The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-08


| want one of them looked any like Willy. Then
they've brought kittens that they knowed want
Willy. but they thought mebbe I'd like 'em in
stead OF him. They mean all right, l know;
y're real tender hearted, but it most kills me.
Why, they brought me two little kittens that
hadn't got their eyes open. jest before you come.
They was striped an white, an they said they
thought they'd grow up to look like Willy.
They were the Hooper children, an they knowed
him."
It would have been ludicrous If the poor old
woman's distress had not been so genuine How
ever, Mr. Beal, the minister, was not a man to
see the ridiculous side he could simply be puzzled,
and that he was.
1t was case entirely outside his experience,
and he did not know how to deal with it He
wondered anxiously what he had best say to her.
Finally he went away without saying much of
anything; he was so afraid that what he said
might oe out of proportion to the demands Of
the case 1t seemed to him bordering on sacrlege
to treat this trouble of Ann Millets like a gen.
uine affection though. on the other hand, that
treatment was what her state Of mind seemed to
require.
Going out the door, he stopped and listened a
minute; he thought he heard a cat NEW. Then
he concluded he was mistaken and went on.
He watched eagerly for Ann the next meeting
night, but she did not come. 1t is doubtful
whether or no she ever would have done so If she
had not found the cat. She had nature which
could rally an enormous amount of strength for
perSistency
But the day after the meeting she had occa-
sion to go down cellar for something The eel
lar stairs led up to the front part of the house;
indeed, the cellar was under that part only. Ann
went through her chilly sitting -room-she never
used 1t except in summer-and opened the cellar
door, which was in the front entry. There was
quick rush from the gloom below, and Willy
flew up the cellar stairs.
"Lor' sakes" said Ann, with white, shocked
face. 'He has been down thar all the while.
Now / remember He followed me when l
came through here to git my cloak that meetin'
night. an he wanted to go down cellar, an
let him. thought he wanted to hunt. Lor'
sakes!o
She went back into the kitchen. her knees
bling. The cat followed, brushing against
her and purring. She poured out a saucer of
milk, and watched him hungrily tapping He
did not look as if he had suffered, though he had
been in the cellar a week. But mice were plenty
in this old house, and he had probably foraged
successfully for himself.
Ann watched him, the white awed look still on
her face. II s'pose he mewed an didn't near
him. Thar he was all the time, jest whar put
him; an me a-blamin' of the Lord, an putin
of it on Him. I've been an awful wicked
woman. / amt been to meetin' an I've talked
an Them squashes l threw away! It's been
so warm they 'ain't froze, an | don't deserve it,
1 hadn't orter hev one of EN-; hadn't orter hev
anythin'. I'd orter offer up Willy. Lor' sakes!
think of me a-sayin' what l did an him down
cellar!"
That afternoon Mrs. Stone looked across from
her sitting room window where she was sewing,
and saw Ann slowly and painfully bringing in
squashes one at time.
Look here, Ruth, she called to her daughter
"Jest you see. Ann Millet's bringing in them
squashes she threw away. l don't believe but
what she's come to her senses"
The next meeting night Ann was in her place.
The minister saw her, rejoicing. After meeting
he hurried out of his desk to speak to her. She
did not seem to be coming to see him as usual.
When she looked up at him there was an odd
expression on her face. Her old cheeks were
flushing.
II am reioiced to see you out Miss MilleI,'
said the minister, shaking her hand.
YES. thought I'd come out to night"
II am so happy to see you feeling better"
1.-THE cat has come back" said Ann.