Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-07
ANNA'S RESCUE.
BY SARAH T.. BRIGHAM.

L
died. her property, which was an old.
fashioned, solitary house, and five thou
sand dollars in two banks, fell, by heI
will, to her nephew, Joseph Powell The
young mans home was in another town,
: and this sudden accession to his means
was very satisfactory; but there were
two membranes connected with the
house which embarrassed him, viz: ;
distant relative, who was feeble minded
destitute youth named Daniel LEROY. tc
whom Mrs. Powell had given food and
shelter five years, and great, fierce,
,brindlcd dog. What was to be done
with thems
MIR. Powell settled the pcrplexinc
question by sending Daniel to the aims
house, and taking the dog to his home.
Hc placed IL far higher valuation on
the Intelligent animal than upon his half
witted, useless third cousin
Three weeks later he sold the house to
Mrs. Bent, n widow with small means,
who at once took possession with her
daughter Anna, an accomplished, hand
some young lady of nineteen. They were
delighted with the transition from city
to country. The finc old Gins and naples
offered refreshing shade, and gave the
place an aristocratic appearance.
One evening a.dog stood on the steps
and barked loudly for admission. Mrs.
Bent and Anna were in the parlor, and
paid no attention to it.
'Bow- WOW WOW, bow-wow-wow. "
came again, with u prolonged scratching
on the door.
Anna opened it timidly il few inches,
and an immense brindled dog nushed bv
her, and walked through the lower rooms
as If i'll search of familiar faces, aud find
ing no one he recognized, he stretched
. himself on the carpet as if determined to
remain there.
"This must be Tiger old Mrs.
Powell's dog VIC heard about. He has
run away fDom Joseph Powell's to visi,
his old home, +" said Mrs. Bent.
Anna give this canine visitor bounti
full supper, and the next day Mrs. Bent
wrote to Mr.. Powell requesting him to
come for his dog.
Hc replied:
81 cannot coax or force Tiger to stay with
me, aud shall take no further trouble 70.
him"
Mrs. Bent read this, and exclaimed
rcgretfuliy: so we have an outcast dog
on our hands. What shall We do with
him."
''Do let him live here, y returned Anna,
eagerly. sit will be cruel to turn him
off again"
In this unexpected way the dog was
we'll provided for, and soon bestowed on
his new owners his strong affection and
watchfulness. A month passed.
1t WAS hot July morning, and Mrs.
Bent sat by the window, sewing, and
Anna was reading, when roughly
dressed youth, with low, rctreatinc
forehead, came slowly in through the
back hall, and stood in the doorway,
staring wildly at them.
Mrs. Bent started, and Annals book
fell to the floor in alarm.
"Don't be scared, ladies' won't
hurt you. Mono! I'm only Dan
Leroy. You've heard of him, 1 guess.
Most natral fool. Used to live here
with Aunt Mary Powell" he said, in a
How, sad voice. =
eyes; l have heard of you," replied
Mrs. Bent. kindly.
: "May l come in9 rs home-sick
Don't like the poor-hotlse. Wish Is
dead, do"
eyes; come in and sit down"
Daniel took the chair Mrs. Bent offered
him, and for several minutes gazed
curiously about the room. Then great
tears began to drop from his. eyes, and
deep sobs filed the room.
"l'm very sorry for you. 1t must have
been hard for you to leave this good
home and be thrown on the town." said
Mrs. Bent, with deep pity.
'sSorry-sorry-did YOU saw You
needn't be. Nobody is sorry for poor
Dan, now the old woman's gone Cos l
don't know much. Most nat'ral fool,
folks say"
Soon his eyes were turned with admi-
ration on Anna, and he burst forth with /:
"Oh! what pretty girly! pretty
yirly!"
''Arc the people you live with hard to
you2" inquired Anna.
ga little kind sometimes. Don't want
me. Nobody wants poor Dan. Wish rs
dead"
Just then Tiger ran in from the yard.
He had heard Daniels we'll known vi voice,
and. he now leaped upon him joyfully
again and again.
"Dan love Tiger. Tiger love Dan.
Wc's good friends" Then he added, in
voice choking with grief: "She's dead
: The old widder's dead !-dcadl"
81 hope brighter days will come to
you, Daniel" said Mrs. Bent, pityingly.
"Ncvcr to poor Dan, nevcr Joe Pow
ell took Tiger to keep watch; didn't
want mean most natrai fool-but
Use got fcelin'."
To comfort the unhappy pauper Anna