156 LAST 



trilled out its evening song, and the 

 still backwaters held the passing glints 

 of day, "Old Peter" entered his cot- 

 tage, closing the door against the com- 

 ing night. 



" You've aye been an auld friend to 

 me, Yarrow," he said ; and the dog 

 wagged her tail approvingly, and in- 

 dicated by rubbing her nose into the 

 palm of her master's hand that she wan- 

 ted a petting. Then " Old Peter ' ' would 

 take her head in both his bronzed hands 

 and rub her soft cheeks and silken ears, 

 to which she would respond with a half 

 growl, half whimper, and conclude by 

 jumping up and gently touching his 

 face with her tongue. It was a kiss of 

 affection, and the old man felt that it 

 was. 



Still the sedge-bird sang on, out in 

 the quiet darkness. It was a solitary 

 yet companionable sound, and when it 

 ceased " Old Peter " would listen intent- 



