Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-10-11


soh's study to tell him what had hap.
pened.
"The neighbors appear to be quite
friendly" said she. "I'm glad Iadopted
your suggestion, Walter, and sent owe,
those tulips. If that crazy little yellow.
haired child"
"Gently, mother" said the young
man, smiling. "Shc is very pretty
young lady!"
"Would only keep her mischicvous cat
at home, we might get along nicely"
saiG the old lady, without needing the
interruption. "But always did detcsi
cats! Don't you suppose, Walter, we
might poison the creature without any
one being the wiscr2"
"The young lady with the golden
trcsscs, mother? I'm afraid a coroncr's
inquest would bring the whole .mottcr
out"
"Nonscnsc, Walter.-thc cat OF
course! a little strychninc, now, care.
fully placed between layers OF fresh fish,
or just grain or so of arsenic on little
meat
"Nlothcr, you are IL second Lucrczia
Borgla," said Walter Vallngcr, with n
gesture of mock horror. az dare say the
cat won't prove rs troublesome rs you arc
inclined to anticipate. And prophesy
that we and the ncXt-door ncighbors shall
be great friends, after all.n
When tca-timc came, Mrs. Vallin.tcr
prepared Il modest fcast-cold tongue,
edged around with II green fringe Of
parsley; sponge cake, daintiiy iced over;
and glass pitcher of real cream, pro.
cured from the people ut the end of the
lane, who kept cows.
"Come, Walter" said tho old lady, in
great glcc. "Bring me the basket of
Strawberries from the we'll They have
hung there, within three feet of the water.
long enough to be dcliciously cool. And
tea is quite ready now"
Walter obeyed. 1t was his habit to
wait on his mother, with sort of loving,
unquestioning loyalty.
He brought the basket in, united the
knot of palc-green ribbon that fastened
down the lid, and out lcapcd n half-fro
zen kitten into the midst of the lettuce
salad, which formed the centre dish of
the banquet.
"Kill the creaturc!" shricked Mrs.
Vallingcr, rccoiing. "This is one of
those peoples practical jokes, suppose.
never knew anything so dreadful in all
my life"
But Walter had rescued the kitten
from his mothers avcnging hands.
Its pretty little creature" said he.
'And it's bad luck to maltrcat present.
no, we'll keep the little shivcring ball OF
1nthnr un1 tr,- "a
respect our garden-bcds. But it is rather
Il singular proceeding on the part of our
cighbors-now, isn't it?"
" " = = = )
Three days afterward there came Il
knock Mt the door aud Tincttc Wylic
stood there with pink checks, sparkling
eyes, and hair all instinct with the gold
of the declining SUM-
SIS this Mr.. Valingcr?" said she.
"AIiss Wylie, l believe" said Waller.
who had the kitten nesting in its cotton
lined basket on his study table in full
view.
Oh, treacherous Fairy, who was already
so entirely reconci,ed to her new lot that
she had not even II recognizing purr for
the little mistress who had loved her SO
dearly
81 am so sorry-so ashamcl!n beg,
Iinettc. ''Bnt never even knew it un; u
this morning. Oh, what must you ha, 81
thought! What sort of people must =
have supposed lis to be?" ~
81 beg your partlon!" said Walter, Ii >
self beginning TO gcta little confused -. IN
"rhe kitten, you know" explaii I,
Tinctte-'I fcarcd-that is, was nj,
certain that she was going to be an I p
noyance to You, so l packed her Il tl
basket To send TO my uncle, who livc9 >,
the other side Of the mountain. An,
Githered some strawberries On the ST II
day, and mainma thinks she must le Il
sent the wrong basket-bccaisc, who \
went to Uncle Rob's to see how Il
Fairy was getting along, there was. V
Fairy there, and couldn't underst,. 81
what he meant when he thanked me (
the lovely Strawberries and roses.
then it flashed over me all of IL sudS
and mamma can't think how she co,. +;
have been so careless, and oh, please, y
with a pretty clasping of the hands that
had a pink dimplc in every knuclllc, edo.
forgive us, and let us have Fairy BAG q
again!"
''But don't think" said Walter V:I /
linger, "that l can spare her I've BE-
come very fond of that kitten, do YOU,
know, Miss Wylic?"
al thought you hated CATS" sal,
Tinctte." S
$50 did, said Walter-"at least {
didn't like EN-. But have changed mi
platform in regard to this particular cat, |
She is the dearest, gcntlest, most sagac z
ious little creature" Il
ooh, isn't shc?" cried Tincttc, W: {
kindling eyes. 81 knew you would fine,
it out in time!"
"And my mother is as fond OF the kits
ten as | am, strange to say" he went on G
"You will let us keep her, am surc?'
Tinctte's eyes fell; her color rose; :;
was too severe n trial of her loyalty. {
"Couldn't-couldn't we own her to-
Sethcr?" she murmured.
Walter Valinger could not resist this
appeal. He took the basket and placed
it in Tinctte's hands.
"You have the best right to her." said
he