The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-05-14

ing: Here's Sarah Ann. kiss her, too"
The bear, as if he understood the
words. pressed his nose to the face of
the rubber doll, but quickly took it
away again with a grunt of disgust. As
he did 50 his yes caught sight of the
lunch basket. In an instant he had
pokcd his nose into it and, with a grunt
of delight, began to devour its contents.
Here. at last, he had found just what he
was searching for.
Maud was too much excited over the
big doggie' and Sarah AIMS expected
ride to notice for a time what the bear
was up to. But the moment she caught
sight of her fathers fast vanishing din
ncr, she made n grab for the basket.
crying out angrily: stop. stop, you
big. naughty dog! Stop, that's my pas
dinner, You sha'n't have It,"
But bruin paid no attention what
ever to the words of the angry girl. He
held the basket firmly between his
huge forepavs. with his head bent close
down to it. while his great. red jaws.
full of long. sharp teeth, made quick
work of the generous lunch within.
In vain little Maud pulled and tugged
at his long, shaggy hair in her endeav-
nrs to get his head out of the basket.
In vain she threatened and cried. She
was as helpless as d leaf in a whirl-
wind. The bear cared nOt at all for
her pulling. her threatening. nor her
crying. He was having a glorious feast.
and never for a moment did he pause
,,,s,l a.. It,. --~ Il NJ AL L.
ner had vanished down his capacious
red throat. Then with a contcnted
grunt he stretched himself ont on the
ground for a nap. Doubtless he had
been on a long journey and was very
tired.
Maud by this time had pulled and
tugged until her arms and legs ached.
and had cried and scolded and threat
cned until she could hardly speak
for WEAKNESS So what did she do
when the bcar stretched him.
self out to go to sleep but throw her
self YEARLY down by his side. saying:
Won big, naughty dog. I'm goin' TO
stay right here It'll my pa comes an tell
him on you an he'll whip YOU. Won't
he. Sarah Ann?' and closely hugging
the doll to her bosom the curly head of
the tired girl sank down, even as she
uttered the last words. upon the shaggy
side of the great, black bear.
In the meantime, Mr.. Ovel was busily
ut work in the south clearin'.' The
o hour came and went, but it did
not bring his little girl with the ex-
pectcd warm dinner. Mr.. Ovel had
worked very hard and was very
hungry. At last he seated himself on
the trunk of a tree which he had Just
fclled and. wiping the perspiration from
his brow. muttered: II sv~un, | guess if
mother knew how hungry l was she'd
hustle up a little more" Then he took
out his watch and glanced at it. One
an Maud not here vet. Some
thin must have happened. I'd better
go to til house an see what's the mat
ter; besides I'm ALFRED hungry an |
can get my dinner then" and the man, |
with an anxious look upOn his rugged
face, picked up his ak and FASTENED
down the path which led to his home.
lie had almost reached the oak tree
when, suddenly, he stopped stock still
and stared straight before him, while
his face became as white as milk. He
saw a sight that would make any
fathers face pale. At the foot of the
tree lay a large bcar sound asleep and
by his side. with her golden curls
mingling with his rough. black hair,
lay Maud, asleep or dead. the Mortified
could not tell which from where