The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-11-24
A Belated
Thanksgiving
The Story of
a Faithful Dog
By ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
ASSocia ton.
By ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON

The call rang out clear and loud or
the crisp November air. followed al
most Immediately by an imperative
whistle. but no Don appeared, anG
Tom Wentworth was undeniably an
CRY.
Impatiently kicking from his path q
frost blackened dahlia stalk. the an
noyed man stamped into the kitchen
where his pretty young wife was busy
preparing breakfast.
Have you seen Don this morning"
he inquired.
EYES," she replied. "he was there al
the door only few minutes ago.
''Then he's run off just to get out
of churning." declared Tom. with 6
fierce frOwn.
Helen Wentworth laughed merrily
81 don't blame him. l don't like tC
churn; neither do you"
Tom Wentworth had a special apt
ness for machinery. His friends otter
wondered why he remained farmer
instead of turning his entire atten
ton to mechanics. About six months
previous and soon after his marriage
to the schoOlma am, Helen Latrobe, be
had devised an ingenious attachmen,
to the churn by which Don. the in
telligent st. Bernard. could do the
work. However. the enormous st
Bernard heartily disapproved of the
whole thing. and, though he did the
work obediently. it was with an unmis
taxable air of having compromised his
dignity to a marked degree. When
ever his master placed the machine in
readiness Don's brown eyes invariably
took on an expression that said as
plain as words: '..'
aren't you ashamed to subject a
fellow Of my caliber to such a mental
task-I, who come Of long line OF
aristocratic ancestorsT'
Breakfast over, the inventor, still
nursing his wrath, was obliged to per
form the necessary drudgery himself.
and even the tempting aroma Of Hell
ems fresh baked mince pies failed tc
lessen the deep revenge he meditated
against the rebel when he should re
turn. But the day slipped by, and
Don failed to appear.
Before retiring Helen went out on
the veranda to enjoy the mellow moon
light. She was tired with an exces
sive WEAKNESS such as only the house
wife who has baked and cleaned all
day can know. But the calmness OF
the night and it's quiet starlight rested
her. Suddenly she felt a moist nose
thrust under her arm, and a pair OF
brown eyes looked into hers. pleading
for pardon and incidentally for sup
per. OF course he received a generou:
allowance Of both and showed his ap
probation by vigorous wagging o.
his tail.
On discovering the deserter Ton
promptly dragged him to the wash
house and locked him in.
Don't be rough with him." begget
Helen.
'I'll teach him to run away from hi
work." declared the man.
you'll let him out in the morning
Of course? Don must enjoy hi
Thanksgiving with the rest Of u.s."
you spoil that dog, Helen" he an
swered irritably. He doesn't deserv
any Thanksgiving. No; he'll sta,
right there in the washhouse till mex
churning day.
Helen had owned Don ever since he
uncle had brought him, an awkward
sprawling puppy. to her girlhoo'
home. and his comradeship seemed al
most human. When she had come
happy bride to Tom Wentworth
home she had brought Don with her.
At first when her husband proposed
his working the churning machine sh
protested. But his insistence, coupled
with repeated assurances that the L.
Dor would not hurt her favorite. hat
finally won a reluctant consent
Like a rose set in frostwork th
morning dawned. with just enough
crispness and snap in the air to max
it a typical Thanksgiving day. Heller
rose early and descended to the kitch
en- just as Tom had started a fire il
the range. Dons unused rugs behint
the stove appealed keenly to her, ant
she again pleaded for his release. Blu
Tom stubbornly refused and hurried
of to the stable to feed the horses ant
milk the Jerseys.
Hearing the family astir, the i'm
prisoned dog renewed his whining an,
scratching. and Helen could not repres
the tears as she mechanically prepare,
breakfast. The few scraps which Ton
tossed through the window Of tn
washhouse seemed an insult to tn
prisoner and herself. It was the frs
time since their marriage that he hat
done anything to seriously hurt he
feelings. but she was too proud to sa!
30 or point out how unjust and un
feeling his action was in her eyes.
The ample Thanksgiving dinner wa!
made ready and eaten without muel
satisfaction on the part Of either hus
band or wife. When it was cleared
away Tom hitcbed his sleek gray:
to the new buggy and asked Helen Il
drive with him to Meadeville to visi
his father. She refused in a mannel
so different from her uual amiability
that he looked at her in wonder, then
without comment, drove away.
~