Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-07
A MERE DOG.
ev Will r. Watson.

still,
He sleeps coward the west at the :op Of
the hill.
' This is the story OF Lord Chester
field. who ran around the corner one
bright April! morning and returned
nome famous
Huh. he wouldn't fight a boy" a
t~hick-necked citizen rad remarked
with a sheer. but then he didn't know.
Chesterfield WAS a modest cog. When
he saw j. yellow bulldog looking his
way for trouble he usually haG impor-
.ant business In another direction or
appeared not tn notice The warlike as
poet or threat of the bully. Or if he
We're approached by a saucy terrier or
an ambitious cur he greeted him With
a great laugh. showing his long white
teeth, or good -uatureily reached out
his great. awkward paw and rolled the
~bclligerout owe IL the dust. then roll
ing over a time or two himself. just
as If it We're all huge fun. Ii takes TWO
10 make a fight, ana Chesterfield SIM
ply wouldn't take a declaration Of war
seriously. Perhaps it was this good
natured quality which made hin, do
spiscd BY Il great many dogs and men
and aGored by his pretty mistress.
one morning Dolly E'enton was hang
ing the clothes ont on The line sing
ing with a light heart. for her mother
had gone down town for a rev hat
she had selected ;he day before-a
beautifully trimmed picture hat with a
cluster of vioiets II ribbons to match
her slightly curling hair OF pure gold
and her sunny blue eyes.
Dolly was thinking also Of Il certain
young man who was to be IL town on
Easter sunday and who would no
doubt express arden opinions about
both the hat and the girl. Jack Law
ton was the son of a rich man. but
he was more than that. for h. was the
possessor of a mind of mis- own. n sreao
heart and a considerable stock OF ON
mon sense.
Well marry 500. as I finish Law
school" he had insisted, when Dolly
had reminded him that since her ia
TIERS business failure and death they
We're poor. very poor.
You must make a brilliant match
with some one who can help you. and 1
shall always be interested.' she adj
vlsed ha~lf-earnes1ly and half-rcgret-
fully. To which Jack I.awton replied
with Il quizzical look. and he kept on
coming and planning Just the same.
untli ne went away to law school.
But to return to the present. Dolly
Fenton's morning task was easy be-
cause of The bright days ahead, and
then the mental work did not worry
this child of Il practical mother. AS
she returned to the house she stepped
out on the veranda for a moments rest.
tipping back the dainty little sunbon-
net. her fluffy hair curling abou her
broad, low forehead and her cheeks
aglow with health n hope.
Good morning, Miss Dolly" she
heard AS she sat half-dreaming. while
a stalwart young man leaped the fence
and strobe up to the porch. He was
not so VOllnV either. with vccn Iiras
In his brow and his high. retreating
forehead quite bald nearly to the mid
die of his head. Yet he was handsome.
with Il dark. curling mustache and
shifty brown eyes hat seemed unable
to fix themselves on IN particular OBJ
ject save the face of the girl before
him.
Il have come inst once more. Dolly
he began earnestly. Il saw your moth
err 90 downtown and knew you would
be alone. so hurried right over"
But you We're not"
Il came just once more to see IL YOU
nave not another answer for me. You
know. dearest little girl. that I love
you madly. and there has never been
another love In all my life. Jack Law
ton Is the hero of a score of bOyish love
affairs" he continued fiercely. as he
saw her bored look. He should marry
"A rich girl like himself. You're a fool
to marry him. I want you myself.
cannot live without you or to see you
marry n one else. 1iave you guessed
how much l love YOU"
Let us not speak of the impossible.
Mr. Long. We AN emain better
friends II we drop the subject" she
concluded. rising to her feet and draw
ing back toward the door.
All things are possible. my dearest.
You were meant for me. and I was in
tended for YOU You must see 1t that
way. for it is destiny. He drew closer
to her as lie uttered these words. and
gripped the trellis in his passion as il
striving for self control. There was a
frightened her. You must low me.
say" he continued. in a higher key, his
eyes growing wilder. She saw the IN
sanity that h had at times half sas.
pected and drew back in fear, hushed
by the menace in his looks. With a
quick movement she reached for The
door. but he was there before her-a
maniac. Not a word or we will botl,
die he Kissed as he grasped her hand
and paused a as IL to mediate
on what he should do. Then he drew
her face toward his. the girl so para
lyzed with fear as to be able to rnake
only a slight moan in protest.
A low growl startled the insane man.
1t Came from some invisible nook and
VIC sidi'ttS eyes COutU UOt locate Ii.
Another growl and a swapping of teeth
was followed by a streak of yellow Ind
white through the air. and MilOrd Ch.s-
terrified was on the edge of the porch
with his handsome yellow head ,ur-
mounted by bristles never seen there
before. and his heart painting almos.
audibly. His eyes seemed t. say, Re
lease her. sir, at once" and the insane
mans hand dropped to his side while
he Glared fiendishly at the dog.
THE imp OF satan." he muttercd, and
his hand stole slowly to his pocket. .rhe
dog !eaped straight for his throat and
caught his shoulder as Long dodxed.
Dolly seized the opportunity and was
behind a barred o in a moment. but.
fascinated, gazed through the window
at the struggle for a m and then
Ned to the nearest neighbor for help.
She heard Il sharp report az IL a board
had snapped as she ran. In a momen
two men were found. but by the time
they reached the %dooryard. all was
quiet and the mad man had escaped.
They saw drops of blood on the steps
and followed a trail Of little red spots
which led to the palace of Lord Ches-
terrified. He lay in the kennel. half
choked. with mute appeal i'll his brown
eyes. as Dolly ran up to him. crying:
You dear. old fellow! Jack. your
handkerchief. quick! I must stop this
bleeding"
--l Y. "