The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-07-19
CHAPT Err |.
The Miracle.


KaZan lay mute and motiOnleSs. his
gray nose between his forepaws, his
eyes half closed Yet every drop of
the wild blood in his splendid body
was racing in a ferment of excitement.
every nerve and fiber of his wonder
full muscles was tense as steel wire.
Quarter strain wolf, three-quarters
'husky," he had lived the four years
of his life in the wilderness. He had
felt the pangs of starvation. He knew
what it meant to freeze. He had
listened to the wailing winds of the
long Arctic night over the barrens. His
throat and sides were SCARED by bat
tie, and his eyes were red with the
blister of the SHOWS. He was called
a giant among his kind and as fear
less, even, as the men who drove him
through the perils of a frozen world
He had never known fear-until
now. He had never felt in him before
the desire to run-nOt even on that
terrible day in the forest when he had
fought and killed the big gray lynx.
It was his first glimpse of civilization.
He wished that his master would come
back into the strange room where he
had left him 1t was a room filled with
hideous things. There were great hu-
man faces on the wall, but they did
not move or speak, but stared at him
in n way he had never seen people
look before.
Suddenly Kazan lifted his ears a
little. He heard steps, then low voices.
One of them was his masters voice.
But the other-it sent Il little tremor
through himl Once, so long ago that
it must have been in his puppyhOod
sogs. ne seemed to have had dream
Of 4 laugh that was like the girls
laugh-a laugh that was all at once
filed with wonderful happiness, the
thrill of a wonderful love, and Il
sweetness that made kazan lift his
head as they came in. He looked
straight at them, his red eyes CLEAN
ing At once he knew that she must
be dear to his master, for his masters
arm was about her. In the glow of
the light he saw that her hair was
very bright, and that there was the
color of the crimson bakneesh vine in
her face and the blue of the bak
neesh flower in her shining eyes. Sud
denly she saw him, and with a little
cry darted toward him.
"Stop!" shouted the man. Hes
dangerous Kazan-"
She was on her knees beside him. all
fluffy and sweet and beautiful, her
eyes shining wonderfully. He saw the |
man running forward, pale as death.
Then her hand fell upon his head, and |
the touch sent thrill through him |
that quIvered in every nerve of his |
body. With both hands she turned up |
his head Her face was very close,
and he heard her say, almost sob
bingly:
and you are Kazan-dear old Ha-
IAN. my Kazan. my hero dog-who
brought him home to me when all the
others had died Ny Kazan-my
hero! :"
And then, miracle Of miracles, her
face was crushed down against him.
ana lac felt her sweet, warm touch.
In those moments Kazan did not
move. He scarcely breathed. 1t seemed
a long time before the girl lifted her
face from him. And when she did
there were tears in her blue eyes and
the man was standing above them. his
hands gripped tight, his jaws set.
II never knew him to let anyone
touch him-with their naked hand" he
said in tense, wondering voice.
"AIove back quickly. Isobel. Good
at that!"
Kazan whined softly, his bIoodshot
eyes on the girls face. He wanted to
feel her hand again. he wanted to
touch her face. Would they beat him
with club, he wondered, if he dared
He meant no harm now. He would
kill for her. He cringed toward her,
inch by inch his eyes never faltering.
He heard what the man Said--"Good
heavenl Look at that I''-and he
But no blow fell to drive
him back His cold muzzle touched
her fllmy dress and she looked at him,
without moving, her wet eyes blazing I
like stars.
Seer she whispered. "See!"
Now his muzzle travelled slowly up
ward-over her foot, to her lap, and |
at last touched the warm little hand {
that lay there. His eyes were still on {
her face; he saw queer throbbing in (