The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-01-31

Or had someone called? She looked
off to the ledge She saw Boss lean
ing frantically over the weedv rocks.
He went as if he We're a young dog
he went like IA creature possessed He
seemed not to leap. but to fly from
one rock to another, over the still
| green pools.
Molly could see the dog, and beyond
him shining water. Where was gran
ny?
The child tried to scream, but she
| felt as if in Il nightmare, and could
! not make a sound.
oh there was something down be
| tween the rocks on the far side of the
| ledge 1t was there that Boss was go
| ing. And there was the mosser in his
| boat, putting his rake down just as he
| had been doing when the child had
| gone to sleep. For an instant she
| thought she was dreaming. But Boss
was gone and-yes-there was some
| thing among the rocks-it was gran
ny's hat sticking up and it did not
move.
Molly tried again to scream, and it
was as if her heart would break in the
trying. Her voice was only IA hoarse
kind of whisper.
But there Boss has reached his
friend He tried to pull her out. He
could not. Between his attempts he
parked, he howled nay, he screamed.
Was his heart breaking also?
Al last the IuOsser out there held his
rope Just above the water and gaZed
towards the shore, listening. The
wind was off the sea and sounds from
the land did not come clearly.
The man saw little Molly Towne on
the breakwater Had she cried out
And was that the TOwne dog carrying
on so on the rocks?
Boss was down by the still figure
that was lying in the shallow pool.
He was struggling with it. making
frantic efforts to pull it from tie water
Outlined on the break water, against
the dazzle of the blue sky, the man
saw Molly rise up in her barrow as if
she would walk, and then fell back
again.
Good God ~ he cried He dropped
the rope into the water, caught up his
oars and rowed to the ledge. All the
time he rcwed he saw Mrs. Towne's
motionless form lying there, and the
dog trying to help her.
As he stepped ont of his boat and
began slipping and jumping over the
rocks, the woman moved and raised
her head. He saw her reach out her
hand to the dog: he saw the dog throw
himself down and lick her face eager
~.
That you, jim Stowell = she ask
ed. II guess I've broken my leg
slipped. Eve messed twenty Years, n
| never slipped to speak of before.
She spoke tremblingly, but with
I, Il -, | Ca;
thing"
iii git you right into the boat"
said Jim Stowell briskly, m take
You home in no time"
Boss stood close by watching the
man.
Mrs Towne looked to the shore, saw
the child, waved her hand and called
cheerily, all right -
And Molly shook her handkerchief
feebly, though she tried to shake it
vigorously.
Il do hope she didn't see me fall, =
said the woman.
1t was not easy to get her into the
boat, and she WINGED and grew pale,
but she helped all she could and male
no sound.
When she was in at last, Jim took
up his oars to so round to the sandy
Finding. There stood Boss shivering
on Il rock. All ut once he appeared
older than ever; it seemed as if he
could hardly stand.
Take him, too said his mistress
mo, let him walk"
Il want Won to take him, tell YOU,
almost fercely. He's too old N stiff
to walk on the rocks
"Oh :" with a laugh. You oughter
seen him gCin' after you -
The man began to row. Tears came
into Mrs. Townes eyes. Her voice
was choked.
"You've got to take him, she said,
''or YOU needn't take me-"
"Oh. if you feel like that" Jim
lifted the dog into the boat, and Boss
crouched down by his friend, who put
her hand on him. He leaned more
and more heavily on her; his eyes
were fixed on her face.
She had flung up her hand again to
the child.
Lying there on the wet moss at the
bottom OF the boat she could look,
without moving, into the dogs face.
He pressed yet closer
With d curious quick movement she
managed to draw him even nearer.
She bent her head to his head.
He lays too hard on ye,n said jim.
lem me pull him away
Don't touch him - size cried in Il
sharp voice.
The next moment she said hoarsely:
Hes dead.