bones. The second was an
equally empty steel collar, with strong
chain attached. The end of the chain
was hooked into staple at the side of the
kennel door.
Tsar was dog to look twice at. His
father had been n Siberian bloodhound
and his mother an English mastill, and
DR.. Gorham would have trusted him to
pull down wild bull or to ring church
bell If he could once have seized with his
massive laws the nose of the one or the
ringing-rope of the other.
Tsar made no audible remarks, but
there was no difficulty at all in divining
his mcditations.
"They have fed me an hour before sum
down for some reason, and now they We
gone off and neglected me. No muzzle,
no chain, no master around, anu all the
country left open to me. 1t Is state ol
affairs to which | am not accustomed at
this time of day. If there were another
bone with meat on it I'G know exactly
what 20 do"
lie put out great paw and turned the
muzzlc over. Then he walked forward
and smcled of the helpless collar. Then
he peercd solcmnly into the kennel. There
was Il mystery about the whole matter,
and it seemed to suggest 4 visit to the
front gate. That, too, was wide open as
a witness to the haste required by the
summons of the last patient, and Tsar
could therefore walk out and look up and
down the shady road for an explanation
of his own case. lie could not see any, ut
first, for there was nothing to be learned
from flock of geese, three hens, and one
stray calf. The very pig that was roofing
under the walnut tree paid him no man
ncr of attention.
Tsar shrugged his broad shoulders to
make sure about the collar, paved his nose
for 4 moment in memory of his muZzle,
and turned for look at the gate. There
it was, with very dingy old tin sign on
one post, whose faded letters read, "Dr.
Heber Gorllam," and with very new
tin sign on the other post, whose bright,
fresh gliding announced CDR. Heber
Gorham, Jr.," as also ready for patients.
That was all right, and it occurred to
Tsar that walk would be good for his
health. He acted on the suggestion
promptly enough, but with dignity, as
became dog of his size; and no voice
from the house recalled him, as he march
cd away from the road toward the sea. A
sniff Of salt air would be just the thing for
his digestion, after the hearty dinner he
had eaten ut the kennel.
The sun was getting very low toward
the horizon, and yet, away down there on
the rock at the head Of the cove curly
headed young lady of 10, or thereabouts,
was still seated, bending over portfolio
spread across her lap. From time to time
she cast anxious glances from the lines
she traced upon the sheet of Bristol board
under her hand to the more and more
sI,adowy island, out there in the mouth
Of the cove.
"That will do" she said. at looks
bigger than the boat, now, but it isn't big
enough for the tree. L must make the
tree smaller; the cows back, too-its
half as long rs the island. There is al
ways something dreadful the matter with
INV waves" She worked at the waves
for a few minutes. "If / had time, I'd
try to put in the sunset. Dear me, how
late it is, 1t will be almost dark when l
get home. 1t gets dark so quickly, now
adays, after once it begins"
She rose little hastily, but she gave
the island a very long last look, as she
closed her portfolio. Long enough for
bystander to have read her name, in gilt
letters, on the leather cover, "Percie
Lee" Bot 10 one was there TO read, for
a lonelicr spot than that it would have
been hard to find, however well adapted
it might be for the making Of marine
sketches.
Percie was in the road in 4 half min
ute more, and she could but see that the
shadows were lengthening rapidly. She
reflected. 1t is lonely for little way be-
yond DIR. Gorhan's, but l won't mind it
from that to the village. do hope | shall
not meet IIeber Gorham. l will not speak
10 him, ii do. i wont even see him. He
has not called since he came back from
Europe, and hope he never will again.
dctcst him."
She said il with needless energy, and
then she began to walk briskly onward.
She tried hard, too, to persuade herself