The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-10-20

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| 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 be sewed by Manny's
/ deft hands; and sewed it was. with no
! Intervention of machinery. and almost
ready, when-how shall 1 tell it tl-One
/ pleasant February dav Peter trailed into
/ the house with a bleeding ear. a blinking
eye, and one leg 50 hurt that he could
not even limp on it. This was the eli
max. Nanny had winked at Tige's enor-
minities all that winter for Mrs. Parker's
1 sake meaning Joe'sl; she had only once
hurled a basin Of dishwater over him.
three times chased him with broom
handle, and not thrown more than
i dozen stones at him--which didn't count.
1 for women never hit anything they throw
1 at, or at least men say so.
But now Manny's patience gave great
| gasp and died. She 6ew out of the door
intent to main or slay, but Tiges black
/ tail Just wisked out of the gate she
! could not follow him, so she did the
next thing, which was to wash Peters
wounds, put him to bed in the cellar.
1 fetch him dry Catnip and warm milk. and
/ leave him to that solitude that the
wounded animal seeks, and the wounded
/ man shuns
! 1t was tea-time then, and when Joe
came in at his hour for visitation he
/ found Nanny no longer tender. arch, or
sentimental; the hazel eyes had a redder
/ spark in them than he had ever seen, the
cheeks famed, and the red lips we're
| puckered into lovely severity instead of
wreathed with smiles.
Joe, - she began. rushing at once into
the fray, you will have to kill Tiger.
can't stand it. He has chawed UP Peter
till he's most dead
my dead girl. " said Joe, in a dis
mayed tone, ''mother sets by Tiger so" D."
Il can't help it; he's horrid, dread
full cat, and he'll murder Peter, and he's
got to be killed.
But, Nanny, think of mother; she's
goin' to be alone, and she thinks every
thing of Tiger. Why. she never would
forgive me if l killed him. -
"Well, if you like her better'n you do
me- all right. shall kill him, unless
pa will; so therem
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 will
mother sayl"
Il don't care cent what anybody
says. will not stand by and see my
dear sweet old cat killed by dreadful
beast like that, and not defend him. III
p'ison it. "
''Oh, Mary Annr cried Joe.
Then kill him yourself, she retorted.
II cannot, said Joe, steadily.
Well he knew how his silent mother
loved Tiger like many another woman,
she bestowed on her pet all the de-
monstrative affection she was too shy
and too reserved to lavish on Joe. The
cat slept on her bed, followed her about
the house and garden, sprung up into
her lap and purred there as she sat alone
in the evenings, and however fierce a
fighter of his kind, was devoted and
loving to his mistress. More than ever
did she cling to him now, in her word
less jealousy of Joe's new love; for well
she knew that
MY sons my son till he gets him a wife,
and deeply she felt as most mothers
feel, that her rule and her JOY were over.
Joe looked at Nanny with his heart in
his eyes, but that young persons wilful
soul had got the better of her sense and
her affection both; she had given Joe
her tinal test; she would find out now
whether he loved her or his mother best.
Poor Joe
You won'tln she asked, setting her
lips in a firm red line
"No," said Joe, with equal tirmness.
The situation had come to q dead
lock
Just then a wild scream was heard. and
a scurrying of feet Mrs. Parker with
face of fright. drew herself up on the
picket-feuce, and called for Joe.
"Come quick .n she cried. ''Tige has
tumbled into the cistern
Joe ran as fast as he could. He knew
the cistern was two-thirds fun, and its
sides slippery but he had not an idea
what 10 do, he lost his Wlts-and Mary
Ann found them
She overlook him at the door of his
mothers kitchen. Here here she
said. breathlessly; heres pas scoop
net: it's real strong. You can't get him
, out anv other wavn And vet five
minutes before she had made it a vital
issue with Joe that he would not kill
, this very cat. Girls are queer.
So Tige, resisting 70 the last, was
, fished out of the water-butt and handed
over 10 his delighted mistress, who rolled
I him in her apron and took him in for re-
! pairs, hinging over her shoulder tc
! Nanny a curt: II don't know how tc
J thank We enough.
! NANNY said Joe, holding out his
arms in the moonlight.
Mary Ann rushed into them, and
! sobbed out: II did act like all possessed
/ / never should have liked you a mite
/ again if you'd killed Tige Oh, wo
e man woman!
So they were married, and lived happy
5 ever after, and had cat Of their owl
I bandsomer than Peter, better than Tige
{ and as peaceable as a Quaker. KOS
Terry Cooke, IN BlzQr.