Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1918 — A Man and His Dog [ARTICLE]

A Man and His Dog

By Julia Nance

(Copyright, 1917, Wwtern Newspaper Union.) i Charing Thornton was 'not an easily satisfied young man and the workmen employed by him to ( repair and put in order the beautiful old country place left him by a rich aunt ( labored for fully six months before he was satisfied with the results. But today the last carpenter had gone to his home in the village, and Thornton with pipe in mouth and hands in his pockets had strolled slowly over the lawn, viewing the gables from all points—and he pronounced the work good. J “It took time and thought,” he remarked aloud to the clean-limbed, bigeyed, mastif Nero, his constant companion, “but it paid, old chap. The old place hasn’t looked so well for generations. I’ll wager, and the result justifies all the time and money spent. Don’t you think so?” The dog wagged his tail and looked •up into his master’s face as if to acquiesce in both statements, and the (young man, with a final appreciative glance at the great mansion half iburied among the trees, led the way down a winding little bridle path to tthe 'river that ran about the foot of Ithe grounds.

“I ought to remember where that swimming hole is,” he continued. “Don’t you recollect how we used to Spend the' whole afternoons in the iwater, Nero? Or was it your father [who played with me when I was a boy ihere? Time flies so fast that I cannot separate one generation of dogs from (another,” and he laughed as he patted ithe dog’s smooth flank. Another turn jin the pathway brought them within sight of a quiet little pool in the winding river and Thornton struck his thigh appreciatively. “Here it is, by Jove I” he cried, “not S thing, changed. The same smooth frock where we used to undress —and, by the powers above, some one is tak[ing a dip now, for there are his ;clothes!” The young man’s gray eyes had caught sight of a small pile of clothing iresting just where he had dropped his [own, many a time, years before. Before the two, had taken another step, Ithe sound of steady, gentle splashing came to their ears, and a moment later la curly yellow head appeared from laround a slight bend in the river, while ithe gleam of two white, well-shaped (arms showed through the water. A cheery, girlish face looked at ThornIton for a moment, and then the little Iswimmer’s expression changed, and 'with a cry of surprise, she turned and (started quickly for her hiding place. But before Thornton could utter a cry of warning to the child, the treacherous whirlpool, which he knew only too well, had caught her and drawn her beneath the surface. Thorpton [sprang to the edge of the stream and (threw off his coati He hesitated a |s«cond to make sure that the child [was being taken away from shore, and I then plunged* ip. Nero, thinking it (some new game, followed quickly and (master and dog swam swiftly spot where the child had disappeared. But before Thornton reached it, the great dog had realized the seriousness [of the affair, and as the girl’s head, [with the pale face, and the big eyes closed, came to the surface again, the intelligent dog swept past Thornton and thrust his nose under the white |arm nearest him. Then he turned and fmade his way back to shore, the half [unconscious child clinging to his great neck. Thornton, too astonished to speak,' followed as fast as he might, and lifted her out of the water as Nero reached the shallows. She did not [speak or move, and Thornton, who had had experience in such matters before, (caught up his coat, wrapped it about [her, and began to shake her gently. Presently the big blue eyes opened languidly, and the little lungs, relieved of the water, began to breathe again. “You are safe now,” said Thornton, reassuringly. “We are going to put you to bed, between some warm blankets and —”

He stopped, for there In the pathway above them stood a girl whose fresh, pure beauty fairly took his own breath away. “What has happened?” she cried, catching sight of the child in Thornton’s arms. “Is she hurt? Oh, darling, what have you been doing?” and she ran forward, Thornton motioned her back gqptly. “She was in the water,” herald, “and we frightened her. She went under, and we got her out. She’s safe now. If you will kindly bring 6 her frock and things I will carry her. She Is far too weak to walk, and too heavy for you.” The girl, whose face was prettier than ever with its sudden flush of excitement, caught one of the cold little hands in hers and covered it w;ith kisses. “Oh, Margery,” she cried, “and you promised not to go in while sister Was gone. How fortunate this gentlemap was here, dear! I thank you more than I can say,” she added, turning to him. “It was, nothing?’ said Thornton, “I really did not do it—” But the girl stopped him as she picked up the little frock aad shoes and stockings. “It was a great deal,”

