Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08
A LITTLE CAT"
But She Proved, After All, TO Be
Little Goose"

| bitual to her, ''and we can move to-
morrow. 1t is completely furnished"
Mr.. Watkins looked annoyed, but
made no objection, and Miss Georgina
complacently buttered her toast and
nodded approval.
Mr.. Watkins was man past seventy,
but tall, erect and vigorous, with large.
full eyes, suggestive of kindly nature,
and smile that proclaimed charity to
all the world. Possessed of an ample
fortune he had retired from business.
and lived upon his income, sometimes
wondering that the large dowry he
would presumably give his daughters
had tempted no man to rescue them
from single blessedncss.
Thin, sour of face, strong of will, and
acid of temper, they presided over his
household, cared for his linen, and lived
in dire apprehension of step-mother,
For, at seventy, their dear papa showed
a decided preference for ladies' society
outside OF the home circle. As he pur-
sued his dienified, quiet way down the
street, the sisters held moments con-
sultation.
'By the time we return in the fall, )"
Miss Selma said, papa will have quite
forgotten that little sly cat, Elsie White.
They always so to the seaside. for Mrs.
White to escape hay fever, so there is
no danger of seeing them in the coun-
try"
sJf mo oro "a Cco,,odoIa ~ ,,,ocrn,xy
we must begin to pack up" suggested
Georgina, and the two went to their
rooms, to drive their maids to the bor-
ders of insanity by their fussy arrange
ments.
And Mr.. Watkins. in cool, shaded
boudoir, provided with broad fans and
iced lemonade, chatted with Mrs. White,
who at forty-two, in her COOL muslin
dress. with her abundant dark hair be-
comingly arranged, was almost, If not
quite, as attractive as the little blonde
fairy who called her mamma.
They were merry party, talking OF
call things under the sum-" and con-
trasting strongly with the home trio,
where Mr.. Watkins felt like naughty
school-boy. facing the vinegar aspects
of his dutiful daughters. 1t was charm
ing to him to accept the pretty atten-
tions of Elsie White, who was fond of
him, and delighted in his frequent
presents of bon bons, trinkets, but
kepta loyal determination IN her heart,
never, never to marry man old enough
20 10 ha,. rr,.o flfafba,.
Mrs. White, her pretty little hands
busy with embroidery, looked on and
smiled at Mr. Watkins attentions to
Elsie, encouraged her laughter to. sing
all the new songs to him, carefully SCI
lected pretty toilets for her, and in
every way encouraged the courtship of
the rich old widower.
She had already ascertained that, in
addition to n liberal allowance from
their father, Miss Selma and Georgina
Watkins were wealthy in their own
right, having inherited money from
their mother and deceased uncle.
''But they will never relax their hold
over the old gentleman" the pretty
widow thought, unless, and she nod
led her head unless some one else
has a greater influence.
The long. warm afternoon passed
away, and Mr.. Watkins strolled leis-
urely home to luncheon, cool and smil-
ing, to meet his red-faced, over-heated,
cross daughters, and mentally contrast
them with the placid, quiet ladies no
had just quilted.
All that day there was shril duct
of complaints and orders. and the hustle
OF moving the next morning was worse.
But ''dear papa" had long ago ceased to
have any voice in domestic arrange
nents, and he took possession of the
stuffy little room in the Grovedale cot
tage, inwardly chuckling at the con-
sternation to come,
Il am sure, my dear girls" he said,
in his gentle, refined voice, at tea time,
"you will be delighted to hear that we
are to have old friends for neighbors
Mrs. White has taken the cottage oppo-
site to this one for the summer"
For once there was no answer. The
Misses Watkins were literally struck
dumb
Horror succeeded horror. There was
no ceremony in the free country life,
and from their windows and porch the
two old maids could see the daily en-
deavors Of the artful widow and her
fair daughter to entrap their dear
papa, Wandering about the garden
in the most bewitching of summer ''cos-
i tumes," with becoming shade hats for
sunshine, or the daintiest of white
wraps for evening, the widow and her
daughter spared no pains to make their
cottage attractive. Selma groaned to
see her vener .Dlo parent eating straw
berries out of q cabbage leaf held by
Elsie's pretty hands, while Mrs. White
tossed Georgina's button-hole bouquet
cor Bemptuously aside. to be replaced by
half-blown moss-rose of her own Sc
lection. Georgina wept openly to see
Elsie coquettishly selecting swectmeats
from their dear papa's' offered gift,
and letting him press his lips upon her
hand for reward.
1t was no comfort to the sisters that
Harry Turner a handsome young fell
low OF twenty-five or six, came down
from the city every Sunday, to devote
himself to Elsie.
1T is all done to make papa jealous"
Miss Selma said Mrs. White is far
too cunning to make the counting too
easy. 1t makes the matter more ex-
citing to introduce n rival"
But suddenly there was change,
and hope once more sprang up in the
hearts OF the spinsters. 1t must not be
supposed that there was open hostility
between the cottages. Far from it.
Two or three times a week the ladies
took tea together, and Mrs. Whites
sweet smile always greeted the sisters
when they met. They were openly
caressing to pretty Elsie, If they longed
in secret to strangle her, and Georgina
was especially demonstrative to the
'littie cat, fearful of revenge If their
worst fears were realized.
So it was to Georgina that Elsie one
| day opened her heart, confding the
fact that che loved Harry Turner with
all the fervor of first young love. and
would never give way TO her mothers