The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-12-30
CASTLE DANGEROUS. Z
lcumtaI. lasAAlI B chIeAso Iedssr.l

II vas 0 beautiful pair OF curry,
tawnystolored cubs that Col Simon
Whitney brought homo with him from
the Land Of thesuu, where be had been
aresident as United States consul for
several years
Besides these large, playful cub,pup-
pies, Col. Whitney was accompanied In
his Journey home By a. additional
weight on his mind In the shape ot his
bright, laughing ward; Eva London, an
orphan left in his care By the dying
| wishes Of her parents, Who, far away
from their sunny knglish home, bad be-
qlIesthed9 their darling to the gentle,
kindly old man who attended them IN
their last sickness among strangersI
Eva was OF half spanish origin, and
possessed the lovely dark eyes o. the
fascinating women Of that country, with
o singular combination Of givacity,
spirit, and gentieheas if ID time old
Col Ahitneys pity for the orphan DO.
came changed into something deeper
than q mere fatherly adeclion, Il was a
secret that remained buried 10 bis own
heart heart that, like an apple dried
and withered, was SET sound and sweet
70 the core.
lfthere was one thing more than am
other that endeared pretty Eva 70 his
heart, Il was her fondness for his pets,
the little cubs Car and Khediye. She
taught them mSny OF the little tricks
that are usually taught to dogs and
the sensible creatures early displayed
an aptness for learning that. delighted
their young mistress, and sent their
master into ecstaCies Of fond admira-
ton. The only pet that Iva herself
possessed was given her by q sailor on
board ship, who died before the voyage
ended. This pet was q much-loyed par
rot who bad been taught to speak, and
10 EyGs horror-as she afterward dis
eovered-to curse most yolubly in excel
lent nglish.
With his ward and his pets Col. Whit
ney set up an establishment Of modest
excellence, and Eva was glyenevery ad-
vantage Of completing her much neg
lected education. A particular room
was furnished with a view TO the com.
fort Of the young lions, which, when
discovered by the neighbors, raised q
thrill Of horror through their bones at
this reckless tempting Of Providence.
They all declared that he ought TO be
indicted, but when, at the colonels In
vitation, they came to inspect the terri
be, rayenous beasts, and found, In.
stead, two playful, cub.looking puppies,
they changed their tune and then closed
their lips when they discovered from
their surroundings that the colonel was
a wealthy man.
It's generally considered best not TO
NEEDLE in any way with rich man, for
money by many Is considered as Q sym
Dol Of the lever with which Archtmgdes
would faln have lifted the world. The
poor man Is generally showed TO the
wall, but tue rich man has all his own
way, and so in this instance l,ol. Whit.
ney found the reputation Of his wealth
to shut the mouth and close the eyes OF
all persons predisposed against his be.
loved animals. nis heart was 50
wrapped up in the playful little fellows
that be indeed told Eva thatrather than
be forced to give them up be would re-
turn to the land from whence he had
come, and there keep themsiIi safety. II
was whispered among some Of his so.
called friends that one reason Of
his strange infatuation was that
IN tho years agone his lady.loye
10 that far.away country had
been killed aud eaten by a lioness who
in turn was killed and her cubs taken
and reared, and so on down to the pres.
ent generation. That the present cubs
were symbols, or oil left to represent
the departed lady, and this was the
reason for the colonel's fondness for
them. This, however, we arc safe In
saying is a rather wild story, and highly
improbable and not worthy the being
argued for or against.
Among the visitors at Col. Whitney's
establishment was his nephew, young
man just entered manhood, but still
very boyish in his ways.
Tom Whitney was his name, and a
great tayoritc with his uncle, who had
a great liking for the young fellow.
Tom Whitney soon became as fond Of
the cubs as their old master, and as
frequent and ardent a woshipper as
even be could have desired. How much
his frequency Of visits may haze been
owing to the presence Of Eva Loudon
We can not tell, but certainly a friendli.
ness rapid In its growth-of which the
key Is possessed by the young-sprang
up between the young people.
Together they taught the young cul,s
tricks, together they played with them
and quarreled with each other, the
whole OF which was watched by Col.
Whitney with smile and a sigh.
Time passed swiftly by, aud the cubs
assumed larger proportions, growing
more mighty and clumsy as Tom found
in bis weekly visits to the apartment
consigned to their use. He still, how.
ever, continued his frolics with them,
and he and Car would have frequent
little contests with each otlIer, and Col.
Whitney warned Tom repeatedly that he
was running the animals temper, aud
he would finally be forced to shut them
up entirely. Eyas parrot, who stayed
IN the same room with the cubs, seemed
to take the greatest delight IN these
little battles and would aop his wings
with the greatest gravity and yell out;
go Il, boys!" IA! hal hagf
So thoroughly imbued was the bird
with the spirit Of mischief and desire
for wrangllng that Tom took agreat
dislike to 1t, much to Eya's chagrin.
One day the crisis came Tom went
TO his uncle's residence, stopping on the
way; boy.like, he whitfield at q stick,
and cutting his hand he staunChed the
blood with his handkerchief, and thrust
ing It into his pocket he threw away
the stick and proceeded, gayly whistling,
70 his unCle's house. Col. Whitney and
Eva were neither at home, and the door
being locked, Tom admitted himself
through the window and proceeded "a
the lions room. Rhedive, for some
cause unknown, had retreated, sulkiIy
TO q corner, aud could not 10 induced
to come out Car and Tom, therefore,
had the floor to themselves, and they
had several particularly rough tussels,
Car seemed to be trying his strength
BY playfully sprlnging against Tom
with oil his might, which Tom resisted
BY holding him oil at arm length aud
laughing q most exasperating laugh
| thAt AlRlYa aAAmAd 10 hnvA thn nlIenl