The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-10-24
WITHOUT A MORAL
IS THE FABLE MISS SIBERIAN SETS
FORTH SO DELIGHTFULLY.
You May Read Between the Lines-Do
You Recognize the Characters?
Written for The Constitution.

The story you are going to near, dear
| reader, took place at time when the world
| was at peace; when there was no particular
enmity between the different animals The
| fox and the hare neighbOrcd together III
| the most amicable manner; the wolf and the
dog took their daily constitutionals to-
| gethcr; the lion and the tiger openly ad-
mircd each other; the bear and the leopard
| exchanged visits sans ceremOnie--ln word,
all the animal kingdom was .at rest.
During that bissful period, two most
| respectable eats, of very old family, mad
an only daughter. Never was kitten more
amiable or seducing, charming or accom-
| plished.
| TO describe her many virtues and traits
| it would take a more facle pen than NINE;
| suffice it to say that her fur was OF the
softest and silliest nature; her eyes OF
that topaz seen only in the finest stone.
Her claws nestled in the daintiest of pin
cushions, and her purr was the most nlu-
| steal in that part of the world. The dolngs
| of this belle were frequently chromcled III
the press. Her comings and gongs were
always noted and often the costumes worn
by her on fete occasions were described ut
length and on one occasion sonnet 10 ner
beautiful ear (which, by the way, had
!
| was a cat to be cnved.
At the age of two and a half years, by
the death of monsieur and madame, the
cat was left sole heiresS to vast fortune.
| If she had had sutors before, now when
| the time of mourning was over, they came
| in droves showing alas. that those same
mercenary traits found in human beings are
none the less distant to those of the brute
kind.
AS for the suitors of the hercss, their
| name was legion. but the two, however,
| who seemed to have the inside track were
the dog and the wolf-both intelligent,
well educated, moving i'll the creme de Ia
| creme. True, Mr.. Dog was Il large, good
natured creature, much older than the lady
he was striving for. but was he not man
| of unimpeachaDle character, and OF an eX-
ceedingly long bank account?
| Mr.. Wolf was handsome, daShing tel
low, though thought by many to be effeml-
nate. He was SO perfectly charming i'll his
manner towards the ladies, that it was
| often said of him that were he little more
manly. he would be a second Lord Chcs-
terfeld. He parted his waving hair in the
| middle, spoke with lisp. carried his head
a little to the left, and affected Il swagscr
in his walk. However, in spite of these
| little pecuarites. he was very popular
fellow, both with his own and with the OPP
poSite sex.
| NOW, tlle cat IN question WIS IuoSC StllSl-
| ble and much as she liked Mr.. Wolf, did
not allow her affections to become too
| deeply engaged She had much respect
| for Mr.. Dog. and knew that had her father
| lived he would be the one chosen for her
husband. At the time of my story, both
had offered paw and heart, but as it was
| wcighty question. which the cat, young as
| she was, knew would be "for better, for
worse had not yet decided, she said to
herself Il am alone in the world, and
IL Il. Of
! my ancestors, and make happy as wei
as suitable marriage. Mr.. Wolf has al
ways shown that he holds me in the highest
esteem and is very anxious to make me
his wife He is in excellent business, and
! even though his credit is not so good as
I Mr.. Dogs, | am sure he will come out all
right i'll the end. His coat is always of
the most shining black, his nose long and
pointed, but-there is Mr.. Dog, He is
such an honest, straightforward fellow,
never in bad humor except when dis
turbed at his meals Much as | think of
Mr.. Wolf, | cannot accept him i'll the face
of Mr.. Dog"
While the cat was pickering her pretty
forehead and arguing in favor of both
| suitors, who should knock at the door and
be announced but the two gentlemen? The
wolf came forward in his suaye insinu-
ating manner with head erect; while, his
rival, the dog, followed mcekly behind
| wagging his tail and with head tucked
down. The cat, in her most gracious man
ner, invited both gentlemen to be seated.
"A fine day. this" said the wolf. MIR
Dog and have just been enjoying brisk
canter across the meadow. We passed by,
and although the hour for calling is Il lit
tie unreasonable could not resist the tempt
alton of dropping in The cat made some
lady-like and appropriate reply, and as Mt
| Dog was always more or less embarrassed
| in the presence of his lady love, and not
given to chatting much, especially when
| a third party was around, silence fell
upon the trio for awhile.
A fly lit on the end Of Mr.. VOLTS nose
and he was kept busy for some moments
snappng vanly at the air. After this OBJ
stroDcrous insect had been caught and de
vourcd Mr.. Wolf was first to break the
silence, as it seemed natural that he should
| be spokesman when his rival was around
| His voice was tremulOuS at first, but as he
continued and gained confidence he grew
| more eloquent.
MA chcre cousine," this ardent wooer
said, ''you have doubtless already sur
missed the reason of this visit" The cat
blushed and looked down. Long has it
been since ! told YOU of my love and asked
| that you share my lot with me. From
what | can CLEAN Just as long has 1T been
since Mr. Dog made You the same offer.
| We are the best friends on the hill, as YOU
know, and your choice between us viii
| have nothing to do with our relationship
in future. But we have come to the con-
cuSion that it is best to have this matter
| settled at once, ana. dear MISS tat, the
sooner you do that for US the better it will
be for all parties concerned. We are ut
your tender mercy Do with us as you
| will"
The wolf. thinking he had done his part
retired to the other end of the ROOM The
dog approached the cat and low CONVERSE
ton took place. What was said l do not
know, for YOU are aware that these animal
tetc-a-tetCs are never known to the out
side world. After this was finished he
went over to one corner to give the wolf
an equal showing, for Il generous dog never
takes advantage of anything, not even an
| enemy.
Now, ] will tell you a little secret The
wolf knew in his heart of hearts that only
q running match could be done. and he
knew also that he was fccter than his
rival. Nothing was more INDUCED in by all
animals at that time than racing, and all
| questions, great and small. were settled on
the course, affaircs du occur not excepted.
The wolf thought himself much swifter
than the dog. nasmuch as he was small
and supple, whereas the dog was large and
somewhat clumsy.
Mr.. Wolf said to the cat: 1--WE
| are both aware of the delicate
feeling that will not allow
YOU to accept one and discard the other,
and in the presence of Mr. Dog. | have a