The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-05-15
THAT WHITE CAT.

and in couple Of hours was seated in
Lady Pownceby's dog-cart. My hostess
met me at the door, and insisted on my
going at once to my room, where found
luncheon laid
''Dorothy is out" she said. "She is
busy with her poor women this morning
She is very useful in the village; indeed,
our vicar, Mr.. Haig, calls her his assis-
tant-curate."
dorothy is your nieceS"
eyes; my poor sister, Mrs. Braith-
waite's daughter. She is an orphan.
You will meet her at dinner, and I'm
sure | hope you will be great friends. !"
hoped so too. I never was lady's
man. OF women friends / had not one,
and of acquaintance but few. What
would two months be at Darlington if
Dorothy and were not friends9 l was
anxious to meet her. Her name sounded
prm, l thought; and her aunt's mention
of parochial work had raised a forebod-
ing within me. She was sallow, an
gular, old-young lady, felt sure, who
spoke always with polish and precision,
hho WhOoC COuNCIootlOu SdSoLCu VI tuC
mothers meeting 1 was angry with
myself for coming to this place.
q Even then no relief came. As the bell
rang, Lady Pownceby sailed into the
drawing-room. dorothy hasn't come
in yet, Mr.. Oswald Jones. We will not
wait dinner for her; one never knows
when she will return; will you give me
your arml"
felt that was man with a grev-
ance. I, Oswald Jones, of the Middle
Temple, barrister-at law, one of the
rising men, the papers said, had con-
demned myself to spend my vacation in
an obscure country house, and Dorothy
Braithwaite (but rather pretty name l
thought), spinster, showed herself so un-
impressed as to absent herself from the
house the whole day. But with the fish
came Dorothy.
II am sorry | am so late, aunt" she
said. "Mrs Wade's Tommy has the
measles, and / had to mind her other
olive branches while she fetched the
doctor This is Mr.. Oswald Jones?"
She looked at me with frank smile as
we shook hands.
She sat down and began to eat with
healthy appetite. watched her. My
foreboding was utterly stultifed. Tall
and stately; with complexion of red
and brown, fair hair, and a pair of eyes
large, blue, darkfringed, expressive, l
felt my visit was not in vain. / would
have gone twice as far to make the &C.
quaintance of the owner of such eyes.
She was perfectly lf-possessed She
seldom spoke. Occasionally she would
look up at me, and was charmed with
her delightful eyes, When the ladies
left me, l fastened after them. Lady
Pownceby was settling herself for her
post-prandial nap; Dorothy was sitting at
the window, leaning back in her chair
and looking out.
Come and sit here she said.
''You must make yourself at home,
Mr. Oswald Jones, SAID sleepy voice
from the other end of the room.
81 am rather surprised to find myself
here, / said to Dorothy.
Are your Aunt often speaks of you.
She thinks a great deal of you. She read
the Times, and whenever she sees your
name in the law reports, she reads them
with ten-fold interest. Here's Mr..
Oswald Jones's name again, she will say
4 really must know more of that young
man."
sWhy does she always call me by nv
full name9 Why not Mr.. Jones, sim
ply"
'Oh, there are so many Joneses, you
know. Our curates name is Jones, and
no doubt she calls you Oswald Jones to
distinguish you from him.
Perhaps Dorothy was to be assistant
curate in more particular sense. Strange
to say, felt jealous. But was pre-
vented from asking any questions by a
sudden introduction to another inmate of
the house. Something stirred behind
the curtain at my side, and out sprange
large white cat, which dug its claws
into the carpet and arched its back and
then leaped in Dorothy's lap. Dorothy
began stroking its head, putting her head
against its, and performing those many
little tricks which ladies and cats enjoy.
Now abominate the whole feline race
And this cat especially won my destesta-
ton. Its fur was spotlessly white, and
the fact that could find no fault with it
made me hate it the more. Dorothy
spoke to it and kissed the animal
loathed it.
81 hate cats. / cried.
ssPopsy hates men," Dorothy serenely
replied. .'Mr. Arthur Jones, our curate,
you know, is the only man she will allow
to touch her."
"Perhaps he is not the only JONES'" ]
said, feeling more jealous still. ''Let
me try"
But Popsy did not approve Of my pat
ting Somewhere from her interior pro-
ceeded low rumbing, her ears were laid
by, and judged it wise to relinquish
the experiment.
ave are to be enemies, then" said
and / fear l was scornful of Dorothy
evident affection for the cat.
Dorothy suggested that we should
walk in the garden That walk was the
first of many. Before fortnight passed
/ was madly in love with Dorothy.
was distractedly happy, but | felt some
little uneasiness because of the Rev. Ar
thur Jones and the white cat. l had
watched the reverend gentleman care
fully. He was bright, happy-facec
young cleric, and his behavior left nc
sort of doubt in my mind that he loved
Dorothy. And his high spirits seemed g
proof to me, either that he had won the
lady or fully expected to do SO.
Time sped rapidly. went with
Dorothy to picnics and garden parties
took her for drives, walks and rides;
boated with her, played tennis with
her, and listened to her singing. | re