The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-08-01

I
Gus scene; there was no sound but the
distinct tinkle of sheep-bell and the
cracking of the little fire that was boil
ing the tea. The smoke went straight
and silently up into the still air; the lone
illness was bad Anough with two men
what must it ksEe. been with onel
felt there was something more in my
profund acquaintance than 1 had vet
learned, so Ii .ed my pipe aud began
to draw him ON 1t is curious that a
man being alone among dumb creatures
loses after a time something of his
human expression and acquires that of
his dumb companions, and that
dog under the same circum-
stances retains his individuality. Here
was man who, to judge from his man
ner and speech, must have been tenderly
reared and highly educated, and one too
who had practiced the busy calling of the
law; yet in few years of isolation the
bright mind had become faded, and the
human look of the face changed almost
to the blank expression of sheep, while
a dog under the same circumstances had
retained his perfect individuality. Jacks
eyes sparkled like diamonds. His char
acter was marked by intelligence, faith
fitness and affection. He would lie with
his head between his paws, and his sharp
nose flat on the ground, turning up the
whites of his eyes to watch US as we
talked. Now and again he would heave
deep sigh of satisfaction, as much as to
say, 'sThe old man is all right tonight;
he's got some one that can talk to him. y
l questioned the shepherd about his
past life. 1t seems he had been educated
at Eton; then became a fast youth in
London, where he studied for
the law, and in short time rose
to be a successful barrister. BE
had married early, and had one
child, daughter, born to him. At
ter two years of welded life he lost his
wife and child. Despairingly he took
to drink, and, being weak and desperate,
went down hill and lost his position;
that once lost in London is seldom re-
gained. Not so in America. Here, when
a man falls, if he has tie strength to
brace up again he goes to the West, and
rubbing up against new society absorbs
fresh magnetism and recuperstes at once;
but London Is compact: the Englishman
hates TO leave his home; his failings are
known, and if he remains they are 5ung
in his face. There is no escape for him;
aud, as his friends shun him, he falls
deeper into disgrace. This was the
GrapbIs that had beset the shepherd, who,
having e. sensitive ana Pgflzlps5- WEEK.
mind. succumbed to the pressure that
him. And so after a time,
Nth broken spirit, he left England and
anne to the colonies. he practiced law
n Melbourne for some time successfully,
,at the old habit came back upon him,
md, as he could not resist temptation, he
buried himself on this station. This
sas the tale he told me, aud there could
,e no doubt of its truth. After he had
inished be turned his strange, far-off
ook on me again, and said: care you
swell, | think am little. Most
,eople are, if they would own it, said
: Il didn't used to be, said he with
sigh; SHUT since I've lived here I seem
o have become so, and its all Jacks
aultn The dog, not looking up, beat
us tail on the ground gently, as if to
ay: "Yes, blame it all on me; it's al
ny fault
81 have never seen anything ghostly
IT mysterious myself, but 1 think Jack
Ices sometimes. When we're alone
nd God knows that's often enough
le'll start up. and look around slowly as
his eyes were following something in
he hut; at these times ne viii give
ow, strange kind Of moan, aud, putting
lis tail between his legs, seem to be !
pecring up into my face with |
N enquiring stare, as if he said: Don't |
Tou see it, tool'" The dog during this
ecital kept slowly beating his tail. as if |
lie were indorsiug every word his master
aid. ''After noticing this with the
log" said the shepherd, 81 called to
mind the strange look l used to see in
he beautiful face of my baby when she
vas only six months old. The little
hing would sometimes stare at vacancy,
nd then smile sweetly and turn its head |
way as if it were following something |
just as that dog does. What's your
opinion of this sort of thinga Do you
mink the spirits of those we loved in life 4
an return and stand beside usl'
/ told him that his question wasa diff |
iult one to answer; that different people 1
leld different opinions on these mysteri-
nus matters, and the chances were that
lobody had hit it quite right yet.
Well, saEf nv, siis:I vs.----------, I |
,now whoit is that the dog sees when
we're alone F"
It was now getting late, and the shep |
leFd insisted on my taking his couch, an
I'D canvas cot With plain gray blanket
pread upon it; sbs as was fSsiss siifs'l, I
accepted the .o6er, and lay down for
iigh5s rest. Ny companion stretched
is tail figure on the grass outside. The
nv climate of Australia admits of this;
utlt y no GdH-ci III 1iCcpAuS VI VIZ
the chances are there would not
,e drop of dew during the night, and
hat the grass In the morning would be
; dry as nay Jack lay down between
IS, and seemed, by one or two satisfac-
DRY signs that escaped him, to be quite
Iappy.
l was awake for some time, and hap
,ening to look toward my new ac9uaint-
nee, found that he was lying upon his
Jack with the moon shining full upon
lis pale face. I had heard that it was
dangerous in this climate to sleep in the
People had been known to
70 mad, or to have been struck with par
lysis, for committing this indiscretion.
called to him to move into the shadow,
tut he did not heed me; so, thinking he
lad dozed off, let him alone.
The strangeness Of the scene, together
With the strong tea, seemed to Danish
Ieep from me, and I must have been
here an hour with my eyes closed, but {
quite awake, when presently heard
omething stirring. and, opening my
yes, saw the shepherd sitting up in the /
doorway with his head resting in his /
lands. After a time be arose and went
tut into the night air. He seemed IN
sasy, and began restlessly to pace up and /
iown in front Of the hut. The dog re-