Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-02-17

4
from wounded dog that was dragging
himself toward me. ran to him and
recognized the Englishman's grey
hound. His head was torn, evidently
by a bullet, and one of his paws bro
ken. / raised him In my arms and
carried him into the house. When |
J crossed the threshold he made evident
efforts to escape; so / placed him on
the ground. Then, in spite of the tor
ture he was suffering. which caused
| him to stagger every moment, he
scratched at the door of the room
where his master had slept, moaning
at the same time so piteously that !
could scarce help weeping myself. l
opened the door, and with great eff
fort he got into the room, looked about,
and not finding whom he sought he
fell down motionless.
II called my father, and perceiving
that the dog was not dead we gave
him all possible assistance, taking in
deed as much care of him as though he
had been a child, so much did we feel
for him. In two months he was cured.
and showed us much affection. We
found it, however, impossible to take
off his collar, even for the purpose Of
binding up his wounds. AS soon as he
was able to walk he would often go
toward the mountain and be absent
for hours. The second time this oc-
Cured we followed him. He proceed
ed as far as part of the road where
q 6aHIa
There he continued for a long time.
smelling and scratching about. We
conjectured that the Englishman might
have been attacked by robbers on this
spot and his dog wounded in defend
ing him, However, no event OF the
kind had occurred in the country, and
after the strictest search no corpse was
discovered. Recollecting, therefore, the
manner in which the traveller had
treated his dog, / came to tie conclu-
sion that he had tried to kill the faith
full creature. But wherefore? This
was the mystery which l could not
solve.
"Bevis remained with us, testifying
the utmost gratitude for our kind
ress. His intelligence and good hui
NOR attracted the strangers who fire.
quented our inn, while the inscription
on his collar and the tale we had 70
tell of him failed not to excite their
curiosity. One morning in autumn
had been out to take a walk, accom-
panied by Bevis. When l returned l
found seated by the fire in the common
hall newly arrived stranger, who
looked round as i entered AS soon as
he perceived Bevis he started and call
ed him. The dog Immediately darted
to him with frantic demonstrations
of joy. He ran around him, smelling
his clothes, and uttered the sort CT
salutation with which he honored you
just now, and finally, placing his fore
paws on the travellers knees, began to
lick his face.
Where is your master Bevis?
Where is Sir Arthur said the strang-
Ell in English.
1.-THE noble dog howled piteously, and
lay down at the travellers feet. Then
the latter asked us to explain his pres
ence. did so, and as he listened l
saw a tear fall on the beautiful head
Of the greyhound, whom he leant over
to caress.
Monsieur said he addressing me,
from what you tell me l venture TO
hope that Sir Arthur still lives. We
have been friends from childhood.
About three years since he married
rich heiress, and this dog was pre-
sented to him by her. Bevis was
cherished for his fidelity, quality I'M
happily which was not possessed by
his mistress. She left her fond and
loving husband and eloped with an
other man. Sir Arthur sued for a d.
vorce and got it; then, having ar
ranged his affairs in England, he set
out for the continent, followed only by
his dog. His friends knew not with
he was here last spring. Doubtless the
presence of Bevis evermore recalling
the memory of her who had so cruelty
wronged him, must have torn his heart
and at length impelled him to destroy
the faithful creature. But the shot
not having been mortal, the dog, /
imagine, when he recovered conscious
ness, was led by instinct to seek the
house where his master slept last.
Now, Monsieur, he is yours, and l
heartily thank you for the kindness
you have shown him.
about ten o'clock the stranger re-
turned to his room, after having ca
ressed Bevis, who escorted him to the
door, and then returned to his accus-
tened place before the fire. My par
erts and the servants had retired to
rest and / prepared to follow their ex-
ample, my bed being placed at the end
of the common hall. While l was I'M
dressing l heard a storm rising In the
mountains. Just then there came a
knocking at the door. and Bevis began
to growl. l asked who was there. A
voice replied: Two travellers who
want a nights lodging l opened
small chink of the door to look out.
and perceived two ragged men, each
leaning on large club. 1 did not like
their looks; and knowing that several
rcbberies had been committed in the
neighborhood / refused them admis-
sion, telling them that in the next vii
lage they would readily find shelter.
They approached the door, as though
they meant to force their way in; but
Bevis made his voice heard in so for
midable a manner that they judged Ii
prudent to retire | bolted the door