Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-07-20

were young dog. He went like
creature possessed. He seemed not
to leap. but to fly from one rock to
another over the still, green pools.
Molly could see the dog and
beyond him shining water. Where
was granny!
The child tried to scream, but she
felt as if in a nightmare and could
not make sound.
Oh, there was something down
between the rocks on the far side OF
the ledge! 1t was there that Boss
was going. And there was the moss
er in his boat, putting his rake down
lust as he had been doing when the
child had gone to sleep. For an IN
slant she thought she was dream
ing. But Boss was gone, and-yes
there was something among the
rocks. 1t was granny'S hat sticking
up, and she did not move.
Molly tried again to scream, and
it was as if her heart would break
in the trying. Her voice was only a
hoarse kind of whisper.
But there! Boss has reached his
friend. He tried to pull her out.
He could not. Between his attempts
| he barked, he howled. Nay, he
screamed. Was his heart breaking
also? -,
At last the mosser out there held
his rope Just above the water and
gazed toward the shore listening.
The wind was off the sea, and sounds
from the land did not come clearly.
The man saw little Molly Towne
on the breakwater. Had she cried
out? And was that the Towne dog
carrying on so on the rocks!
Boss was down by the still figure
that was lying in the shallow pool
He was struggling with it, making
, frantic efforts to pull it from the
: water
> Outlined on the breakwater
/ against the dazzle of the blue sky
the man saw Molly rise up IN hel
barrow as if she would walk and
then fall back again.
r "Good Godw he cried. He drop
q ped the rope into the water, caught
| up his oars and rowed to the ledge
All the time he rowed he saw Mrs
> Towne's motionless form lyint
there and Boss trying to help her.
As he stepped out Of his boat an'
r began slipping and jumping Owe
. the rocks the woman moved an,
/ raised her head. He saw her reacl
. out her hand to the dog. lie say
. the dog throw himself down ant
r lick her face eagerly.
! "That you, Jim Stowell!" sh
:. asked. 81 guess Eve broke my lee
# 1 slipped. Pve messed twenty year
y m / never slipped to speak OF be
Ie fore" -.
- She spoke tremblingly, but wit
l. pride Il s'pose | tainted or some
d thing"
"I'll git you right into the boat,
e said jim Stowell briskly, on tax
m you home in no time"
+ Boss stood close by watching tn
N man.
Mrs. Towne looked to the shor
RI saw the child, waved her hand an
- called cheerily, "All right~
- And Molly shook her handke
- chief feebly, though she tried
70 shake it vigorously.
ri 81 do hope she didn't see me fall
n, said the woman.
" 1t was not easy to get her into Il
70 boat. and she WINGED and grew pal
~ but she helped all she could al
Ut made no sound. =.
a When she was in at last, Jl
en- took up his oars to go round to Il
he sandy landing. There stood 30
shivering on rock. All at once
or appeared older than ever. 1t seel
We ed as if he could hardly stand.
me "Take him, too" said his m
ed tress.
,g- mo, let him walk"
o 81 want YOU to take him, l t.
vou," almost fcrcely. Hes t
cd old m stiff to walk on the rocks -
All "Ohw with a laugh. "Y
49, oughter seen him goin' it aft
ng youW ~
dc dc The man began to row. Tea
came into Mrs. Towne's eyes. h
mt voice was chOked.
w.. "You'vc got to take him.,
oss said, cor you needn't take me-
''' "Oh, if you feel like that )
md lifted the dog into the boat, a
n so Boss crouched down by his friel
tho who put her hand on him. He lei
ed more and more heavily on h
Of His eyes were fixed on her face
mo She had flung up her hand ag'
ttle to the child.
,eir Lying there on the wet moss
raw the bottom Of the boat she co
'osa look without moving into the DC
her face. He pressed yet closer.
INF With a curiously quick movem
- she managed to draw him even ne
no, err. She bent her head to his hea
"n' ale lays too hard on ye, S
,o Jim. de me pull him away.
,,h "Don't touch him. she cried
a sharp voice.
,ow The next moment she said hoa
self ly: ,
,h,t "He's dead. Maria Louise /