The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-21
THE LADY AND THE
CAT.

tizxxXKKkx1SZXlcrzIZxxzndxx14x44A
Several years ago 7 was stationed as
assistant surgeon. with my regiment at
Orleans. In that ancient city. In spite
Of lis many mansions OF the old nohil-
iiy, Suitable apartments, for bachelors
are few ana FAR between. / always
want plenty Of air and space about me-
and 80 installed myself In building
on the outskirts Of the city.
rented half Of the first floor com
prislng -four rooms. made my sleep
Ing chamber and workroom n the two
which faced on the street; en- the third
put plants and flowers. the fourth
WAS left empty A great balcony ran
along the entire front Of the house, on
which could stroll mp and down-or
rather, on half Of q. FOR II was divided
IN the middle by an iron fence. 10 low
that one could easily step over
had been llsing there about two
months. when. one July evening, Ms !
approached my looms, was surprised
10 see brilliant light streaming FROM
the windows Of the uninhablted apart
ment.
"Ah. have a nclehhor," thought l.
ard was not especially pleased. Co
Ing TO my room. stepped nolselessly
nut upon the balcony; but the light Ind
already been cXllnglshcd. returned
10 my bedroom and read for an hanr
or two. From time 10 time seemed
TO hear about nae In the bulldlng a
sound MS Of light footsteps. Al 'dst
went to bed and 10 sleep.
In the middle ri the night suddenly
aWol,c with a distinct sensation that
some one was walking ahUE var me
! ] goi up and no my -anll, rms b
what I saw:
IN the middle Of the loom stood q
great cat its back slightly arched ils
I tnil erect and lis phusphorcsccnt eyes
fixed uuun me-. n Was a superb An
CORA. with long yellow hair " The ooloi
~ raw silk. As the l.ghi shonc upoi
@ ils fur CLEANED like spun gold. j
approached one with velvet steps uut
softly rubbed its flexible body aguius
my logs. J stopped 90 cagcss U whlrl
. O. permitted mItlng gently and then
as ] got back inin bed % lraped upoi
the counterpane. II was q very yoiui
car. aud She seemed wen disposed Z,
let herself De- carpsspd. put her hl''
ON the nulr ana trird 90 send her ou
of the room: hut she cyalci me-, an'
took refuge under the furniture.
As soon a. had blown ont the liga
she lcnncd uu my bed again, Tut
paid NO further attention 90 her. ani
soon went TO sleep II was broad dal
when ! awuke again. and TIE cat Wa
nowhere 10 Ice seen
The human mind Is q delicate w
sipmcnt easily thrown out ot gear
Recall the fact that have just tol'
YOU. A light seen. then cXtlngushrd
IN an unlnhahlicd apartment; an An
CORA cat 81 singular color, which ~
peared and disappeared IN myste
rious manncr-there Is nothing yer
startling IN that. T. there3 Very vel
Imagine. now. thlt this same pr,
gTamme was repeated every night an
under deutcally the same condition
Tor week. Believe me there w cnoue
In that 10 effect the thoughts u ma
who lives alone. and 20 give him ihos
little shIycrs that herald the prcscuc
~ the wnknowahle. The human min
b. 50 CONSTITUTED that II unronsclolsl
holds io the principle of sufficient rU
son. For al series of Identical pr
uomcna a demands cause q Law
And Il becomes uneasy n u does n'
discover that cause
/ am not u cownrl. But ] kno
that fear feeds and grows upon mcc
lalnty. while attempts to discover j
d cause reduce Il % simple curiosity.
B. resolved. then. to investigate this ma
. ter. I questioned my orderly. lie III
not know ny nc!shhors. Every NOR
Ing an old woman came 10 take ca
: NJ the other apartment lie tticd
% draw her into conversation. hu
" whether she was completely deaf
= not. she would vouchsafc no reply
y him.
a Nevertheless. I easily accounted Z
n the first strange fact-thc cXtincii'
!, Of the light when ! returned home.
y had noticed that the windows next
70 mine were masked simply by a gre
" lace curtain: moreover, the two hait
10 nles communicated. My nelghbor, mi
a. or woman. therefore. man or woma
" dreaded lndiscrect glances and exit
N gulsh the Hight on hearing me rctuI
NJ TO verify my superstition, had n
!, orderly bring from the mess n cold NJ
- per early one afternoon. aud did u
- leave my rooms that evening. VII
OF night had fallen took my stand me-
my window. Soon | saw the balco
y. lighted up from the window NJ I
e. nelghboring apartment gem
opened the sash and stepped ont up
the balcony. Al that moment, kuo
ing that exposed myself 10 poslti
danger. either 81 breaking my neck
engaging In q hand.to-hand siugi
with some flesh and blood person. I
nerves were perfectly calm. ! reach
] the iiGNltN NlAuhM MiiNut hAN
made the least sound. The wind'
was half open. The curtains, transl
rent for me who was on the dark ~
made me invisible ~ any one In
interior " the apartment
I saw large room illlcl with quai
old.fashlnncd furniture lighted 10y
hanging lamp. Al the ha K of the ro
was n low divan. ON which lay you
., and beautiful woman. She waa q
" In a loose wrap Of some tilmy mater
M and her uncondncd hair fell about
ise shoulders like golden garment
se- gazed at herself IN a hand glass, bal
nj. her arms aud pressed her lips To
"a smooth. white hcsh, and her sup
Nv. body wrlihed VITA the graceful, ]
AZ. guorous movements Of q great Tell
~, with every moment she made
'a' seemed 10 sciuiillalc with the CLINT
W gold
ul1 was staring ~ her spcllhou
the when Of a sudden the eyes ~ I
strange aud beautiful woman a.
rst themselves upon mr-pecullar eyes q