YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



For now the poor widow was deprived 

 both of the assistance of the brave, cheery 

 Robbie and the labor of her own patient 

 hands, for she could not leave him through 

 weeks of patient suffering - suffering that 

 might have been mitigated by the skill and 

 comforts that money could have bought. 

 But there was no money to buy nourishing 

 food for the weak and suffering boy, nor the 

 failing Sissy, and now, alas! that her little 

 grave was green in Potter's field, there was no 

 money left to buy Gyp's faithful life for 

 another short year. 



That very morning they had heard with 

 terror the heavy tread of the stout officer of 

 the law, as he filled the low doorway with 

 his brass-buttoned front and rosy face, and 

 blurted out: 



"Now, Widder Draper, I've got ter tell 

 yez that yez jist got ter pay that two-dollar 

 taxsh on this yer little yaller dorg o' yourn, 

 or I've got ter make quick wor-r-k o' gittin' 

 r-rid of him!' 



Gyp sprang up quickly, before the burly 

 officer had finished speaking, and sliding out 

 between his legs glided away like a little 

 wraith, across lots, through the daisies and 



51 



