The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-08-29

paw to lady"
A large, yellow, smooth dog with a
square, black muzzle and light hazel
eyes rose from his launches and came
forward wagging his tail, not Vagging
etfusively, but with polite welcome. |
He 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 and gave one lick of his tongue
upon his masters dingy hand, then stood
waiting, smiling a little, SOLDERING
somewhat, and having very pleasant
look in his eye. Yet these eyes had the
appearance of possessing other powers
of expression. A half-peck basket with
a 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 unnistak-
able evidence of having been much car
ried in the dogs mouth.
"What's in that?"
AS Mrs. Darte made this inquiry she
pointed one finger at the basket.
"It's my sweet flagroot, you know"
was the answer "It's what peddle a
good deal this time er year. Folks don't
care much about it, though, but it don't
cost me nothin' to git it if dig it my
self But it always did most kill me to
dig it, m my backs so now I can't do
it no more. / told Maize couldn't when
I dug that mess. Sometimes have pins,
m thread m needles in there. Maize he
carries the barskit-I couldn't with my
two crutches, you see. But 'taint so
much cause he carries the barskit either,
It couldn't git long 'thout him. It's
jest cause"
The man paused. His poor face
worked "It's cause love him. Itell
you what it's, Mrs. Darte, don't want
ter live 'thout Maize. I don't want ter
live much anyway, but do hope 1 sh'll
stan it IS 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?" his 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.
81 s'pose he eats as much as man?"
she remarked finally.
NO. he don't, he don't" eagerly,
she's a real small eater, he is. You're a
real small eater, amt you, MajeP"
The dog tapped his tail on the ground,
then he yawned. He might have been
intimating that there was the best OF
reasons why he eats so little. He had
ranged up by his masters side and sat
down as if to indicate that he and the
man belonged to one party and the
woman to another.
"Pll tell ye what les do" said Mr..
Little suddenly. "You let US in, Maize
| ~. Ho1, cboY
!, of victuals, m I'll share with MAZE. You
en- jes measure my victuals if you want
to, m I won't take nothin' more, honest
I won't. m I'll feed Maize outer my
share. N he en- sleep long of me-
| He always does. You see, 'twon't cost
the town er cent, not er cent. Now will
ye do it? If you don't, d know what'l
become of us, ]. b'long to this poor
they won't take my dorg. I'll jest lay
; down n die, m be glad TO, if they wont
take my dorg."
/ AS the quivering voice ceased, the
, owner of it leaned his crutches agains
| the house and sat down on the grounC
: beside Maize, who Immediately put hi:
7 head on the mans ragged knee. Thes'
moves were not made dramatically, bu
| as if this were the way the two wayfar
: ers rested when they became weary OF
their journeys from town to town. Mr.
t Little looked up at the woman. Hi
r eyes were bleared and pale in the vivit
sunshine. He had his hand on the dog
e head, and the fingers of the hand wer
moving restlessly up and down. Hi
: toothless mouth hung open as he turned
n his head upward. Some sort of pitt
+ able attempt at an assumption of cheer
u fulness made him smile as he said:
Guess if you'd ever had er dorg, n
= nothin' else, you'd know bout me II
+ Maize N he's BEN wuzz off nor me
: cause he amt had only me, m I've ha
Il him."
The man now gazed down at the do
IS again, and all the blurred lines of hi
l. face trembled
l. "Wall, said Mrs. Darte suddenly an
II resoiutely, Il tell you what it's, Tv
1t made up my mind to take you N tn
n dorg. IN if the town don't like it the
}. may jest turn me m Abram out. That
] all there is about that"
n Mr.. Little glanced up at the speake
le with pathetic brightness. Then b
4 + quickly clasped the dogs head betwee
his hands.
II oHear that, MajeP" he asked. "What
~ ~ mines yourn, anyway" He raised b
" eyes again and said firmly, 'but you
y; y; see It the town wont be out er cent
nv poor Maie. ."-MdriG Louise Pool
y the Chap-Bo0k.