The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-27

.g 4 Ao w
Lewis stopped and patted the huge
head, and the dog turned his mouth up
so that he could lick the hand which
caressed him.
.sPoor dumb brute,'' said Lewis
aloud, 81 wonder il you know that I
am IN trouble and are Offering your
sympathy:n He leaned farther forward,
and the dog licked him in 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, = be replied, ~ am devoted to
The species feel quite complimented
at the faYors shown to me by this one.
He does not look like dog who would
make friends with every one, and it is
said that these intelligent brutes in
stinctyely avoid the evil disposed. !"
| You are the first man Of whom Saw
age ever made a friend at sight, - re-
piled Virginia st think that his name
is good exponent of his nature. There
are few about this neighborhood who do
not fear him. I wonder if what you say
is true? I mean that dog can do what
man cannot-read character and dis
tinguish between the good and the bad?'
81 cannot be certain, Of course, but I
think 50. It is all speculation, though
there are stories in substantlat1on OF
that theory. However: that may be, /
am glad that Savage is friendly with
me, SINCE ! am to be your guest 1t
would be very awkward otherwise. /
should fear to leave my room at night.
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 un-
pleasantness with my uncle, / loved
him dearly. As You are his son, I lock
upon you as his right htful 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 prodigal >
He pansed q moment : You said just
low that you dearly loved my father. "
His voice msmbled httles and he stop
ped to regain control of himself am
glad to have you say that. I am glad
that some one loved him" Again he
was obliged to pause. You see I for
sock Him, and hemnst have beena very
isei 80. -
lonely maa 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--fhat you Will give me
Your good opinion and your good will
now, and that later we may grow to be
6r1n friends and perhaps affectiohate
cousins. Am lam too bold %
told yonthe truth when I said that
u loved my father-sor he was father
: to me. How could help loving him?
He was SO good tome. = She was not
answering his question directly, and as
she said the last wogds she choked back
q sob and turned her head away to hide
her emotion. For this reason she did not
see an Involuntary movement toward
her which Lewis made. He stretched
forth his arms, as though he would In
fold her with them BY way Of sympa-.
thy. Almost as quickly as he had been
moved, he checked himself and seemed
calm when she looked at him again.
Do you know" said she, "your voice
is very like your fathers? And you are
Like him too Then after moment,
Offering him her hand impulsiyely,
6 Yes,I think can promise that We
shall. be friends. .
Lewis took the profered hand and
held it without saying anything. Vir-
ginia Immediately withdrew it, not re-
sentfnlly, but yet firmly. Her emotions,
aroused BY the subject which they had
discussed, had betrayed her into more
demonstratiYeness than was her custom.
Now she returned to her usual mood
and said little more coldly: Come,
we viii. have breakfast. I came in to
call you. !" Lewis sighed as he followed
her. The naastif had sprawled off on
b1Its TUX, ly1QS On LAD SAuOt d4o 4Oa1G 4SSo
outstretched, and appeared to be asleep.
But as soon as the two left the room he
jumped up and went after them.
It was about noon when Dr.. Snow
arrived, and by this time Burrows had
risen. Meeting the doctor, he asked if
he had come prepared to make the post
mortem examination. to which he re-
ceived reply in the affirmative.
Will you go up to the room at once?
May accompany you?"
Yes said the doctor, IT meant to
come earlier, for I am anxious to make
this examination as soon as possible,
but had to make call on very i'll
patient some miles away. AS to your
being present, it is what wished It
is always bestthat more than one should
witness such an investigation, in case
anything Of an unexpected nature
should be discovered. -
~ a..