Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1912 — Her First Sorrow [ARTICLE]

Her First Sorrow

The big house stood on comer of one of the best residential streets and its great glass windows, its heavHy carved entrance, the massive portecochere, the tall palms waving upon the steps and the well appointed surroundings indicated unostentatiously that the owner was a person of means and consequence In affairs of the world. The door opened and a white-capped nurse descended the steps and carefully inspected the street and then looked at the cloudless sky apparently to detect any lurking rainstorm that might interfere with the pleasure of Dorothy, whose six years of life amid every luxury that wealth makes possible had not been marred by the knowledge that the world contains aught but joy and happiness. Satisfied that the street held no dangers and that the sky contained nothing hut promise, she returned to the house and a moment later there came down the steps the tiniest girl, a little lady whose very presence upon the thoroughfare seemed to brighten it and give to the brown-stone mansions a cheerier tone.

Such a dainty, charming little girl as she was. The blue skies were reflected in her eyes and the sunbeams played at hide-and-seek among the curls that rebelliously escaped a restraining ribbon and fell upon her shoulders. The daisies -upon her diminutive hat hobbled a pleasant greeting to the passersby, and the grizzled old street sweeper, on whom she bestowed a friendly smile as to an old acquaintance, rested upon his broom and followed her with an admiring gaze as if contrasting the meagre pleasures of his own little ones with those of this pretty child of luxury. Sharing all her Joy and brightness, there capered by her side a fox terrier, the whiteness of whose coat indicated the care given him and the pink bow on his neck plainly marking him a dearly beloved treasure of his little mistress. His sharp, black eyes twinkled and danced as his playmate and tie made their way along the street. When the two friends came to a jrossing, the gruff, red-faced man in die delivery wagon shouted a hoarse ••Whoa!” to his horses, and, tugging m the reins, brought them to a stop, ind even the chauffeur who always deighted in whizzing around corners at die imminent risk of his own and ottyer people’s lives or in making pedestriins scurry out of his way lessened the tpeed of his big automobile to a mail’s pace that the little girl and her •ompanion might reach the next curb n safety. The ’terrier pranced about, now and then hounding up to his mistress in the sheer exuberance of his joy, and when he threatened her spotless tress, was gently reproved and remained crestfallen at her heels only ‘.o jump forward a few moments later, ind then, in answer to her call, return to her, usually with a twig or stick in lia mouth as if to offer it in token of tpology for his disobedience.

It was unfortunate that the young nan who walked briskly up a side itreet did not obey his impulse to put ,n leash the devoted four-footed companion that trotted by his side. The English bull dog came of a long line )f ancestors whose names were carefully registered and in whose blood was the lust of battle. Indeed, his pwner had laughingly remarked that le could name from memory more of lis pet’s forefathers than be could of Ms own. Gentle and affectionate to his master, the sight of another dog aroused h him the demon that dozed fitfully, ind his heritage —the love of jecame uppermost As the young man reached the corner, he was the first to note the approach of the two little friends and he instinctively turned tc (rasp the collar of the bull dog. At !he same instant the terrier, with ths bravado of puppyhood, gave a short, sharp bark. There was a flash of white past th« young man as the bull dog, heedless Df command, eluded his master's out stretched hand, and a moment later, e series of pitiful yelps as the bull dog seized the terrier by the throat and shook him furiously. The frightened screams of his mistress, who, in hei ignorance of the danger, rushing forward to protect her pet, brought on a run the burly policeman from the next block. The bull dog's ribs almost cracked as the offi car kicked him with his heavy boots and beat him unmercifully with bis club, but tbe blows seemed only to kindle the dog's desire for the life ol his Innocent, victim, and there was a tightening of his jaws as the agonized yelps of the terrier grew fainter. The young man, heedless of his own safety, finally secured a grasp upon the jaws of the bull dog, and exerting all his strength, indeavored to pull' them asunder. The muscles of his arms handeued and as the cruel teeth slowly drew apart, the terrier fell inert upon the street Gathering in her arms his poor lacerated body and hugging it to -fcei breast, unmindful of the blood that stained her dress or the dirt that covered the white hair and the pink ribbon she had lovingly tied aroupd his neck, she gave way to such grief that the officer could only stand silently and pityingly beside her while the young man muttered an imprecation against his dog, tbe cause of the tragedy. Sobbfng as if her heart was broken, the little girl turned- toward her home, where she had romped with her only playmate. The great shadow had come Into her life. Her little friend wan ftsnft—ANNA McDERMOTT.