Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-12-12
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH


the door a stuffed dog which seems to
guard the house. That is Clarine, and
IL you pat the dog in passing by, you
will win the undying gratitude OF the
old lady, and that is worth having, at
least II you are child, for Nine.
Bergnes' larder Is full Of pots OF delic-
ious jam and her dining room is a YER
table paradise to all the children OF
the neighborhood.
Nine. Bergnes was widow even In
my childhood and lived alone with
Marion, her old servant maid, her jam
pots and her rosaries. The priest and
a few people of the village occasion
ally visited her, and every spring, dur
ing the month of st. Mary, all the little
girls were invited to pick roses in her
garden to decorate the altar.
One afternoon when the servant had
gone to the village, Nine. Bergnes'
doorbell rang. She opened the door
and found herself facing young, and
rather good-looking man, who asked
for work.
Work, my boy" the old lady re-
piled; what kind Of work do you sup
pose l can give you? have only q
small garden which the Swiss tends to
during his leisure hours, and l have
no need of any other help"
But l am dying with hunger and
can hardly stand on my feet"
Then come inside and l will give
you something to eat"
The man entered and Nine. Bergnes
had him sit Gown in her dining room
and give him some cold chicken, bread,
cheese and bottle Of wine. He looked
around at everything in the room. At
his feet he had little dog, which
Nine. Bergnes, who did not care for
animals, kept close eye on. When
he had finished examining the din
ing room and admiring the beautiful
solid silver-ware, he said: And do
you really live here alone in this
lonely placer"
"Oh, no." Nine. Bergnes replied. Il
have Marion, my servant girl, and her
nephew, the Swiss, who sleeps here
several nights week"
mot every night then! You are GER
tainly right in being careful, being so
close to the highway"
$50 many crimes are committed"
said the old lady with sigh.
q hiO cUoI1nVV
praised his charitable hostess, wine,
and rising from the table, said: II
thank you, madame, for your kindness
to me, and wish that all honest men in
search of work might be treated the
same everywhere. / shall have to go
now, since you can give me no work
There is nothing to be had in this vii
lage, so / must go farther, but before
/ leave you / ask you to accept this
dog as a present"
He whistled and the dog jumped to
it's feet.
but do not like dogs" the old la,
dy objected.
ut is not question Of liking, but OF
lAdh4AS ChOh4 O0OAoAs AAo 0N5 "A@A
guard your house better than a man;
it would rather be killed on the spot
than let anybody pass it. l love it my.
self, but having no work or shelter ]
would rather give it away to some
body who will be good to it than drag
it around with me. It is dying with
hunger"
Nine. Bergnes was moved. Marion,
of course, would growl little, but
after all the man was right, she did
need a watchdog. She decided to
keep it.
cts name is Clarine, said the
tramp as he left.
An hour later when Marion came
back from the village the dog would
not let her enter the house until Nine.
Bergnes had petted it and formally
introduced the maid. Marion did scold
some. but she saw it might be count
ed On to keep intruders out, so she
Quieted down. She was always lit
tie afraid the nights when her nephew
did not sleep in the house. He was
not coming tonight, so it was really
a blessing to have dog. In q
closet she found an old travelling rug,
placed 1t near the door, and Clarine.
after having been we'll fed, laid down
to sleep on her post. Thus it was
every evening-at the slightest noise
Clarine was on the alert.
At last it almost ruled the HOUSE
and was treated like a queen.
A few nights later at midnight
Nine. Bergnes was awakened by the
dog barking furiously.
"Martsn," she cried with trembling
voice.
The servant came rushing in. her
teeth chattering with fear.
'They will murder US; we must
cry for help" She opened the win
dow and screamed "Help! Murder!"
at the top Of her voice.
In the hall outside there was the
noise of struggle. The dog barked,
and pudging from the oaths Of the In