she said, “and my mother and I will hope to repay you in part, some time.” “Meanwhile," Thornton, noting that his little charge was growing faint again, “if you will lead the way we will get Margery to bed and glvt her something "warm.” The girl colored again at the implied rebuke and walked quickly ahead. “We are stopping for the summer at the inn,” she said. “My' mother is an invalid, and Margery and I came for a walk. But she is such a little lover of nature and the water, especially— n “A. healthful passion at most times,” said Thornton, smiling both at her apology and the impression the three were making on the people whom they were meeting on the highway now, “but sometimes dangerous, MissMiss—” ; .

“Roberts,” said the girl. “Thank you. I am Charing Thornton of the old place up there. Now if you will go ahead and get a bed ready for our little mermaid, without disturbing your mother, I will slip in quietly and turn her over to you.” Half an hour later Thornton came down to the public room of the inh, where the keeper was awaiting him. “The child is doing nicely, Higgins," said the master of the Gables, as he tried vainly to light a match on his still damp knickerbockers. “I am going home to get some dry clothes myself. I will drop in again this evening, and meanw’hile anything that Mrs. Roberts and her children want be sure you get them promptly. They are old friends of my family,” he went on unblushingly, “and I expect them to have the best.”

“Aye, sir, that they shall have," said the pleased innkeeper, as his fingers closed over the offered coin. True to his promise. Thornton came later in the eyening, and before his little visit was over felt as if he had known the Roberts’, as he told Higgins, many years. But whenever he had tried to disclaim any credit for the rescue of Margery, who had taken a violent liking to him as soon as he appeared in the room, and tried to tell them the truth, both Isabel and Mrs. Roberts laughingly stopped him, declaring that all heroes were modest and that he was no exception. So he gave it up, albeit guiltily remembering that some time he must explain it all.

When he reached home’ again after a dreamy stroll from the iifh, in which he had built all manner of strange and new aircastles, Nero met him at the door. His master laughed and he shook the great head gently to and fro. “I have accepted the mantle that is yours by right, old fellow,” he said, “and I hadn’t the courage to disclaim the praise, that was not mine. Bfut tomorrow —” Yet when tomorrow came the opportunity did not, although some trivial errand led Thornton past the inn, of course, necessitated his stopping in to inquire after the little invalid. She came running to him herself, for answer, and sprang into his arms, nestling her face close to him. “I am all well again,” she cried breathlessly, “and I love you and so does mamma 1” Thornton felt a strange wave of real happiness rush over him at the child’s artless words, and he answered softly, “And I love you, Margery.”

Weeks passed, Thornton’s visits became remarkably regular. Each day brought its errand in the village, and one evening he accepted their invitation to dinner. A few days later he prevailed upon them to make his evening meal at the Gables less lonely, and both Margery and Isabel went into delighted and delightful raptures over the beautiful old place, while Thorn-, ton talked with Mrs. Roberts both learning much of each other, and finding mutual acquaintances and friends in the distant city. But Thornton’s eyes strayed often to where the graceful girljmd the pretty, child walked or sat, and some of his replies were not strictly answers to the questions. Mrs. Roberts asked; for fvhen Cupid makes up his mind to do a bit of archery practice, he does not waste time. And so, before the summer was two months old, Charing Thornton, deep in the net of love, laid his heart at Isabel’s feet.

But before he did so, he told her the' whole truth of Margery’s rescue, as he had often tried to tell before. “And now?’ he said, when he had finished. “If you can love a man who takes the credit for something he did not do — even if he does take it only from his dog—and still believe him worthy of a woman, Isabel you will make me the happiest man alive. “I can for I have cared, for a long time, dear,” she said. “And if I love you, I mustlove old Nero, too, don’t you know?” she smilingly Added. Six mouths later, the Gables had a mistress, Charing Thornton the prettiest and happiest little wife in three counties, and Nero a loving companion in the person of Margery, over whom he watched all day, as they romped or walked-together, with a loving dignity befitting the animal who had saved a life and helped his master win a woman’s loye.