The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-05-07

ents' home in that way without a tear.
That solitary supper of Miss Martha
Monckton was soon dispatched and she
took her knitting out upon the porch in
the twilight.
The Quirk dinner bell did not ring
for half an hour; and as she saw the
lights in the window the spinster
thought how nice it was to have fami-
ly about one. Pussy was all she had to
love her; and where was Pussy? ''Here,
Puss, Puss, Puss." she called; but Pussy
did not, as usual, spring into her lap
with purr and rub her head against
the lady's chin.
Il hope nothing has happened to
Pussy" said Miss Monckton. in q
fright; and rising, went around the
kitchen end to ask Minty whether
Pussy was there. But Minty had not
seen the cat nor heard the little bell it
wore tied by pink ribbon about its
Miss Monckton searched house and
grounds and even the garden of her
next door neighbors, for the lost pet
People were interested. After it was
dark they came out with candles or
lanterns and looked in all sorts of posi-
BILE and impossible places for Miss
Monckton's Pussy.
At last the search was given up.
Miss Monckton decided that her treas
ure was either stolen or dead and went
home to cry about it. She sat up un-
usually late that night. hoping against
hope, but Pussy did not return and at
last she went to bed. She did not sleep
well however and just as the clock
struck two she started awake with a
vivid impression that she heard the cat s
familiar voice uttering a long drawn,
plaintive moan.
Jumping to her feet, Miss Monckton
threw up her window and thrust out
her night-cap and saw, by the light of
the moon, which was gliding through a
sky of curds and whey, grey streak,
which she knew to be the form of Pussy,
scud across the white road.
g Poor thing" said Miss Monckton,
81 some wicked boy has scared her. Pil
go down and get her in.''
Now, the facts of the case were these:
Pussy was not the martyr her mistress
believed her. On the contrary, she
was culprit who had been fifty pun
ished. ~
True to her nature she was fond of
fish, and seeing some set to warm on the
stone hearth in Mrs McMahon's kitch-
en-, had helped herself. Mrs. Mcmahon,
detecting her in the act, and furious at
the loss Of her supper. had logged her
well and shut her up in a wash-boiler,
from which she had just liberated her.
The unwonted usage had suggested
to Pussy that the world had turned
against her, and consequently when her
mistress, hastily attired in slippers and
wrapper, appeared at the door. she re-
fused to obey her voice, and instead of
coming" as she was requested, ran
away. u
Eve no doubt those bad boys have
been tying kettle to her tail, or some
thing" said Miss Monckton. 81 must
catch her." And catching up large
waterproof from the hall rack she threw
it over her head, and ran down the vii
lage street.
A cat chase is, as you will acknowl-
edge. very exciting sort of thing. Puss
led Miss Monckton long one.
Just when she thought she had her
the creature doubled and fed. When
she actually caught her she slipped
through her fingers. At last, coming
to that corner which was called by the
Strawberries . the crossroads be-
hold a carriage, apparently empty, and
the door open, and into this open door
rushes Pussy, flying from her best friend
with the willfulness and Inconsistency of
her kind.
But Miss Monckton was faithful. She
saw the opportunity of capturing her
poor demented favorite, and, rushing
to the carriage, thrust in her arms. In
stantly they were caught by a mans
strong hands. she was dragged in, the
door shut, and before she could utter q
cry the carriage was driven away at a
furious pace. ian
As said, it was sky of curds and
whey and this was a dark moment for
the world. Miss Monckton could not
see who held her, but she had no doubt
that the purpose of the individual was
murder. She tried to pray, but could
only think of the first questions in her
catechism and said these to herself in
default of better; but in this moment
or so, as no dagger was thrust into her
heart, no pistol put to her head, she re-
gained little composure. AS yet she
could not speak, but she tried to see
her captor who still held her hand.
Horror OF horrors! what was he doing
nowP Hugging her.
!" Don't be frightened, my love-" he
said. Don't tremble so, my darling,
l will make you very happy"
i" Gracious goodnessn' said Miss
Monckton to herself, shave / lived to
be fifty years old to be eloped withr'
And now she found her voice.
"Open the carriage door," she cried:
"let me out this instant! Idon't know
who you are; but you never could make
me bappy-never. Let me outr'
/" Good Lord deliver usr' CALCULATED
the still unseen gentleman. "Who is
thisr'
At this instant the moon rushed out
from under cloud and lay in perfect