Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-06-07
A FAITHFUL VIGIL.

Ndleyt WIN ktoul NeuelllcuCct bufich-
ing mournfully and whirling the light
drifted snow in eddies round the little
house where dwelt Annie Edgeworth,
the district schoolmistress, AID her
mother.
1t was wild weird night, and as An
ME raised the curtain and peered out
into the darkness she said:
"Oh Mother! / feel so fearful about
Henryl am sure II is commencing to
snow again; and wish, oh how wish
he had not been obliged to start for
Bodie this morningW s..,1.
Annie and Henry had been engaged
to each other for some months, and
were to be married at the end of the
school year.
"But, my daughter, you know busi-
ness must be attended to; and Henry
would not have gone, The had not felt
that 1t was absolutely necessary"
"Well, the storms and dHifts are bad
enough here at Sherwin's Station, but
they say that between here and Bodie,
some of the drifts are so high as to be
almost impossible. 1 do wish Henry
had not gone on such a trip alone"
"Alone, daughter! Surely you forgot
he has Rex with him. 1t is wonderful,
the affection that little dog displays for
his master. don't believe they have
been separated five minutes since Rex
was old enough to follow him abont; and
I've often heard Henry say he thinks
more of that little dog than he does of a
great many people whom he knows"
"Yes, dear Mother, so do 1. For one
thing dogs display less self-interest and
seldom show a spirit of revenge, al
though well they know how to distin-
guish friend from foe. am glad to
think that animals and children
really always like me, for think their
instinct, is often more true than mans
discrimination
Just then the wind howled pitifully
and flung q volley of hailstones against
the window panes, which made both
women start and drop their needlework.
Annie rushed into her mothers arms,
crying, "Mother! Mother! know some
harm has befallen Henry.n
"My child, be calm. Retire to your
room and pray to God to keep us all
from harm. Henry has four days
rations with him and surely he is able
to take care of himself, so cautious and
experienced is he. Good night dear,
and pleasant Dreams"
"Good night Mother!" said Annie
kissing her tenderly. - "
Two weeks passed by, and no tidings
came of the traveller. One evening as
Annie was preparing supper, she heard
a whine and scratching at the door. On
opening it she saw lean, hungry-look-
ing, dirty dog, who, at sight of her,
feebly wagged his tail, but seemed to
have hardly strength to drag himself
over the door sill.
Suddenly Annie recognized him.
"Mother! Mother!" she cried; "here
is Rex. Come down at once Mother,
and see the poor little fellow! Surely
something has happened to Henry.
OH Rex! dear little Rexv she con-
tinued, picking up the dog and hug
ging him in her arms; "Where is your
master, doggie? Oh, if you could only
speak and tell us ALL" She put down a
saucer of milk which the dog drank
greedily; then hurriedly seized her hat
and shawl and said: "Mother, don't
stop me! am going down to Bill Sher-
wins. He is an old mountaineer, and
can tell me what can be done. Oh,
Mother! my heart is breakingv
The old scout had finished his supper
and was sitting in the chimney corner
smoking a pipe, when Annie burst into
the room. "Oh, Bill! look here! Look
at Rex! see the condition he is in! Bill,
if he is thus, where can his master be?
Oh, do help me in my distress, dear
Bill! and do what you can to find Hen
ry."
Fright you are, lassie?" said the old
man, fright you are to come to me.
Henry NOyes hasn't truer friend livin'
than old Bill Sherwin; an if he's above
ground Pm the boy as can and what is
more s0iU find him. You kin bet on
that. Give that ere dog summat to eat,
and I'll take him along with me on the
trail and start this very minnet. There,
lassie don't cry!-keep up brave heart
and go back and comfort your poor old
mother and leave the rest to mel"
AS the old man watched Annie walk
ing sadly towards the gate, he shook
his head and muttered, 'There's some
thin mighty wrong, or that 'ere dog'ud
never have left his master to come home
like that"
Bill and his son took Rex with them,
and after two days search found the
dead body of Henry Noyes in Rock
Creek Canyon, face downward in the
snow, with the four DAYS rations he
had taken with him lying by his side.
Pook Rex had remained near the body
for two weeks, keeping faithful guard,
and refusing to touch the food without
his masters permission.
The track which the dog had beaten
around the body and the coyote foot
prints outside, showed he had defended
his masters body as long as he was able
to do SO; and then, feeling his strength
giving out, he had managed 10 crawl
home and bring relief.
q The shock to Annie was very great,
and for a time her life was despaired of;
but she gradually returned to strength
and at last was able to resume her
school duties. She made Rex her con-
slant companion AMI pet. In fact he
was considered hero by all the neigh
bors far and near-and who shall say
he did not deserve the title?