Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-01-13
DOG AND
DIPLOMAT
By LOWELL OTUs REESE
cooy6ah. 1904. By Lowell Gus Rss,e

Magnolia was one Of those quiet lit
tie towns by the southern sea where
man., people go to spend the winter.
Its CHIEF beauty tag IN the wide forest
Of live oaks all about, through which
wound the level dri, ewuy. with It's nc
companying bicycle path. The sea
Knocked iazily at the door. but never
with enough energy to cause the quiet
little town 10 give IL my attention be-
you'd that OF an occasional midwlnter
bathing party or "A clambaklng expedi-
ton up the coast. where the rocks
were large and black In the moonlight
and the scene peculiarly adapted to the
telling Of ghost stories and the walks
home e%mineutly well suited TO the tell
ing Of love stories which. while not so
thrilling, were Infinitely more satisfac-
tory.
Carleton saw her ON the avenue one
morning. lie watched her enter a GER
tain house with magnolids Ia the front
yard. She entered with an air of pro
psietorship, aud Carleton promptly de-
cidcd that Il vas her home. lie strobe
away TO the nearest drug store and by
skillful diplomacy elected from the
benevolent old gentleman with spcctu-
cles that the house vas occupied by
Colonel Barclay OF New York. and
But Carleton promptly forgot the
rest Of It as being Irrelevant, 'ncom-
potent and immatcriul." lie rcmem-
bered the name, however. and lie saw
her again that evening-afar off.
lie was n modest fellow. and he tried
70 keep out of sight. However, he
thought about her most assiduously.
and finally he dreamed about her. This
was getting serious. To think all day
about n girl you've never met and to
dream about her all night is alarming
and an indication that it IL time for
you TO leave town or aunt up n mutual
friend.
Carleton knew no ore in Magnolia.
and he could not induce himself to
leave. lie continued to haunt tic
beach n drive and tell his troubles
TO the big pointer. who always listen
cd with m apprecintive thump of the
tail and n tremendous droop Of his
cavernOus jaw.
One evening Carleton was lying unoa
Wv EAhHn al ~ niilG lIOAn lOMu WITCH
suddenly the pointer sprang up with
n startled bark and rushed out into
the middle OF the bicycle path. frisklng
and ready for n romp. He was Just in
time 70 collide with Miss Barclays
wheel and send TINT frightened young
lady to the ground IN an undignifed
heap.
Carleton ran out In n perfect agony
of contrltion. ITS all Don's fnult."
he cried. II hope you won't-are you
hurtf' he finished anxiously.
The young lady was regarding her
muddy costume with mingled wrath
and modification. Her face burned n
rosy red. and she sprang quickly upon
her wheel and started with all speed
from the scene Of her tumble.
Hes a horrid. muddy beast" she
half sobbed, land II | owned him |
would have him shot" Then with a
half glance at the abject young man.
who stood hat in hand. she swept
around a bend in the road and was
gone.
Carleton stood benumbed. "It's ali
over now" he sighed. Don. you've
done It this time all right" The poor
pointer hung his head and skunk away
to lie down behind a tree and watch
his master with ngonized. apprehen.
sive eyes. He was guilty. but 50 sor-
~.
Carleton regarded him long ana
thoughtfully.
Don. old boy" he said. "its up to
you. You've got to be sacrificed. 1t
goes hard with me, old CLAP, but she
has condemned you. and that settles
IT,"
Don wagged his tail %nnXlously and
with doubt. He didn't understand, on
ly that things were not at all right and
that there was trouble ahead.
When Miss Barclay came down the
next morning she found the big point
er tied to a magnolia tree in her front
yard. Affixed to his collar was n card.
She stood for a moment in blank
amazement looking at the dog. Don
sat down and smiled Mt her, thrashing
his tail vigorously among the leaves
TO tell her he was sorry, but mighty
friendly.
The girl approached slowly. Don
watched her. but made no e%xtravagant
demonstrations. 1t was a point In his
favor and went far toward excuslng
his Ill chosen frivollty OF the day be
fore.
Miss Barclay laid a tentative hand
upon his head. Don looked into her
eyes grnvely. but made no effort ia
presume upon the short acquaintance
by unseemly ~fawnlngs.
The girl smiled finally. Whose dog
are you. anyway she asked qulzzical
ly.
The pointer opened his wide jaws
and laughed with n soft. painting
breath. Then lie sO,emuly raised the
right paw and laid It I'm Miss Bar.
clay's hand. Curiosity took possession
OF the girl, and she tore the card from
the dogs collar and read Il:
Dear Miss Bnrciay-Here Is the bearer,
Don, pursuant TO your expressed wish OF
yesterday. Perhaps Il Is n bit cowardly.
but / confess ] haven't the heart 20 kill
him myself. lie and I have been chums a
long time, and he Is the only being ]
know IN the whole south. 50. while I cx-
press my deepest regret for the annoy
ance he caused you yesterday, let me be-
speak for him an easy and painless death.