Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-03

while we're gomez"
The old dog looked entreatingly into the
speakers face, but he obeyed. He so old by FIVE
years as his master, who still young and vigorous
oh irnpatenty-for the young masters return from
those hunts in which he had been the life and
leader He dropped back upon the ground and law with
his nose pointing the hedge through which his master
with his college friend and "AIusic' the young
dog had passed, leaving Duke to doze and dream
The sun was warm-t would be a glorious day in
the woods Duke thought And then for the first time
he noticed that there woods just beyond hedge
tail trees, with the sunlight sitting through them
and that the hedge itself as he had believed it.
And from the branches there stepped just then
young of face, and clothed all in green like the
ZIP, Duke !" he cried gaily; up old dog The red
deerTuns TO the north and who fit you TO follow
Who had spoken ' Of HIM ' as being od Ma Duke could
not remember. The blood tinged and surged through
hi. veins. As he bounded ahead, he lifted up his
voice in deep, joyous bay Then. all at once, they
among gay party-cn of lively dress horses
OF HIM who had called And there were dogs. Duke
had never them before, but they rallied about him
Away! Away called the handsomest of the horse
men. ITO the chase!"
Through the stn-brght morning woods-the scent of
the red deer before the baying of the pack and the
shouts OF the huntsnen behind! Slender branches
4 brown bird overhead wiistled and called rabbit
sprang out before, eaping wildly for little way, and
then disappeared in the bushes unheeded Bright star
tied eyes from everywhere amid the branches looked
down as the old dog Passedthe old dog that had be-
come the new dog and TAR ahead the red deer running
to the north Heard the bay of the leader OF the pack
coming nearer and nearer and into his eyes fear,
and INTO has teet came an added sw1tness that stretched
his length yet closer and still closer to the ground, in
wild and frantic race for life.
The sun crep higher Up the trees The forest thinned
into wide open The antlers of the red deer went
tossing against the sky The rest of the pack the hunts
nen--they were far behind and forgotten. Duke
running TO the north.
Old dog Had anybody called him that? He
had dreamed it, surely. Old dog, indeed
The sun IS Just overhead now, and dazzes on the
sand dunes Perhaps It blinds the red deer for
mound he halts instant and, turning, snufs the
wind. For moment he makes brave figure against
reckless leaps The distance between him and his pur
suer is growing shorter and he knows it The muscles
in his 1.-the limbs are stretched and strained and failing
And behind him comes, and still comes the old dog
the old dog that is the new dog-eager, tireess, and
with the swiftness of the winds of March
The sun slips down the sky There is no longer even
the voice of the following pack They alone in
ming to the north They have crossed =5yer-they
have climbed hill-tfey have plunged through brush
red deer is and and tagging in strength
and always Duke fresher and swifter and surer of
the deer perhaps hoped old dog could not follow
Old dog? Hal With long. 1eaping bounds he SKINS
the waving green the wings of youth And then the
deer turns desperately the struggle. But it is
lato He IS tagged and done, and the odd dog drags
him down
The sun is low in the sky TIL: weary gssk and the
Lincoln green And there amid the grass is Duke,
guarding his fallen prey. How they rally about himt
How the handsomest horsenaq of all goes down beside
him to praise and to caress How they cheer and throw
up their hats for the hero who had followed the great
red upland deer to the north and dragged him down
alone Through the darl0ening woods bearing their
trophy homeward they 60 shouting and laughing and
praising, until at last they reach wide and
great brown fire-t hall where the feast is waiting.
And now others--and these fine ladies-come
to welcome the huntsmen, and then to Join them in
praises and and cheers for the Old dog. Old
dog7 Old
afDukel hey DuleI See what we've brought Homer
1t was his masters voice and Duke started. The
lights of the great hall the green huntsmen and gay
ladies swept together and became pleasant hedge from
which the sunlight was fading. a deep shadow had
crept out from It and lay all about him. Looking down
at him was the smiling face of his master, and In his
hand swung three rabbits.
Duke regarded him confusedy for moment, and
then gradually his look became of solemn indif-
ference Rabbitsl Showing rabbits! T9 hfmi
~I don't know what has got into Duke" he heard
his master saying one morning week later. 'fIe
never wants to go with amy more. but just walks
svav with superior air when he getting the
guns ready. -
perhaps he's getting too old
Duke scornfully walked to the hedge, shifting.
Old Old Yes he was too old indeed, for the sport
e yabbft cfasinshe who had real hunting at last
md followed and dragged down alone the great red
Ipiand deerl