Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-08-13

keen a modification that we avoided
the subject with terrr.
"What has become Of your pretty
little puppy, Miss Eugenia?" asked
one unwary swain, and, as II In ans
wer, the door was pushed open and
in stalked great, lean, long-legged
big bodied, solemn dog, wagging his
tail slowly. He walked up to Eugenia
| laid his head on her knee, then turned
and winked Mt the questioner. Oh,
yes, ne did, he winked deliberately,
then raised one huge paw and put II
down on Eugenia's shoulder with an
aid Of patronizing proprletorship that
was positively maddening. 1t was too
much for my cousin; she fed precipi-
lately, but not in time to avoid the
astonishing exclamation:
"You don't mean to say that-mon-
ster-is Dimplev'
That moment settled Eugenia's fate.
| The masculine nature had asserted
itself, and Dimple-that absurd name!
had practically said, mildly, but firm
ly, "Come, Eugenia, have had enough
Of this nonsense. You bought me,
you took, me. for better, for worse; IL
you meant to have a plaything and
have found master, so much the bet
ter-or worse-for you. One thing you
may understand, do not mean to be
ignored any longer" And he wasn't;
from that public claiming Of her inten-
ton dated her subjugation.
Eugenia would shut herself up in her
room to study. Dimple would come
to the door and knock with his tail;
Eugenia would take no notice of him.
Then Dimple would scratch, not gen.
tie, pleading little scratch, but a deep.
determined gouging Of aunty's pretty
woodwork. Then Dimple would howl.
such a howl-lOng and loud and oft
repeated, and Eugenia would fly to let
him in, n tragic expression in her pref
ty, despairing face.
After n week Of these proceedings,
on one Of the daily walks, on which
her keeper conducted her, she bought
n whip, which she struggled home,
hid among her laces and produced next
morning when her door was being torn
to pieces. From my room / saw her
plunge desperately out, seize the dogs
collar and lift the whip, but it never
descended. Dimple lifted his head
caught the weapon in his powerful
jaws, closed them upon it, dropped the
pieces to the ground, smiled indul-
gently up into Eugenia's face, took her
dress i'm his teeth. and led her down
stairs to make ready for walk-which
they took.
When Dan came home from Europe,
aunty and met him at the steamer,
and on the way home we told him the
story of Eugenias fall. How she had
been obliged to give up her college
worlS-tO the great improvement Of her
health and temper-hOw she had
grown brown and rosy from long, aim
less walks with her guide, philosopher
and friend. How we had sold him,
sent him off to board. given him away,
and how, after each Punishment, he re-
turned so promptly and unfailingly
that Eugenia had accepted the inevita
BILE and begged us not TO interfere
again between them. Dan laughed
till there were tears in his eyes, and eX-
claimed, "Poor little girlr' more than
once; but he readily promised that he
would not tease Eugena about her Old
Man of the Sea, as he ut once dubbed
the dog.
Dan and Dimple were friends at
once. When the dog first appeared,
Eugenia paled and flushed and paled
again, glancing rather apprehensively
at my brother; but he seemed quite
oblvious, spoke cheerily to the big
fellow. patted his head, looked deep
into the intelligent brown eyes, and
man and beast understood each other
perfectly. Such good times as we
had that summer-aunty, Eugenia,
Dimple. Dan and i In previous years
we had been obliged to count my cousin
out of everything. for the resting time
of summer had for her been full of
work; but now she lounged and played
and joined in all sports. as she never
had before in all her sweet, self-willed
young life. was among us, and Of us,
for the first time.
There had been three days Of steady
rain, and tired of seclusion, on the af-
ternoon of the third day. / wrapped
myself in my macintosh and went out
for a walk. leaving Eugenia, housed
with a slight cold, TO look after Dan.
aunty having gone into town for the
day. AS / came home, the sun broke
through scattering clouds, lighting up
the world with rosy glory. The storm
was at an end, the fair promise of the
morrow was in the soft air. in the twit-
ter of the birds, in the fresh perfume
of leaf and flower, in the golden beau
ty Of sunset.
Eugenia and Dan had come out Of
doors to enjoy the lovliness of earth
and sky. and stood with Dimple on the
veranda- Suddenly the dog stretched
himself to twice his natural length,
took my cousins skirt In his teeth and
nodded to her that she was to come
with him.
'No. Dimple, no dear" she coaxed.
bending over him. Don't make me
come out tonight. I've had a cold,
you know, / really ought not to go;
you will have to wait, doggie dear"
But Doggie Dear did not intend to
walt. He shook his head and her
dress and grOwled softly. / walked
slowly toward the house and watched
the conflict. Dimple ordering. Eugenia
pleading for mercy, my brother smil-
ing at the two beneath his mustache.
At last Dan spoke.
"Dimpler' the dog raised his eyes