The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-05-21

OF the neIghbOrS often said that they
themselves could not afford to keep
dog. When they said this granny shut
her lips tight. and the first chance she
had she would strole the dogs head.
Il guess they don't know much about
4 dog" she told Molly, n | guess :
longs we've anything to eat Boss'Il
have some of it. Eth, old fcllcr?"
Molly sank back on her pillow in the
barrow. She amused herself by almost
closing her eyes so that the sea seemed
TO come UP nearer and crimpic in sparks
of fire. Then she would open her lids
wide, and the great stretch of water
would flash blindingly on her vision.
She played mt. this for a long time. and
always in front of her was the dog;
she had crown up in the conviction that
AL was well if he was near.
Soon everything grew dcliciously dim
and then clear, and the salt smell was
sNeeter. and she was walking over the
hard sand as straight as anybody. hold
ing her head mp strongly. She did not
know she was asleep. 1t was real to
her that she was walking.
Suddenly she sat upright i'll her wheel
barrow cIutching the sides of it. Eoss
was not there. Had he barked? Or had
some one called? She looked of the
ledge. She saw Eoss Ieaping franticllly
over the wcody rocks. He went aS If he
were Il young dC%-he went like cTea-
ture possessed. lie seemed rot To leap,
but To fly from one rock to another. over
the still. green pools.
Molly could only see the dog and, be
yond him, shining water. Where was
granny?
The child tried TO scream. but she felt
if in a nightmare. and could not
make sound.
oh, there was something down he
tween the rocks. on the far side of the
LEDGE 1t was there that Ross was 90
ing. And there was the mosSer in his
Lolt. putting his rake down just as he
had been doing when the child had gone
to sleep. For IN instant she thought
she was dreaming. But Boss WAS gone.
-ycs-thcre was something among
the rocl sit was granny's hat sticking
up, and il did not move.
Molly tried again to scream, and il
was as if her heart would break in the
trying. Her voice was only Il hoarse
kind of a whisper.
But there. Boss had reached his
tween his lips he barked. be howled-
nay, he screamed. Was his heart break
ing also?
At last the mosser out there held his
rake just above the water and "azed
toward the shore, listening. The wind
was off the sea. and sounds from the
land did not come clearly.
The man saw little Mollie Towne on
the brealwater. Had she cried out?
And was that the Townc 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 ef-
forts To pull it from the water.
Outlined on the hrcakwatcr, against
the dazzle of the blue sky, the man saw
Mollic rise up in her barrow, as if she
would walk. and then fall back again
Good Cod" he cried. He dropped
the rake into the water. caught up his
.aIs, and rowcd II the ledge. vi III
time he rowed he saw old Mrs. Towuc'.
motionless form lying there and the
dog trying to help her.
As he stepped out of his boat and be
gan slipping and jumping over the rocks
the woman moved and raised her head.
lie saw her reach ont her hand to the
dog: he saw the dog throw himself
down and lick her face eagerly.
THAT you, Jim StoweIl?" she aasked.
Il guess I've broke my leg. | slipped.
I've mossed 20 year, n | never slipped
to speak of before"
She spoke tremblingly. but with
pride. Il s'Pose l tainted, or some
thii.@'
III pit YOU right into the boat" said
Jim Stowcll, briskly, n take YOU home
III 40 time
Boss stood close by watching the man.
1t was not easy to get her into the
boat. and she WINGED and grew pale,
hut She helped all she could and made
10 sound.
When she was in at last Jim took III,
his oars to go round 10 the sandy land
ing. There stood Boss shivering on
rock. AiI at once he appeared olds:
than ever; it seemed as if he could
hardly stand.
Take him. too" said his mistress.
NO, let him walk"
Il want You To take him. I tell YOU
almost ficrcely. Hes too old N stiT
10 walk on The rocks"
Old" with laugh. "You oughter
seen him goin' il after you"
The man began to row. Tears came
into Mrs. Towne's eyes. Her voice was
chollcd.
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 10y his friend. who put
her hand on him. He leaned more and
more heavily on her; his eyes were fixed
on her face.
Lying there on the wet moss in the
bottom of the boat she could look. with
out moving. into the dogs face. He
slowly put his tongue out on her fin
gers. He pressed yet closer
With a curIously quick movement she
managed to draw him nearer. She bent
her head to his head.
lie lays too hard on ye." said jim
'Lcmme pull him away
Don't touch HIM" she cried. in
sharp voice.
The next moment she said. hoarsely:
He's dead.'-From Boss and Other
Dogs.
Wasting Time.
4 of f,,x4 inn