Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-04-25
NO. 80.

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and when it is seen tracking stran-
ger to our house, that stranger comes
to give or take harm.n
Il was looking out of the window
one day and my sister Effie sat be-
side me. We were making patch
work for silk quilt-the bonniest
pattern. Aud I'd just said to her.
sEfie, lass, which of us is married
first shall have the quilt when, look
ing up, both of us saw coming up
the path a young man, with hand
some face and light step, and at his
heels 3 wee doggie, as black as any
ink.
"sIt's the Douglass doggie,' says
i, laughing.
g Well, is he coming to bring i'll or
to take it 2" asked Ellie, aud then
she shnddered. 'Ah, jamie, if it
should be true 7 said she.
"tAn AMID wife's story like that
said /, sBut what has the lad come
for?'
"That neither of us knew until we
were called to supper; then there be
was with grandfather. He had come
from Edinburgh on business, and
was to bide with us awhile. he was
q rich lawyers son, and a lawyer
himself, aud he had q silver tongue
my dear, and he could say what he
chose to say, and as he chose to say
it. mind the first night he talked
the most to me and looked the most
at Effie. Pm not a handsome woman
now. and was far from being one
then, but everyone knew was to
have grandfathers's money, aud |
had no lack of suitors. Efiie was
beautiful, like picture. You scarce
" ever see so pretty face. Such
color, such hair; and that night she
kept he eyes fixed on his face and
listened to every word he said, though
she did not say much herself.
Among other things L know he told
us-and it was when grandfather
was out of the room, mind weel-
of % black dog that had followed
him for some distance; the shyest,
oldest creature said he-'and so
small. Do you know ita Is it
yoursV perhaps 1t isl said /, laugh
ing. ITS the Douglass wee doggie,
no doubt
'Weel, there was a lad, and there
were two lassies. You guess what
comes next. Before long he had be.
gun to make love to one of us, of
course and though l told you l was
the ugly one, it was me. He was
shy about it, and said his sweet
things to me when we were alone and
got me to meet him in quiet spots
away from all eyes. And l was not
one to tell such things, and no one
ever knew.
"And it was such a sweet secret
to keep, my dear. 1t was like hid
ing away posy in your bosom, and
getting the smell of it all the while.
1t made me blithe as q child.
"'What's come to the lass p grand
father would say. 'She used to be
the steady one
"And Rab had said to me-yes,
all the name III tell We Of him is Rab
-Rab had said, Let's keep quiet
about this yet, my dear, and when
the spring comes, you and | will be
wed. Wen tell them all in time for
the wedding, but not a word yet
"Not even to Effie I" said /.
"And he said, Not even to Effie,
and his word had grown to be law
to me, and l hid the engagement
ring in my bosom and did not wear
it on my finger, though | blamed
myself for keeping such thing a
secret from my sister.
Il mind well that winter had al
most gone when one day | stood at
the door smelling the sweet fresh
air, and, thinking what spring would
give me and of what grandfather
and Ellie would say, when, all of a
sudden, saw, right at the door
stone, the little dog that bad to come
with Rab, and that bad not seen IT
since.
1.-The pretty creature said |, and
stopped to pat it on the back, but it
slipped away.
"'Come here, doggie,' said j; but
it turned and ran away down the
path and, followed. 1t had queer
look TO me then-as if it were the
wrath of dog-and / mind / felt a
fright steal over me.
"sPll catch it and hold it, said /,
casting the thought of the Douglass
doggie away from me. sPll prove
| it's no specter,' and away we went
4 1t made no noise with its feet and
lassie, it threw no shadow; and sud
denly it slipped about the turning Of