The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-03-12


brought kittens that they knovsd wan
Willy, but they thought msbbs I'd III
'sm instead cf him. They meant sll right
| ksov. they 70 real scpdsr hearted: bu
Il almos kills me why, they brought ~
two little kittens that hsda / GOT their s,s
open jest before ron coma They VA
striped nd white. nd they said The.
thought they grow up 10 Look like Willy
They we're the Hooper ohildrsn. I'd The,
knossi him.
| II would hayc been ludicrous II the poo
old womAns distress had NOT bean 10 gen
uinc. Hoxeysr. Mr.. BsAl. tho ministsr
Was mol man 10 sss the ridiculous side
he could simply b puzzled. and that b
waa.
| II Vas cass entirely outsids his expert
snes, and hs dii not know how 10 dsa
With II. He wondered anxisusly What b,
had bsst say 10 her. Fisally be ven
away without saying much Of anything
be Was 10 afraid that what hs had said
might be out o. proportion 70 The d.
mands Of tho 0ase. II seemed to hin
bordering o. sssrilsss 10 trsAt The troub-
10 of Ana Millssts liks ! genuine afiIc
tion, though. on the other hand. that treat
msnt was what her stats Of mind seemed
10 require.
Going out the door. 10 stopped and
listened minute; hs thoughths heard I
al NEW Thsa Ne ssacludsd hs Va,
mistaken. and vent on. He watched ~
srly for Ann ths naxt meeting sight. bu,
shs did net come Il IL doubtful whether
u no she ever would have done 10 II shs
had not found tho cat She had 4 nature
which could rally and N enormous amount
Of strength for persistsncy.
But the day after the meeting she had
occasion TO 60 down cellar for something
The cellar stairs led up TO the front Of the
house; indeed. the cellar was under thai
part only. Ann went through her chilly
sitting room she never used IL except ia
summer--and opened the cellar door
which was in the front entry. There VA
a quick rush from the gloom below, and
Willy few up the cellar stairs.
''Lor sakesl" exclaimed Ann, with q
white. shocked face. Hes ben down
there all tho whilel Now remember.
He followed me when l came through
here that meetin night to git my
cloak, and he wanted TO 60 down and
let him. thought he wanted to hunt.
Lor' sakesl
She went back into the kitchen, her
knees trembling The cat followed.
brushing against her and purring. She
poured ont . saucer Of milk, and watched
him hungrily tapping. He did not look
as il ho had suffered, though, he had been
in the cellar week. But. mice we're plen-
ty in this old house. and he had undonbt
edly foraged successfully for himself.
Ann watched him, the white, awed look
still on her face.
Il s'poss he mswea nd didn't hear
him. There he was all the time. jest
where ! put him; an me a-bIamiq' the
Lord. an putin It on Him. I've ben an
awful wicked woman. aiat ben TO
meetin', nd I've talked, nd them squash
Is | threw away It's ben 50 warm they
bain't froze. and don't deserve II. l
hadn't orter hsv one OF EN-; hadn't orter
hey anything. I'd orter offer up Willy.
Lor' sakes think Of me a-sayin' what I
did, and him down cellar. x
That afternoon Mrs. stono looked across
from her sitting troom window where
she was sewing, and saw Ann slowly and
paifully bringing in squashos one at :
time.
"Look here, Ruth, she oaned to ber
daughter, Jest you see. Ann Milietts
bringin' in them squsshes she threw away.
don't believe but what she's come TO her
senses
The NEXT meeting night Ann was in her'
place. The miuistsr saw her. rejoicing.
After meeting he hurried out Of his desk
to speak to her. She did not seem 10 be
coming TO ses HIM - psusl.
When she looked up at him there Wa
an odd expression on her face Her old
cheeks were flushing.
lam rejoicing 10 see you out, Miss
Millett, said the minister, shaking her
hand.
Yes. ! thought Id come out this
evening"
II am 50 happy to soc you are fesling
better.
"The cat lias come back, said Ann
Hapey's Aasw.
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