Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-03-06
PEDRO.


In fact, no was nystery and had
been for great many years FOR exactly
bow many years, though. nobody but
Pedro himself could tell you Certain Il
Is that lac had been n mystery since 30.
for in that year tho town wns settled.
and Pedro was living In Judee's Clia
when the first settlers came 20 iicachton
How he came 10 DO thero nobody
knew, and nobody would have cared
had IL not boon for tho last &c, of his
life. Nobody knew who built his house
for him. or how 1t came 20 bo where II
was. though as TO tho latter point the
village solons declared simply that somc
terrific storm that happened long ago
must have been responsible f0r tho loca-
ton. All OF which rather Anticipates
the statement that pcdro'B home wns tho
wreck OF q boat--a queer lubberly old
wreck that was lying keel uppcrmoat
full twenty feet above the waters edge.
a narrow ledge. not moro than ten fcpt
wide. and running perfectly horizontal
fora distance Of forty or dfty feet, was
all that Pedro could CHIN in the way Of
front or back yard, and outside that
limited range the old man ventrcd but
once a week. That was on Saturday
afternoon, when he would take his willow
market basket on his nrm and go 90
Bcachton market.
Pedro himself was gctting old, very
old. for few people could remember when
Pcdro'0 hair was other than scant aud
gray, oT his steps other than halting and
feeble.
Tho even tenor Of tho old mans way
had brought him IN contact with few
people. Ho had. made no cncmics ard
no friends. and people were content that
old Pedro should remain a mystery.
Thus IL happened that when tho old
man came and went on market days
there was no kind word for hun, no
handshakes. no cheerful salutatiOna. Uo
came and went like n shadow, and the
school children hurried past him as II his
very silence frightened them.
Now. between the market ard Pcdro's
home, and co situated. therefore. that
Pedro paescd in going and coming, was
Maj Deal'e home, beautiful old fash
ioncd homestead, with long shaded
walk that led down 10 the gate
And tho major had killed Pcdro's dog.
OF courre, the major never did admit
that lac had done wrong.
The littlo terrier had barI.od at llis heels
and ho had struck at It with his cane
He never intended 10 kin tho dog, but IL
was only a dog-and only old Pcdro's
dog at that. OF course Pedro vowed
matters little differently, and ns n nat
ural result Of tho differences the major
forgot al about IL. while Pedro reIncn-
bcred IL very distinctly. IL fact, there
can DO no doubt that tho ma ior's baby
saycd great doal Of trouble about that
dog. When tic weather was fair the
baby would DO ut The gate a. Pedro
passed on Saturday afternoon, and che
had learned % recognize Pedro. while the
lonely old man had learned 10 love and
yearn for that baby welcome. Ilc 81.
ways paused n moment IN passing 10
raise IFS tattcfcd old hat and smll0 al
baby uaud SO. while Pedro rcmem
bcrcd very distinctly that the major had
killed hia dog. his thoughts ~ fovcnco
had given place 20 oihor and better
thoughts. for Ell Of which tho majors
baby was entirely responsible.
One beautiful gatufdny afternoon in
tho antluln of 1919 q group u school
giEls wcro gathered az Csc ma ior8 gnto.
aud In their midst ~ao tic majors baby
Right royalty tho iitiie qucon was hold.
ing her court Pedro saw al that ~ ho
camo on with his iosbe.
Suddenly q shout II wariing was
heard, and pistol shots were fired M
Mayor Weed's house. just two doors
above thc majora
'iia1 doZi Siad GOgf shouted laif
dozen voice.
The frightened girls turned 70 reo TIE
vicious brute only "a few gtcps from
them, aud rnn screamins toward tlo
majors houec.
The majors vito met them at tie
door.
ooh. Mrs Deal-a mad DOR
The youug mothers TACO w.8 felfhlg
pale. and without q word aho rau toward
the gate.
Before reaching the gate. however.
Size saw that hcr baby WAC ule. end sle
recognized Pedro. iio had placed tae
Child carefully upon thc grass iust inside
the gate and lhm clo.ed tlio cato.
Ihen tho dog had attacked Pedro.
Tho hugo maddoncd brute was biting
lvaeely. The blood wns flowing freely
from ths Old man's nms and hands. and
from as ugly wound in the check Pedro
was nearly cxhaulicd aud lis feeble
blows with q knife aqa.ied bot little The
mother bad picked up her baby aud was
watching tho contest in an agony of sue
pense. Throwing go his strength with
hi8 blow, tie old man drove bis knife to
the bile Ia the dogs throat, and nsNho
brute lay foamine and Urithng 90 us