Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-06-12

tuc D'uy uWuJ IIbfi lilf fDffil anu DfEdD
| 90 dig "A hole. When ho considered IL deep
| enough, Le pushed the limb IN, but drag
gcd 10 out ngain and dug the hole little
wider In the lamb was flung again--out
once moro aud turned around Then, mp
parently sntislcg, hc pushed 10 In and coy
cred 10 up, showing tho earth over 10 with
his nose Then ho went % tho gate Of the
corral selected place 90 rest, licked his
paws, turned around and around several
times, lay down, and rolling himself up
went to sleep.
Father Gaspard watched this wnnton-
ness on the part Of the dog with great dis
tress. Then, too weary to sit up longer,
he entered tho hut, and on the Shepherds
bed Of grasses slept the sleep Of fatigue and
Innocence
In the morning he was awakened by the
barks Of the dog and the tramp Of the
sheep as they were driven out 10 grazc.
After eating the remains Of the beans and
meal cake Inc sat on the bench and won
dercd what was best 10 do. Should he re-
main there and guard the flock from the
dog and await some ones coming To send
word TO Don Manuel, or should be hasten
himself TO the ranch and have shepherd
.sent with other dogsS
He felt a cold nose on his hand, and
looking down saw Domingo wagging a
cheerful good morning. Father Gaspard
pushed him aside and said
Away, Domingo, thou art no more "a
friend Of mine. Thou art an unfaithful
servant. Even now thy jowls are red with
tho blood OF that innocent lamb. No won
der thou disdained the frijoles / offered
thee for thy supper. Thou hadst some
thing better In store. Thou shalt be dealt
with according to thy crime will tell
Don Manuel OF thy treachery, and thou
wilt be shot, an ignominious death for q
shepherd dog, or IL thou shouldst escape
as / have no rope TO tie thee, thou wilt
drag out miserable life in the noun
tains, like the thicvish coyote, and like
him be hated and hunted. 1t Is true
saying that once shepherd dog tastes tho
blood of n sheep he is never more to be
trusted. 1t Is worse than the thirst Of
man for wine.'
Domingo sat on his launches before the
priest and listened to this TRADE, his head
on one side, his eyes fixed upon those Of
his dcnunciator and his tongue lolling out
Of his mouth, except when the priest
paused, then he drew 1t in and swallowed.
His sharp ears stood up and pointed for
ward and back from the priest to the
sheep. Occasionally his eyes would roll to-
ward the flock, and the little brown spots
above them seemed also to move. Ever on
tho alert, he now dashed away to see IL
they were safe.
Father Gaspard grasped his staff and
arose to go, hoping to reach the ranch and
send shepherd back before night. Sud
denly thought struck him, and he sat
down again.
"What would have kept the dog from
starving since the shepherd died IL he had
not eaten q lamb now and then? Yes, 1t
had to be, for the good of the flock the dog
must be fed. He killed the lamb quietly,
not alarming the rest"
Father Gaspard called him by name,
and when he came running up stroked his
head tenderly.
Domingo mio, I was overhasty and
have done thee injustice. Dost forgive me
for my blindness and harsh words? Yes,
see no malice in thy honest face. Thou
needest no words to express thy forgive
ness It is shown in thy clear brown eyes,
and the vocabulary of thy tail and ears.
will tell the don of thy faithfulncss, and
thou shalt be canonized among dogs. Thou
art no longer young. myself have known
thee number of years. Thou shalt be re-
lieved Of the care and labor of tho field
and live at the ranch house, where the
don will give thee place by the fire, and
will stroke thy head like this, as he tells
the story Of thy sagacity."
Light Of heart, now that his trust in the
dog was restored, Father Gaspard started
once more on his way toward the Gabilan.
At evening he reached the edge Of the
mountain, and looking back saw nothing
but a SEQ Of fog. But had 1t been clear he
might have seen a shower of dirt and grass
flung high in the air, caused by Domingo
in the act of resurrecting the remains OF
the lamb for his supper.-Kate p. Sieg-
hold in Overland Monthly.