Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-01-08
4 DANGEROUS COMPANION.

Mrs. Martha Wadsworth. in her home on
the New York frontier, was coddling her
baby and thinking of her Connecticut
home.
Pausing in her meditations, she listened
moment and then glanced from the win
ter sunshine on the floor to the little Dutch
clock on the shelf, saying aloud, why.
only o'clock and the cows coming home
already Jack said he had put their fod-
der in the little pasture where they would
be sheltered from the wind"
She rose and went to the window. muir
muring, perhaps wolf has frightened
them. Well, the gates are open and they
have gone into the yard"
Baby, reused by her exclamation, uttered
a sleepy protest at being walked from his
nap Tor even the most astonishing cause.
so, sitting down, she hushed him to sleep
again and then went on with her knitting
saying, sagely, Il need not worry, if it is
anything it wont come into the clearing
while it is daylight, and Jack will be home
before it is dark
Meanwhile the sunlight had slipped qui-
city away from the little window, the fire
light grew redder and redder, and the
shadows darkened as the early winter twi-
light came on. Mrs. Wadsworth rolled up
her knitting and put the bread in the oven.
Baby had walked and was growing restless,
so she took him up, pausing in her plans
for Jacks supper to assure her ''little
man" that he should have his dinner
yes, he should. Glancing at the frost
gathering on the window, she added: Its
cold and he'll be terrible hungry. but the
biscuits will be hot and I'll just cook up
some eggs to eat with them. Now | won
u hat | xrifl I Il,
morning Yes, | left them in the barn.
Dear me, they'll be frozen. l must run
right out and get Them
She put baby down hastily, hung a string
of spoois from the cradle top, then set ii
rocking, and while he struggled with sturdy,
Intellectual clutches to grasp the swing
wonder, she caught up the little red blan-
ket, threw it over her head and started for
the barn.
The trees stretched lace work of bare
branches against the golden tinted sky, the
crescent moon was a silver thread, all
tempting her to linger, but the frosty air
hurried her on down the snow trodden
path to the barn. She heard Bruno's step
pit-pat, pit-patting at her heels, and put
out her hand, saying cheerfully, mice old
fellow" but instead of responding with a
touch of his cold nose, he seemed to pause
and draw hack. Yet Martha, without
looking behind her, stepped briskly on to
the barn. As she neared it she again spoke
to her four-footed escort: 81 forgot about
the cattle, Bruno, / am just as well pleased
that you came. Let's hurry"
She half paused at the door, then, with
an uneasy laugh, forced herself to go in.
1t was as dark as a pocket inside, but
she remembered just where she had left the
eggs, on the meal bin in the corner. Feel
ing for them, her hand struck the basket,
and picking it up she hurried up, feeling a
vague sense of danger.
She walked with rapid footstep, for it
was pretty dark and-but then she heard
Bruno's steps behind her, and with him she
was safe. However, she was glad to reach
the house. and running up the steps flung
open the door, and turned back with Joy
full, "COme in, Bru-"
But the words died on her lips, for it was
not Bruno that she saw, but a long crouch
ing figure with flaming eyes The real
Bruno sprang growing from the fire.
Quick as a flash, she crowded to the door
and dropped the heavy bar; then sprung
and slammed and barred the massive win
dow shutters; then stood with set teeth
listening to BrunO's savage baying and for
something else. What was it that had
been following her so steadily, so stealthily
in the dim light? What should she do?
Were they safe now?
She looked at baby. He was kicking up
his heels, happy as kitten Bruno had
stopped barking and only went from win
dow to door, growing deep in his throat,
as if from the memory of an enemy
Should she let him out? No! if he should
be killed there would be no protection for
herself-and then her husband She Or
dered Bruno to lie down and he obeyed,
but with watchful eyes and deep growls.
Taking down the shotgun she loads it
with buckshOt, trying to keep under this
terrible fear at her heart by saying: "He
has his rifle and must see tit isn't very
dark yet"
She had hardly finished loading her gun
when there arose a sudden bawlng among
the cattle. Bruno sprang baying to the
door Should she let him go? He might
be able to protect the cattle-Or he might
be killed, and then how could she give the
alarm to Jack? These thoughts had hardly
passed through her mind when a rifle shot
rang out above the other sounds. Her
husband!
Quickly opening the door she let Bruno
out, then stood trembling and sick with her
hand on the bar, Mnutes-they seemed
hours-passed, and then firm step came
creaking over the snow. In moment the
door flew open and Jack burst in full of
excitement, but instead of paying attention
10 his joyous exclamation, "Oh, Matte,
come and see what I've shot" she dropped
on the floor and cried. This was all the
answer that her bewildered husband got to
kisses and petting and protestations, that
"It's all right, little woman. Why, there's
nothing to cry for" was 81 thought it
was Bruno, d-and-oh, dear! III new
er go out to the barn again."
But she did the next morning, just to see
her escort of the previous evening, and it