The Monte Vista journal., 1900-11-10

"You can't go, Eben, dear" she said
"You mustn't think Oft. Your moth
er would simply shut her eyes and die
in spite of me-"
But Lola. trife weary, perhaps. OF
mute Sunday evening worship. was dis
appointed and indignant. She first
tauntcd her lover with cowardice--
"and you big enough TO take Hnvana
all by yorrself'-and then taxed him
with a yet meaner motive.
Its just your jealousy because
you can't be captain" she cried, spite
fully. And you might have been. too.
If you'd had grain of spnnk. I've no
patience with such man. You know
very well that that red-headed Jen you
set such store by could have taken
good enough care of old Mrs. Frazer.
She isn't exactly queen, remember. to
be waited on every minute, and guess
a little work wouldn't hurt Jen any.
And to think that papa drove off poor
Claude. that was worth ten of you.
Here"-and she struck tragedy pose
with some success-"take back your
shabby little ring! won't wear it for
you. And you needn't come to see me
any more. / won't have you sneaking
round me while better men are fighting
for their country" she concluded, with
tine patriotic flourish.
II was mere petulancc - all this
would-be lofty passion. She turned
away without a tear. and with no more
emotion than If she had been nagging
her mother.
And the man whose love had thus
been flung back N his face. because
for him the path of duty did not lead
to Cuba, also turned without a tear;
but for many weeks, the great, baby
hearted fellow went about his work
with heart that sobbed unheard, and
spirit heavy with tears unshed. Jen-
ME tried to comfort him. but without
visible results.
Meanwhile great deeds were done at
Santiago. The spendthrift debauchee
who had volunteered to bury his shame
hadachieved honorif not glory. Doubt
less the rumor of it burned like n
branding iron in the silent soul of his
rival. for Eben was human, and the
to this martyrdom OF shame. He
dreaded to show himself. lie felt that
all who saw him questioned his righ, to
breathe American air. But he still
chopped wood and hoed potatoes. and
fed his mother with the wages of his
humiliation.
Eben had almost ceased TO visit the
sfff h.. M rod ffs rf q
II he could avoid 1t. One day, however
it was the I'd OF September, but
as hot as Sahara-hc was forced To 20
to the store, as Jennie could not leave
his mother. The grocery was also the
post Office, and as he came out he met
Lola. She tilted her red parasol TO-
ward him, and passed without rs much
rs look. With her was the hero from
Santiago, returned on furlough with
honorable wounds. His ring was now
on her third finger.
Further up the street Eben cncoun-
tered her dog-a huge wolf-hound that
She petted and pampered because i,
was the fashion. Almost unconscious
ly. Eben reached out his hand to carcss
the creature. II shrunk away as If he
had been a stranger. There was yclp
and n snap. The smoking teeth barely
missed his fingers
"IIcr very dog has turned against
me" he thought. bitterly.
The animal gave long-drawn. eerie
howl. Then 1t rolled In the dust. and
paved Mt its mouth.
Il believe the beast is going mad.
And If Lola should attempt TO fondle
it"
He was wcaponlcss, and he might be
mistaken. But he could ut least eau
tion her. lie ran down the road:
Lola" he cried, painting. rs he over
took her, Leo, your dog"
Are you running away from my
dog2" she sneered. And the bystand-
crs Uttered.
Ebcn glanced back. The wol'-hound
was indeed following. Again sounded
that dismal howl. Suddenly. coiiinr
like a snake. the frantic animal buried
its fangs In its own flesh. Then. with
n sayng. snarl, it sprang toward them.
its distended jaws dripping foam and
blood.
There was crazy rush for the near
est shcl'er-crcry man for himself.
Even the hero Of Fl Can.y forgot his
lnurels and his lady. Do not ropronch
him. You and would have don. the
same. 4 mad dog Is too much for hui
man nerves and human nature. As for
Lola. she spun round. 'rippcd and fell
screaming. The rabid beast was upon
her.
Bu, n burly form lowered in its path.
grim, red and dusty. Even as !,
lcnpcd. stout hands, no longer slow,
erippcd the .nvrnomcd creature by Its