The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-08-17

Al a
grounds direct to Ted's library door,
where he stood, cap in hand, a decently-
clean. solemn-faced boy of l2, with a
little grizz.y mop of dog wriggling
apologetically at his heels.
'His names Tatters, an he kin sit
up an dance an sing said Jimmy
Whereupon Tatters sat up" and
peered apxiously through the ragged
dun-colored fringe that yelled his
bright black eyes. For the rest he was
the most detected, forlorn iittle crea-
ture that ever begged his way through
q hard and thankless word.
"What are you two doing here?"
Ted demanded, coldiy.
"Please, sir, won't you take i'm in ?''
Jimmy entreated. THE Homes sendin'
me to Kansas an the man what's hired
me won't take Tatters. You kin have
i'm fer dollar"
"But | don't want him." Ted an
swered, heartlessly; at which Tatters
dropped his smudgy paws Imply and
turned to Jimmy, with look of hope
less appeal which said, as plain as hu-
man speech could do: why is the
hand Of every man turned against me?"
HE eats SO little you'd never miss
it, Jimmy explained, persuasively.
.Tatters promised, mutely, to eat still
less if Ted would take him, and. Ted's
heart wasn't proof against that last
appeal. He patted the little towsled
head good-naturedly and assured him
|, that he should have abundant food and
roof to shelter him as long as he
behaved in fit and proper manner. l
have never owned dog in my life, he
explained, deprecatingly, "but I'll take
fatters and do the best can for him. .
The leave-taking consumed half a
minute. 1t was plain that the dog suf-
fered most acutely; but he had been
made to understand that it was all
part of the inexplicable fate that had
branded him as vagrant. When the
door closed behind Jimmy he ran about
from window to window, till he found
the one overlooking the avenue where
he sat very still, watching the lessen
ing figure of his late master until hi 5
breath blurred the pane hopelessly;
then he whined softly until Ted be
thought himself of his promise and
carried him out TO be bountifully fed
and groomed after the manner befit-
ting his adoption.
Shorn of his long disguise-the Crime
and SCOT of plebeian association-he
was handsome dog with silver-gray
coat, little black dust-brush of tail,
a curly, shapely head, and the lindest
eyes ever set in canine face, deep,
midnight black, shot with coppery
lights that gave him q look of human
intelligence. The longer Ted looked at
that winning little face, the longer he
wanted to look; it was SO wise, so ten
der, so impressibly grave.
"Tatters," said Ted, putting his hand
under the silky uplifted chin, I'm go
ing to be very good to you always, and
in return want you to be very good to
iome one else. Come, let us GO and see
her, and you'll know why"
She sat on couch beside a SUNNY
window, her hands folded idly over an
open book, her eyes fixed unseemingly
on luminous space. Ted affected not
to notice the deathlike transparency
Of the fower-like face; he proceeded
cheerfully to introduce Tatters to his
new mistress, and Tatters "sat up
very prettily until he was lured by the
look in Madness eyes to move step
closer and put his paws on her knees.
what dear little fellow" she said
languidly, taking his face between her
thin hands and looking down into his
dark, beautiful eyes. II never thought
should like dog; but this one looks
almost human. Ishe really mine? Oh,
thank you, Ted" For the first time In
many weeks she smiled genuinely, and
was interested.
Tatters puzzled his brain sorely
about Madness inactivity, and after
patient endeavor to rouse her, he went
to Ted for an explanation. And 1t
seemed so human to tell this faithful
little friend what was wearing out his
own heart.
THE doctor gave her trouble long.
hard name, Tatters," said he, 'sand be
links there's one chance in a hum
ired that she may be cured; but I
know better. She's very young. barely
22. but sorrow has aged her more in u
single hour than whole lifetime of
10y could have done. No. she doesn't
rightly belong to US. but she came to
us long ago when she was a little girl.
and there never was time when I
fidn't love her more than anyone else
IN the wide world. She was always