The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-12
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.

A SPEClAL CONSTABLE.
Two women. sisters, kept the toll.
bar at village in Yorkshire. 1t stood
apart from the village. and they often
felt uneasy at night, being lone women.
One day they received q considerable
sum of money, bequeathed them by a
relative, and that set the simple souls
all in a tlutter.
They had friend in the village, the
blacksmith's wife; SO they went and
told her their fears. She admitted that
theirs was lonesome place. and sne
would not live there, for one, without
man. Her discourse sent them home
downright miserable
The blacksmith s wife told her hus-
band all about it when he came in for
his dinner. ..The fools'' said he; '.how
is anybody to know they have got brass
in the house?"
''Well,' said the wife, '.they make
no secret of it to me; but you need not
60 for to tell it to all the town-poor
souls!"
mot l." said the man; "but they
will publish it, never fear; leave wo-
men folk alone for making their own
trouble with their tongues"
There the subject dropped, as man
and wife have things to talk about be-
sides their neighbors.
The old women at the tOll-bar, what
with their own fears and their Jobs
comforter, began to shiver with appre-
hension as night came on. However,
at sunset the carrier passed through
the gate, and at sight of his friendly
face they frightened up. They told
him their care, and begged him to sleep
in the house that night. why, how
can I?' said he; ''P IN due at -; but
l will leave you my dog" The dog
was powerful mastitf.
The women looked at each other ex-
pressively. HE won't hurt US, will
hep" sighed one of them, family.
mot he,'' said the carrier, cheer
fully. Then he called the dog into the
house, and told them to lock the door.
and went away whistling
The women were left contemplating
the dog with that tender interest ap-
prehcnsion is sure to excite. At first
he seemed staggered at this otf-hand
proceeding of his master; it confused
him; then he snuffed at the door; then,
as the wheels retreated, he began to
see plainly he was an abandoned dog;
he delivered a fearful howl, and flew
at the door, scratching and barking
furiousiy.
The old women fled the apartment,
and were next seen at an upper win
dow. screaming to the carrier, Come
back! come back, John! He is tearing
the house down"
'.Drat the varmintr' said John, and
came back. On the road he thought
what was best TO be done. The good
natured fellow took his great coat out
of the cart and laid it down on the
floor. The mastiff instantly laid HIM
self on it. "Now," said John. sternly.
s'let us have no more nonsense; you
take charge of that till come back.
and don't ye let nobody steal that
there, nor yet t wives brass. There,
now," said he. kindly, to the women.
II shall be back this way breakfast
time. and he won't bulge till then"
"And he won't hurt US, John?"
Lord, no! Bless your heart, he is
as sensible as any Christian; only,
Lord sake, woman don't We go to take
the coat from him, or you'll be wanting
a new gown yourself, and maybe pet
ticoat and all.
He retired, and the old women kept
at respectful distance from their pro-
tector. He never molested them; and,
indeed. when they spoke cajolingly to
him he even wagged his tail in dub
ious way; but still, as they moved
about. he squinted at them out of his
bloodshot eye in a way that checked
all desire ON their part to try on the
carriers coat.
Thus protected, they went to bed
earlier than usual, but they did not un-
dress; they were too much afraid OF
everything, especially their protector.
The night wore on, and presently their
sharpened senses let them know that
the dog was getting restless; he
snuffed, and then he growled, and then
he got up and pattered about, mutter-
ing to himself. Straightway, with fur
niture, they barricaded the door
through which their protector must
pass to devour them.
But by and by, listening acutely, they
heard scraping and a grating outside
the window of the room where the dog
was, and he continued growing low.
This was enough; they slipped out at
the back door, and left their money to
save their lives; they got into the vii
lage. 1t was pitch dark, and all the
houses black but two; one was the
public house, casting triangular
CLEAN across the road II long way OFT,
and the other was the blacksmith )
house Here was piece of for une
for the terrified women. They burst
into their friends house. On, janet
the thieves are comet" and they told
her in few words all that had hap
pened.
LAP said she; chow timorsome you
are! ten to one he was only growing
at some one that passed by"
"Nay, Jane, we heard the scraping
outside the window. Oh. woman, call
your man and let him GO with u.s."
"My mamie is not here"
'.Where is he, then?"
81 suppose he is where the other
working women's husbands are, at the
public-house," said she, rather bitterly,
for she had her experience.
The old women wanted to go to the
public-house for him; but the black
smiths wife was courageous woman,
and. besides, she thought it was most
likely false alarm. May. nay"
said she, ''last time l went for him
there got fine atfront. I'll come
with you," said she. I'm take the
poker. and we have got our tongues to
raise the town with. l suppose. Sc
they marched to the toll-bar. When
they got near it they saw something
that staggered this heroine. There
was actually a man half in and hall
out of the window. This brought the
blacksmith 8 wife to stand-still, and
the timid pair implored her to go back
to the village. may, nay" said she,
''what forP | see but one-and-hark
it is my belief the dog is holding Of
him." However, she thought it safest