The Washington herald., 1910-11-26

/ itftd 70 DfiHB &NVhputtSJ tic pSSt btudNc0s
and matrOn OF the kennel, up to see me
l accepted eagerly. and. from the window.
she called her favorite.
| Nokomis was one OF the most
| beautiful collies l have ever seen, a
tawny red. or sable. with white run,
feet, and tail point. Her head was very
| finely shaped-not too dull for Keen
ness nor with too much OF the silly grey
hounds tapering muzZle, as not few
nat-headed prize winners. bred chiefly for
Icoior and coat, have. She had dark
brown eyes set with that obliqueness
that gives the breed it's characteristic look
of brightness. kindness. and craft Her
small ears as she entered were semi
erect. giving her. as she stopped with her
head slightly on one side. the sharp.
doubtful expression Of the fox. She came
with her flag up. as If she were on ex-
hibition before judges. marched TO Miss
Fielding, and waited for orders.
Isn't she a dariing?" Miss Fielding
said affectionately, rubbing her pets
neck. You hasn't got Happy, saddle-bag
ears and high forehead and a velvet
jacket, has youi 1 don't see no snipey
nose! Hasn't she got an honest. sonsie.
bawslnt face Mr.. Castle? Only Il isn't
| bawsint.' And look at her 'gawcie tail.
wi Upward curlr She has old Cookie
herself for an ancestor, she hasi"
NokOmis gravely stood on her hind legs
with her forepaws on her mistress skirt
panting-smling. / might well say Then.
in obedience 20 a word and a gesture,
she dropped and came over 10 me in so
dignified and friendly a way that I fell
promptly in love with her. Her outer
coat was abundant straight and stiff, the
under one so thick and soft and furry
that / could not find the skin. Her ruff
was magnificent. her chest deep ana
strong. l was sure she would be a good
worker; her wit had already been proved
Miss Fielding was pleased with my ap-
probation and consented 10 having No
komis remain. and so. for the rest OF
the day. except for occasional inquisitive
excursions, she lay on the floor beside
my bed. humping her tail and listening
attentively whenever I looked down 10
speak to her.
Early In the afternoon Miss Fielding
put on a fresh linen waist and corudroy
skirt 10 set out for the station. Before
she went she moved about the room, re-
adjusting the flowers. drawing a shade
or two which threatened 10 let the sun
into my eyes, renewing my pitcher OF
water. and so on. giving me in five min
utes a dozen evidences Of her tact
Leah came in occasionally. however,
TO see il was comfortable. but / could
get little talk from her. She answered
ali my questions. looking at me with her
melting, deep brown eyes. which were
really not little ike those OF old No
komis. but volunteering no remark OF
her own. Between the two / managed 10
be fairly patient till at about 3 o'clock.
Miss Fielding returned with the doctor.
was aware OF their approach for some
time before they arrived by the joyous
! barking OF the cOliies in front OF the
stable. At this Nokomis pricked up her
ears, but was too well bred 10 pay more
attention. I had laughed at her for
yawning wide with her wolf-like Jaws,
and she was sensitively on her dignity.
Doctor Copin was tall and thin and
younger than ] had expected: and like
most young doctors. he attempted 10
make much OF his years by a pointed,
reddish beard Nature had assisted him
in this attempt. also, by removing
enough OF his hair 10 give him a shiny
bald forehead almost TO the crown OF hts
head, and making him near-sighted
enough 10 require strong eyeglasses. But
all this could not induce me 10 think him
more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight
years Of age His eyes were Of that
china blue which. with red hair, is so
apt TO give a selfish. heaTtless express
sion, which went very well with his gen.
eral bl0Odlessness. Except for those pro-
truding blue eyes he might with his
yellowy-brOwn suit and his slender, long
hands. have been an animated carica-
ture done in red chalk Worst OF all 10
my mind. he made puns.
He approached me with the jocose air
affected by physicians. and looked me
over with a grin. could see. under his
sparse beard. that he had lizard chin
reeeding comically.
well, Mr.. Castle" he caid, ''I expect
you haven't been climbing any more
trees with your machine lately, have
you? Feeling ike Adam, after the Gre
alton OF Eve. with that fourth RIB of
yours? Let me have feel OF t. Ahw
He prodded me a little. We'll, we're
doing $685." he went on. IF you were
a football player you'd be up in I'VE
minutes. Hows the head? I suppose you
haven't had quite such a big one since
you put on long pants. You're not having
many long pants these days. I fancy,
with that cracked bone in your chest,
are you?" And so ON. I tried TO smile.
and did not succeed TIL 1 had caught
sight OF Miss Fielding's face frowning
over his shoulder.
/ was doing well. II seemed. It was
nothing but a matter OF time and pa
thence. The worst of it was the shaking
up. and for that. rest was all that was
necessary,
I answered his pleasantrIes asked him
the news in town, and thanked him for
what he had done. which. indeed, was
not much. II / have given the impress
sion that he was an ass that was not at
all how he impressed me. Though he
persistently refused to talk sense, and
turned everything I said into test. / was
ready enough TO believe that he knew his
business and stood we'll IN the profess
sion. I got little more than this, how
ever, for he soon left for talk-likely
a professional one, 1 imagined-With my
hostess. This lasted till, after an early
dinner. he left the house to be driven
back TO the station by Uncle Jerdon
Idle and bored as 1 was, while alone.
specialized upon his relations with Miss
Fielding: but from what ! had seen
could hardly regard him as rival. Still.
I knew well eonugh that one could not
predicate from a mans appearance how
women might like him. DR.. Copin would
not be here In attendance, much less as
a visitor. unless there was some value in
him He evidently knew the place well
enough to have been at Mfdmeadows often.
It made me, for no particular reason that
l could name, uncomfortable.
| 1t was still and warm, the beginning of
the hush of twilight. the birds chat
tering quoted, when voices came plain
~ up to me through the open window
beside my bed Miss Fielding and the
doctor were coming around the corner
of a house on their way to the stable
81 wish when she comes, next time,
you'd have Leah let me know" heard
DR.. Copin say earnestly.
| ssI want nropo{sa ~ do that" was her