Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 266, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1911 — FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH [ARTICLE]

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

If you enter Mme. Bergnes’ cottage you see on a black column just inside Gw door a stuffed flog which seems to gUftffl the house. '* hat Is Clarine, anfl It you pat the flog in passing by, you will win toe undying gratitude of dtp old lady, and that is worth having, at ifltot if ton are s child, for Mom. Tmifgnes’ larder is fun of pots of delicious jam and tor dining room is a veritable paradise to all the children of the neighborhood. „ '"^ft Mma. Bergnes was a widow even to my childhood and lived alone with Marton, her old servant maid, her jam pots and her rosaries. The priest and a few people of the village occasionally visited her, and every spring, flaring the month of Bt. Mary, all the little girls were invited to pick roses in her garden to decorate the altar. y One afternoon when the servant bad gone to the village, Mine. Bergnes* doorbell rang. She opened the door and found herself facing a young, and rather good-looking man, who asked florwotfc ... -Work, my boy,” the old lady replied; "what kind of work do you suppose 1 can give you? I have only a small garden which the Swiss tends to during his leisure hours, and 1 have no need of any other help.”

‘But I am dying with hunger and can hardly stand on my feet” "Then come Inside and I will give you something to eat." The man entered and Mme. Bergnes had him ait aown in her dinning room and give him some cold chicken, bread, Cheese and a bottle of wine. He looked around et everything in the room. At his feet he had a little dog, which Mme. Bergnes, who did Hot care for animals, kept a close eye on. When he had finished examining the dining room and admiring the beautiful solid sliver-ware, he said: “And do you really live here alone in this lonely place?” “Oh, no,” Mine. Bergnes replied. "I have Marion, my servant girt, and her nephew, the Swiss, who sleeps here several nights a week.” “Not every night then! You are certainly right in being careful, being so close to the highway." "8o many crimes are committed,” said the old lady with a sigh. The vagrant took a big swallow, praised his charitable hostess, wine, and rising from the table, said: “1 thank you, madame, for your kindness' to me, and wish that all honest men in search of work might be treated the same everwhere. I shall have to go now, since you can give me no work. There is nothing to be had in this village, so 1 must go farther, but before 1 leave you I ask you to accept this dbg as a present." He whistled and the dog jumped to its feet.

“Bub 1 ? do not like dogs," the old lady objected. "It la not a question of liking, bnt of making them useful. This dog will guard your house better than a man; It would rather be killed on the spot than let anybody pass it. 1 love it my. self, but baving no work or shelter 1 would rather give it away to somebody who will be good to It than drag it around with me. It is dying with hunger." Mme. Bergnes was moved. Marton, of course, would growl a little, but after all the man was right, she did need a watchdog. She decided to keep it “It’s name is Clarine, , ’said the tramp as he left An hour later when Marton came back from the village the dog would not let her enter the housb until Mme. Bergnes had petted it and formally Introduced the maid. Marton dtd scold some, but she saw it might be counted on to keep intruders out so she quieted down. She was always a little afraidthenights when her nephew' did not sleep in the houfee. He was not coming tonight, so it was really a blessing to have a dog. In a closet she found an old traveling rug, placed it near the door, and Clarine, after having been well 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 Mme. Bergnes was awakened by the dog barking furiously. “Marton," *be cried with trembling voice. The servant came rushing in, her teeth chattering with fear. ’They will murder us; we moot cry for help.” She opened the window and screamed: “Help! Murder!" at the top of her voice. „ In the hall outside there waa the mdse of a struggle. The dog barked, and pudging from the oaths of the Intruder ft bit him too. “Help! Mtarder!” the old woman screamed. An answering shout came from n neighboring farm. After another hoarse bark and growl the dog grow •dent, and Marton saw a man running away through the garden. Mme. Barghee thought she recognized her tramp. Then the farmer came with two of his sons, and Marton lit a lamp. On the threshold, bleeding from many lodfe, wounds, tbe dog was found dy- > Two day* Inter burglar was arrested—tt was the tramp, and Mme. Bergnes told all who would listen tie •tsry of the brave little dog who had fefendm her at the cos* of Its Ufa •van against He master of a few days Clarine deserved a statue, and Mme. Bergnes bad it stuffed. ; ?