The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-01
ried. The moment 1 opened this

cupboard door. he attacked me-"
But he has not bitten you, aunt?"
l cried, excitedly.
"Oh no, he has not bitten me-yet!"
she cried. '.But he has been watch.
Ing me. just as hedoes the begsers that
come to the gate, and l know what
that means"
called jackson away, and my aunt
descended, but a volume would hard
~ 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
1T was pointed out to her, on the most
rrefltable 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 an to go?" said the old
lady, n morning. 81 declare it'sun-
bearable!"
What is unbearable, my dear
aunt?" said, putting my arm round
her slight form, and drawing her to
me.
'There, there, I Won't becoaxed and
cheated INTO silence any more" she
cried, making a pretence OF pushing
me away. l declare it's shameful!
That demon OF a dog regularly haunts
me. lcan't stir n step without his
being after me, watching me in that
horribly sly leering way OF his"
on, nonsense, aunt..'
1T IS not nonsense, my dear. And
then he listens SO every time | speak"
why, OF curse 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 thetips
qulver, is something awful. 1t sends
a shudder all though me-"
why, %auntie, he's listening. and
trying to find out what you mean"
"Oh, no., mydeal, don't telimethat!
l know better. That creature under
stands every word that is said, perfect
~, Just as well as a--no. | won't say
Christian, but he understands, and he
is always meditating some mischief
against me. know he is. He took q
dislike to me as Don as / came"
"Oh, nonsense, aunt; why he has
tried no end OF times to make friends
with you"
make friends?" she cried.
Eyes; l saw him come to youonlv
yesterday, and lick your right hand.h
Ito be sure he did, the nasty, car
nlverous creature. That's his woltish
appetite. He Sent u shiver through
me and made my hand quite wet"
"Now. my dear auntie," l said.
I'm sure you would not wish me to
poison that poor faithful beast"
"Poison, indeed!' cried my aunt;
why, | never even limited at such d
thing"
"What do you want me to do then
hang him."
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 off
with the meat-chopper."
"Really, my dear, l 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," l said.
81 did not, sir" she cried warmly.
81 never plotted anything in my life"
"But you said, destroy him aunt"
You know as we'll as | do, sir, that
l meant to give HIM away"
Give him away, aunt" l cried
laughing; why it would beimpossible.
Unless sent him across the sea, he
would be certain to come back.
wouldn'tyou, Jack old MANI"
jackson made II bound on to my
knee, and my aunt uttered q shrek OF
dlsmay as the dog placed his paws on
my shoulder, cooked his ears, and
gave three loud banks.
"N 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"
ooh, all right, auntie,' l 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 thegarden, where he barked
sharply at his disappointment, for he
had evidently believed that | was COM
ing, too.
That's better my dear" said the
old lady. dare say YOU think me u
very strange crotchety, old woman;
but l can't help that, Did O see
what a horrible threatning look that
dog e me as he went ont?,'
"No, aunt. | did not"
"Ah, well, he did. my dear. And
nov Pm going for a walk. / shall go
upstairs and put on my things. and
then have walk, and mind that dog