Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-12-09
MlFFNTOWN JUNIATA

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his country, his fellow citizens, and
himself. Possibly he had wish even
beyond all this. With this purpose he
went to the house of the Prime Minis
ter, who, before being hung next day
his name beginning with an Al, was
In very bad temper, and very little
disposed to receive visitors. How
ever, a message given by the young
man having been conveyed to him, re-
awakened IN the diplomatist's downcast
soul CLEAN of hope. lie ordered the
stranger to be shown in to him.
In two words the young man ex-
planned his idea and plan. The idea
was very simple one, which readily
accounted for the fact that nobody had
before thought of it. The plan was q
bold one. 1t was nothing less than to
play the oracle, mystify q queen, and
gull people-who could tell? perhaps
to falsify for ever the history of science
IN regard to the color of catsl The
mere thought of it made the Minister'S
forehead burst into a cold perspira-
ton.
IF the trick is discovered" he OBJ
lected, 1--WE shall be impaled like
traitors, beheaded life forgers, and
burned at slow fire like men guilty
of sacrilege."
But Brisloun was not in the least de-
gree weak-miuded?
Zone can but die once" he replied.
In the situation of the Minister he ran
but little risk.
These arguments were, in the end,
successful, aud the young mans plan
accepted. Velvetpaw was confided to
him.
The night passed feverishly and
slowly for the unfortunate Minister.
At length dawn appeared. shedding
rosy tints upon the long row of gibbets
which had been set up.
Exhausted by terrible nightmare,
the Princess hardly closed her eyes.
One of her thin hands hung down from
/ the side of her couch; her bosom
heaved.
At that moment one of the doors
of her chamber was partially opened,
and, moment afterwards, closed again
noiselessly. AT the same instant a
| strange sensation awakened the Prin-
cess. An enormous weight was sitting
her. Feebly she raised her heavy eye-
lids, pressed on by the finger of death
Oh, miracle! Curled up upon her
breast-soft, supple, graceful, and of
an azure the most beautiful imaginable
"a cat was admiring her, smiling at
her, in its way, with its great lImpid
/ golden eyes. Diamonds, big as stars,
sparkled amid its silky coats. Ailla
had only power to utter loud scream.
to break the cord of her bell, and to
faint away once more.
Some hours later, happy, appeased,
and already less pale, the Princess
went in great pomp to the Council
Chamber. Before her, on q cushion OF
cloth of gold, the az re-colored cat al
lowed itself to be devoutly borne
Then the Prime Minister, prostrating
himself, and with all the usual cere-
monial, presented Brisloun to the prin-
cess, and related to her how, after having
discovered the Blue Cat at the bottom
of an inaccessible cavern, guarded by
frightful monsters, this young man
had, at the peril of his life, md after
overcoming a thousand difficulties,
brought it away.
During the delivery of this address
the Princess had very attentively re-
garded her deliverer. She even sud-
denly remembered that he had prom
ised her hand to whoever should sue.
ceed in accomplishing the difficult task
in which so many 9th ers had failed.
As she appeared inclined to keep her
word, the Minister again prostraied
himself and, not without embarrass-
ment, observed to his sovereign that
Brisloun-otherwise gifted with all the
qualities that make an amiable husband
was unfortunately only a draper.
But, without pausing to hear more,
Ailla replied quickly
ellis address and courage shall stand
him in stead of letters of nobility, and
to begin with / will name him Grand
Commander of the Blue Cat, of which
order the lowest chevaller shall be
prince of the blood! The wedding
shall lake q place week hence!
Many days sped happily, and prob.
ably no cloud would have shown itself
upon the horizon, but for the fancy
which overlook the precious Blue Cat
to escape from the royal apartments,
where it was kept with great ceremony,
to scamper for awhile on the roof OF
the palace. The moon, 1t was true,
was shining that night with brightness,
aud it may be imagined that being a cat
does not necessarily imply inability to
admire the beauties of nature.
In short, imprudent pussy, in
! IOAlcAteu py hoi niA
erty, pranced about SO widely
as suddenly to lose her bal,
ance, to slip down a gutter which
descended perhaps perpendicularly,
into an inner court of the palace. and,
finally, to pitch head first into big
basin in which aromatics and essences
were in course of soaking. Stunned
by the fall and half stifed by the vio-
lence of the perfumes, the poor crea-
ture struggled some time before being
able to extricate itself.
The agitation of the Princess may be
conceived when, next day, she beheld
this cat on which the security of the
kingdom rested enter her chamber
shiyering, soiled, dazed, with the
aspect, in short of hall-drowned ami
NAL. This agitation, however, was as
nothing compared with that which
fol owed on her discovering that large
patches of white marred the robe oi
azure. obtained at the cost of so many
sacrifices.
Presently, alasl even doubt was nc
longer possible; for, by force of rub
blng against the bed-curtains to dry
itself, Velvetpaw, Oh peridlous-
Velvetpaw herself reappeared, still
slightly blue, but nevertheless only toe
recognizable! 1t had been able to save
its skin in the accident of the past
night, but not its color, which was
not proof against essences
The anger of the princess was ex
treme on learning in this way the trict
by which she had been abused. In
stantly she wished to avenge herself
but in terrible, cruel manner; anC
she was hesitating on the choice of g
punishment, when the Prince entered,
handsomely dressed in cherry -colore
satin tobe embroidered with pearls,
which admirably set off his gallant
bearing.
AS soon as she saw him she pointed
an accusing finger towards discolored
Vnluatnaw which. with q very crest