Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-14

ShW domingo fOunu up lne Snccp anu
head them toward the corral. There were
many hundreds, and he drove them care
fully and without haste safely inside, all
but one laggard, a half grown lamb, which
came beating and running to join the
others
The dog stood at the entrance of the in
closure, but instead of letting the lamb
pass he sprang at its throat and bore it to
the ground, tapping eagerly the warm
blood that flowed from the lacerated
wound As soon rs it ceased its struggles
he tore the flesh from its bones and ate
ravenouSly.
Father Ga.pard was angry, and shout
ing to the dog tried to drive him from the
lamb but Domingo grOwled and would
not obey.
Having finished his meal, he dragged
the body away from the corral and began
to dig hole When he considered it deep
enough he pushed the lamb in, but drag
gcd it out again and dug tb" hole Il little
wider. In the lamb was flung again-out
once more ami turned around. Then, APP
parcntly satisfied, he pushed it in and COW
cred it up, showing the earth over it with
his nose. Then he went to the gate of the
corral, selected place to rest, licked his
paws, turned around and around several
times, lay down and rolling himself up
went to sleep.
Father Ga9pard watched this wanton-
ness on the part of the dog with great dis
trcss. Then, too weary to sit up longer,
he entered the hut. and on the shepherd 5
bed of grasses slept he sleep of fatigue and
innocence.
In the morning he was awakened by the
banks of the dog and the tramp of the
sheep as they were driven out to graze.
After eating the remains of the beans and
meal cake ne sat ON the bench and won
dercd what was best to 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 he hasten
/ himself to the ranch and have shepherd
sent with other dogs'
He felt IA cold nose on his hand, and
| looking down saw Domingo wagging u
cheerful good morning Father Gaspard
/ pushed him aside and said:
Away. Domingo. thou art no moro Il
friend of mine. Thou art an unfaithful
servant. Even now thy iowls are red with
| the blood of that innocent lamb. No Won
der thou disduincd the friiOlcs | 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 trcachory, and thou
wilt hc shot, an ieuominious death for Il
shepherd dog or If thou ,Aould.t escape,
as l have no ru"r 10 tie thee, thou wilt
drag out miserable life in the noun
tains. like the tliUi-h coyote, and like
him hc lated and hunted. Ii is a true
saving hat once a shcph.1d dog tastes the
blood Of d sheep he is never more to DO
trusted. 1t is worse than the thirst Of
man Tor 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 dcnunc.ator and his tongue lolling ont
Of his mouth, except when the priest
paused, then ne drew it 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
the alert, he now dashed away to see if
they were safe.
Father Gaspard grasped his staff and
arose to 20, hoping to reach the ranch and
send Il shcl herd back before night Sud
denly Il thought struck him, and he sat
down again
"What would have kept the dog from
starving since the shepherd died if he had
not eaten II lamb now and then: Yes, ii
had to he, for the good Of the flcck the dog
must he 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 mic, | was ovcrhasty and
have done thee injustice. Dost forgive me
for my blindness and harsh words: Yes,
see no malice in thy honest face. Thou
modest 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 faithfulness, and
thou shalt he canoni2ed 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 the field
and live at the ranch house, where the
don will give thee place by the fire ant
will stroke thy head like this, as he tell'
the story of thy sagacity."
Light of heart, now that his trust in the
dog was restored, Father GaSpard startet
once more on his way toward the Gabilan
At evening he reached the edge of tn,
mountain, and looking back saw nothing
but a sea Of fog. But had it been clear h,
might have seen "a shower of dirt and grass
flung hi IN in the air caused by Doming,
in the act Of re,mrrcting the remains o
the lamb for hi, -uppcr.-Kate F. Sieg
hold in Over. Monthly.