The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-09-07

hardly to care to look at him.
Tsar, on his part, had taken good
look at Percie Lee. He was not mis-
taken about her for one moment
every nice girl. Well dressed.
likely her family are friends of DR..
Gorham. l must have an eye on that
young lady. 1t is getting dark"
That eye wa, what startled Percie
so dread ully moment later; for she
happened to look behind her, and there
was that vast creature solemnly stalk
ing after her.
"He is following me" she ex-
claimed.
Not a doubt of it, and the fact that
he stopped or went on Just a. she did
hardly seemed to help the matter. 1t
was getting darker and more shadowy
every moment, and Percie woul have
been almo, t willing to run, if she had
not feared that if she did the dog
would run too. He appeared larger
and larger every tine she glanced be-
hind her, until she was afraid to look
again, and her breathing grew little
hurried.
"Nobcdy's any business to have such
dog!" she gasped in a whisper. "It's
awful"
"She seems to be scared about some
thing" thought Tsar. "Girls are apt
to be timid. All, 1 see It's those
ragged rascals coming down the road.
Villainou looking vagabonds. If
there is anything in this worl that 1
hate, it is tramp"
This S q universal sentiment among
dogs of Tsar's social standing; but
the three ruilians who were now ap-
preaching were either ignorant of
that fact, or did not know that such a
dog was so very near.
dreadful men, had been the I'M
spoken thought in the mind of Percie
Lee, and it was followed by doubt as
to whether she should ever again dare
to come down to the cove.
CT must sketch the island" she
said, "but 1 will come in the fore
nCon."
The three men were walking abreast
now, and they were plainly determined
not to turn to the right hand or the
left for Percie Lee. She hal 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 mere surprise in it than
fear, but it was followed by remark
able consequences.
Tsar had quickened his lorlly pace
full twenty seconds earlier, and for
some reason of his own he had ad-
vanced little under the shadow of the
fence: but his eyes had not wandered
from the human beings in the road
before him. His head and tail were
raised trihe, and there was 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 sluall."
That was what the second of those
three rullans began to say, when an
awful, wrathful, roaring growl, as of
warning, sounded flom some deep
jawed cavern among the shadows at
the right of Percie Lee. 1t was fol-
lowed, in one long, elastic, power-eX-
pressing bound, by huge dark form
that in one second was crouching in
front of her.
The first and second tramp upset
the third, and tumbled over him, so
sudden was the retreat they made,
while Tsar, for their special benefit
and more at length, repeated his
growl, with a supplementary snarl
that sounded fearfully like the an
nouncement of another spring for
ward
The remarks made by all of those
vagabonds, as they scrambled to their
feet. were in manner complimentary
to Tsar, alth ough not intended to be SO.
Percie Lee stood behind her protec-
tor, and she could not see, as they
did, the white rows of cleaning teeth
and the fierce gre n light in the
threatening eyes. She could perfectly
understand, however, that there was
an enormous amount of very good
dog between her and any further APP
pIOdCD W Iullduiy luSoiCuNS. DHo Was
almost astonished at the sudden feel
ing 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 nearest tramp was fifty
yards away, on steady run; and then
he stood erect, sending after his enc
mics one deep, sonorous woof-oof,"
to keep them company.
Good deg good fellow |"
"Ur-r-r-r,' was the gentle response
of Tsar, and lie even wagged his tail.
moderat -ly, but he did not condescend
/ to look around. lie walked slowly on
/ up the road, and it was now Percie's
! turn to follow him.
81 do not think l had better leave
her." said T ar to himself; mot even
when we get to our house"
1t was not until they had reached
] IL 4 H.. 4