Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-10-14


it was not strange thai il ,.' ".'.u
and Oh that spot Lev yana. "..,w
his thoughts to wander ni,u 49, ...r
indeed that we need not f.. ...H
But while he stood there blind a4 i,t..
as tho distracted always are, t.,"u..
their eyes and ears may be III r''...
order for the reception Of in "ae
there entered one whom be rc'sn.g s..H
nor heard.
use this pronorn, = ''a... s. r..
luding to the greet '-,. t"" .O .'.s.
the dog who stake; ,.m...' .e.. Inr
room. believe that ..r .s
their egotism, have Sc. ...
ated all the souls in 81. .".. r.
slowed them upon the IT,. .' '
mails, man. To MY mine .....
thing inherently wrong a. L.. IS.
ma. l have met too l., .. '...
and too many bad men to g.. vF.
that man alone is immor. IT. 81.
if there be any Immortality n ,. g
good in the world must shar" il
think the good in the tc4 H. -. .
worthy of perpetuity than the ey .s
resides in man.
The mastiff, having ert"re "
room, went close to where Lt. u,
and after shifting at his legs Il la.
gently licked the hand which b..
down, reaching it without an G.. ort, ~
tall was he.
Lewis must have indeed been lost in
thought, for he needed not the "Good
morning" of the brute. His saluta'ion
unnoticed, the mastiff dropped down
upon his launches and so sat staring
into the face of the man as though to
ask wherefore he was not observed.
There is the picture-the man leaning
against the mantel, present in the body,
but absent in mind or spirit, and the
dog sitting patiently waiting for the
return of consciousness III the man, so
that he might be recognized. AS he con-
tinued to stare up at Lewis, who will
say, that, dog though he was, he would
not be able to note the first expression
on the face which would show that the
mans mind had returned from its pur-
suit of the unknowable? The position
remained unchanged for many minutes,
till at last the dog must have concluded
that he deserved more than was accord
ed to him. He raised one of his huge
paws and placed it upon the mans leg,
repeating the action, as though inten-
tionally touching him to attract his at
tention. Still failing, he reached a lit
tie higher and let his paw rest on Lew
is hand.
This aroused Lewis, and even before
he fully recovered from his reverie he
closed his fingers upon the proffered
paw, grasping it tightly. He looked
down, but as he met the mastiff's eyes
they were turned away. What is there
about dog which causes him to do
this? He will stare at you by the hour
but look at him and he turns away as
though caught in an act Of which he is
ashamed. Is it recognition of the su-
periority of man, and does he instinc-
lively feel that it is Il liberty for him so
to stare, even though the proverb allows
the cat to gaze upon majesty?
Lewis stopped and patted the huge
head, and the dog turned his mouth up
so that he could lick the hand which
caressed him.
Poor dumb BRUTE" said Lewis
aloud, II wonder If you know that I
am in trouble and are offering your
svmpathy?" He leaned farther forward;
and the dog licked him i'll the face.
"You seem to be fond of dogs
Lewis looked up quickly, releasing the
dogs paw, and saw that it was Virginia
who had spoken.
eyes" he replied, II am devoted to
the species. I feel quite complimented
at the favors shown to mo by this one.
He does not look like dog who would
make friends with every one, and 1t Is
said that these intelligent brutes in
stinctively avoid the evil disposed"
"You are the first man of whom Saw
age ever made friend at sight, re-
piled Virginia. II think that his name
is a good exponent of his nature. There
are few about this neighborhood who do
not fear him. wonder if what you say
is true? l mean that dog can do what
man cannot-read character and dis;
tinguish between the good and the bad!''
az cannot be certain, of course, but
think SO. 1t is all speculation, though
there are stories in substantiation OF
that theory. However that may be, l
am glad that Savage is friendly with
me, since l am to be your guest 1t
would be very awkward otherwise. l
should fear to leave my room at night. y
"You must not call yourself my
guest" said Virginia, in friendly tones:
despite what the detectives, or others
may have told you of my recent I'M;
pleasantness with my uncle, l loved
him dearly. AS you are his son, l look
upon you as his rightful heir, regardless
of what the squire tells me are the pro-
visions Of the will. You must consider
yourself entirely at home.
"You are very kind to the prodlgai'
He paused a moment. "You said just
now that you dearly loved my father. y
His voice trembled little, and he stop
ned to regain control of himself. Il am
glad to have you say that. l am glad
that some one loved him. Again he
was obliged to pause. "You see for
sock him, and he must have been very
lonely man had you not given him your
affections. Now that have come back,
in face of the dreadful calamity that
has befallen us, your kind words lead
me to hope that-that you Will give me
your good opinion and your good Will
now, and that later we nay grow to DC
firm friends and perhaps affectionate
nnusins. Am lam too boldY'