The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-23

Miss Cyrilla hesitated but mo-
ment, then walked firmly up to the
laundryman's door and lifted the an
cient knocker.
The door opened slowly, and a
melancholy Mongolian face looked
unsmilingly out upon them.
I'VE called to invite you to go to
church with u.s." said Miss Cyrilla,
the more stiffly that she tried to be
suave.
mo go churchee; nance all
samee Mclean mana trace of emo
ton twas it pride? appeared upon
the inscrutable yellow face as he
pointed to his sign-"but churchee
no samee Mclean man." Miss Cy-
rilla tried to nerve herself for mis-
sionary effort, but her courage failed
this gentle, placid being was so re-
lentlessly unresponsive.
81 used to think" she murmured,
after the door had closed gently, re-
solutely, upon her, chat if it were
not for you and JEFF l should go as a
missionary to foreign lands. But it
seems difficult to reach them, with
their strange habits and customs. |
wonder what he eats"
Miss Cyrilla stood still, suddenly,
upon the sidewalk. The faint pink
in her cheeks actually flickered away.
She called to Viola, her maid of all.
work, who followed behind them.
"Are you sure, Viola, that you shut
Fanny into the shed7"
Eyes, ma'am, the very last thing
answered Viola confidently.
But when they returned from
church Fanny was not in the shed
The doors we're shut, but the great
wooden button upon the door that
led into the orchard was not turned
''Seeing that door almost always is
fastened, don't know as | looked al
it, confessed Viola, with tears.
Miss Cyrilla went in one direc
ton, Mary Olive is another, and
Viola in yet another, all calling
Fanny, FannyW Miss Cyrilla saw
the Chinaman watching them, his
yellow face hattened against the pane
Fanny was not to be found.
"The Simpkins boys?" murmured
Mary Olive, as she looked into hel
aunt's face.
No." said Miss Cyrilla, solemly
mot the Simpkins boys. They were
at church and Sunday-school" Sud
denly Miss Cyrilla burst into tears.
81 suppose it is a weakness, but
one does become attached to dumb
creature so intelligent as Fanny; and
she was little Jeff's kitten"
Mary Olive turned towards the
door, with stern resolution in her
face.
81 will go and ask Sam Lee if he
has seen Fanny" she said. at may
be that he has not yet"
81 will send him some food-wait,
Mary Olive, said Miss Cyrilla, "and
we will all go; that will be safer"
Viola went ahead with a tray; it
had upon it the cold roast chicken
intended for their own Sunday din
ner, with the proper garnishings,
and dainty dessert. The chinaman
shook his head over it gently, and
with apparently genuine gratitude.
He could not eat like Mclean man,
he explained; he knew how to
cook all those things, he remarked,
with evident pride, but he ate only
rice.
Miss Cyrilla permitted herself to
sniff delicately; there was an odor of
cooking rice; other and unfamiliar
odors mingled with it, Miss Cyrilla's
cheek was pale when she asked him
if he had seen her cat.
He shook his head slowly; his yell
low face was a riddle. He had been
asleep; he had seen nothing, he said.
"Worshipee?" he called after them,
earnestly.
HE means to ask if we worship
the cat" interpreted Mary Olive,
whose perceptions were quicker than
her aunt's.
"Mercy, how dreadful But, think
ing that, would he-eat herr" said
Miss Cyrilla.
Mary Olive thought it would be
we'll to give Sam Lee the benefit of
the doubt. But Fanny, alas! re-
turned not
Within the week the neighbor made
journey to the Junction, and, re-
turning, appeared at Miss Cyrilla's
door with small china image of a
cat, which he presented to Miss
Cyrilla with benevolent smile.
"Allee samee cat7"he asked, eager
ly.
"Oh, you-you are kind" stam-
...o,.ol 800. Nice G,w:llo tu..A -.