Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-08-16


"Hls names Tatters, an he kin sit
up az dance an sing" said Jimmy.
Wker~upon Tatters sat up" and
peereG ansliously through the ragged
dun-colored fringe that yelled his
bright black eyes. For the rest he was
the most detected, forlorn little crea-
ture that ever begged his way through
a hard and thankless world.
"What are you two doing here"
Ted demanded, coldly.
"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 a dollar"
"But l don't want him." Ted an
swered, heartlessly; at which Tatters
dropped his smudgy paws Imply and
turned to Jimmy, with a look OF hope
less appeal which said, as plain as hui
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, persuasivelN
"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
a roof to shelter him as long as he
behaved in fit and proper manner.
have never owned dog in my life, he
explained, deprecatingly, "but I'll take
Tatters 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 a 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 his
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 hndest
eyes ever set in canine face, deep,
midnight black, shot with coppery
lights that gave him 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, 50 impressibly grave.
"Tatters," said Ted, putting his hand
under the silky uplifted chin, I'm 60
ing 20 be very good to you always, and
in return 1 want you to be very good to
some one else. Come, let us go and see
her, and you'll know why"
She sat on a couch. beside 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 flower-like face; he proceeded
cheerfully to introduce Tatters to his
new mistress, and Tatters sat up
very prettily until he was lured by TIT
look In Madness eyes to move steI
closer and put his paws on her knees
"What dear little fellow" she SAX
languidly, taking <is face between he
thin hands and looking down into his
dark, beautiful eyes. 81 never though
I should like a dog; but this one look
almost human. Is he really mine? Oh
thank YOU, Ted" For the first time il
many weeks she smiled genuinely, AM
was interested.
Tatters puzzled his brain sorel.
about Madness inactivity, and afte
patient endeavor to rouse her, he wen
to Ted for an explanation. And
seemed so human to tell this faithfu
little friend what was wearing out hi
own heart.
"The doctor gave her trouble Ions
hard name. Tatters," said he, land h
thinks there's one chance in hur
dred that she may be cured; but
know better. She's very young, barrel
%. but sorrow has aged her more IN
sinole hour than q whole lifetime
ioy could have done. No, she doesn
rightly belong. to US, but she came
us long ago when she was little cir
ond More never was a time when
didn't love her more than anyone els
IN the wide world. She was a4waJ
gerry good and sweet to me and such
happy, bright little girl, until she me
= Dion. He was a fine fellow, too, ot
not quite good enough for Nadine. ID
was very fond of her, and'she was hal
pier still until the other woman cam
: Such a woman, Tatters! as beautif'
= as an angel-you couldn't blame hi
if YOU could see her. Nadine dlon
blame him, either, but it broke ne
J, heart. They say people sometimes GU
live even that trouble, but 1t ism tru
not with a nature like hers Ii 20
, could only help her to forget, just Il
j a little while, Tatters, I'd love you
Z long as i've" ,u
Tatters kept his charge faithful
but it was vain to hope for success
where human ingenuity had falle
; Ted helped evade. the dreaded ciima
n by reading all the newspapers Careful
= before Nadine saw them TO guar
l. against her seeing mention OF his r
/ turn. for which she watched and wal
ed. as dying man longs to be shriVe
= She put off the southwark flight d;
:. by day, and meantime grew w v,
I. naler and sadder; and Ted'and latte
went about watching her with trouble
' eyes.
O. Winter came with a rush OF icy q
pr d 49,. "A cnoxu that semi the IL