Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-02

young dog-he went like creature pos
sesscd. He seemed not to leap, but to fly
from one rock to another, over the still,
green pools.
Molly could not see the dog, and beyond
him, shining water. Where was granny?
The child tried to scream, but she felt
as If in nightmare, and could not make
a sound.
Oh, there was something down between
the rocks on the far side of the ledge! 1t
was there that Boss was going. 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-thcre was something
among the rocks-it was grannys has
sticking up, and it did not move.
Molly tried again to scream, and 1t was
as if her heart would break in the trying.
Her voice was only hoarse kind of a
whisper.
But therel Boss has reached his friend.
He tried to pull her out. He could not.
Between his attempts he barked he howl
ed; nay, he screamed. Was his hears
breaking alsoS
At last the mosser out there held his
rope just above the water and gazed to.
ward the shore, listening. The wind was
off the sea and sounds from the land did
not come clearly.
The man cav little Molly Towne on tho
breakwater. Had she cried out? And was
that the Towne dog carrying on SO on the
rocksP
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 the water.
Outlined on the break water, against the
dazzle Of the blue sky the man saw Molly
rise up in her barrow as il she would
walk, and then fall back again.
Good &c ~ he cried. He dropped tho
rope into the water, caught up his oars
and rowed to the ledge. All the time ha
rowed he saw Mrs. Towne's motionless
form lying there, and the dog trying To
help her.
As he stepped out Of his boat and began
slipping and jumping over the rocks tina
woman moved and raised her head. Ha
saw her reach out her hand to the dog; ha
saw the dog throw himself down and lick
her face eagerly,
THAT you, Jim Stowell3" she asked;
Il guess I've broke my leg, | slipped. | Va
messed 90 year, n l never slipped to
speak OF before. y
She spoke tromblingly, but with pride.
Il s pose l tainted, or something
IN git you right into the boat, said
Jim Stowell briskly, " n 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,
IAN right"
And Molly shook her handkerchief fee
i,., ri, y, IL
ly.
II do hope she didn't see me fall, said
tho woman.
1t was not easy to get her into the boat
and she WINGED and grew pale, but she
helped all she could and made no sound.
When she WAS in at last, Jim took up
his oars to g. round to the sandy landing
There stood Boss shiyeriug on a rock. All
at once he appeared Older than ever; It
seemed as if he could hardly stand.
Take him, too, said his mistress.
ono, let him walk. =
Il want you to take him, tell you"
almost fiercely. He s too old n stiff to
walk on the rocks
oh" with laugh. "You oughtcr seen
him goin it after you!"
The man began TO row. Tears came intd
Mrs, Towno's 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 crouchcd
down by his friend, who put her hand on
him. He leaned more and more heavily on
her; his eyes We're fixed on her face.
She had flung up her hand again to ths
child.
Lying there on the wet moss at the bot
tom of the boat She could look, without
moving, into the dogs face. He pressed
yet closer.
With curiously quick movement she
managed to draw him even nearer. Sha
bent her head to his head.
He lays too hard on yen' said jim
lie mo pull him away
Don't touch himl" sho cried in sharp
voice.
The next moment she said hoarsely:
Hes dead. Maria Louise Pool in
Chap Book.