Smyrna times., 1931-06-17
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
Faithful Canine Revealed Hermit"
An Interesting Short Story
Written by CIarissa Mackie

An Interesting Short Story
Written by CIarissa Mackie
0E ANCY /" exclaimed young
Mrs. Peterby to her husband,
81 have heard the strangest thing,
Dick-but perhaps you'd rather not
hear it."
"Guess | can stand it." and Mr..
Peterby smiled at their guest, an
old college friend of Millie Peter
by's, Grace Chame. Cant scare
US, eh, Miss Chame?"
"Well, you know that old camp
up on the side of the mountain?"
began Mrs. Peterby. "Well, a man
is living there-and people say
that he is hermit, but Mrs. Well
minder told me yesterday, in con-
fidence, that he is not a hermit
and not only that, but that he is a
well known author who is living
there. writing book. He lives
that way so as to be by himself.
Il met him yesterday" Mrs.
Peterby continued. "and although
he did not see mel am sure that
he did not-I recognized him at
once as some one I used to know
in Kerryville."
That's a very pretty story, my
dear, but don't dare try to get ac-
quainted with this beautiful youth. !"
want to go nutting today,
Grace?" asked Mrs. Peterby.
''Yes-it will be heaps of fun
| haven't been for years."
"We will have to climb the hill
first-it is on the land of the old
Porter estate-rather wild up
there"
"We might take Don aIong-he
is a big dog and such a protec-
ton"
1t was after eleven O'Clock when
the two girls started out with the
big dog. They had had an early
lunch and were carefree Mrs.
Peterby's little car carried them
part way up the side of the noun
tain, and they left it at a small
cottage.
The two girls kept on the up
ward inclining road for another
mile, and they stopped breathless-
ly and sat down to rest outside the
gate of the old Porter residence.
Don ran hither and thither, stir
ring up a rabbit or frightening the
birds, but after awhile he disap-
peared
They wandered along the noun
tain road, picking up nuts from
under the broad chestnut trees,
and from under a black walnut
tree that grew near the Porter
place. In the distance they heard
Don's glad bark.
rs he calling for us to come
along?" asked Grace Chame.
Il am not sure" admitted Mrs.
Peterby, that sounds just like his
family bark. doesn't it? He is
your dog, Grace, you ought to
know his speech !"
Grace listened intently. why"
she spoke in surprise, 1t sounds
just as though he had met some
one that he knew"
Perhaps he is acquainted with
the hermit" said Mrs. Peterby
carelessly.
"what is his name?" asked
Grace
Mrs. Peterby was silent, then she
admitted with a foolish smile, ITO
tell the truth. I haven't the least
idea r.
They could not hear Don bark
ing now, and in the mountain still
ness, there was only the music of
the wind in the trees. and the song
of a belated bird. Their baskets
were filled with nuts. so they re-
solved to follow the dog, and learn
his whereabouts.
They had not gone very far
when Miss Chame spoke rapidly.
"Wait here, Mollie, behind these
bushes-look straight ahead-isn't
that darling!"
They could see spreading knoll
where there were scattered birches
and oaks-there was a flame of
color from every tree-but it vas
not the scenery that mattered
much, excepting that huge log on
which lay Don, the great dog, his
happy eyes lifted toward the artist
who painted him.
"Good dogP said the big man
behind the easel. "Just five min
utes longer, Don. old man, and
then you may lead me to the love
liest lady in the whole world"
Don barked ecstatically.
"An artist?" whispered Mrs.
Peterby to Grace Chame. why
why-he might be the young man
whom you quarreled with, Gracel"
at isp exclaimed Grace.
"Are you no longer in love with
him?"
Grace was so silent that her hos
tess guessed the answer. Just at
that moment the painter spoke to
Don.
"Now Don, we will go and find
our sweetheart !" and just then
Mrs. Peterby stepped forward and
Grace Chame slowly followed.
"Ah, Doni" called Mrs. Peterby,
as the dog came bounding. She
nodded at the handsome young
man who hurried forward to ex-
plain. Just tell Miss Chame all
about it-Don and | must hurry
on aheadI" and so she fed with
happy Don to lead the way.
Grace Chances eyes glowed with
a soft fire as the artist stopped be-
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