The Red Cloud chief., 1885-06-12

tutc!e>k. aOo Wt1eu W. culIc 19tuhy
came out to get into the wagon. old
Bose was close q; their heels, and nei-
Their coaxing nor threats could induce
him to remain behind when the wagon
started.
Evidently lie thought that another
journey across the plains was to De- un-
dertaken. and though much preferring
TO lie in the sunshine and keep the
chickens Out Of the front yard. 70 any
more laboriOus service, ne would vet
have undergone any torture rather than
he separated from the family. and q
look Of pain and mortified pride came
into his honest eyes when told by his
master that be must remain and watch
the house, and instead of Obeying he
crept close TO their feet and looked
piteously up as if begging them no; -
leave him behind, now that they were
going away, never to return. And so
they patted him on the head and called
him good fellow and .'brave old
dog" and told him he should 60 if he
wanted to. Then his whole demeanor
changed. He gave a great bark and
showed his teeth in an attempt TO laugh.
Which, G1u uoL Dt sdiu " ldSC DCCu al
entire failure, and e~ndeavored in every
possible way to express his thanks and
assure them that he was the proudest
and bravest dog on the Pacific coast,
and readS and able for any service. that
might be required of him.
Then he started on ahead of the
wagon. looking back every few rods TO
make certain that he was leading in the
right direction: but before they were
half way to town he had dropped back
To the side Of the wagon: then he fell
into the rear, and finally. looking back
and seeing how nearly the poor old fell
low was tired out and how piteously he
begged with his great eyes not 10 he
left behind, the wagon had been
brought to a stop and Erastus had got
out and lifted him in with the rest Of
the family" where the girls and Mrs.
Parsons had had some difficulty in in
ducing him not 10 show his gratitude
in too demonstrative a mi When
they descended from the wagon and
went on board the steamer he was s.
fearful of being left that he kept in
front of them and urder their feet until
several members of the family came
near falling owe him: but when Erastus
had said ..good-bye' to them all and
turning to 90 called to him to follow.
he went willingly. evidently satisfied
that after all he was mistaken and this
Was only a holiday excursion.
And now he sat upon the seat with
Erastus in perfect contentment and
with a slight air of importance. rs if he
felt a consciousness of having proven
anew his devotion to those he served.
and had received a recognition Of his
value.
Ordinarily the presence of the dog
might have prevented any feeling Of
lionel ness in the man had he been dis
posed u it; but TODAY. although he did
feel that the dog was company in q
sense. vet his very presence. being unu.
sual. served to remind him that the
house to which they were returning
was desolate. and somehow things took
on an unreal look. and when he turned
into the barnyard and saw the chickens
and turkeys scratching in the straw OF
wallowing in the dust, he was not quite
certain whether they were chickens and
turkeys or just the ghosts Of those that
were wont to scratch and strut there
before all other signs of life had ceased
and such an unnatural and oppressive
, stiffness had settled down over the
place.
After taking the gears from the horses
and feeding them he started to the
house 10 get his dinner. The thought
Of cooking his own meal was not quite
SO pleasant now rs he had thought ]
might Ice. and he was hall inclined to
go without i: or take a cold snack ant
wait until night before cooking any
thing. Then his appetite began to re.
turn, and he concluded TO al least fry
couple of eggs and make a cup OF cot
fee.
He entered the house by the bacl
way. and stood for a moment looking
about him. The fire was out in thu
kitchen stove: the chairs stood. stiff
backed and unsociable. against tn,
wall; the room hsd lost its air of cheer
fulneSs. and his football had a lionel,
Kind If a sound As he stepped on tn
bare kitchen floor.
He threw open the door which opene'
onto the kitchen porch and let in n foo
of sunshine. The old dog had pre-
ceded him 10 the house and taken hi.
accustomed place upon the porch ant
was res, ne. When Erastus opened tn
door. the dog opened one eye sleepil,
and half raised his head rs if to inquir'
if he was wanted for ANYTHING. and thel
stretched himself to sleep again. Every
thing seemed asleep or dead. and h
cooked and ate his dinner with . feel
inc Us if he was cut of from all human
society bv a thousand miles of desert
When he had eaten his own meal h,
called Bose in and Sc; down q plat
with scraps on it for him to eat
Then. not knowing exactly what to d.
with the remainder OF the food whicl
he had cooked. he sc. that down for tn,
doc also. and took his hat and vent GU
to work.
Several times that afternoon he won
dered to himself that he had be
fore noticed how still it WAS ont Their
in the orchard. and whether it was al
WAYS so perfectly quiet on The farm any
how: and If the geese swimming abou
in the little pond made for them b
means of n low dam Acros the creek
ALWAYS moved around without maxim!
any more stir in the water; or if the
occasional .'honk' when one o u
in the water and tapped his wings wa
always pitched on that particular lone
some key.
As night approached he returned {
the house and fed the teams and a.
pigs and the poultry and then went il
and got his own supper. At dinner h
had said to himself that he would wasI
all the dishes after supper. when b
should have. nothing else to do. eu