The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1905-12-02
Buff

We had dogs without number and
they had either ben nuisance OF had
been shot or poisoned or come to
some other untimely end. So after we
had disposed of Monkey. who,
when he was not pulling the
parrots tail or chasing the cat through
our flower beds. was usually to be
found chewing on the finest pieces of
the wash or playing football with
Aunt James most elaborate sofa cush-
ions, we said goodbye to dogs. These
cushions were Aunt James delight
and 1t was after she found her latest
/ one which had taken nearly a years
work. out in the middle of the dusty
road with Monkey gnawing it in
wicked delight, that she took a firm
stand. And who would dare disobey
Aunt Jane? Not living soul unless
it was Donald.
Then we had weeks of beautiful
peace until one morning into our quiet
sitting room walked Donald, carrying
IN his arms little yellow and white,
furry ball of puppy. He smiled as
friendly greeting with his short tail
as any fat, little puppy, not long
away from his mother could well
smile. | surrendered completely at
first sight. But Aunt Jane rose up in
Indignation
Donald Darcy" she said severely.
What are you doing with that dog?
Wherever he has come from take him
back this minute. Never as long as
l live will We have another dog in
this housed"
And l can't live 'thout one" said
Donald, not impudently, but with his
usual independence. Since Monkey
went the house s been deader than
anything. If Bluffs got to go, I'm
going too. took my twenty-five dol
lars out OF the bank and bought a
good one so he wouldn't bother you.
Monkey was only cur, but Bluffs a
collie, Aunt Jane, and you can teach
EN- anything"
From the time Donald was a little
fellow in dresses he had always done
exactly as he said he would. And
now Aunt Jane knew that if she sent
Bun away Donald would CO. too.
So Buff stayed. Quickly he changed
from the fat puppy into the awkward,
half-grown dog, and at last into a
beautiful. full-grown collie. The yell
low color which had given him his
Eame had become tinged with brown.
His neck. breast and the lower part
or his face were pure white and his
legs were well dipped with white.
His face was one of the most intelli-
gent | have ever seen, even on a col
I lie Many were the tricks Do.ald
taught him and Buff was never hap
pier than when at play with him.
II cross word was spoken to him
he would go about all day looking
most miserable. with ears and tail
down. II we made any sighting re-
mark about him in our general con-
versation he would be depressed for
| hours. l remember one rainy day
| Donald was away and Buff was rest
less. He walked back and forth about
the room until l said impatiently, DO
lie down, Buff" Without taking an.
other step, he dropped down the in.
| slant | spoke. | thought Of his quick
obedience at the time. but did not
look up. couple of hours later,
when l had forgotten all about him.
cry from Aunt Jane made me raise
| my eyes, and there was Buff living on
one of her elegant floor cushions inst
where he had dropped at my com.
mand. He had most miserable look
| on his face. He knew he should not
be there, yet he also knew that he
should obey when spoken to. The
poor fellow did not recover from Aunt
James scoiding for nearly a week.
| 1t was only few nights after this
| that l was awakened by something
Juggling at the bed clothes. Then
came quick, short bark, and /
smelled smoke. In an instant I knew
/ that 1t was Buff warning me of fire.
Hardly did we have time to leave the
| house before 1t was lost in smoke
and flames. Then we discovered that
Buff was not with us. He had awak-
ened Aunt Jane as he had me. but
Donald had left his door locked and
had climbed from the window He
had seen nothing of Buff since the
evening before.
| Though everything in the house
was ruined by the flames. smoke and
water. most of the building was still
standing after the men had MT ont
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