The coming of a stranger, too, affect- ed the house and we caught sight of her 



ed him, and with a sensitiveness far only once in a while, when she looked 



more delicate than our human feeling, like a crazy thing. 



he seemed to know of the approaching After a little while Billy had lost his 

 presence long before anyone else. pretty spots and the last vestige of his 

 One calm night, Billy showed signs shyness with them. He used to range 

 of disturbance. He was unable to lie at will over the plantation and no telling 

 still in his place on the porch. We heard how many miles beyond. In the morn- 

 him starting up, moving about, or walk- ing after his breakfast, he would make a 

 ing all night long. In the morning the dash for the fence, clear it at a bound 

 sheriff appeared. He was tracking down and disappear over the fields in a run. 

 a negro prisoner who had broken jail How many miles he traveled in these 

 in a neighboring town, and after a short jaunts no one knew. He would be gone 

 search the man was found hiding in a until nearly noon, our dinner hour, when 

 cornfield not far from the house. Billy looking out we were sure to see Billy 

 had been aware all night of the strange approaching over the fields, his graceful 

 presence lurking near. figure vibrant with action, springing, 

 The deer's affection made him easily bounding on as hard as he could come, 

 alarmed if he saw any signs of departure The keenness of his scent, which was 

 in the family. My grandmother, an ac- marvelous, or some instinct, must have 

 tive, wiry little woman often rode over prompted his return at that time, for he 

 on horseback from her own place, some never failed to appear, except once, 

 six miles away. One day on grand- when he was gone for a day and a night, 

 mother's starting for home, my sister de- One of these expeditions nearly proved 

 cided to ride with her for a little way. fatal to poor Billy. Some negroes from 

 When Billy saw her setting out he was a neighboring place were passing 

 greatly disturbed. He ran alongside her through with a pack of hunting dogs at 

 horse whimpering- and moaning as if their heels and the dogs gave chase to 

 his heart would break and was only paci- the deer who instinctively turned toward 

 fied when she turned back toward the home for safety, and after a long flight, 

 house. with his pursuers close upon him, man- 

 In the winter, Billy slept in the house aged to outrun them. But in jumping 

 in an unused room, and his favorite po- the fence, his strength must have failed, 

 sition in the evening was in front of the for he did not clear it as usual, but 

 great wood fire in the old fashioned fire- catching his hind legs in some way, hung 

 place in the room where the family were head downward, filling the air with his 

 gathered. Here he had the persistent cries. Rushing out we loosed our pet 

 companionship of a big black cat, who, from his uncomfortable position, and 

 though reserved and unsocial toward the poor, frightened Billy made trembling 

 rest of the world, had taken a remarkable for the house, as if he were only too 

 fancy to Billy. She followed him around glad to reach that haven. It is remark- 

 the house like a small, black shadow, able, considering his extended wander- 

 shared his meals with him, and when he ings, that no harm ever came to him. 

 lay down, placed herself beside him, of- One morning^ my mother had been 

 ten lolling against him or resting her baking cake, Billy's favorite delicacy, 

 head on his neck. Her greatest delight But Billy had gone — was miles away by 

 was to have him lick her head, which he that time, and it was too early to be ex- 

 sometimes did, when she would purr pecting him back. She had just brought 

 with supreme content. . Sometimes her the cake, smelling deliciously, out of the 

 persistent demands seemed to weary him kitchen and was stooping down to put 

 and he would push her away or get up it in the big "ice chest," as we called 

 and change his place, but usually he was it, which was at one end of the long 

 very patient and they were the best of open hall that ran through the center of 

 friends, so much so that after his death the house, when bounding up the steps 

 a strange wildness seized her ; she avoid- and into the hall came Billy. Before 



150 



