The sun., 1885-12-24

l cried, excitedly.
"Oh no, he has not bitten me-yet!"
| she cried. "But he has been watch
ing me. just as he does the beggers that
come to the gate, and l know what
that means"
| l called Jackson away, and my aunt
descended, but volume would hard
| ly suffice if | attempted to relate all
the troubles, real and imaginary, that
were told me by my aunt, the princi-
pal being what she called the fact that
jackson, by some means Or other, al
ways got beneath her bed; and when
it was pointed out to her, on the most
irrefutable evidence, that Jackson was
always chained up to his kennel every
night, she merely frightened her lips,
and said that it was very mysterious.
care you going to destroy that dog,
George, or am to go?" said the old
lady, one morning. ~ declare it un-
bearable!"
"What is unbearable, my dear
aunt?" said, putting my armround
her slight form, and drawing her to
me.
"There, there, won, t be coaxed and
cheated into silence any more" she
cried, making pretence OF pushing
| me away. / declare it's shameful!
| That demon of a dog regularly haunts
me. can't stir q step without his
being after me, watching me in that
| horribly sly leering way of his"
| "Oh, nonsense, aunt"
| cit is not nonsense, my dear. And
then he listens so every time speak"
"Why, of course he does, auntie, all
dogs do"
"Not like that dreadful creature,
George. The way he lifts up first one
ear, and then the other, making the tips
culver, is something awful. 1t sends
shudder all tn. Dug me-"
"Why, auntie, ,. he's listening, and
trying to find out what you mean"
ooh, no, my dear, don't tell me that!
l know better. That creature under
stands every word that is said. perfect
ly, Just as we'll as a-no. won'tsay
Christian, but he understands, and he
is always meditating some mischief
against me. know he is. He took a
dislike to me as soon as came"
"Oh, nonsense, aunt; why he has
tried no end Of times to make friends
with you"
"Make friends?" she cried.
eyes; | saw him come to you only
yesterday, and lick your right hand"
"To be sure he did, the nasty, car
niverous creature. That's his wolfsh
appetite. He sent shiver through
me and made my hand quite wet"
"Now, my dear auntie," l said.
"Im sure you would not wish me to
poison that poor faithful beast"
"Poison, indeed!'' cried my aunt;
"why, 1 never even limited at such a
thing" ....
What do you want me to do then
hang him?"
How can you be SO disgusting, my
dear boy?" she cried. "You should
not say such things
| But you said destroy him. Surely
you don't want me to cut his head of
with the meat-chopper.
"Really, my dear, must leave the
room," "cried the old lady, "if you will
still persist IN talking in this dreadful
strain. And there-ugh!-look at
him. I'm sure he understands every
word we say"
"Well, it can't be pleasant for him
to hear you plotting his murder,
auntie,p I.said. - Aks1 ass
~ did not, SIR" she cried warmly.
ri never plotted anything in my life"
"But you said, destroy him aunt"
You know as we'll as do, sir, that
1 meant to give him away"
"Give him away, aunt!'' I cried
laughing; "why it would be impossible.
Unless sent him across the sea, he
/ h. - oil
wouldn't you, Jack old man?'
| Jackson made one bound on to my
knee, and my aunt uttered shrek OF
dismay as the dog placed his paws on
my shoulder, cooked his ears, and
gave three loud barks.
eff you have any respect for me, my
DEAR" she said at last, "send that
dog away-at all events, send him out
of the room."
"Oh, all right, auntie,' I said.
"Here, Jackson, out you 60"
The dog leaped down, looked up at
me wistfully, then glanced at my aunt,
and trotted out at the open door,
and into the garden, where he barked
sharply at his disappointment, for he
had evidently believed that Twas COM
| ing, too.
"That's better my DEAR" said the
old lady 1 dare say you think me a
very strange crotchety, old woman;
but l can't help that. Did you see
what a horrible threatning look that
dog gave me as he went out?,'
"No, aunt. did not"
"Ah, well, he did, my dear. And
now I'm going for walk. l shall go
| upstairs and put on my things, and
then have walk, and mind that dog
does not see me go, or know he'll
come and watch me all the time"
Call right, auntie," said, smiling;
and as she went upstairs, l sat down
in my little study, and began reading.
just looking up, when she came back
and kissed me. ,.-..
I heard the front door close, and
then there was q short, sharp bark.
"He has heard hergo," / said to my
self, and starting up, l reached the
| back window, in time to see Jackson
with his head and tail up, galloping
across the field at the bottom of the
garden, SO as to get round to the road,
and join my aunt.
l could not help laughing to my
self, and l hesitated as to whether
should go and call him back, but just
then / had caller, and the matter
passed out of my mind.
1t must have been about an hour
after, that gotup to go and make a
call or two, just at the edge of the
village; and was some distance on
my way, when, all at once, I herd
shout-half-shriek, half yell of agony
coming from tnrn of the road, and
directly after man came in sight,
running with all his might, and as soon
as he saw me, he made in my direction,
crying out, "Helpl help! help!'
whats the matter? What is it?"
said; but he only looked at me wildly,
and dashed on, while, when I turned
to gaze after him, the mystery was
solved; dog had attached him, and
| fastened on to his coat or collar, or
somewhere that / could not clearly