Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-10-04
CINDFRS.
BY Eleanor. II. Porter.

jaws, and once 1t was the squirrel it
self that made his dinner. Occasion
ally child with cooky, or a mai
with a sandwich, Sstrolled along una
ware of the hungry eyes that peeres
out from beneath tangled hair anC
watched for stray crumb thrown
aside.
1t was toward the end of the week
that Cinders, skuIking under the tree:
fl the twilight, came face to face with
a shabby, hollow-eyed man on one Of
| the. park settees. u
"Hullo!" greeted the man. I
The dog backed away.
Nv ell, by Jove! you look a little
more hard up than do. Come here
sir" ~, =,
The dog did not stir. -
Pretty tough old place, this world
chr" said the man. with weary
smile.
Still the dog did not stir. /
Hungry"
Two mCurnful eyes gazed unswerv-
ingly into the mans face. The dust
of the dogs heels stirred family with
the slight--the very slight motion OF
tail feebly wagged.
"Humph!" gruni ed the man,
thrusting his hands into his pockets
and pulling out a dine and four cop
per cents. He glanced from the coins
to the dog, and from the dog back to
the coins. "Humphs" he grunted
again, rising to his feet. Reckon
you need 'em the most, old fellow. Z"
On the next night twilight found
the hollow-eyed, shabby man on the
same bench. The dog. too, found
him there.
"Humph!" growled the man,
throwing that same quick look about
him, and dragging from his pocket a
paper bag. Seems to me you were
good while coming!" He extracted
sandwich, broke off a generous
piece, and tossed it to the dog.
Snap went the famished jaws, and
the dog came at once to attention
"Ah, hal" crowed the man. so
you were hungry" He threw a
second piece, then another. and an
other. "There." he exclaimed, when
the sandwich was finished. "How do
you feel, Weary W1lie?"
The dog whined, and took 4 tenta-
tive step forward.
What's your naIne-'Jack?'
There was a slow wagging Of the
dogs TAIL
'Fido?'
The tail wagged harder.
'Rover?'
There was quick, short bark.
Come here, SIR ordered he man;
but at the outstretched hand the dor.
turned and ran; the memory of those
friendless days and nights was rot to
be SO lightly cas- aside.
1t came to be a regular thing after
that for the shabby man to bring
nightly sandwich to the bench in tie
park, and for the dog to come and
eat it. There was always an ex-
change of courtesies in the shape of
jovial greetings and sharp barks, and
gradually the dog lost his fear. Three
times he tried to follow his new
IL ACA4 AOuAC, DuI bAC SndL OO DcCk.
sir, go back!" brought the little eager
feet to halt. and sent the dog stink
ing bacl to the shadows, there to
stand with wistful eyes gazing after
the shabby figure disappearing down
the street.
After all, where's the use of it,
Weary Wi!lie?" asked the man one
night when, the sandwich gone, the
two sat together on the bench.
Where's the use of it? There's no
one to care what becomes Of US, you
and me. Let's chuck it,.
The dog thumped his tail against
the seat.
"Humph Think it's joke, do
You? Well, maybe tbs. maybe it's"
There was something queer about |
the man that night. His voice shook. |
and was not quite clear; his step, too.
was far from steady, and he dropped |
on the seat with curious relaxation |
Of all his muscles. The next night It |