Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-01-29

to male my old relative really like that
! dog. 1t was a constant trouble TO me,
for | wanted to make the old lady's life
happy, and did not want to sacrifice
jackson to caprice. But hardly day
passed without some trouble, something
wrong. One day the little dining-room
bell rang furiously, and l ran in to see
what was wrong, to find my aunt stand
ing upon chair, with the top cupboard
open, and Jackson, with his ears fiercely
cooked, watching her.
''Take away that dog, George!" she
cried. "The moment / opened this cup
! board door, he attacked me-
But he has not bitten you, aunt2' /
cried, excitedly.
''Oh, no, he has not bitten me-yetm
she cried. 'EBut he has been watching
me, just as he does the beggars who
come to the gate, and l know what that
means.n o.
descended, but volume Would hardly
suffice if | attempted to relate all the
troubles, real and imaginary, that were
told me by my aunt, the principal being
] W lldI SllC CulICu lllC ldSb bLub JdChSOn, Dl
some means or other, always got beneath
her bed; and when it was pointed out to
her, on the most irrefutable evidence,
that Jackson was always chained up in
his kennel every night, she merely tight
ened 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. 81 declare it's un-
bearablem
''What is unbearable, my dear aunt2"
said, putting my arm around her slight
form, and drawing her to me.
"There, there, l won't be coaxed and
cheated into silence any more" making a
pretence of putting me away. II de-
clare it's shameful! That demon of a
dog regularly haunts me. | can't stir a
step without his being after me, watch
ing me in that horribly sly, leering way of
his"
"Why, auntie, he's listening, and try
ing to find out what you mean"
ooh, no, my dear, don't tell me that /!
l know better. That creature understands
every word that is said, perfectly, just as
well as a-no won't say Christian, but
he understands, and he is always meditat-
ing some mischief against me. l know
he is. He took dislike to me as soon as
came"
ooh, 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 you only
yesterday, and lick your hand"
"To be sure he did, the nasty carnivor-
Gus creature. That his woIfish appetite.
He sent shiver through me, and made
my hand quite wet"
'Now, my dear auntie," said. 'Im
sure you would not wish me to poison
that poor, faithful beast"
"Poison, indeed" cried my aunt !;
"why, l never even limited at such a
thing
"But you said destroy him. Surely
you don't want me to cut his head off
with the meat-chopper."
Greatly, my dear, I must leave the
room" " cried the old lady, eff you will
persist in talking in this dread
full strain. And there-ughl-go way.
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," I
said.
'I did not, sir" she cried, warmly. II
never plotted anything in my life"
''But you said, destroy him. aunt"
"You know as well as do, sir, that I
meant give him away"
"Give him away, auntp I CRIED
laughing; "why it would be impossible.
Unless sent him across the sea, he would
be certain to come back. Wouldn't you,
Jack, old man2"
jackson made one bound on to my
knee, and my aunt uttered a 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
ooh, all right auntie," 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 sharp
ly at his disappointment, for he had
evidently believed that was coming,
too.
"That's better, my DEAR" said the old
lady. 81 dare say you think me very
strange, crotchety, old woman; but I
can't help that. Did you see what a
horrible threatening look that dog gave
me as he went out2"
''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 a
walk, and mind that dog does not see me
90, or know he'll come and watch me
all the time"
"All right, auntie," l 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.
/ heard the front door close, and then
there was short, sharp bark
Gle has heard her 60" 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.
1t must have been about an hour after,
that got up 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, heard a shout-half- shrek,
half yell of agony-coming from turn
of the road, and directly after a man
came in sight, running with all his might,