The morning call., 1893-09-03

was lending a very divided attention to
our conversation. keeping one eye on his
daily companion. Suddenly one of a group
of children further on, calling 10 Stop.
threw a chip into the water. He was about
to plunge in after it, when Rene de Pom
tignae, displaying the most inexplicable
rage, shouted, Here. Stop. to heel. sir !"
and then started toward the group with
such an expression of countenance that
the children took to their heels in terror.
while we exchanged chances and shook
our heads sorrowfully.
Seeing further chase useless Rene re-
ioined u.s. After a few moments silence
Jean de Ropceray said, expOstulatingly:
Really, De PODtignac, you are ridiculous
with that dog. Why don't Won let him
amuse himself sometimes? You will kill
him with too much care IL you keep on"
To our stupefaction Rene replied violently,
vet with tote of fear in his voice, IN. de
Ronceray. the dog belongs to me and l
propose 10 treat him as l see fit Ii you
have any satisfaction to demand you know
where TO find me. GOod-morning. gentle
menP Then whistlilg to his dog. the in-
nocent cause of this unlooked-for anger,
he strobe away across the dunes.
For some seconds after his abrupt de-
parture there was an uDcOmforta BILE
silence. none of US being certain as TO how
De Ronceray had taken the affr6nt, but he
soon put us at our ease by observing care
lessly:
After ALL it is only De Pontignacl'
He expressed our thoughts exactly.
Rene was very much in the wrong, but
then st is only De Pontignac and we
changed the subject.
But Rene had not heard the last from
me. / had been to college with him, and
since first knowing him had on more than
ore occasion proven myself his friend.
His senior by year or two, | was sin
cerely attached to the young man, and
determined to question him regarding his
unaccountable conduct.
He offered me an opportunity himself a
day or so later by asking If De ROneeray
intended calling him out. l replied by
jeans own phrase: You know it was
only De RoncerayI $50 he does not in
tend to? am very sorry" And when L
expostulated with him he continued: ut
is true, Dugley. the only creature IN the
world that prevents me putting a bullet
through my head is Stop. If anything
should happen TO that dog | would not
hesitate an instant" Then seeing me
look at him curiously, he went on: II
know you think me crazy, and / dare say
after I've told you why | value Stop you
will think me more crazy than ever. But
don't mind. You will understand. any,
! wav.
You know collies have very strong
| likes and disikes. From the very first
| day after our wedding he," nodding to-
ward the dog, who was lying quietly near.
attached himself entirely to Marie and
Marie to him; They were inseparable.
! What plays and rUmps they used TO have
together. and how | laughed at them! He
had given himself wholly to Marie. [
used to say DO longer had place in his
affection. She could do anything she
chose with him, and repaid his devotions
so well that was often half inclined to
be jealous.
AFTER two years without a cloud, of
such perfect happiness | often wonder,
now, If 1t was / who lived then, Marie fell
| i'll. During the six weeks of her Illness
! Stop never left his corner of her room.
but lay there with something like super
| human comprehension in his eyes, suffer-
ing with her. And then-you know-came
the endl For two weeks all became a
blank-then the first thing / remember
was sitting in the library in the evening
! just at the hour Marie used to come and
stop my work. Stop was in his corner.
his head on one Of Mare's shippers. watch
that he shared my grief. l called him TO
me aud taking his head between my
hands-the head that Marie had so
lOyed-I talked To him of her we both
mourned-and we wept together.
"Three nights later was sitting at my
desk; the clock had just struck. and with
my head buried in my hands / was thin K
ing how used to welcome that hour that
heralded Marie's coming. Suddenly
heard the door open; who had entered
| Why does the dog spring forward, deaf To
my voice. with all the demonstrations of
the most frantic joy, fawning and lpaping
up as only Marie could make him? ST.
leDtly / watched him follow some one, who
was unseen by me, TO Marle's chair. And
| there, Just as before she left US, sit down
and rest his head upon some ones knee,
and beneath tie caressing touch of an in
visible hand close his eyes. 1t was Marie.
Marie was there, close TO me. was sure.
Going over Itook my accustomed place be-
side her, and there. with Stop. we stayed
talking late into the night.
do you understand now? That dogs