West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-05-22

> Dorothy my question, day after day
ppcd by, and it was still unasked. The
- day of my visit came. was to
I leave 10y the last train, at ten o'clock. l
passed the day with Dorothy, but sand
NO word TO her Of what wns on my heart.
Diunor-time came, and still / had said
nothing. Lady Pownceby went To sleep
in the drawing-room, while Dorothy and
| sat in our iavoritc seats by the win
dow.
"Arc you sorry your holiday is overt"
Dorothy asked
Very" l said laconically.
Another silence
"Will you have much work when Won
get homeG" she said.
'I hope So"
Silence again.
"You will forget all about us"
"Never"
A quarter TO 8! And the cart was TO
come for me at 9:15.
/ was in dreadful state. was hot
and cold 10y turns. could not sit STILL
Nine o'clock
Still / had not asked my question.
Many times l had opened my mouth to
begin; then something seemed To grip
my throat, and could not utter word.
Five minutes past o
i was in agony looked out of the
window; / took out my watch; / played
with the chain; j crossed and uncrossed
my legs; blurted out
care you sorry / am going2"
"Of course. You have been very pleas
ant company"
/ thought she spoke coldly, and
thought again OF the cat and the curatc.
MAY hope that you would be pleased
to see me againp
"Oh, yes"
Silence!
Ten minutes past ninei
"DorothyW
"Yes?"
"WIll you--can you-are you engaged
to the curatel"
"Oh, mol How absurdi"
"Can you-will you-do you-would
you like to be marriedg"
81 don't know" she laughed.
"Would you--could you-Dorothy-I
must tell you
S-s-s-s-sh!l A prolonged hiss
startled us both. / had come close To
Dorothy, and my right hand was ap-
proaching hers. felt sharp pain in
my forefnger; and the white cat flew out
of the window recess, glared and spat
upon me, and sprang into Dorothy's lapl
i stood up and cursed that cat Dorothy
uttered q little cry; Lady Pownceby
awoSc, and said: "Dear mel Have /
been asleepl' and servant entered and
said: "The dog cart is waiting for Mr.
Oswald Jones"
j had time only TO sec my boxes car
ried out and to take q hurried farewell
OF my hostess and her niece, and then
was driven away 20 the station. And I
had not asked my question.
III.
For the next two months I devoted
myself exclusively 20 my work. But
for that cat, might now have been the
happiest instead Of the most miserable
Of mortals. / began 20 see dimly that
! had made a fool Of myself. had had
months in which 10 say my say 10
Dorothy; and then what an exhibition
/ had made Of myself at the last mo-
menti
On the morning of Christmas Day,
my bedroom large hamper What
! pictures in my mind Of mince pics and
fothor Christmas deicacieSl What
anticipation Of the delight OF teeth
/ meeting teeth in the seasonalde turkey
/ / raised the lid--but drew back with
almost a scream, for out Of the basket
sprang, not viviGed miucc pies or
rcsuscitated turkey, but my swornlcncmy,
/ the white catl
What surprise What disappointment
What disgust What my still greater
surprise when the cat, instead Of splitting
and swearing at me rs was her wont at
Darlington, now raised her iuof-
fensive toll and archcd her graceful back,
and rubbed her irreproachablc white fur
against my legs The cat had become
friendly toward me.
came TO the conclusion that deliber.
ate insult had been intended. grew
exceedingly wrathful And 7 felt scep-
tical Of the love which could consiQn It's
object TO the tender mercics of railway
guard. But second thoughts induced
me to believe that Dorothy must have
had an object in sending her cat 20 me.
Dorothy loved me, and wanted me, and
had sent her favoritc 20 mo az q messon-
ger Of peace and good will. She had
/ placed the cat in my hands; what could
she mean but that she preferred mo far
above the catl i could Just catch tbe
/ 1915 train. ! consigned the cat TO the
care Of my landlady, and rolled of in n
/ j., fU.to.Tna - IL. a.. A.