The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-09-12
Gust PETER"

JUST PETER"
1t was a most everyday occur
rence-a red automobile tearing by,
a brown puppy uncertain Of direc-
ton, and the inevitable result The
red thing never even stopped. but
left behind 1t a cloud of suffocating
dust, and patch of something brown
on the road.
Geoff, after the first shock Of sur
prise, went forward, wondering why
Peter didn't return to him when he
called.
His sturdy legs carried him to the
spot, where the brown heap lay, and
he said softly, Pete, get up, you lazy
dog. I'd be ashamed to play you was
a deader!" But Peter gave no signs
of getting up, and somehow Geoff's
little legs began to shake. Was 1t
possible, no, it couldn't be, Peter did
play like that sometimes, and Geoff
began to worry
Could he be hurried so bad, that he
couldn't get up? He would see. Stoop-
ing over the silky brown body yet
warm, Godfrey slowly lifted one lit
tie leg, then another. No, there
seemed no reason why Pete couldn't
get up, his legs were all right. Then
with a quickly beating heart Geoff
raised Pete's listless head. The soft
ears hung Imply over his hand, and
the loving brown eyes never opened
once.
Geoff put down the head, and with
a very frightened, white face, sat
down in the dusty road by the side
of Pete.
A great lump seemed growing in
side of him, as slowly the feeling
came over him that little Pete, his
own puppy, had gone dead! He had
heard of such things before, vaguely
wondering what it meant; and if they
all went to heaven, what time God
must have answering the door-bell,
and if He had an elevator, like the
big store In town!
Geoff sat very still, pathetic lit
tie figure, with the sun beating down
on his straw hat, and the immovable
puppy stretched beside him.
Geoff never had any mother that
he could remember, and he had be-
come used to thinking out things for
himself, because Dad never had any
time in the evenings; besides, he did
not always understand.
This was the picture which met
the eyes of the Reverend Malcolm
Brown as he rode down the road on
his baby horse. Geoff and he were
already acquainted, and it was with
sundry misgivings the young minis
ter slipped from his horse and touch
ed the straw hat.
whats the matter, my boy? Pc
ter hurt himself?'
EYES," came Geoff's voice, strange
ly quiet, the young man thought. 81
guess he's" and the other words
died away.
The bay horse waited; he never
quite knew what his master would
do. but there was trouble here, so he
stood at attention.
There was a minute when the min
lister wished he were a woman, then
he put his arm around the dusty fig.
ure. "Sonny, you're in danger here
right in the middle of the road, and
I'm going to carry you away"
Don't" said the little boy pas
sionately. don't you see Pete's hurt
ed himself so he can't walk, an dye
'spose I'm goin' to leave him?"
"But Pete might get hurt again,
said the minister. "See here, I'll car
~ Pete, and you take the bay ovel
to the grass"
The strain of the last hour was be
ginning to tell on Geoff, and as tn,
minister tenderly raised the little
brown pup, Geoff struggled to hi
feet, and reaching up for the bride
followed the minister to the grass.
stretch, safe from red cars.
The boys straw hat had beef
thrown down, and his agonized hear
throbbed against the minister's vest
while scalding tears ran down hi
cheeks. The young man sat holdin
the child in a strong clasp, waitin
till the first paroxysm was over.
was no use shamming, Geof knew
although the brown pup lay as
asleep. The car had been merciful
the little back had been snapped Xix
. twig, and Pete lay at their feet 4
his last sleep.