The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-02-07

| huOW.
Just then Bridget came in. and see
in the dog, said, Sure, ma'am, and
that dog have worrit the life out o.
me these two days. | have drove him
from the kitchen duer twinty times
the day"
20 mama.' said Trix, "he doesn't
belong to anybody, then, and he
wants to stay with us, you can see
he does" .E
| There was not much doubt about
that, but the trouble was. the feeling
was far from being mutual.
The little terrier stood, eager,
doubtful, beseeching, waiting his
fate, which he knew hung In the bal
ance.
Then grandma said, quietly, 81
| think he is "a stranger at the door,
and needs refreshment," gathering up
a plateful OF scraps and going to the
door with them.
Somehow that seemed to settle It.,
and with a look Of relief papa said,
mo doubt he will find his home, or
''ip c"h'i iiih III a. lCW uuy %
Trix was almost as happy as IL It
were Christmas, and the dog seemed
equally so.
What is your name, dear doggy"
said Trlx, over and over, but he an
swered nothing, so papa said he
guessed they would have to call him
Nix" and he thought Trix and Nix
would make good team.
About 10 O'Clock. as the two played
together on the porch, the postman's s
whistle suddenly sounded, and Nix
fairly flew round the corner of the
house to the front. Then. almost be-
fore Trix could wonder why, he
bounded back and laid q little pile OF
letters ut his feet. At the same min
ute the postman was ringing the
front door bell furiously, and soon
was telling mama how her dog had
seized the letters from his hand.
Then mama had to explain all
about Nix, and the postman said he
probably came from the country, and
had been in the habit of taking let
tiers from The rural free delivery post
man. He knew a dog that did it reg
ularly. Sure enough, when the whis-
tie sounded next day he rushed to the
front again, and this time the post
man had ready just the letters which
belonged there.
One Friday morning, week from
the day when he first appeared to
Bridget. mama stood at the window
about o'clock, for 1t had been
very warm night and she had not
rested well. She was just in time to
see market wagon coming down
the street, and as It came opposite
the house. Nix suddenly bounded into
the street and raced round the wa
gon, wild with joy. Then the man
took him up beside him, looking fully
as happy as the dog.
Mama exclaimed softly to herself,
He has found his owner!" and she
felt sorrowful to see him go, and dis
mayed when she thought Of Trix and
his grief.
well, guess he did not care much
for us, and we must try not to re-
gret him too much" she said.
But the wagon only went few
rods when Nix bounded down and
came up the walk again, stood min
ute. first looking at the house, then
at the wagon; but there was clear
whistle from the man. and he rushed
off again.
So mama was able to tell Trix that
the doggy certainly did love them,
and was sorry to go.
Then another Friday morning came
round, and as mamma opened the
outside dining room door, there lay
on the floor little paper bag II
wonder what this is," she said, and
when she peeped in there was beau
tiful peach, and scrap Of paper
with this written on it in a scrawling
hand:
From a grateful dog"
After that, throughout all the sum-
mer market season, there was on Fri
day mornings a little paper bag at
the dining room door, with peach
or pear, grapes, tomatoes or some
thing, and you may be sure Trix nev-
er forgot to look for it.
One morning mama had him up at
o'clock and out in front ready to
see Nix when he came, and there
was the happiest meeting you ever
saw, which the marketman enjoyed,
too, and finally Trix was taken upon
the wagon with them, and rode two
squares down the street and back.
think Nix actually thought Trix
was going with them for good, and
when the marketman put the little
boy down at his own door, he did
stand minute and look first at the
wagon, then at the house; but mama
said, "Come. my son." and he came
at that dear call, just as he should, |
back into the house, which certainly |
could not do without him--Isla May
Mullins, in Youths Companion.