The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-21
LOVE MY DOG.
By GWENDOLEN OVERTON.

the light of an inheritance, having come
down to him from Wentworth-of the
same-when the latter had been ordered
away.
Caldwell went into Wentworth's quar-
tiers at once, and found Duffy rubbing
up a pair of his ex-master's discarded
boots, with a view to using them him
self. He liked the mans looks and he
liked the condition of the vacated quar-
tiers, with their slate-gray painted
woodwork, so he took the quarters and
agreed to take Duffy at a strikers usual
rate of remuneration.
Duffy entered promptly upon his
duties, and was entirely satisfactory.
He had no membranes in the way OF
family or sweethearts, and he was faith
full to degree that was occasionally ex-
asperating. For six months he served
Caldwell in singleness of purpose, hav-
ing in that time been incapaciated only
for six days; that is, for 48 hours after
each of the paymaster's visits; and
Caldwell, knowing the ways of strikers,
made no objection. Duffy slept uproaG-
iously in his room, and Caldwell made
his own fires, and brushed his own
clothes, and went with unblacked boots.
In the interim, no hour was too early
for rising, none too late to sit up and
keep logs on the andironS that the
rooms might be warm and cheerful for
the ''leftinant," no duty imposed too
arduous, provided it served Caldwell's
ends.
Blackstone, seeing the excellence of
Duffy, departed from the strict code OF
honesty in the matter of servants which
governs the army, and made overtures
to the model striker. Blackstone had
no business to do it, and Duffy knew it,
and fine and inscrutable grin came
upon his Hibernian mouth.
Blackstone had said, with an assump-
ton of -handedness: duffy, what
do you get?''
Having due regard for his employers
credit in the world, he answered, calm
ly: "Twinty dollars, sor.''
"Get out!' said Blackstone.
Eyes, sor," replied Duffy.
81 want to know the truth, not lies
ike that"
"Ye'd best ask the leftinant, sor.
disremember."
'He works you deuced hard"
"Does he, then?"
"My man is no good. Suppose you
rome to me. You won't have to sit up
to all hours for me-"
Duffy only smiled, but the smile Was
not pleasing.
what do you think of it, Duffy?"
81 niver think, sor. The leftinant
- il SIN fold on6 nnf
s think"
Upon this Blackstone went away, and
Duffy saluted him respectfully. In
Justice to the officers common sense,
1t must be said that it was only partial
INVESTIGATION which could have led him
to place himself in such position to-
ward a soldier.
Duffy did not repeat the conversation
10 Caldwell, because he knew it would
make trouble between the two men, and
caldwell-whose disposition was not OF
The mildest-had several quarrels On
his hands as it was.
The lieutenant fell into the habit of
Keeping the striker up very late, night
after night. so Duffy inspected his pock-
Its several times in succession while
caldwell was sleeping as soundly as il
Justice had been the soporific, and not,
IS was the case, suffers whisky; and
he judged, from the fact that sometimes
here was much loose change and again
almost nothing, that his master was
nlaying too much at cards. There was
Nothing to be done. Duffy did not con-
8ider his duties as striker included the
noral guidance of his superior. He re-
Nected that it would be a good thing
81 Caldwell should get married; only
zen he, Duffy, would very likely lose
is place. So he sat up night after
1Ight, and it grew monotonous.
Just at this period there came into
.lffy's life a yellow and white dog.
kactly why it should have wandered
the door upon one wet and freezing
*'ght when Duffy was in a particularly
#kary frame of mind, and where it
me from, he never knew. 1t was well
*|ter midnight. and Duffy was sprawled
ne leather chair of the troop saddler's
H#nufacture, doing with both ears
IN, when there came a scratching
the door. Duffy thought it was the
@ntenant trying to find the knob. 1t
never been so bad as that yet,
#Nfertheless the striker went and
ped the door, to be rewarded by the
ht of an extremely small and miser-
- dog. with piteous eyes.
ow Duffy was only soldier, and
2idier loves nothing on earth or in
yen as he does cur; SO Duffy called
dog IN. AID warmed it and fed it,
watched it with satisfaction beam
~ over his face. It was spotted
dirty and wounded and woefully
but Duffy took it to his heart.
spent three nights before the fire.
pnger lonely, contentedly trying to
name for that dog. At last he
fmined to call it Bessie" after
puch admired daughter of the com
ling officer. and with complete
gard for the entire Inappropriate
of the name
er he had settled this to his satis-
n, he tried to discover accomplish
in the creature. "Here, Bessie,
y. Set up now, set up. Can't you
Well, then, give us your paw,