The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-06
AMAI)O.

had not seen Sawyer-"Cal," as we
called him-since we parted at Harvard
upon commencement day, when, full of
fervor and the class punch of 81, we
swore to keep one another in sight.
Cal went home and into leather, and
to desk in Wall street. Now, five
years later, had almost run over my
old college mate in my nightly mad rush
tor the L. seized him by the arm and
bore him along. postponing apologies
until had him packed into my little
up town flat and introduced to my wife,
who was the dearest woman ON earth to
me still, and who knew could comfort
and console the tall Californian as /
could not. for | had already discovered
that Sawyer had come east in pursuit OF
the einige Weibliche.
When dinner was over my wife slipped
away to see If the baby was really sleep
ing as only such "bald headed tyrants"
can, leaving us unnecessary and ire
sponsible men smoking and reminiscenc-
ing in my den of by O.. ....s =
Suddenly blow on the door startled
Sawyer almost out of his chair.
His majesty wishes to come in"
said, rising and opening the door.
What a magnificent brute!" exclaim-
ed Sawyer.
"Not brute, if You please, Cal, but
my friend. Amado, kindly shake hands
with my old friend here and then COM
pose yourself. You know your are
rather pervasive in a room Of this size"
My mastif gravely did as he was bid
and then settled himself at my side with
a thud that made the things shake on
the table.
That's about the only uncivilized
thing about him." said, laughing. He
still remembers that his wild ancestors
had to make their bed in the wilderness
and crushed the tangle of vine and root
under them"
Sawyer, who was quite as much Of an
animal lover as myself, knelt down be-
side the dog, fairly running over his
points OF beauty and of breeding-his
coat of delicate fawn. silvery on flank
md shoulder; his breadth of chest and
strength of loin. the velvet blackness Of
Iis muzzle, the whiteness Of his teeth,
.he clear brown of his eyes, the pure,
Itch scarlet of his tongue, the black
markings of the mouth and the sinewy
,,ower of his straight, wide paws,
Where did you find such magnif-
mt dog, you enviable fellow" asked
.wyer as he seated himself and re-
GIFTED his cigar.
Dear old chum! He is getting pas
sive and rheumatic. I've owned him now
,hree years, a1d I've never yet regretted
.%s small fortune | had to pay to get
~ from the former owner-a person
,nolly unworthy to possess even pug.
mt it is for better reasons than points
"a pedigree that he is beloved next to
re boy, and even the boy can't put his
aose out of joint. He was the dens ex
machina that gave me my wife,"
''Ahl That sounds interesting" said
Sawyer. Tell me the whole story. I've
runfided to you my plight. and You won't
Ind better listener"
l had never before felt the least in-
s:iination to babble of my own affairs,
Isast or present, but If | could soothe and
distract the mind of this old classmate
that was plainly my duty. Very well,
then, here goes for it. Yon will find it
~ mild as , homeopathic pellet, but it
ssas interesting enough to me-" said
mis- with well affected indifference, bat
yeas really eager TO begin.
Margaret - my wife-and | had
'f-rown up together in little. town in
{z..a 81
naps-everythiug pastoral and religious,
Ill church and no chaperons--where
iae boys and girls were allowed the ut
saost liberty :. liberty it must be ad
rnitted, they did not abuse, but used and
enjoyed with sort of sturdy sanity and
self respect impossible in this sophisti-
Gated, crowded city of conventicnalities
We--she and i-Alived side by side and
neid long and confidential conversations
over the stiff, green wire fence that sep
arated our grape arbor from her bed of
tea roses. | saved the last sweet, frosty
bunch for her, arsi at the first chill hint
OF winter helped her cover her roses
with straw, making their tall stalks in-
TO queer, angular scarecrows for Jack
Frost's terrifying. IL -
Ny mother was New Englander,
and the thirst for knowledge of books
aud men that smoldered in her breast
famed into power for her only son, and
SO was sent to Harvard. While still q
freshman ! came to regard my native
town as the vanishing point in the per
spcctive OF an inglorious past. With
what q lofty smile should have received
the-hint that the dark eyed little giri
whom | had left to tie her roses alone
: might one day amply avenge all m,
sEghtst
II concealed my boyish delight in life
~rsisr the most pronounced and classic
.indifferentism, and wonder even nov
how ever my mother could put up witt
me. Ny old friends laughed at my air
and my reformed accent, secretly dislik
ing and envying me. | naturally fount
Il much pleasanter to spend my vaca
tions in the soothing atmosphere Of be