Evening star., 1928-04-20
Iaddie.

Martha Hathaway lay beside her
sleeping husband, 6inlly conscious of
the storm The fury of the clements
was as nothing compared with the
storm within her heart. Her mind
ransed bitterly ever the stretch of
wears. bleak wears that had bcckoned
80 fair before her marriage. For John
Hathaway. who had been pleasant,
steady~going young man when they
were married. had overdeveloped his
traits Of energy and economy until he
had become a hard man. driving him.
self and those about him relentleSSly
and warpine his soul and raSping the
heart Of his wife with his miSerlineSS.
Nothing that did not yield profit was
permitted in his scheme Of things. Even
old Laddie. ehat had served him faith
fully. laerGing his COWS and guarding
his home and property for IA years.
was now in the way. Only one thing
he loved. His eye frightened and his
face softene6 at the sight Of their little
girl Ella,
Johns last words before he fell asleep
were as blasting to Martha as the
forked lightning that darted across the
sky. -. -
die. He's only getting old and not
lot Of room and eating food that We
could be saving
Martrs's pillow was wet. Laddie, her
Wedding present from her brother. VINO
later went away 70 war and never came
back She could almost feel the SOIL
7,ltf Of him as Don handed nm.
Y,,,Y,Dv. 70 her. She felt as II she could
moi bear il. Then she remembered 70
rrav. Hers was 3 simple faith.
Dear God. please find way to save
Iaddiet" she whispered, and Sooolng
softly fell asleep. -.
The morning broke serene ana Q! guy,
John Hathaways thoughtS as ne .it- te1
fre stock and returned from the milk
ING were not Of the lovelincSS Of the
coIintrvside however; his mind was
,,non the breakfast Martha would nave
n~ensred and the remainder OF the
mornings work. As soon as ne had
eaten he started with hammer. saw ano
SniSes 10 mend the fence that olyioeo
his uasture from that Of his nelghooT
smith. Little Ella danced up 10 nlm,
her sl1nhonnet thrown back from her
chubby face and her tangled curls ny
ing begging to so along. He gave MS
consent and they started OF together
Martha watched them so, then S!ippeo
out to where Laddie lay doing on tf1e
pC-ch. kDeeiIng DeS1ce hliIl' Sl4e AltaAS
her arms around his shaggy shoulders.
He nuzzied her neck with his cold nose
and licked the tears from her face with
his warm. dark tongue. She had feel
ing that the dog understood the cause
Of her unhappiness. YEARLY she
straighteneo up. a set look in her eyes.
Suddenly Laddie shot, a golden bolt,
across the porch onto the gravel walk.
Martha followed the leaping figure OF
the collie 20 the open pasture. Then
she understood. Smiths bull was bear
ing down upon John. and Ella, too
frightened to obey her fathers COM
mand TO run. stood frozen with childish
terror. The storm had blown down the
part Of the fence that John had set
out to mend and the animal had
charged through the opening
The beasts head was down not five
feet from John now. Reckless of dam
ger. Martha sped toward her little
daughter A golden streak across her
vision! A below Of pain. Laddie,
faithful old Laddie. had his teeth
clamped through the nose of the bull
and hung there while the animal. wild
with rage and pain, tossed and fayed
him
"Laddie! Good Laddie." shouted