The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-06-01
THAT CAT.
BY JOHN z. sJOLANDgR.

Everybody knew everybody's busi-
mess on Magnolia Greek, and it was
mo- secret that jamie Brownlow and
Mark Peters had fallen out about the
istfer's cat, just as they were about to
get married.
The Brownlow and Peters home
steads were adjoining, brush fence
only separating them. The houses,
primitive log structures. were not
more than hundred yards apart, for
tiie builders of them had been friends,
and had moved to Magnolia Creek to-
aetlier. They had brought their young
wives with them, and had begun the
battle in the wilderness bravely, de-
termincd to,win homes there for them
selves and their loved ones.
When jamie and Mark were about
ono year old, the war between the
states broke out. Peters and Brown.
low went into the thick of it and
never returned, leaving two widows
and two orphans behind them to fight
the battle of life as best they could.
The two women made living some
how, and raised their children to
manhood and womanhood. Then they
laid down their cares forever to take
eternal rest.
Up till the time Mark and jamie
were completely orphaned, it is doubt
fnl il love or marriage had ever been
thought of between them; but then
came a time when they were in
manaer dependent upon each other.
In the course of year they saw that
1t would be best for both of them
shat they make their future one, and
everything was settled between them
In a sort of matter of fact way, alto
gether unlike the courtships described
IN books.
But one morning the storm broke
loose, and reared an apparently in,ur-
mountablc wall between them.
Mark had q fondness for cats, n
masculine trait of character not often
met with, and lie took all i'll deed done
his cat as an offence committed against
himself. jamie, on the other hand,
rather disliked cats, but kept good
dog instead, who followed her about
constantly, ever ready and willing to
d, her bidding.
I Onc morning jamie found Marks
cat among her chicks in the yard, and
as some of them had been missing for
several days, Thomas was looked
upon with suspicion as thief. Now,
when he was detected almost in the
act, Janie's anger was aroused, and she
called Rover to her side.
Catch the plagued cat" she cried.
<ICatch him! catch him, Rover!"
With Rovcr to hear was to obey, and
the cat and dog had close race to see
which would reach the brush fence
first Thomas won by the length of
his tall Then commenced fight in
which Rover was at disadvantage,
for every time he poked his nose into
the brush the cat spit, scratched and
clawed him until his yclps of pain
brought his mistress to his assistance.
. jamie had no more than made her
appearance upon the scene before
Mark arrived also. Their glances met
aud anger flashed out of their eyes.
s'Call of your dog!" Mark de-
manded.
IShan't do it," retorted jamie.
; -If you don't call that yelping cur
away, I'll kill him."
} "Pd like to see you do it set him
on that thievlng cat Of yours, aud
you'll have to kill me first before you
kill my dog"
just then the cat made the dog yelp
most pilifully, and jamie ran to his
assistance. She picked up a stick and
attempted to throw 1t at the cat, but,
With the proverbial craftsmanship of
her sex, she missed, and hit Mark in-
Glsad.
> Then Mark lost his temper COM
pls,eIy. He sprang over the fence,
aad with the first thing that came to
hApd. which happened to be stout
pole, he began 70 bslabor the dog most
aumsrcifully.
II was . dlsgraceful affair. and It
0as Whispered around in the neigh