Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-10

an awful thing" If he caught her hand in his
with the milk pail handle, and was always
ready to go to singing school and evening
meeting with him, so that his true love ran
ominously smooth.
But, alasl there wa trouble coming. Tfge,
the Parker cat, hurt himself seriously in an
attempt to climb the palings Of his Jail yard,
for they were old IN rickety, and could not
bear his weight. His mistress nursed him in
the house for six weeks with great care, and
h he was quite well again, and stronger
than ever with much feeding, he was turned
out OF doors and allowed to roam and ravage
as be would, and at once he Lit upon Peter.
Dire was the conflict, but Mrs. Parker
fastened to the rescue with a pail Of water,
and the astonished Peter, quite drenched to
the skin, fed, while Mrs. Parker picked up
Tiger and carried him into the kitchen,
lamenting over him as if he were a hurt child.
Now Mrs. Parker was a shy and silent
woman, but very reSolute; she at once made
up her mind that the Mays cat should
rot intrude on her premises to dis
turb Tiger. She had the garden fence
REINFORCED, and even a strip Of wire
netting added TO its height on the Mays
side; but she could not cabin, crib or con-
fine Tiger himSelf-a circumstance that Yexed
her much. And when Peter came home to
Mary Ann, after that first duel, dripping like
a drowned rat, she, too, was indignant; but
what could she dol Battles set in, bowls by
night, skirmiShes by day; a piece was soon
bitten out of Peters lovely waving tail, and
Tiger lost half an ear. Nanny made invidious
remarks about Mrs. Parker's cat every day of
her life, and Mrs Parker made Joe's meals
bitter to his soul with evil speaking Of Peter
and Peters fanily-meaning the Mays. Yet
they were friendly enough, except on the cat
question. Mrs May taught Mrs Parker how
to knit new heels into Joe's yarn stockings,
and Mrs Parker showed Manny's mother the
last pattern Of crochet edging; they ex-
changed samples Of cake, talked skillIulfy Of
pickles and preserves; in fact, had a liking
and respect for each other-an butthe cats.
Before the last pleasant autumn days were
gone Joe had gathered courage to ask Mary
Ann to marry him, and she had prettily con,
sented; they were "keepin' company" now,
and the Old folks looked on well pleased to
think that neither of their children would
stray far from home, though Joe insisted on
having q small homo Of his own, if only a
tenement in the village, properly remarking:
"We won't mix folks, Manny-it don't sue
coed; besides, l want you all to myself"-a
peremptory sort OF logic that pleased Miss
Mary Ann and made her assent hearty and
prompt.
They meant to be married in April; in no
less time could the modest array of clothing
and house linen be made ready, for chiefly it
must DO Sewed by Manny'S deft hands; and
Sewed it was, with no intervention of ma
chinery, and almost ready, when-how shall
/ tell it.-onc pleasant February day Peter
traiIed into the house. with a bleeding ear, a
blinking eye and one leg SO hurt that he could
not even limp on it. This was the climax.
Nanny had winked at Tigeis enormities all
that winter for Mrs. Parker's sake Cmeaning
joss; she had only once hurled q basin of
diShwater Owe him, three times chased him
with a broom handle, and not thrown more
than a dozen stones at him-whiCh didn't
count, for women never hit anything they
throw at, or at least men say so.
But now Manny's patience gave q great
gasp and died. She flew out of the door in
tent TO MAIN or STAY, but Tigeis black tail Just
whisked out Of the gate; she could not follow
him, so she did the next thing, which was 20
wash Peters wounds, put him to bed in the
cellar, fetch him dry catnip and warm milk.
and leave him to that solitude that the
wounded animal seeks and the wounded man
ShunS.
It was tea time then, md when Joe Camei in
at his hOur for visitation he found Nanny no
longer tender, arch or sentimental; the hazel
eyes had q reddCr spark in them than no had
ever seen, the cheeks famed, and the red lips
were puckcred into a lovely severity instead
of wreathed with smiles.
Joe she began, rushing at once into the
fray, you will have to kin Tiger. can't
stand it. He has Chawed up Peter till he's
most dead
MY dear girl said Joe, in a diSmayed
tone, smother sets by Tiger So"
Il AM help it; he's u horrid, dreadful
cat, and he'll murder Peter, and he's got to
be killed
But, Nanny, think Of mother; she's goia'
to be alone AID she thinks everything of
Tiger. Why, she never would forgive me if
1 killed him
well. if You like her bctter'n you do Inc,
all right. / shall kill him, unless pa Will;
so there
Now Joe was not used to girls and their
ways. He thought Mary Ann meant every
word she said. He was really frightened.
"But, Nanny, just think. What viii mother
sayf"
Il don't caro- n cent what anybody says. ]
will not stand by and sec my dear sweet Old
cat killed by u dreadful beast like that and
not defend him. III pison it."
"Oh, Mary AnnI7 cried Joe.
"Thcn kill him yourself" she retoTted
II cannot y Sail Joe. steadily.
Well he Lnew how his silent mother loved
Tiger; like many other women, she bestowed
on her pct all the dCmonstrative affection she
too shy and too reserved tolav!Sh on Joe.
The cat slept on her bed, followed her about
the house and garden, sprung up into her lap
and purred there Us she sat alone in tho
evenings, and however fierce a fighter OF his
kind, was devoted and loving to bis mistress.
Moro than ever did she cling to him row, in
her wordleSs jealousy oS Joe's new love- for
well she knew that
my sons my son I'll he gets hin. o WIFE"
and deeply she felt, as most mothers feel, that
her rulo and her Joy were over.
ZOO looked az ,-,l2r With lis heart in his
eyes, bu. that YOU persons wEiIGlsoal bed
got the better Of her ,cnso and Ee- affection
both: she had given Jcc her final test; Sho
would frd out now = neither 10 loved Ecr or
his mother best. POo- ice!
"You WON'T SIC S-SCd, setting her II5 Il
q firm rcd line.
sNo,7 said Joe, with equal CrnneSS.
The situation had come to q dead lcct.
Just then a wild scream vas heard, and :
scurrying Of feet. Mrs. Parker, with q face
of FRIGHT, drew herself no ontac picket fence,
and called for Joe.
~Curue quick she cried. STise has tum-
bled into the ciStcrn!7
Joe ran as faSt as he could. BE knew the
c;stern was two-thirds full, and its sides slip
perry, but he had not m idea what to Go; lie
lost his wits-and Mary Ann found them!
She overlook him at the door Of his mothers
kitchen. "Herel here!" she said, brcGthlcSSy;
"here's pas ~scoop-net; it's real strong. Nou
can't get him out any other way And yet
five minutes before She had made it a vital
issue with Joe that h. should Lin this very
cat Girls are queer.
So Tige, resisting 10 the last, was iisacd
out Of the water butt and handed over to his
delighted mistress, who rolled him in her
-. - tD,I- lin, in for raDairc fiuUlnU