Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-02

|
prove of my interfering tonight. I
heard all about the row at the tea-tabIe
| You did just what l should have done.
You did right, but you are going to get
terrific hogging for doing it. Run away
| tonight. Here are some crackers and
meat. I always do have something
| decent to eat in my room, and here is
half a crown. 1t is all the money l nave.
1 am always strapped for money Go at
once, Foster. The dogs are in their
kennels yet. The boys are at their
lessons, and the master is asleep -
''Ohi Thank you'll Thank you'll Rob-
ert clasped Derwent's hands. The I'M
looked for sympathy was so sweet that he
! could hardly bear it. ''You do not be-
lieve IT, Derwent?''
| 81 do not believe word of it, Foster.
But that VIII not prevent you being
fiogged, nor keep the miserable cads in
the schoolroom from bullying you, and
then the suspense! No fellow could bear
it! Get home as quick us you CAM If it
should be true-mind, do not think it is
| true-but if it should be, then your
mother and sister will need you. Eh?''
81 will go at once. He will send after
me, no doubt -
''To be sure he will. But do not take
! the Penrith road at first. You know the
| sbeepfold across the burn, near Cuddie's
gap?''
''That is on the road to KendaI-the
| wrong way home. -
''But go there, until the house is set
| tied for the night. Then double on your
| tracks, and if you walk fast you may be
| good many miles on the Penrith road
| by daylight - He laid the meat and
crackers and money i'll Roberts hand
then q ha
| entered it
Ten minutes afterwards Robert had
| cleared the burn, and was on his way to
the sheepfoId. 1t was about a mile
straight up the fell side, and he did not
rest until he had crept among the sheep
cuddled in its shelter. From that point
he could look down upon the schoolhOuse,
and it was not long ere he saw lights
moving about the yard and up the Pen
rith road, and so he knew that his fight
had been discovered.
No one suspected his hiding place, and
if his heart had not been so heavy, he
could have smiled at the blunt reasoning
Of his pursuers. They struggled home in
couple of hours, and as soon as all the
lights were out, he ventured past the
house, and soon found himself on the di-
rect road to his home. He had eaten
part of his crackers and meat as he sat
in the sheepfold. and for the first five
miles the excitement of his position car
Tied him bTavely on, without much sense
of fatigue. But his long walk in the
cold, damp afternoon, and the shock and
mental excitement following it, had ex-
hausted him very much, and as he passed
the little hamlet of AlIanbeck, and heard
the church clock strike 2, he felt as if he
could go no further.
He looked anxiOusly as he went along,
for any cottage in which a light was
burning. Even if it betokened sick
ness present, they would surely let him
sit on the hearth and sleep an hour or
two. But he saw no light anywhere,
and the village was still as the grave
yard in its center. He began to sob a
little; long, heavy, heavy sobs which
moved his chest painfully, but to witch
he gave no audible expression. Hith-
erto there had been bright starlight,
but as he left Allenbeck behind him !
great clouds came drifting up from the
east and the night grew dark, aud the
rain began to fall.
He had passed several farm houses and
looked enviously at the barns and sta
bles, but he knew that the dogs would
be unclaimed, and that generally they
were to be dreaded at night. Indeed,
their constant barking, more or less near
to the road he was taking, had been a
great source of terror, and had Insensi-
bly, subdued and wearied him So he
walked on, though very pain fully, for
his feet were wet and sore, and the
brave young heart in his breast was
heavy as lead.
Far more keenly than his own physical
suffering he felt the imputed stain on
&c cot hnr ,S boil fNF
their honor, but indeed it is a boyish
heart that honor burDs with the purest
and strongest flame. Every suspicion of
his fathers honesty that flashed through
Robert g mind hurt him like the thrust
of a sword. He denied these suspicious
passionately, almost before they could
form themselves, but he suffered an
agony of modification and anger in go
doing.
In the midst of one of these mental
paroXysms he became aware of the
swift padding of dog feet behind him.
He turned cold as ice with terror, but he
knew it was useless to run. In q moment
he had grasped his pocket knife and IN
clasped its largest blade, and when the
creature approached he stopped and
spoke to it. Perhaps the darkness exag-
gerated Its size, but it really was an i'm
mense mastiff and Robert knew his only
safety was in corciliatiOn.
He gave him his hands to smell, and
then took from his pocket the remains of
the crackers and meat Derwent had
given him. The so-called ''brute'' was
not ungrateful. He ate, and then offer
ed his companionship and for two miles
they went EDWARDS together. How it
happened Robert could never under
stand, but ere long he found himself
telling the dog all his trouble and weep
ing like child. Now if there is any
thing good mastiff likes to do 1t is to
give help or comfort, and as Robert
talked and wept he found the big black
muzzle pushed into his hands and breast,
and felt such pity and sympathy as he
had looked in vain for among his human
companions.
About 8 o. clook they came to large
farmhouse, and the dog not only went
through the gate, but in manner not to
be mistaken invited Robert to come in
with him. The boy was at the last
point of endurance and he accepted the