The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-18
"ME N MAZE. "
Tho Two Found a Resting Place
Together at Last.

"Mebby You don't take dorgs here,
anyway"
The woman was holding the door so
that her figure might just fill the
opening, and as she had very thin
figure the door had an inhospitable APP
pearance. Before she gave any an
swer she craned her head forward and
examined space for few yards about
the man.
Il don't see no dcrg," she remar lled.
80, you can't see him, he's ont to the
corner of the house, settin' down.
told him to Sc down n wait for me"
Having said this, the man adjusted
his clutches SO that ne might rest on
them more comfortably while he
waited. He was used to waiting.
He was watching the woman's face.
She had pressed her thin lips together
while she was considering, and when
Mrs. parte's lips were pressed to-
gether it was as if she had only a sort
of cut in her face through which
she might take her food.
Il don't expect we're called upon to
support no dorgs," she said, at last;
''the town don't provide nothin' for
dorgs, anyway. Besides" here she
paused, but added, almost Immediate
ly-"our cats dretful 'fraid of dorgs.
She BRUSHES all up horrid. She'd like
iy 5 not run away, m | d. know what
we should do She's a regular ratter,
n the rats we hev here are jest be-
you'd words. l don't see why the town
don't do sumthin' bout 'em. tell
Abram if he tended to things S he'd
say sumthin' bout them rats to .own
mectin'. l tell him l wish the select
men could see our hog pail most any
time when it's settin' out there by the
pen. It's jest sight with them rats
tails in a ring right round the top of
it, N they with their heads down in
the swill"
This seemed irrelevant, but the man
did not interrupt. His faded old blue
eyes were fixed on the woman's face.
Somehow those eyes made her uneasy.
She wished they were not so mild and
50 gentle.
When she stopped speaking he said
that he knew some folks didn't like
dorgs; they were afraid they'd run
mad in the summer cause twas hot,
n in the winter cause twas cold.
But | amt 'fraid to risk that" he con-
cluded.
There was silence for moment dur
ing which Baltimore oriole in the
cherry tree close by tluted ont his song
and then flew off, making a swift line
of brilliant color as he went. The old
man turned and gazed after the fly
ing beauty. He smiled slightly as he
gazed.
Them birds are lot of company for
me this time of year" he said. Il
guess they've built up in the top
branch-though mostly they like ell
lums for their nests"
AS ne still continued to stand there
Mrs Darte could not quite make up
her mind to shut the door on him.
Presently he turned toward her again
This is the almshouse where
blong," he began, hesitatingly. I'm
towned here, anyway, N I've bout
made up my mind can't take care of
myself no more. I'm gittin' old"
Mrs. Darte just now heard a Kissing
sound that told her the dried apple
Sowing Oil OiIC hIbCllCH SIONt was DOll-
ing over. She felt sure that the half
witted pauper inmate that she had
left to watch would spill the apple
when she tried to move the kettle
back.
But here was old Lemmy Little, who
didn't seem to know enough to go
away Of course they couldn't axe
his dog. 1t was ridiculous, just like
him to think they could. And her
mother had always said that a good
sized dog cost as much to keep as a
pig She told herself that she hadn't
any right to use the towns money to
provide for useless animal like that.
81 don't see how can, no way" she
said.
Il tell you what" exclaimed Mr..
Little, frightening, you jest come
out'n see Maize, n p'r'aps you'll change
your mind. He's such good Teller.
You can't help liliin' him, nobody
can't"
Il guess I've seen him." was the re.
Spouse, the speaker showing no enthu-
siasm at the prospect of making ac-
quaintance with Maize. I've seen him
goin' along with you"
But you IN ust come out"-the OLD
eyes were still bright-"'n' speak tc
him He's the best felleryou ever seen.
Why"-herc the stubbly, weak chin
quivered slightly-"I amt ben 'thout
him day nor light for ten year, n ten
year ago this spring he was pup
They was goin' ter drown him. l saved
his life. | got him way from them
two cusses of boys. took off the rope
m the rock they'd tied to his neck
Twas the best job ever done when !
saved that pup. He's ben mine ever
since. My wife she died, N my son he
fn'ly died of that wound he got when
the factory blowed up, you know N
amt ben fit for nothin' for d'linow
now long. I've got ter give up ped
dim on count of my back and legs
knew this was the poorhouse where
b'longed. I'd come here fore only
KEEP thinliin' how 'twould er made my
wife feel if she'd known it. She was
real high strung, Abby was one OF
them Kimberlys over 10 North Dixby
you know"
AS he said this the old man drew
himself up on his CrutchoS and nuno