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


Annexed by the Tsar.
He was huge dog, and he stood by the
kennel in old DR.. Gorham's back yard in
an attitude of deep meditation. There
was one subject for dog thought lying
right before him, and another lay only Il
yard or so beyond the first.
The one was an empty "muzz'e" that
lay upon the grass, close by couple of
we'll picked bones. The second was an
equally empty steel collar, with II 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 Sheridan bloodhound
and his mother an English mastltf, and
DR.. Gorham would have trusted him to
pull down Il wild bull or to ring chuAch
bell, if he could once have seized with his
massive avs 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 medltations.
They have fed me An hour before sun
down, for some reason, and now they've
gone of and neglected me. No muzzle,
no chain, no master around, and all The
country left open to me. 1t is Il state of
affairs TO which | am not accustomed at
this time of day. If there were another
bone with meat on it, I'd know exactly
what TO do.
He put out Il great paw and turned the
muzzle over. Then he walked forward
and smelled of the helpless collar. Then
he peered solemnly into the kennel. There
was mystery about the whole matter,
and it seemed to suggest visit to the
front gate. That, too, was wide open, as
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 tor an explanation of
his own case. He could not see any, at
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 manner
OF attention.
Tsar shrugged his broad shoulders 10
make sure about the collar, paved his
nose for moment in memory of his
muzzle, and turned for Il look at the gate
There it was, with IL very dingy old TN
siyn on one post, whose faded lines read
.'Dr. Heber Gorham," and with very
new sign on the other post, whose bright
fresh gliding announced, DIR. Hebel
Gorham, Jr.." as also ready for patients.
That was all right, and it occurred tt
Tsar that walk would be good for hi.
health. He acted on the suggestion
promptly enough, but with dignity. a.
became dog Of his size; and no voice
from the house recalled him as he marched
away down the road toward the sea. A
sniff of salt air would be just the lhins
for his digestion after the hearty dinner
he had eaten at the kennel.
The sun was getting very low towart
the horizon, and yet, away down there OIL
the rock at the head of the cove a curly
headed young lady Of nineteen or there
abouts was still seated. bending over ;
portfolio spread across her lap. From
time to time she cast anxious glance
from the lines she traced upon the greer
sheet of bristol board under her hand tt
the more and more shadowy island ou
there in the mouth Of the cove,
That will do she said. ut look
bigger than the boat, now, but it isn't bis
enough for tree. must make the tre'
smaller; the COW S back, too-it's halt a
long as the island. There is always some
thing dreadful the matter with my waves.
utes. .'If had time, Id try to put in th
sunset. Dear me, how late it isl 1t vii
be almost dark when get home. 1t get
dark so quickly nowadays af,er it once
begins"
She arose little hastily, but she CAV,
the island n very long last look as sh
closed her portfolio, long enough for
bystander to have read her name. in gil
letters, on the leather cover-"Percie Lee.
But no one was there to read, for lone
lier spot than that would be hard to find
however well adapted it might be for tn
making of marine sketches.
Perce was in the road in half a minu
more, and she could but see that the shad
ows were lengthening rapidly. Sh
rehecred: ''It is lonely for a little wa
beyond DR.. Gorham's but | won't min
it from that to the village. do hope
shall not meet Heber Gorham, | will nc
speak to him, if | do, | won't even Sc
him. He has not called since he cam
back from Europe and hope he neve
will | detest him
She said it with needless energy, an
then she began to walk briskly onward
She tried hard, too, to persuade hersel
that she was only wondering whether, il
her sketch, she had made the horns of tn
cow hear a proper proportion 10 the uppe
branches of the tree on the island. Sh
was really almost thinking sincerely abou
the COW alone, when she suddenly fel
called upon to exclaim:--
"Oh, that dog!"
To be sure, that dog. Tsar was on tn
other side OF the road and he did not seer
to be taking any particular notice of hel
but thus Percie truly remarked Of him:
ale is perfectly enormous"
She forgot about the COW in an instant
but she did not speak her opinion directl
TO the dog. Neither did she think o
sketching, him, although he was certainl
worth it. She seemed hardly to care t
look at him.
Tsar, on his part had taken a good loo
at Percie Lee. lle was not mistake
about her for one moment.
Very nice girl. Well dressed. Pretty
too; but she's out late. Most likely he
family are friends of DR.. 6 orham.
must have an eye on that young lady.
is getting dark" That eye was who
startled Percie so dreadfully a momer
later; for she happened to look benin
her, and there was that vast creatur
solemnly stalking after her.
"He is following met" she exclaimed.
Not a doubt of it, and the fact that h
stopped or went on Just as she did hardl
scanned IN help the matter. 1t was gettin