Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27
A DOGS STRANGE FRIEND.
Up with a wildcat md Used TO
share MeuIs Will, n.

(tTOm the New orleans PicayunC)
1.-THE strangest bit of sentiment or re-
CARDIFF, indeed, one may call it such
that l ever saw expressed in the dumb
orute creation was the affection a. big,
shaggy coated dog, of doubtful breed,
manifested toward IL wildcat and 1 have
always wondered by what queer freak
nature allowed those two born and ma
tural enemies to get along together in
such peaceful harmony"
During II recess in one of the sections
OF the criminal district court, Edward
l'loch. the young attorney at law. felt
the anccdote mood upon him, and - little
group gathered around to hear the finish
of the strangely begun yarn.
1T was in Opolousas, or. | would say,
III" country near there. quite a few years
ago that tho friendship of the dog and
eat came under my observations" MIR.
''loch wcnt on. and then. as everybody
sat at attention. he completed the story
about us follows:
AN old Negro. one ri the good. hoary
beaded ante-bcllum darkics, owned the
dog. and rs for tho cat--wcl uohody
owned HIM: he was his own master. and
made his homo. that is. until he met
i;omcy the mongrcl. somewhere. out in
| tho thick woods.
''Romov was friendly boast. great.
big. docil'. foolish looking dog. with hair
hanging about his eyes. and a tail that al
ways had the inclination to wag upon
IL" slightest provocation He Wasn't
good for mitch. hut rs he took such pains
t. DO so,iahlo. people in general liked
him, and he got many II pct and few
kicks or harsh words.
| old Jake. that was tho ancient darby.
| thought Rooney a very peer among dogs
and nothing was too good for tho four
| footed lrafor. Vie always saw tn il that
| Rooney received Il big share of the lard
cr's good things. and would often go ont
! and shoot a mcss of rabbits or squirrels,
| just that Rooney might have a Lucullan
feast All ny HIMSELF
Nv hil" Rooney had his good traits h.
also had his shortcomings, and. given To
| WANDERING he would often cause his old
master genuine sorrow by going ont into
the woods and remaining absent for days.
| "Nhl" Rooney WIS gone Jake would
A,c ridiculous in his grief. ana would ad
Vince all sorts uf absurd reasons for
| the dogs disappearance. His general
conclusion was that Il bar had dun
eted dat roah crittor, and often he would
opine that de white fokses done stole
dat cute dorc. On Tux him ter Means
ter nut in der show,
| "Romcy was never eaten by bear,
nor did his charms tempt any one to
become dishonest; no always turned up,
hungry as Wolf. and fully anxious for
good. long sleep. Early one spring
| Rooney shove q tendency to take tc
the woods more even than usual, and
do what he would, Jake could not break
him of the wandering habit
"Thc dog would show M n tn" cahir
for his regular meals, but. his appetite
appcased. he would gallon away anc
dsa ppcarod among the trees, at time;
l,ven remaining out all night. This Wen
on for II few weeks, when. to Jake:
sunrise hi, pct one afternoon. upor
being given his dinner swallowed a
portion of it hurriedly. took the rest I"
it (hlf a rabbit in his mouth ana raj
away to the forest
"Romey repeated this queer perform
lance day after day, and not only woul'
ne carry off half his dinner, hut a bis
norton of his breakfast and supper A!
well. Jake concluded that something
was doing and decided tn watch thu
dog in an endcavor to sec where HI
went and what he did with such his
share of his meat
"Jake tried to follow Rooney on i've
or three occa sons. but the dog didn
want comranv-at least. not his master
and would always contriVc to throw
tho darkcy off the trail. Jake had ahou
given IN ever reforming mis- dog. wh"'
nv accident he discovered the attraction
that carried Rooney off to the woods &
often Rooney had been fed. and ha'
djsappcarcd with half his dinner, an
Jake. on this particular day, Went +
the woods with his gun on his shoulde
tn shoot some squirrels for supper ~
was in a very thick bit Of undcrhr'ish
living still, with his gun ready for sho
at two squirrels frisking on tree som
distance away, when he distinctly hoar'
the short, appealing bark that Rome,
generally gave when he was denlandini
attention or seeking to make friends witt
some stranger. Jake listened and hear'
the bark again. and his surprise grew
into wonder when he heard, mngiin
with the bark, the low, purring meow "
a cat What can this mean Jake aske'
himself And. with the utmost caution
and stealth. he made slow cours" II
the direction of tn" unusual foroS
sounds.
'"rhc barking aud yowling continued
land grew louder rs Jake advanced on M
careful lay and finally the darby reachet
an opening in the trees through whlcl
he was afforded the view ol SINAI
| clearing The scene that met his Gaz
All hut took his breath away. BEFORE hin
in the open was Rom"y. as frisky anf
as happy as "A young colt, gambolns
with CLEO about u full grown wildcat tina
was crouchcd on the ground gnawni
the bones remnant Of the dinner the dog
had brought him The great cat coul'
have torn the dog to shrods in liify
but he seemed to he rs amiahle ano
friendly as Rooney himself. and, FINISHED
with his bone. he arose tn his haunche'
and playfully tapped his canine coinpan
ion ON the head. RomoN was pleased
with this. and barkod in delight.
Jake raised his aim and drew hol'
on the cat but before his finger pressed
he trigger he paused and lowered th'
wcanon. In the first place he feared
same of the shot might strike the dog
and again he argued that Rooney
friends were his friends. and it wouldn'
do to hurt the cat, anyway.
1.-The snap of a twig under Jake
heavy boot alarmed the cat, and thu
! 1.-the creature. with bound, was son'
off into the dark timber Rooney tric'
to follow, but he couldn't keep the pace
and that evening he returned discon
! solatcly home.
, | "Nonths rolled by and Romey mad