The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-03


rounding the church containing some
we'll rolled grass aud few flower bor-
ders. The cellar windows opened on
this Enclosure, which was set about by
iron ratings. Maisie drew close to these
ratings and leaned upon them. Hereyes
were fixed on one of the cellar windows
from which lean black cat was creep
ing slowly, looking suspiciously about it.
"Ah. said Maisie In low tone. "Ah
SO it is as l thought. What fools people
are to say she is deadl A black cat? Yes,
Of course she is changed into a black
cat"
The animal, half starved creature,
deserted by some former owner, uttered
a low cry. and springing to the stone
curb in which the ratings were set,
came creeping toward the spot where
Maisie stood.
Pussy Maisie called softly. Here,
pussy, pussy, come to me"
The cat advanced slowly. With a
quick motion Maisie thrust her hand
through the rails and clutched the loose
skin at the back Of its neck and held it
fast. All animals were fond of Maisie,
and after little patting and coaxing it
was quite quiet, and she helped it
squeeze its attenuated sides through the
narrow space, and now she gathered it
up in her arms and held it fast, and
walked along the street until she came
to little shop where milk was sold
This she entered
sWill you let me have pint of milk
for my cat" she said, ssand nice saucer
to feed it fwom? She is most particular
about her china"
The woman of the shop laughed as she
measured the milk and filed big china
saucer,
The cat, which Maisie still held fast,
Tapped the milk eagerly, purring cheer
fully the while.
"She seems hungry" the woman said.
'tYes," said Massie, s'she has been
locked up in church for day and a
night, poor thing. Take little more,
Eugene; you shall have all you want"
is your cat named Eugenie?" the
woman asked.
Don't you think it a pwetty Manner
asked Maisie. 40 be sure it's a young
Iady's name; but she don't look the least
like a young lady, does shss Noe
course not"
Certainly not. ma'am." said the
woman, staring at her.
Nor bit like an enchanted prin-
cess said Maisie.
1.-THE milk is three cents, ma'am,"
said the woman, stepping back a little.
Maisie gave her the change, gathering
the black cat up in her arms.
"Her nails shall gwow sharp and her
teeth shall gwow lang, and on her four
feet she shall gang" she sang softly
Il should think it much better to be
cat than a fewy dwagon, shouldn't
you?" she asked the shop woman in
confidential tone. but before the latter
recovered from her establishment she had
skipped out of the store.
THAT lady is crazy" the woman said,
calling to some one in the back room.
Puss the meekness of starvation over,
was struggling violently. An empty cab
passed Maisie hailed 1t.
"A cat is bad thing to carry about,
miss" the cabman said as he helped her
into the vehicle. Maisie nodded yehe-
mently.
where tor" he asked.
'sWhere?s repeated Mais;e; .oh, to the
Centwal park--it's lovely wide. You'll
enjoy it, Eugene" This to the cat as
they drove off.
When they were alone together Mai
sic. holding the cat fast, addressed it sol
EMMY:
Il couldn't help it, Eugene. never
would have done it if you had not stolen
my Woy. But you shall have evewy-
thing you want. | will make you bed
with sheets and pillows. You shall have
a golden collar, and will have your
ears pierced and put carvings into
them Eugene, be good; don't scwatch
SO"
But the cat, unmindful of these bland
ishments, shrieked fiercely, struggled
more wildly than ever, and digging its
claws into Maisie's hands, tore them ter
ribly and escaped into corner of the
cab. There it sat, splitting and miaoul-
ing and making an occasional spring at
the nearest window, until the vehicle
had entered the park and been driven as
far as the Mall, where the driver ahghted
and opened the door with a view to re-
ceiving further instructions from Maisie.
As he did so the cat dashed out of the
door, and flying like mad thing along
the winding path was out of sight in a
moment.
"Why, how she's scratched you, miss"
the man said compassionately, looking
at Maisie's bleeding hands.
$50 she has, said Maisie, glancing at
the deep scratches and winding her
handkerchief around the hand worst
wounded
"She's like a tiger" said the driver,
"that baste."
Worse" said Maisie. "She wanted
my Woy. That could not be pewmitted,
you know; want my Woy myself"
''Is it your bird? Did she kill it,"
asked the cabman. Indeed my wife
would never have cat about the house
since one of them devoured the finest
canary on us that ever sang"
Music laughed Eugene can't sing
any more" she said I'm get out now,
please"
Just as you say, miss" said the cab
man He made his charge; Maisie
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