The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-01
A STORY OF NEW YEARS DAY.
BY ELISA ARMSTRONG.

| fuss she dots make over that cat" they
light burning in her house almost all night
and once and again fanced they heard a
cry of Jason, Jn~on
Early next moruin. they knew that Mrs.
Mott was almost distracted over the pro-
longed absence of her pet, and offered re-
ward of one dollar to the boy who should
bring him home--a most unlikely event.
for all boys were FOES to that pampered
feline.
Not until the morning of the second day
did Mrs Mott give up hope. Then, stand
ing mourntully at the window, she saw
Ezra pass on the other side of the street,
followed by his nor, and an awful thought
possessed her
Ezra Mason knows what has become of
Jason"' she cried, bursting into tears.
"And to think / had meant to marry him,
in gray satin, on New Years dayr'
Late that afternoon Melinda Thompson
hustled in, her bonnet gracefully encircling
| o ie 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 lets 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 a man
who will commit murder will do any
thing"
"Murder?' gasped Melinda.
Eyes, murder! For if Ezra Mason ddn't
| kill my cat, why doesn't he come back?"
The strange family with the invalid boy
had received her advances coldly and Miss
Melnda's time and tongue were entirely
at Mrs. Motifs disposal. By nightfall
everybody knew that she had accused Ezra
| Mason of killing her cat. Later that even.
ing they also knew that Ezra had said he
would never speak to woman or a cat
again. And this was the Doth of December,
and the gray satin gown in which Mrs.
Mott was to have been metamorphosed into
Mrs. Mason hung ready in her wardrobe,
while the ring, once more exchanged for
larger one, lay forgotten in Ezra's pocket.
1t was New Years morning and Mrs.
Mott felt forlorn and miserable seated be
fore her untasted breakfast For the first
time, she regretted her quarrel with Ezra.
"lf hadn't quarreled with him he'd
never have killed JASON, she sighed "and
I'd never have known he d commit murder.
Now come in!' she FASTENED to open the
door
There stood a shy little girl, and-M,s.
Mott cried aloud-Jason alive and in the
purring.
He didn't kill him after ALL" she
cried; then, seeing the child's amazed
look, she said: ''Where on earth did you
find him, my dear? Was-was he much
hurt?n
HE wasn't hurt at all, ma am. He
come to us five days ago; my brothers
sick and we didn't know the cat was
your's-my brother kept him in his room
all the time. The butcher boy saw him
this morning and told us"
81 suppose he tried hard to get away
and come home?' faltered Mrs Mott.
"No'm. He wanted to stay and | had
to carry him part way"
As the child was going away with the
dollar Mrs. Mott had thrust upon her,
that lady stood on the doorstep with the
door closed to prevent Jason from follow
ing his new friend She saw Ezra APP
preaching across the street and said, bit
terly: "To think | quarreled with him
over an ungrateful beast that forgot me
in five days! Nancy!' she called, sud-
denly.
''Yes'm, y said the child, stopping.
| you can have the cat if you want him.
| don't" Then she went into the house
and shut the door.
Five minutes later tremendous knock
brought her to the door. There stood
Ezra with the now weeping Nancy, who
held Jason in her arms.
Here's your cat" he said, shortly,
this child says nice crazy lady gave
him to her"
Il gave her the cat, Ezra Mason, guess
| can do as like with my own"
"You gave Jason away" gasped Ezra.
'Lorilla, the wedding is to be at 7, amt
it?"
"Ye.es, Ezra, and-and you may bring
your dog"
"Hain't got him." snapped Ezra "man
bought him from had stolen him,
and"
"a Happy New Year to both OF youw
called Melinda Thompson, passing.
} There Is a Glass of People
Who are injured by the use of coffee. Re-