Telegram-herald., 1890-04-08
RALPH, THE ROVER.
The Old Settlers Story Has q Fit
ting Climax

! 20 OiI OONl%Ci > OtOFy S100 % a.
ting Climax.
''Here, Ralph! Ralph Hi. you scamp
Come back here, SIR There, he's gone
OF for TWO Or three days tramp again
Beg pardon, sir. / didn't see you. l
was that busy calling the dog, reckon
nearly walked over you. The matter,
sir? Well, it's that dog, Ralph You
heard NE call him, l dare say. A
grander old follow you couldn't find in
a days travel. but he has one bad habit
Most humans have moro than that and
! amt sure IN my own mind that he
amt human.
The habitp'' 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. Hes
a 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, snifiin', sniff
fin' along and kind of castin' his eye
back 70 let me know he's hearin' me but
not heedin' me. Just the same way he
acts every time he goes OF. 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, l don't
believe the ones livin' could steal him,
or fasten him up ever so tight he
couldn't get back, ever sinoe-an'
right queer way got him, too.
lis he mine?' Well, yes, in one way;
an then no, IN another. 1t was queer
story, anyway.
'''Tell ii sir? Well, if had time
might. All, thank you, sir! A fine gen-
tleman like you can afford TO be gener-
Gus.
Now, let me see! As near as l re-
mem Der, it was juno, two year ago, as L
come downstairs rather early one morn
ing, 10 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'-ior 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.
We'll, quick as a fash she came run
min back to me with her face kind OF
white an scared.
"'Oh, Jiml como out here to the door.
Quickl says she.
AN when ] followed her, blessed if
don't see the FUNNIEST sight ever did;
an there l 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 quietlike as a bedroom;
then the posts here an at the corners
form good rests for the back. Well,
anyhow, good or bad, right here, a lean
in back in the most uncomf blest way,
was the trampiest lookin' tramp ever
SAW, sound asleep An on the seat be-
side him, with his head on the mans S
lap, was tho dandiest setter / ever e.
pect 20 see. A vallyble dog, sir, too, as
| knows soon as l set eyes on him.
always know good dog bein' rather in
the sportin' line myself; an this was
genuine Gordon setter.
"Well, 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' mo
not TO make so much noise; an the man,
all rags an tstters, yawned an set up.
An then, seem Mollie right behind me,
I'll be shot, sir, IL he didn't stand up,
take off bis piece of hat to her, an
begin to sppolergise for settin' on our
doorstep. Said he'd been overcome
with fateeg' My eyel for the manners
of him could hardly believe he weren't
a swell cove, dressed in the latest fash
ion, and full-blooded stopper at the
gate waitin' for him.
81 know | must have stared a. him
considerable. but bless you, kollie
didn't spend no time stsrin' till she'd
asked him into the kitchen, an when
the breakfast was ready she gave him,
an his dog too, good one
''His feet were blistered with valkin'
in shoes that left half Of his feet out
doors an half in; an "a he could scarce
ly take a step we made him stay with
Us day or so till they got better; but
be couldn't bear Il, an the only reason.
think, was that ne Was afraid of bur
denim us But Lsrdl he did as much
for - ss we did for him, I'll be bound.
lie filed the yard with kindlin's, an
believe hed a chopped al the wood IN
the village II Mollie hsdn't seen bis
hands al blistered an blsedin That
give him away. sure. "A gentleman
born says 20 myself when see those
hands.
Then nothin would do but Mollie
must doctor an bsndags them up for
him. Al while she was doin' i she
heard a sound like child trVin' 20 cry.
an he Just bends down an kisses her
hand. an then he says. xiRd ~ io~ ar
ohoked-like. more Ike = g7ean ths1
words. -. mother
An the way the littie kid took % him
vas canton. A mite Ike - vas-ua
sense a. All. onlT prokere5 - his face
ard cried when went near hin. He'd
Smile upin Roberts face gthst Fas shat
Re tod "a - cali him an hoi5 On % his
finger ike ~ was his nurse
~Now, - be sara sir. three 5aTs doa's
see- much in iif.. ar veull nay -