Year: 1868




out to wed with thought, ere thought
could wed with speech She took fan:
cy to a huge mastitf dog belonging to a
fisherman and [ bought it for her at
once, although it was terribly savage
and, except for Lucy's liking it, hot
either good or beautiful. It's name, alas
the only one it would answer to, and
sometimes it would not answer to that
was Towser, not a name for iady's pet
at all, and scarcely for a gentleman s
There was a little secluded field, hodged
in by a coppice, which stopped into the
lake, about mile from the hotel; and
there Lucy agreed (for the first timc) to
meet me alone, [ was to be there be-
fore breakfast, and at eight o'clock in the
morning, and you may be sure [ was
there at six-with Towser Perhaps [
was never happier than at that particular
time The universal nature seemed in
harmony with my bissful feelings. The
sun shone out bright and clear so that
the fresh morning breezes could scarcely
cool the pleasant throbbing Of my blood ;
but the blue ripping waves 6f the lake
looked irrepressibly tempting, and [ could
not resist swim. Just plunge and out
again, thought for though [ had such
plenty Of time to spare, l determined to
be dressed and ready for the interview an
hour at least before the appointed time
Lucy might, ike myself, be a little earlier;
and, at all events, with such an awful


consequence in possible apprehension, |
would not run shadsw Of a risk Mind
my clothes, mind tEem' said [ to Towser
(who took his sect thereon. at once, sa-
gacieusly enoGgh), for [ had heard Of
such things as clothes being stolen from
unconscious dippers before then, with
results not to be thought of; and in |
went. [ remember the delight of that
bath even to this day, the glow, the fresh
ness, the luxurios softness OF each parti-
cular wave, Just as the last view which
bis eyes rested on Is painted on he mem
ory of one who has been stricken blind,
or the last heard melody is treasured in
that of a man stunned deaf by fall it
was my last perfect pleasure, and succeed
ed by shock that [ shall never, think,
quite get over. When [ had bathed as
long as Judged to be prudent, [ landed
and advanced towards the spot where my
garments and ToWser lay ; as [ did so
every individual hair upon his back
seemed to bristle with fury, his eyes
kindled like Goals of fire he gave ne
notice by low, determined groal that
he would spring on me and tear me into
fragments if [ approached nearer; it was
evident that he did not recognize me, in
the least, without my clothes. Tow,
Tow, Tow, Tow, Tow, said pleasantly,
god old Tow, you remember me but
the brute, like the friend whom we have
known in better day, and appeal to
when in Indifferent apparel, only shook
his head IN a menaclng manner and
showed his teeth the more. 'Towser, be
quiet sir; how dare you--Tow, Tow,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he nearly had d
bit of my calf off you nasty, brutal dog;
go away, sir-go; amt you ashamed OF
yourself; Drops Of foam ooz6d through
the teeth of the ferocious monster as he
stood up with tail erect at these reprovng
words, but he manifeSed no sign of remorse
or sorrow. My situation became serious
in the extreme; what if he chose to sit
there, on my personal apparel, until - !?
At the idea, too terrible to be concluded,
a profuse perspiration broke out all over
me. Presently, feeling little cold, I
went back into Il. e lake again to consider
what was to be done. and revolving the
fell design of enticing TowSer into the
water and there drowning him. Abuse
and fattery being equally thrown away
upon him, [ tried stones; l heaved at
him with all my force the largest pebbles
[ could select, the majority Of which he
evaded by lGaping from side to side, aud
those which struck him rendered him so
furious that I believe he would have kill
ed and ate me If he could, whether [ was
dressed or not, but we would not venture
into the water after me still. At last the
time drawing on pace for the appointed
interview which [ had once looked for
ward to with such delight and expecta-
ton, I was fam, IN an agony of shame
and age, to hide myself in a dry ditch in
the neIghboring copsej where | could see
what took place without being seen, and
there [ covered myself over, like a babe
in the wood, with leaves. Presently my
Lucy come down, a trihe more carefully
dressed than usual and looking all grace
and modesty; the dog began to howl as
she drew near she saw him and she saw
my clothes, and the notion that [ was
drowned 4 could see it her expressive
countenance) flashed upon me at once ;
for one instant she looked as though
about to faint, and the next she sped off
agaiu to the hotel with the speed Of a
deer. Gracious Heavens? [ decided up
on rescung portion Of my garments at
least, or upon perishing in the attempt,