The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-22

Old Macbeth DO the Joo-ArsenAo GiTeS
the Dog a New Lease of Life.
sit happened when you were a little bit
Of fellow-so high" and the old lady,
bending down, stretched her hand out
some twenty-four inches from the floor.
He had come to Us Just fluffy, plump,
little ball of wool when your father was
young, and perhaps that was why your
grandfather and 1 always loved Nero just
little bit better than the other dogs.
THE years went along; our boy became
man. He married. and presently you put
in appearance, you little scampl Yet Nero
was with US still. He was very old, of
course, and the greater part Of his time
was spent on the hearth rug; but then,
who had better right TO it, should Like
to know? He was welcome TO it, Pm sure.
It was only when I began TO notice that
the old fellow was suffering and that his
life was getting to be heavy load for him
to carry that at last broached the subject
very gently TO your grandfather.
"'Charles, my dear said 1, don't you
think that Nero is getting just little
decrepits
well replied your grandfather,
stroking his chin, ne certainly is not quite
50 lively as he used TO be, but then, neither
are you, my dear, nor am L
Il crossed the room and sat down beside
him. Ali but age doesn't matter 10 you
and me, Charles We don't mind, for we
can remember But it's different with
poor old Nero. Age means for him just
misery and pain. 1t seems cruel to pro-
long IT. The children will be fairly heart
broken, 1 know, but 1 was thinking,
Charles-I-I was think
THE DECISION
''Your grandfather drew back his chair
and looked at me in amazement.
You don't mean to say, Martha, that
you'd
Yes, I do I nodded emphatically.
It's the kndest thing we can do for him.
And all the time 1 was feeling that was
the blacklist hearted creature that ever
lived
But after little your grandfather
came round to my way Of thinking. It's q
way he hadl" added the old lady simply.
How shall we do itY said he at last
I've got only one thing to say about it.
He sha'n't be drowned, Martha Drown
ing's only fit for kittens. Your grandfather
always did hate cats, my dear
Drowned exclaimed l Indignantly.
Well, should rather think not, fndeedl
Now, I've thought this matter out very
carefully, Charles, and rather incline to
to arsenic. A little arsenic properly admin
istered will answer the purpose. We can
give it to him on a bit of beefsteak He's
very fond Of that
Your grandfather drew out his red silk
pocket handkerchief and blew his nose
very hard.
Very well, Martha, III do it. Only see
that the stake is perterhouse, the tender
est you can get. I'm not going to have it
said that a dog Of mine ever died of indi-
gestion."
And so it was settled, my dear" con-
tinued the old lady. You were all in
vited the next afternoon, and we had
cookies and currant wine. Nero lay before
the fire all the time with his tongue hang
ing out.
The DREADFUL CRIME
st was winter time and stormy night.
/ remember it as well as can be. I had
little cry there in the twilight, and after
that felt much better. Both your grand
father and l drank little stronger tea
than usual, and by the time that Nero's
bedtime came felt quite like a Lady
Macbeth But I can't say IS much for
your grandfather, my dear He had TO re-
sort to thimbleful of his old Asrtell be-
fore he ccuId even doctor the steak. and
even then his eyes were so blurred that he
put far more arsenic on it than was in
tended
Il carried the lantern and your grand
father followed with the platter. Nero
used TO sleep in the stable, and we found
= k-t% - ~, L.
partially aroused him, and placing the
platter temprtngly nigh at hand we locked
the door behind as and hurried away
Il thought that evening never would
pass! The irzt half hour We whiled away
by making preparations for the funeral,
but after that-oh, ny dear child. Thought
that 10 O'Clock never would eonei But it
wasn't bit better after we got into bed
Your grandfather very soon began 10
snore, but there wasn't wink Of sleep for
me. You see I've always bean interested
in medicines, and had studied this case
out pretty thoroughly. knew by heart
the various symptoms, and when the dose
would begin 20 take effect.
TIE POISON WORKED.
As the clock struck Y zavs your grand
father nudge. couldn't stand the silence.
He's just about IN the midst Of it now,
Charles. It's beginning to digest
Your grandfather gave grunt OF SIS
sent, and then was OF 20 sleep again
Well, / stood L Just IS long as could.
then, Just 81 dsybreak, my viii gave way,
and / insisted upon getting up and going
out 70 the ssabfs OF course, Jour grand
father wouEn'r hear of ny going alone,
though be didn't want % set up and 20
out in the cold. So both OF Us dressed has
THY and went out into the yard. I carried
she lantern again, AID yoar grandfzther
had the key. I don't know whether we
felt worse when we len poor Nero 20 his
fate or low, as Wa came to view the oclss-
cuecces OF our deed
The night had been clustering ard the
snow was piled about II great drifts The
lantern glnnere1 upon then Our teeth
chatterSd- and your grsndtz-hsE's hand
was trembling so that he could scarcely find
the keyhole-
And then, my dear, the rext moment I
found myself lylng II 4 STOW drift The
lantern had gone cut, but 7 Gould heA-
your grsudfsthsr splattsEIaS IN the snow
q yard or two away, while some big black
objece with 10 end OF ha-ks was scamper-
ing over both Of Il"
1T wasn't Nero. grandma cried the
COY. who had listened, opea nouthed. from
he bezlnning.
Why. bless nv heart. u course i was
Nero What else was II likely 10 De- Thai
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