Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-05-10

seem much in life, an you'll maybe think it foolish the store we set by both man and dog before that time was passed. Ralph would lay down beside the babys cradle, an nothin' would move him till his master left the room; then he'd get up and shake himself, as if it was time to go, an he was goin'.
 ''MOllie said he was human; an if a soul ever gets into an animals body-I hear there's folks as thinks so-there was good soul inside of Ralph.
 "Yes, we all liked Ralph, an Robert even more. The fact is he was a real gentleman - that was plain enough; brought down as low as he was by Lord only knows what. But true gentle man, an know the right kind when l see them. He never let on for one mo- ment, though, single word about him. self but once, an that was the last even- in he was here.
 "The dog was sittin' beside him, with his head restin' on Roberts knee, when l says, kind of sudden like:
 '' I bet Ralph's very vallyble dog, Robert
 Yes, yes,' he says, sort of slow. Too vallyble, stroking Ralph's head with Q lovin' hand, while the dog looked at him with just as much love. Twas the hu- manest eyes you would ever see, sir.
 "'He is worth great deal of money,' he said again, after a moments think ing. I am very sorry for it sometimes. I've been in many hard straits at times, an I've been afraid-aye, afraid of my self-that I'd be tempted to sell him. Not while was myself, old fellow, you understand, but when was the brute I sometimes am.'
 By George, sir! you wouldn't believe it, l dare say, but I'd take my affydavy that dog looked up, sort of sad like, and shook his head.
 ''TO make the story short-though, all told, it was not so very long-when we came down stairs the next morning Ralph lay on the floor. guardin' his mas ter's stick, but his master wasn't no where round.
 ''Tell me the dog didn't know! He knew as well as we did why it was done; that the master he loved, an who loved him, had left him; but he had been told to watch the stick, an with the saddest eyes, an droopin', he lay there all day long. An truly believe if we hadn't got the stick away from him an burned it he'd "a been watchin' it yet.
 "'An' his master? Yes, sir; gone, clean gone An we've never heard word of him since. 'Ungrateful?' No sir: don't take it so. think he couldn't trust himself with the dog he loved, when he was himself, you see, an so he left him where he knew he'd be well taken care of. Yes, that's the way see it, anyhow. An then he got so far away before the dog would quit watchin' that the scent was lost for poor Ralph. But he ain't never give upl Not day, sir!
 "'Do? We'll, there's not tramp comes past here-an' the worse lookin' they are the wilder he is to get after them, sniffin' at their tracks; an then his tail will droop 50 disappointed like; yet he'll keep on an follow 'cm for day, or maybe three days, till he gets sure he ain't comin' to his master, when he'll come back. Seems to me as if he kind of thought they might know him. How does he find out they don't? Bless you, sir, don't ask me, but dogs know a heap more than people think.
 He ought'a' been named Rover, for he's been in more different places round here than have, an always turns up all right when he's settled the matter.
 "Whv. ain't that him now, a-sniffin' Ion. the other road? Course it is. Well now. how'd he get over there, wonder: seems as if he was scentin' somethin'. .1n't it?
 Hi, Ralph! Ralph! An! there he :cmes. a-boundin' along towards us iuSt as he used to go for his master Looks as if he thought he could find Iim, sure. See now! Ain't he beauty!
 Here. Ralph! Good old fellowi Come here, sirl Ell! What! Straight for you, sir, he goes. without look for me. All over you in a nlinute! A fine gentleman like you! What! you! you, sir! Robert! Great Scott! An Ralph knew you! Well, well. give in. Dogs is human!' M. Warren Hale in Belford's Maga- ine