Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05
A FORTUNATE DELAY.
BY n. JAMES.

TOttie was quite An ola uOB, ILLS Id was
rough. his eyes were bleary and his legs
were "wobbly." His days OF usefulness
were over but he was still the idol OF the
Brown family; and now that he could no
longer crunch bones it became an unWrlt-
ten law that some one should cut up MS
food in small, easily swallowed pieces
Likewise, since he could no longer rum
some one took him out each day, at the
end of a string; and since he was no longer
useful as a Waterman, the two Brown girls.
Elsie and Jennie, made soft bed for him
In corner of their room. Tot e was
asthmatc. sleeping restlessly and breath
ing heavily, and Jennie often arose in the
early hours 20 see that he was comfort
able.
They were all prepared for his approach
ing end, and after serious consuita ton
the family decided that he should not d e
In pain At the first sign of collapse
merciful dose of chloroform would be more
humane than to let him live and suffer.
The old fellow'll give us plenty of warn
ing. said Frank. He'll roll over on his
side. curl up his legs and turn up S eyes
He IL try to crawl over into corner, that 8
the way they do then it's all up. and it's
best to help him out of the world
So 1t is hardly to be wondered at that
when Jennie, awakened one night by a
queer gaspfng sound, arose and saw TOttie
In bunch upon the floor she woke Elsie
in an agony of alarm.
The poor old dog certainly seemed in a
pftiable state, and Elsie and Jennie looked
at each other in dismay. It was one of
those rare occasions when Mr. and Mrs
Brown had left the young ones. They had
gone to stop over night with friend In
the city, and Frank was at college, and
here was Tottie-dying perhaps!
Jennie looked at the clock; it was long
after midnight.
said: there may be some in mothers
medicine closet Wait here, Elsie, I'll be
back in a moment
Slipping on her dressing gown Jennie
ran across the hall, but soon returned.
shaking her head.
There's none to be found; what shall
we dor
If only Frank were here we could send
him to town for it," said Elsie. "Tottie
seems to be in bad way"
Maybe there's some across the street
at the hospital" said Jennie, making a
hasty toilet. I'll run over and see.''
AS she opened the front door, Patrick,
the night Waterman. came alongside
"Whativer's the mather?' he asked. He
had known the Brown family from in
fancy. Jennie explained.
shure. the law was to kill him: lave
him to me. an git the chloryform."
Much relieved, Jennie went on her err
rand. But they were out of chloroform
at the hospital, and the girls were at their
wits end.
The Browns lived on the outskirts of a
country village and the nearest drug store
was at least two miles away. 1t was
useless to wake the servants, who would
sleepily refuse to go: still more useless to
rouse Miss Cornwall the governess, who
would peremptorily order them to bed.
There was only one thing for them to do
to leave Patrick in charge and slip away
to the village themselves. 1t was a dar-
ing thing at that hour. for the road was
dark and lonely, but. Jennie afterward
explained, 1t was a case Of life and death.
So these brave little maidens set out.
Gaping by the back door, Patrick
wouldn't rouse the house if he missed
them.
They ran most of the way. frightened at
the very sound of their own footsteps For
tunately the night was warm and the moon
lit UP the dark places, and. hav ng each
other for company, it was not as lonely as
usual.
But all their trouble went for nothing
After rousing the druggist and explaining
their need. they found there was not
drop of chloroform in the drug store.
But you mustn't go home alone said
the good man. and calling his own re-
triever, he went back with them.
Patrick may have to shoot the poor
beast he said. they neared the house.
His dog gave deep bark, and quavering
echo came from Browns front porch. where
Tottie stood wagging his feeble tail.
The iris gave shout % joy.
'Tottie. Tott!e," they called. and Totte
came YEARLY down the steps. after the
manner of the very old.
Hes all right said Patrick, with
grin. up to some of his old tricks.
guess. playin dead an the likes O that. He
was holdin' of his paw, kind o. limp: 1
think he'd bin slapin' on it. But whin
said. Git up. Tottle.' up he got, spry as
the youngest
Dear old Tottier' and Jennie cast her
arms around his venerable neck. Elsie fol-
lowing suit Totte blinked and actually
smiled over the demonstration. He barked
bood-bye to the big retriever. who barked
back, while the girls shook hands with the
good natured druggist. Then they all went
to bsd once more. and Tottie was carefully
tucked up and left to sluInber bliss fully
little dreaming how near he had been to
his last sleep.