The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-18


new ways"
Mr. Little swung forward on his
crutches, and Mrs. Darte followed
him. There was proud and tremulOus
eagerness in his voice and manner as
he reached the corner of the house and
cried:
Here he is! Come, MAZE, N give
yer paw to lady"
A large yellow, smooth dog with
square, black muzzle and light hazel
eyes rose from his launches and came
forward wagging his tail. not wagging
effusively, but with polite welcome.
lie held up his paw, but as Mrs. Darte
did not take it he put it down again.
He glanced at his master, advanced his
| head, gave one lick of his tongue upon
his masters dingy hand, then stood
waiting, smiling little, soldering
somewhat, and having very pleasant
look in his eyes. Yet these eyes had
the appearance of possessing other
powers of expression.
A half peck basket with cover
which was tied down with a string,
stood on the ground near where the
dog had been sitting. The wooden
handle of this basket showed unmis-
taxable evidence of having been much
carried in the dogs mouth.
whats in that?"
As Mrs. Darte made this inquiry she
pointed one finger at the basket.
"JEE my sweet fagroot, You know"
was the answer. IT'S what | pcddle
good deal this time er year. Folks
don't care much about it, though, but
| it don't cost me nothin' to git il if |
dig it myself But it always did
most kill me to dig it, N my backs SO
now l can't do it no more. l told
Maize couldn't when dug that mess.
Sometimes l have pins n thread n
needles in there. Majc he carries the
barskit--I couldn't with my two
crutches, you see. But faint so much
cause he carries the barslit either t
l couldn't git long 'thout him. It's
jest cause"
The man paused. His poor face
worked. It's cause l love him. l tell
you what it's Mrs. Darte. l don't
want ter live 'thout Maize. l don't
want ter live much, anyway, but do
hope l sh'll stan it's longs MAZE
does" The high voice cracked on the
last few words. The dog moved closer
to his friend and looked up at him.
What is it?" mis- eyes asked.
Mrs. Darte did not speak. Her face
was not precisely as it was when she
opened the door to Lemmy Little.
And she had forgotten the burned
apple on the cook stove.
Il s'pose he eats as much as a man."
she finally remarked.
mo, he don't, he don't" eagerly;
hes real small eater, he is You're
a real small eater, amt you, Maje?"
The dog tapped his tail on the
ground, then he yawned. He might
have been intimating that there were
the best of reasons why he eats so
little, He had ranged up by his mas
ter's side and sat down as if to indi-
cate that he and the man belonged to
one party and the woman to another
"Ill tell We what les do" said Mr.
Little, suddenly. You let US in, MAZE
N me. You jes' femme have my share
of victuals, n I'll share with MAZE.
You en- jes measure my victuals if you
want to, n l won't take nothin' more;
honest l won't. N I'll feed MAZE
outer my share. He en- sleep long of
me. He always does. You see, 'twon't
cost town err cent Now, will we do it?
If you don't d know whatll become
of US. l b'long to this poorhouse, but
l swow l won't stay where they won't
take my dorg. Ill jes' lay down n die,
m be glad to, if they won't take my
dorg."
AS the quivering voice ceased, the
owner of it leaned his crutches against
the house and sat down on the ground
beside Maize, who Immediately pat his
head on the mans ragged knee.
These moves We're not made dramat-
ically, but as if this were the way the
two warfarers rested when they be-
came weary on their journeys from
town to town. Mr.. Little looked up
at the woman. His eyes were bleared
and pale in the vivid sunshine. lie
had his hand on the dogs head, and
the fingers of the hand were moving
restlessly up and down.
His toothless mouth hung open as he
turned his head upward Some sort of
d pIIIdtic dtlclIlpI tlI du dSSlDlDll Oh
chccrfulness made him smile, and he
said:
Guess if you'd ever had er dorg, n
nothin' else, you'd know bout me m
Maize. N he's ben wuss off nor me,
cause he amt had only me, n I've
had him."
The man now gazed down at the dog
again, and all the blurred lines of his
face trembled.
Wall" said Mrs. Darte, suddenly
and resolutely, Il tell you what It's.
I've made up my mind to take you N
the dorg N ii the town don't like it
they may jest turn me n Abram out.
That's all there is about that
Mr. Little glanced up at the speaker
with pathetic brightness Then he
quickly clasped the dogs head be-
tween his hands.
Here that. Maje?" he asked
whats mines yourn, anyway" lie
raised his eyes again and said, firmly:
But you'll see t the town won't be
out er cent by my poor Maize" The
Chap Book.