Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06

kf&5l shrilly round the house and among
the tall poplar trees In front. untii
they creaked and swayed and rat
tied their bare branches.
We were all in the kitchen, watching Polly
shake the corn-popper over the hot fire, until
the kernels within burst with a snap and
the white flakes lay heaped to the top
Suddenly Ben leaned forward in listening
attitude, saying:
"Hark! L hear a cry"
"The wInd,' answered Polly, shaking Wig
orously.
mo, it wasn't" protested Ben. "Stop
moment, Polly. Here. Maud, you hold the
plate"
| obeyed. and Ben, followed by Edith and
Dick, ran to the door. Dick was the young
est, and ere his tiny legs could make the
length of the great kitchen. Ben had thrown
open the door and stopped to lift something
from the snow-covered step.
It's alive-it's alivel" cried Edith, excited
ly. "Is it a cat? Is it dog? Say, is it"
"Wait till | find out myself, and I'll tell
you" responded Ben, good .naturedly.
ed round the mat, where lay little, shiver-
ing creature, cold wet and almost lfeless
TITS poor, little dog said Polly. "How
Ss Same @ he 0n on our Rsn so0rstep Do you suppose
pretty doggy" lisped Dick. laying soft
gy, amt he, Benny?"
Ben nodded as he knelt on the floor and
drew the mat nearer the fire.
'I hope he will live" said Polly; ''but
don't suppose mother will let us keep him.
She doesn't like dogs, you. know. Perhaps
she can do something for him; he's almost
frozen. Go ask her, Edith
Away Edith flew, returning with mother,
who made, the little stranger more comforta-
ble and then listened to our coaxings.
.,WIll you let him stay mother?"
"Oh,. we want little dog"
"'And he hasn't any home"
Pretty doggy"
"He's ours, for he canned to u.s."
This last from Edith. who stood tuaging
at mothers dress, and looking up into her
taee with shining, wistful eyes.
"Well, children" said mother slowly, "if
he is well-behayed dog, suppose we shall
have to keep him."
Il don't, suppose he knows enough to be
ANYTHING else" remarked Ben, half-scornfully
He would have been very much better pleas
ed had our half-frozen protege been a huge
mastiff or shaggy Newfoundland
Wen call him Trixy;" said Edith. who
D "Pshaw! Az, that's a cats name" answered
"Or Dixy," laughed Polly, pinching Dicks
DOR Rixy," proposed, and to that we all
agreed.
Well, Rixy lived and thrived, and ere two
weeks had elapsed, had developed from a
thin, lifeless creature into a perfect little
beauty. with silky, curling hair and great
brown eyes.
Then we discovered that he was remarka.
bly, clever, and Ben taught him innumerable
tricks.
He would jump through hoops, and beg
for crumbs, and shake hands in the most
polite manner
Then Ben carved little wooden gun for
him, and with this he would stand and
shoulder arms and salute like true soldier
If you said to him. "Be dead, Rixy," he
would fall to the floor. and closing his eyes
lie there limp and motionless, until you gave
him the signal TO rise, when he would sprinp
up and bark and wag his tail, as if to say:
"Now, wasn't that exceedingly clever?"
He would limp like a cripple. and pretend
to cry, and waltz; on his hind legs; in fact
came famous as a performer among all the
villagers, who often came to watch him, anc
were astonished at his intelligence.
Of course. we were very proud Of him, anc
you can imagine our dismay and grief wher
one day he went out with Dick for walk
and did not return.
"He ruined away" cried Dick, with tear,
coursing down his chubby cheeks. 81 called
him and he wouldn't come. Boo-hoo-o!"
Edith joined in the outery, and burying he
face in her apron, sobbed as if her hear
would break
l tried to comfort her, and Ben said. en-
couraglngly
Don't cry, Edie; he'll come back tonight
Wait until supper-time."
Edith did wait, and so did we all, but M
lGxy appeared, and the following morning
Ben went out to search for him.
None of the neighbors had seen him anf