The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-09-12

ErOunCS erect 10 lee library COOE,
where he tood. cap in hand decently-
clean, solemn-faced boy Of u, with
little grizzly mop of dog wrisghng
apologeticatly at his heels.
His names Tatters, an he kin sit
up an dance an sing" said Jimmy.
Whereupon Tatters sat up aud
peered auxiously through the ragged
dun-coloreG fringe that veiled his
bright black eyes. For the rest he was
the most detected, forlorn little crea-
ture shat ever begged his way through
hard and thankless world.
What are you two doing here?"
Ted demanded, coldly.
please, sir, wort 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 I 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 Go: 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
q 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
Tatters and do the best can for him
The leave-taking consumed half a
minute. It was plain that the dog suf-
fered most acutely; but he had been
made 10 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 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 a silyer-gray
coat, little black dust-brush of tail,
a curly, shapely head, and the ldndest
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 10 look; it was so wise, so ten
der, SO impressibly grave.
"Tatters," said Ted, putting his hand
under the silky uplifted chin. Pm 60
ing to be very good to you always, and
In return l want you to be very good to
some one else. Come, let US go and see
ACA, dAO ' W - hAOH WI ;
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 death!ike 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 iured 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. Il never thought
7 should Ike dog; but this one looks
almost human. Is he 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 it
seemed so human to tell this faithful
little Friend what was wearing out his
own heart.
The doctor gave her trouble q long,
hard name. Tatters," said he. and he
thinks there's one chance in hun
dred that She may be cured; but I
know better. She's very Young. barely
2e. but sorrow has aged her more in
single hour than whole lifetime OF
Joy could have done. No. She doesn't
rightly belong TO lis. hG she came 10
us long ago when She Was little g:rl.
and there never was tine wher
didn't love hec mere than anyone e!te
in the wide word. she was always
very good and sweet - me and such
happy, bright little girl. unii! she NET
Dion. He was I fl.e fellow, 100. bHi
not quite good enough for Nadine. lie
was very fond Of her, anc she was hAp-
pier still until the other woman came.
Such woman. TatterS. as beautiful
as an angc.-you Couldn't b.an!e !sin!
If YOU could see her. Nadine CiGn't
blame him. either. but it broke tier
heart. They say people sometimes cut
live even that trouble. bu; it ism tri!c,
not with nature like hers. If you
could only help her to forget. just tor
q little While, Tatters, Id love yoa as
.,loug as | i've"
Tatters kept his charg- faithfully.
but It was vain to hope Cor Success.
where human ingenuity Had iai!cd.
Ted helped ev2Ge the Crcasic;:' CLIMAX
by reading all the newspapers carefully
before Nadine saw them - guard
against her seeing mention ~ bis T"-
turn, for which she watched ,r,: Wait
ed. as dying man longs 10 be si.:Iyvi,
She put OF the southward flight "a:
by Gay, and meantime grew weaker
paler and sadder; and TeGlan6 Iai;efS
went about watching her with iroGr.c''.
eyes.
Winter came with a rush OF ICY ar
pnf tiurr,- Of hat, sent the