The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-04-09
RALPH, THE ROVER.
The Old Settlers Story Has a Fit
ting Climax.

Vllls5 Sl1ll1CbAs
'Here, Ralph! Ralph! Hi, you scamp!
Come back here, sir! There, he's gone!
Off for two or three days tramp again.
Beg pardon, sir! I didn't see you. 1
was that busy calling the dog, reckon
NEARLY walked over you. The matter,
sir? Well, it's that dog, Ralph. You
heard me call him, l dare say. A
grander old fellow you couldn't find in
days travel, but he has one bad habit.
Most humans have more than that, and
! amt sure in my own mind that he
amt human.
"'The habit?" Well, it's just this:
he will follow every blessed old tramp
as passes here, and keep followin' 'em,
sometimes, for two or three days. He's
queer one. Did you notice him just
now? Didn't see him? Well, he keeps
just far enough behind the fellows so
they won't drive him back, sniffin', sniff
fin along, and kind of castin' his eye
back to let me know he's hearin' me but
not heedin' me. Just the same way he
acts every time he goes off. He'll be
back all right, when he does come; and
he's been actin that way ever since I've
had him. 'Stolen?' Why sir, 1 dom
believe the ones Twin could steal him,
or fasten him up eever so tight he
couldn't get back, ever since-an' a
right queer way got him, too.
"Is he mine? Well, yes, in one way;
an then no, in another. 1t was queer
story, anyway.
''Tell it, sir? Well, if I had time l
might. All, thank you, sir! A fine gen.
tleman like you can afford to be gener-
GUS.
Now, let me see! AS near as I re-
member, it was June, two year ago, as l
come downstairs rather early one morn
ing, to light the fire for my old woman.
She warn't very strong then; the young
ster there was only couple of months
old, an was gettin' the things all handy
for her to get breakfast. When she
come down the fire was lightin' an the
kettle singin'-for joy of seein' her, I'm
thinkin'.
"Mollie was always a great one for
fresh air, so as soon as she saw that
every thin was goin' right in the kitchen
she walks to the front door, turns the
key, an opens it.
well, quick as flash she came run
MIN back to me with her face kind of
white an scared.
"'Oh, Jim! come out here to the door.
Quick!' says she.
can when followed her, blessed if 1
don't see the FUNNIEST sight ever did;
an there stood, staring like an ape.
''You see, these seats on the porch are
comfor'ble to sit on, an with these vines
hangin' over this way, makes it most
as shut in an quiet-like as bedroom;
then the posts here an at the corners
form good rests for the back. Well,
anyhow, good or bad, right here, lean
In back in the most uncomf blest way,
was the trampiest lookin' tramp 1 ever
saw, sound asleep. An on the seat be-
side him, with his head on the mans
lap, was the dandiest setter ever er-
poet to see. A vallyble dog, sir, too, as
l knew'sssoon as 1 set eyes on him. 1
always know a good dog, bein' rather in
the sportin' line myself; an this was
genuine Gordon setter.
We'll, sir, suppose must have said
somethin', with surprise, for to wake
them both up. The dog turned the
solem'est eyes round at me, askin' me
not TO make so much noise; an the man,
ai rags an tatters, yawned an set up.
an then, seein' Mollie right behind me,
III he shot, sir, if he didn't stand up,
take Oft his piece of hat to her, an
poegin to appolergise for settin' on our
aoor'step. Said he'd been Overcome
with fateeg.' My eye! for the manners
u MIN could hardly believe he weren't
aswell cove, dressed in tho latest fash
Ion, and full-blooded stopper at the
gate waitin' for him.
know l must have stared at him
sehSiderable, but, bless you, Mollie
uiant spend no time starin' till she'd
asked him into the kitchen, an when
eae breakfast was ready she gave him,
h his dog too, good one.
his feet were blistered with walkin'
N SHOES that left half of his feet out
aoors an half in; an as he could scarce
y saSe step we made him stay with
~ day Or SO till they got better; but
nc couldn't bear it, an the only reason,
'hlnK, was that he was afraid of bur-
senin us. But Lord! he did as much
WI US as we did for him, I'll be bound.
t he hiied the yard with kindlin's, an |
ueieVe he'd "a chopped all the wood in
ne village if Mollie hadn't seen his
uahas all blistered an bleedin'. That
saso MIN away, sure. "A gentleman
soin, says to myself when / sec those
~ linen nothin' would do, but Mollie
NUS Gas' doctor an bandage them up for
IN I'm an while she was dom it she
an us,u sound like child tryin' to cry,
~ ne just bends down an kisses her
ssa' u, an then he says, kind of low an
w 800 more like a groan than
"oses; o, motherr
w,s az me way the little kid took to him
ssnsa 0sasion. A mite like he was-no
ana 30. ~ all only puckered up his face
am;, s'sea When went neer him. He'd
way spM Roberts iass that was What