The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

speaker, it is needless to state, was a
descendant of Ham. The party of the
second part, was sorry looking
specimen of the canine family, who is
best described by that nondescript
term, ''yaller dog" Attached to dog
gie's neck was about six feet of rope,
(Sinbad would call it a hawser,) by
which his captor was dragging him
down to the landing. After making
the rope fast, he went up the bank and
rolled down stone about the size of a
bass drum which he attached to the
loose end of the rope. 1t was little
dog on one end big stone on the
other, and had the combination went
off that landing into the river, book
makers odds would have been hand up
your money and write your own ticket,
that they will come up no more for
ever. Only the hypercritical members
of the Pierian Circle would rise to pro-
test that this was not fact.
Being of an inquiring mind, l
thought l would investigate. l there
fore came out of concealment and in
terrogated this would-be executioner,
who, l might state, enjoyed the eu-
phonic cognomen of Romeo July. His
statement was to the effect that dOggie
had for some time rested under suspi.
ciOn of having caused the mysterious
disappearance of sundry fowls belong
ing to the citizens of the neighborhood,
and had that day been caught red
handed. Romeo had been appointed,
or appointed himself, committee of
one to deal out summary justice.
During his arraignment doggie kept
eyeing me in most pleading manner,
as much as to say: "you know how it
is yourself; l just can't help it, you see,
my commercial morals may be little
out of plumb but my heart is in the
right place, and if only had one more
chance l might possibly do better"
delivered an exhortation upon the
beauties of forgiveness and mercy, and
as | augmented it with half dollar,
doggie became my property. My first
duty was clearly to give my possession
name AS his antecedents were, to
put it mildly, rather doubtful and as
there seemed to be several kinks in his
moral character, l named him-for
reasons best known to myseIf-Will-
lam. Had then had the honor (?) of
an acquaintance with certain editor
that | wot of, might have called him
John. After he had been duly christ
ened | delivered a most scathing lee
ture upon the evils of socialistic ten
denotes and Waxed almost eloquent
upon the personal rights of property.
William and l journeyed on together
for several days before discovered to
my utter confusion and chagrin, that
he was not William dog; not at all,
he was a lady dog, of which fact there
was submitted proof positive in the
shape of three puppies. l did not in
NUiSO III any uPOI q hhOVl-
edge of the fitness of things, thought
it case where silence was golden. I
doffed my "knox" and placing the
pledges of Williams affections therein,
journeyed on until we reached the lit
tie hamlet of Green Cove, where we
rested for several days. 1 made ar
rangements with the young son of the
hotel proprietor who, in consideration
of my presenting him with certain
"ink-bottle pen," pledged himself to
care for the puppies until they could
care for themselves. When 1 started
out again, called William. If anyone
thinks that a dog can not talk, we'll,
they are mistaken, that's all. When it
finally dawned upon Williams mind
that 1 was going to leave the puppies
her suffering was pitiful to see. 1t was
the old, old story:
"She stood between love and duty
Fighting the bitter fight,
Her heart was torn with anguish
Between the wrong and right
After following me down the road
for about mile she gave up in de-
spair and turned back. I know that
Siuhod will COW nm n 1ro uip n tho 1opn