The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-13
A TALE OF TWO DOGS
REMARKABLE DISPLAY OF CANINE
AFFECTION AND GRIEF.
The Strategy That Was Used by
Skye Terrier to Induce "a Long Lost
Playmate to Go Home With Him.
Bleach Was a Wise Dog.

Playmate to Go Home With Him.
Bleach Was n Wise Dog.
a good many years ago / lived in
house that stood OH "A bluff overlooking
the Hudson and about "A quarter of
mile back from the river. The tracks
of the Hudson River railroad ran at the
foot of our place.
The following incidents, which hap
pened at that time and place, bear upon
the question as to whether animals
will sometimes kill themselves from
grief. They relate to Il Scotch terrier.
one of the wisest and canniest that
ever cooked an intelligent eye out of
ali ugly face. of the name of Blucher,
but called Bleach. His Yiry coat be-
ing of Il dingy cross between white and
tan, the nickname fitted him well.
Bleach belonged to us neither by
right of gift nor purchase, but of his
own free will he chose to come to live
at our stable in the train of a horse, an
old friend of his, that my father had
| bought for me. Bleach hung about the
stable, followed Billy, my horse, when
1 rode and slept in Biliy's stall at night
One day my sisters drove out to pay
| some visits, and | followed the car
| riage on horseback, Bleach, as usual.
| at Billy's heels. One of the visits was
| at the house of the horses and dogs
| former master. l did not dismount,
but while my sisters We're in the house
1 had ample opportunity to watch Gu
| riouS scene. The stable stood at a
| short distance from the house, and
| suddenly from out the stable door rush
ed a nondescript little yellow dog, who
greeted Bleach with every sign of rec
ognition and delight. To my surprise,
that usually grave gentleman respond
ed to his greeting with equal warmth.
and even Billy showed through whin-
nies and playful nips at the dogs as
they circled round him that he, too, rec
ognized an old friend.
As l knew that our coachman had
been in the employ of the gentleman
before whose house we waited. i rode
up to the carriage and asked him why
the little yellow dog was so glad to
see us.
THAT, miss said he. SIS Dandy, and
when l worked for Mr.. - them two
dogs was always together, and both of
them slept in Billy's STALL"
WELL" thought l, when we ride
away we shall see which of his friends
Bleach loves best But l reckoned
without Bleach.
At that moment my sisters emerged
from the house, entered the carriage
and drove off | followed slowly, look
ing back to see how Bleach would ser.
tie the question. | could see by the
CLINT of his eye that he also took in the
situation, but he never let on-not he
Redoubling the enthusiasm of his gam
bols, he gradually increased their cir
Gle until the lawn was traversed, the
gate cleared and the unsuspecting Dan
dy fairly launched upon the highroad.
, A good quarter of mile lay behint
= us before Dandy's conscience awoke
t He suddenly stood stock still, his tail
indeed, his whole being-drooped. HI
: turned about and began trotting home
t ward. The day seemed lost for Bleach
But, no, In this emergency the force o
his character and the depth of his will
displayed themselves. Springing il
e front of Dandy, he blocked the wa.
e and while his whole body was down f
the stump that served him for a tail
quivering with excitement, challenges
S his long lost friend with giddy bark
/. to another romp. Dandy wavered, bu
d his ears pricked up, and his dejecte,
/ tail assumed more jaunty angle. Il
another moment he was racing in tn
direction which the carriage had taken
# scruples thrown to the winds.
= This struggle between Dandy's COL
It science and Bleach's will occurred a
l. widening intervals in the two mile
% that lay between Mr.. IS house an
e our front gate. AS we neared the la
IS ter Bleach put on an extra squirt c
II | speed and rushed Dandy through
across the lawn and up to the fron
IL door. Then the little yellow dog seen
D. ed to come to his senses. He stare
blankly at the door and in another me
ment would have run away. But i
this crisis | became Bleach's all!
IL Jumping from the saddle, threw ope
l. the door and invited both dogs to wal
h in. Once within, Bleach's whole maj
20 ner changed. From playmate he turl
t, ed to host He led Dandy from roo
e. to room and showed him the sights.
IN pier glass rather feaZed them for m
Of ment, but Bleach led up to it with
lie swagger, as if he were saying, 20
* this is nothing, mere trihe." An
Id both dogs looked at themselves in Il
glass. No one would have though
he from Bleach's actions that 1t was IL
d. first time that he himself had ev,
II. been in the house. brought a boy
re | of milk and set ii before them. Dand
is fell to; but. though quite as thirst
a Bleach did not touch it until Dand
ld had finished.
IN After the meal saw them head the
" way toward the stable. which fro
w that time was their headquarters, bot
he sleeping at night in Billy;s stall. The
II were inseparable. and one was rare
at seen without the other.
nd This state of things lasted for abo
n two years. Then one summers ds
ce Bleach came home from a hunt alon
OF DANDY never came back. Bleach mo
We ed about the stable for a Week or NOR
then he. too. disappeared.
.e- On the following day some boys can
o. to tell us that his body was lyiI
ss crushed across the railroad tracks
III the foot of our place. Now, BleaC
or was a wise dog and knew as well
re- any man what would happen if
at stretched himself across a rail. I'll
he inference, therefore, seems to be tn
I'M grief over the loss of his companion Ii
the lonely little fellow to seek death.