Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-07

, eHuSlV ely, DuC WIN pOl1Ue welcome
, He hell 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 a little slobber.
ing somewhat, and having a very
pleasant look in his eyes. Yet these
eyes mad 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 were the dog had been
sitting. The wooden handle of this
basket showed unmistakable 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
Its my sweet fiag-roOt, you know, y
was the answer. Its what l peddle a
GOO : deal this time er year Folks
don't care much about it, though, but
it don't cost me nothin' to get it 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. I told Maize 1
couldn't when | dug that mess. Some
times [ have pins n thread n needles
in there. Maze he carries the barskit
I couldn't with my two crutches,
you see But faint so much cause he
carries the barskit either, Z couldn't
git long 'thout him. It's jest cause
The man paused. His poor face
worked. cts cause l love him. l
tell you what it's, Mrs. Darte, I don't
want to live 'thOut Maize. l don't want
ter live much any way, but 1 do hope
1 shall STAN it's longs Maze does"
The high voice cracked on the last
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 ap-
pie on the cook stove.
81 s'pose he eats as much as man."
she finally remarked.
"No, he don't, he don't!" eagerly
''hes q real snail eater, he is You're
Il real small eater, amt you. Maje?"
The dog tapped his tail on the
gorund, 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 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.
'I'll tell ye what les do" said Mr..
Little suddenly. You let us in, Maize
n me. You jes' lemmie have my
share of victualS, n Ill share with
Maze. You en- measure my victuals
ii you want to, N [ won't take nOthin'
more, honest | won't NJ I'll feed
Maize out er my share. He en- sleep
long of me. He always does. You
will We do it? If you don't 1 d. know
what'H become of us. ] b'long to this
poorhOuse, but l swOw | won't stay
where they won't take my dorg. I'll
jest lay down IN die, n be glad to,
if they won't take my dorg."
AS the quiverlng voice ceased the
owner of it leaned on his crutches
ground beside Maze, who Immediately
put his head on the mans ragged
knee. These moves We're not made
dramatically, but as # this were the
way the two wayfarers rested when
they became weary of their journeys
from town to town. Mr.. Little looked
UP at the woman. His eyes were
hleared and pale in the vivid sunshine.
He had his hand on the dogs head,
and the fingers of the han'l were NOV
ing restlessly up and down His tooth
less mouth hung open as he turned his
, head upward. Some sort of a pitiable
attempt at an assumption of cheerful
ness made him smile as he said:
Guess if you'd ever had er dorg, n
nothing else, you'd know bout me N
Maize. N he's ben wuss off nor me,
cause he amt had only me, n I've
had him.
The man gazed down at the dog
again, and all the blurred lines on his
face trelnbied.
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. NJ if 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 a pathetic brightness. Then he
quickly clasped the dogs head be-
tween his hands.
Hear that, Maize" he asked
whats mines yOurn, anyway" He
raised his eyes again and said firmly
but you'll sect the town won't be out
er cent by my poor MAZE ."-The Chap
Book.