The Bossier banner., 1892-02-25

DL l
past the house, and they Just showed |
lne that the front door was half open. |
1 must have those doors closed at |
night, thought /, as / rode into the |
stable, and taking off Toms saddle l |
threw him some hay and walked back
to the cottage.
''You all are aware how carefully a
man walks when he enters house
where year-old baby is. Indeed, it is |
self-preservation in many cases. And
in this instance / did what many a
father has done before me. l took off
my shoes on the doorstep. My room
was the frst one off the hall and en-
tered it on tiptoe and stole alongside
the bed. There was a peculiar little
wheeling noise coming from one side
of the bed. 1t was pitch dark in the
room, but knew that the baby was
there. AT first l thought would go
into my wife's room in the front of the
house, but as l slowly undressed /
argued that her placing the baby in
my bed proved that she had had pref
ty bad evening, so decided to crawl
in beside the youngster and not dis
turb the mother. 1 undressed noise
lessly. and, donning my nightgown, lay
down on the opposite side of the bed
from the baby. AS the night was
warm did not pull even the sheet over
me. Buster still kept up loud breath
ing, but it didn't disturb me, though as
fell asleep remember thinking that
he seemed more snuffiy than usual.
light" A weight had fallen across
my chest. l didn't make this exclama-
pater-familias too long for that. Half
awake, / realized that Buster had
thrown himself across my body. l
slowly pulled one arm out, then took
hold of him gently to lift him off with
out awakening him. "Strange how
long and hairy Busters head is"
thought l.
"Did you ever read Alice in Wonder
land?
"Well, had much the same sensa-
tions as are described in that book,
for. as slowly passed my hand along
my baby's head, it seemed as if it was
drawn out for yards. At last l reached
the end. What teeth he has, thought l.
Just then the teeth curled them
selves up.
Whether it was that motion or not
I never shall now, but in an instant
| was as wide-awake as ever | was, and
in the same second / realized that the
| baby was not in bed with me, but that
the heavy object that lay across my
chest was the hind paw of a large ami
NAL.
81 had sense enough to lie perfectly
still. How could have mistaken that
hoarse breathing for the baby's foolish
little snore? Just because l said to
myself that it was the baby.
Il can't describe my feelings as
lay there. First, grew cold and my
skin seemed to shrivel up in horror. My
nerves contracted so that it was posi-
lively painful Then came the reaction,
and the perspiration poured all over
my body. 1t was pitch dark, and, to
add to my horror, l had forgotten the
lay of the land My head didn't work
| Just right couldn't locate the door.
| Try as might, it was impossible for
me to remember which side of the
room my bed faced.
''Of course, the only thing to do was
to lie still until there was enough light
to see the door, and IN the meantime to
pray that the object beside me might
not be reused by any noise in the
house. had no idea what time it was.
| had no idea at all except that some
enormous beast occupied part of my
bed and that heavy, curly paw, with
claws on the end, lay over my body.
''I believe was going crazy when
heard baby sob little. Yes, he was in
my wife's room. How happy I felt
when | heard that noise, for didn't
know but the animal had made meal
of Buster before it lay down, Then
feared that the baby would cause the
brute beside me to awake, but at that
moment his mothers soothing voice
quieted him. The words of Mrs. Paul
never seemed so sweet, never sc
musical.
But all was again still except the
breathing of that beast. At this time
had lain in one position, not even dar
ing to move my hand that rested on the
fur of the paw. 1t was growing cold
the early morning chill filled the air
and there 1 lay uncovered and in &
clammy sweat There was no more
noise Of course / have no idea how
long | remained. l counted one thou
sand breaths taken by the animal
then, strange to say. felt sleepy-ex
haustion was doing for me. That mus
not be. Iccllected my faculties agair
and once moro was in abject terror.
"a faint glow appeared at the sid'
of the room. 1t was CLINT of dawI
that lighted the space at the window
Only few moments more, | said t.
myself Slowly the objects in the room
began to stand out, and finally coul'
outline the door which was opposite
the foot of the bed. It was standin!
half open. l waited a few minute
longer until more light came in, thel
seizing the paw threw it from me ant
with one bound I was out of the bed
Another carried me into the hall, ant
with bang pulled the door shut, AM
| -, 5;l S1 baord a SavaOa frrOvl AM