The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-07-10

myself exclusively to my work. heard
no concerts, saw no plays, ate nobody's
dinners but my own; but took my guineas
as they came. had leisure to reflect
mathematical the white cat, and re-
garded myself as one with whom the
gods had dealt hardly. But for the cat,
| might now have been the happiest in
stead Of the most miserable Of mortals.
began to see dimly that had made a
fool of myself. 1 had had months in
which to say my say to Dorothy; and
then what an exhibition I had made OF
myself at the last moment!
week before Christmas / received a
kind note from Lady Pownceby asking
me to give her and her niece-and her
niecei-the pleasure Of my company dur
ing Christmas week. ] laughed at the
thought Of it. l replied by return OF
post, excusing myself very emphatical-
ly, and made up my mind with some Bit
terness to spend Christmas in bachelor
solitude.
On the morning Of Christmas Day,
found awaiting me when ] came down
stairs from my bedroom large hamper.
With fervent benediction on the kind,
thoughtful soul who had shown prac-
teal sympathy for my forlorn condition,
Lieut. the cord. What pictures in my
mind of mfnce pies and other Christmas
delicacies! What anticipation of the
delight Of teeth meeting teeth in the
seasonable turkey! raised the lid
but drew back with almost scream, for
out OF the basket sprang, not vivified
mince pies or resuscitated turkey, but
my sworn enemy, the white catl
What surprise! What disappoint-
mentl- What disgust! What my still
greater surprise when the cat Instead
of splitting and swearing at me as was her
won't at Darlington, now raised her inof-
fensive tail and arehed her graceful back
and rubbed her irreproachable white fur
against my legs! The cat had become
friendly towards me. OWNED that II
was hungry, and placed some milk be.
fore it, for which it purred Its thanks.
When I thought Of this strange event
Icame to the conclusion that "a deliber-
ate insult had been intended. grew
exceedingly wrathful, And felt skep'
tical of the love that could consign its
object to the tender mercies OF railway
guard. But second thoughts induced
me to believe that Dorothy must have
had an object in sending her cat to me.
She would hardly insult me SO gratu-
itously. And so gradually weayed in
my mind an explanation. Dorothy loved
me, and wanted me, and had sent hel
favorite to me as messenger of peace
and good Will.-She- had placed the cal
unreservedly in my hands; what could
she mean but that she preferred me fal
above the cat? My timidity disappeared
CHANGING at the clock, ! found that
could just catch the 1918 train. hur
riedly threw some things into my port
manteau, consigned the cat to the care
of my astonished- landlady, and rolled
off in a cab to Waterloo. / had only
| time to scramble into the first compart
ment the guard opened for me, wher
| tho train started.
| AS soon as collected myself l looked
to see who my one fellow-passenge was
..Dorothylo exclaimed.
| 1t was she. She had herself brough
up her Popsy; she told me that she had
expected me to come by the first pos
sible train. was delighted, and when
she begged me not to think her unmaid
emily in the course she had adopted
I gave her oscular demonstration how
content was..s>iWhat need to set dowI
what we said and did? The guard KEEP
our compartment sacred to US, ani
passed the window with averted head
In month Dorothy and | we're one
-and=eme= get-on==sery weH=with- eael
other, and with our mentor, Lad,
Pownceby, and our most familiar frient
is the white cat. Tho Argosy