The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-14

crimes to avoid fopeGltlOn. 0nOulu ne Su'
them for libel? Alas! they were alread,
require the formation of another court
Besides, he believed that the faith which h
had ever had in newspaper statements WA
universal. He put himself in his neighbor'l
place and he realized that he would no
only condemn, but rejoice to do SO.
upon the door, and now it was vigorously
shaken. At length he opened it. sharp
eyed lad entered and handed him severa
papers. The attorney for the Universe
had, indeed, prosecuted. Mr.. Pussy hac
thus been served with complaints in three
actions brought on behalf Of Mary Ma
honey. One was for assa ult, another FOL
malicious injury to perso nal property. and
the third for defamation of character
Mr.. Pussy called his confidential clerk to
him.
john he said. ibid you see those in
famous, those outrageous lies in the Morn
ing Universe about me?"
'Oh yes, sir"
Il suppose it has been generally read?''
"Yes, indesa, sir. They've been issuing
extras the livelong day. The latest one has
the girls picture in it. She's good locker,
sir. begging your pardon"
What do people say, John, about such
an atrocious attack upon an upright citi-
zen?''
"Well, sir, to speak plainly, they say that
there must be some truth in it else the paper
wouldn't have printed ~
Mr.. Pussy waved John away despairingly.
Yes, that was it. Exactly what he would
have said himself; exactly what he often
had said during his readings to his wife.
cried; and Mr.. Pussy drove home. He, the
precise man of business, who for twenty
years had invariably walked to and from his
office; he. the deacon, who had always borne
himself with the stiffness of conscious recti-
tude, drove home, ashamed and afraid to
meet the citizens of his native town. His
wife was in tears, and consequently more
limp and colorless than ever. His children
wore the scared expression which an under
taker provokes. Three or four dismal
female figures stole sombrely through the
rooms. and sighed as they passed him.
They We're his wife's relations who had been
consoling her, i. g., cross-examininR her.
1t had formerly been such comfort for
Mr.. Pussy to go to bed. He had been sooth-
ed by toll; he had been lulled by prosperity
and faith in himself. But now he crept
under the covers and shivered, dreadinR to
close his eyes lest sleep should in an in
slant bring the fatefuf morrow. That omi-
always lashes his steeds into fury in pur-
suit of the unfortunate. The darkness
rolled away, the light again appeared.
When the first ray shot across his trOub-
led pillow Mr.. Fussy stole so silently from
his bed that he did not interrupt the meas
ing the night he had resolved that he would
thus evade the hateful publicity which
attended his movements. He dressed hasti-
ly; be tiptoed out of the room. With Il
sigh that said Breakfast he fastened
toward his office. He met but few persons.
and they seemed oblivious to him: SO he
inwardly congratulated himself on the
these same congratulations would
chant dirge Of condoleGce. So
cheerful did he become that he almost
hoped that the Universe would acknowledge
its error. He found it awaiting him upon
his desk. He unfolded it; he read the nam
moth headline, lis Pussy Bigamist?" he
saw that four columns were necessary to
answer this interesting query. He tore the
sheet into shreds; he sat upon the lounge
with his head between his hands; he cried.
Tears brought a certain oalmness to him,
So that s when John brought the mail to hum
s1ls s %s s1snos
it over. Oh. yes, orders, indeed-orders
countermanding orders already given, in
cruel, sarcastic. hooking terms. There was
besides Misunderstanding missive with
a red seal. He examined it. It was sum-
commanding him to answer charges Of
gross immortality. He. the deacon, the
proud passer of the plate! "What next?''
What next, indeed! The sharp-eyed law
yer's clerk entered, and served an order of
arrest upon him. HE says as how he
apologetically. ''but you was seen on the
street early this morning, and he was
afeard that you had run away
Necessity nerved Pussy into action.
Just step next door, john" he directed.
land tell the Skinner Brothers that want
them to go my bail. It's mere formality,
John returned shortly. "They both beg
to be excused he reported. "They keep
clear of any criminal matter. 1t hurts bus
mess, sir.''
And SO it proved with other atte mpts.
Mr.. Pussy was obliged to deposit secu rites
to save himself from the Jail, and his
friends sincerely regretted his ability to do
30.
Again he drove home in closed carriage.
His wife rushed to meet him, wringing her
hand with excitement, her wan face suffused
with mahogany hue. The sombrs con-
solers stood in the background and whis-
pered; Poor dear! No wonder she do go
ooh, Frank!' she cried, cit can't be true.
after all these years, when I've been such a
patient. loving wife! Yet when I awoke
his morning you were gone, and don't
know when you went out, eitherv'
lis what true!" he stolidly asked.
"This"' said one of the sombre gossips,
pressing forward with an "Extra'' in her
hand.
Again glaring headline! He read:
"A Hardened Old Reprobate-The Incor-
rigible Pussy is Seen Sneaking through the
Streets in the Wee, Sma' Hours--Importan
Expected in the Scandal
See To-morrow's Issue.''
That settled it. For days thereafter Mr..
Pussy was secluded. No company saw him
except his lawyer and his confidential clerk.
Then tho cork works were closed. For
sale" was hung on the darkened shutters of
the home. The Fussys were seen no more
in Aberdeen.
High on the mountain back of Shiloh ia n
farmhouse, as remote from news
paper circulation as if it were within the
heart of Sahara. There, on Sunday after
noons in the upper story, children iistless-
ly study a Biblical enigma uE on dllapida-
ed card. In the room below a matron rocks
to and fro within the further corner, while
near the window man of timorous mien,
arrayed in dressing gown and slippers. sits
idly within the one easy chair, tWirlinr his
York Times.
Wisdom's Robertine is the only thing now ,s.a
by fashionable women to perpetuate beautiful
A Lovely Completion