The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-12-30

got lonesome aud wanted to hear the
sound OF a human voice."
There goes Ezra now. with the dog
ut his heels" remarked the visitor.
lies ON the other side OF the street
That's how ! came to know he and YOU
had quarreled. He only does that when
he's mad with you"
Mrs. Mott tossed her head defiantlv.
"The pa,eInrnts free" she said. Must
you be gomg?" as Miss Melinda rose.
Yes. I'm going to run in and see
that strange family that's just moved
here. The little boys an invalid and
they don't know IA soul here vet, so I
thought maybe they'd like to hear
the news"
well. you're the one that can tell it
to them," said Mrs. Mott, under her
breath, as her friend walked away.
Jason; here, sir, come back" For
the cat had slipped past her and out
into the street, pretending not TO hear
her calls.
Contrary rs q man." she remarked,
| closing the door. That's just the way
Mr.. Mott used to go out after supper"
The big chair looked very lonesome
without Ezra's portly presence in it,
and, stopping to beat up the cushion
as she passed, she remarked: I'm sor-
ry now told Melinda Thompson I'd give
it to the eat, but it's too late now
he knows it already. Anyhow. he
needn't have said he wished the Lord,
or whoever looks after cats, would
take JaSon!"
Late that evening passers-by heard
Mrs. Mott calling Jason to come in.
What a fuss she does make over that
cat" they said. Wakeful ncighbors
also noticed a light burning in her
house almost all night and once and
again fancied they heard cry of
Jason. Jason!"
Early next morning they knew that
Mrs. Mott was almost distracted over
the prolonged absence of her pet, and
offered a reward of one dollar to the
boy who should bring him home-n
most unlikely event, for all boys were
foes TO that pampercd feline.
Not until the morning Of the sec
ond day did Mrs. Mott give up hope.
Then, standing mournfully al the win
dow. she saw Ezra pass on the other
side OF the street. followed by his dog,
and an awful thought possessed her.
Ezra Mason knows what has be-
come of JASON" she cried, bursting into
tears. "And to think had meant TO
marry him, in gray satin, on New Years
day."
Late that afternoon Melinda Thomp-
son hustled in, her bonnet gracefully
encircling one ear.
well. Lorilla Mott. have you heard?"
Heard what?" said Mrs. Mott.
THAT Ezra Mason feeds that dog Of
his out of the silver sugar basin he
had bought for your wedding present,
and let's him sleep in the silk quilt you
made him for Christmas! What do
you think Of that?"
Think" said Mrs. Mott, slowly and
deliberately. why. think that
man who will commit murder will do
anything."
Murder" gasped Melinda.
ayes, murder For if Ezra Mason
Hldh klIi my cat, why uOeSu ne come
back?"
The strange family with the invalid
boy had received her advances coldly
and Miss Melindas time and tongue
were entirely at Mrs. Motifs disposal.
By nightfall every body knew that she
had accused Ezra Mason of killing her
cat. Later that evening. they also
knew that Ezra had said he would
never speak tn woman or a eat again.
And this was the Goth Of Dpcem her. and
the gray satin gown in which Mrs Mott
was TO have been metamorphosed into
Mrs. Mason hung ready in her ward
robe. while the ring. once more ex-
changed for larger one, lay forgotten
in Ezra's pocket.
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