The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-28

site fruit she raises, and are glad to have
an opportunity of tasting some of it."
So she hung the basket down the well
with long, stout cord, and went to her
sons study to tell him what had hap
Ipened.
"The neighbors appear to be quite
friendly" said she. ''Im glad Iadopted
your suggestion, Walter, and sent over
those tulips. If that crazy little yellow
haired child"
"Gently, mother" said the young
man, smiling. "She is a very pretty
young lady!"
"Would only keep her mischievous cat
at home, we might get along nicely" !"
said the old lady, without needing the
interruption. 'sBut always did detest
cats! Don't you suppose, Walter, we
might poison the creature without any
one being the wiser9"
"The young lady with the golden
tresses, mother? Pm afraid coroner's
inquest would bring the whole motter
out"
"Nonsense, Walter!-thc cat, of
course A little strychnine, now, care
fully placed between layers of fresh fish,
or just grain or so of arsenic on little
meat"
"Mother, you are second Lucrezia
Borgia," said Walter Vallinger, with q
gesture of mock horror. ~ dare say the
cat won't prove as troublesome as you are
inclined to anticipate. And I prophesy
that we and the next-door neighbors shall
be great friends, after ALL"
When tea-time came, Mrs. Vallinger
prepared modest feast-cold tongue,
edged around with green fringe of
parsley; sponge cake, daintily iced over; !;
and,a glass pitcher of real cream, pro-
cured from the people at the end of the
lane, who kept COWS.
"Come, Walter" said the old lady, in
great glee. "Bring me the basket of
strawberries from the we'll. They have
hung there, within three feet of the water,
long enough to be deliciously 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 pale-green ribbon that fastened
down the lid, and out leaped half-fro-
zen kitten into the midst of the lettuce
salad, which formed the centre dish of
the banquet.
ssKill the creature!" shrieked Mrs.
Vallinger, recoiGng. ''This is one of
those peoples practical jokes, I suppose.
I never knew anything so dreadful in all
my life"
But Walter had rescued the kitten
from his mothers avenging hands.
.'sIt's pretty little creature" said he.
"And it's bad luck to maltreat q present.
no, we'll keep the little shivering ball of
snow, mother, and try and teach it to
respect our garden-beds. But it is rather
singular proceeding on the part of our
neighbors-now, isn't ita"
4 Il + +
Three days afterward there came a
knock at the door and Tinette Wylie
stood there with pink cheeks, sparkling
eyes, and hair all instinct with the gold
of the declining sun.
els this Mr.. Vallinger9" said she. :
"Miss Wylie, believe" said Walter,
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 reconciied to her new lot that
she had not even recognizing purr for
the little mistress who had loved her so
dearly! -'..
II am so sorry-so ashamed" began
Tiuette. "But never even knew it until
this morning. Oh, what must you have
thoughts What sort of people must you
have supposed us to be2"
s'I beg your pardon! !" said Walter, him
self beginning to geta little confused.
"The kitten, you know" explained
Tinette-"I feared-that is, I was quite
certain that she was going to be an an
noyance to you, so packed her in
basket to send to my uncle, who lives on
the other side of the mountain. And T
gathered some strawberries on the same
day, and mamma thinks she must have
sent the wrong basket-because, when I
went to Uncle Rob's to see how dear
Fairy was getting along, there was no
Fairy there, and I couldn't understand
what he meant when he thanked me for
tho lovely strawberries and roses. So
then it flashed over me all of sudden,
and mamma can't think how she could
have been so careless, and oh, please"
with pretty clasping Of the hands that
had a pink dimple i'll every knuokle, "do
forgive us, and let us have Fairy back
again."
"But I don't think" said Walter Val
inger, "that I can spare her. I've be-
come very fond of that kitten, do you
know, Miss Wylie?"
'I thought you hated CATS" said
Tinette."
$50 T did," said Walter-i'at least I
didn't like 'em. But I have changed my
platform in regard to this particular cat,
She is the dearest, gentlest. most sagac-
ious little creature"
"Oh, isn't she2" cried Tinette, with
eyes. ~ knew you would find |
it out in time!'
"And my mother is as fond of the kit
ten as am, strange to say" he went on.
'sYou will let us keep her, am sure9"
Tinette's eyes fell; her color rose; this
was too severe trial of her loyalty.
"Couldn't-couldn't we own her to- \
yether2" she murmured. +