Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-02-04

DEITY, the cat. held her post BY pre- |
ID emption. upon the haSsock A. Aunt
Lucy's feet; her purr waa louder than
usual and the narrow. sharp and per
psndicular lenses set hard In the green
ish yellow eyes were Interrogation
points straightened out. but full Of
character
Al least such was the analysis made
by the sweet faced woman. who. gently
rocking her chair. tapped an open let
ter with her glasses a. she rocked and
smiled answers 70 the cats questios-
ings.
Then Betty arose and placing her
four paws closely together INDUCED ia
a pretentious comfOrtabie yawn in
which the semi-circular arch Of her
back was the predominating feature.
II was exactly ss though she had al
vised her mistress to retain the secret
She had been 40 quietly eoddang for
several minutes secret too. which
could not possibly be Of any interest %
an outsider.
OF course no eat in such a state Of
/ mind could purr. and 80. when Aunt
Lucy realized that her most Intimate
companion was rcbe llious she laid azide
spectacies aud letter. and smoothing
out her gown lnvlted Betty 10 come up
and she would tell her all sboutit
II Just couldn't put A OF any longer. .
said Aunt Lucy. aA she WAS helping her
furry friend 10 secure a comfortable
coil In the ample lap. ~beeanse James Il
getting along in years and ditiseertainiy
ZINE for him ia think seriously Of mar
riage Ia would br different II he had {
mother. OF sistsrs OF Kin OF some de
gree. then he might rely upon theEi
but he Is absolutely alone. be is % year.
old and positively. I do not believe The
thosghs Of taking = wife ever entsres
b his head"
The eats opinion OF the revelation
made was Indicated BY closed eyes An'
an Aggravatingly comfortable eondi
, tion. therefore Aunt Lucy continued
And so. while James Is the only son o
my old schoolmRte and while / an Il
r no sense beholden 90 him. I couldn'
rid myself Of the conviction that
= ought 20 do What could wish. unde
reversed conditions. = dear friend 90 d
for my boy. u had one"
Betty-she waa q wonderful cat
, showed that she uuderstOod the valu
' OK the period that had been reached. b
renewal OF her Purring. 80 that Aur
:, Lucy felt safe In resuming; you joi
wait and see when my little girl Julis
- Betty stopped purring-"reAohss n
proper age. IL permit her TO SO st'
pidly. thoughtiessiy and alone towaE
an old age Of solitude and helplesSnea
No, air. III do BY her just as propo'
- doing by James I'll show that r
- business womAn by presenting a ou,
% ness proposition Then stroking BE
~ ty's fur with one hand as she reaeh'
TO the table for tbs letter she muse
81 told James desired him 10 call.
y listen to = matter OF business. he h
sent me word that be would gladly q
, eede TO my request. and"
AZ this juncture BETTY arose Al
n jumped TO the floor quickly. running
a. the door just in time 20 meet the II
~ tie girl" Julia Munroe. Aunt Lucy
"A youngest daughter and = bewitehii
maiden still on the ssfe side OF 20 yea
y The newcomer. with no little show
m impatiencs. told her mother that =
na0 lGot eCCA NAeN cAS 6~~ANf~A AAtN
10 of yours. Jim Duncan. coming mp {
walk. 80 III vanish"
oy Then as Betty and her younger u
ox tress disappeared through one dc
n. there came through another door. J
re- Duncan and a personality full oSheai
no good will. grace and seif-reliance. Al
Lucy's greeting was cordial. eonHds
ne and wholly free from pretenxe. 80 q
en- the two close friends were at once "a
or aud natural. and within q very sh.
time Duncan asked: What 10 ys
In business proposition9 I'm fairly d
IN. with curiosity"
od Indeed" answered Aunt Lucy. I'll
de- I'll keep the doors closed bit and
be Jog myself. An old bachelor who is
rious IL unique and worth wisneSsil
M. know a good investment when 81
IN and usually profit by IL when"
nd That's fact" interPolated Dune
~youF standing IN . business way
ith only exeelled by your social value"
oui Auat Lucy was not little 6atte
ey. by this direct compliment to the grs
or est element in the Rst of her perso
re- vanities. 80 that abe nearly rende
Mo- her viktor speeehlsss by respond
su- bluntiy: ~Jsm Dencan. want yo'
vsy ges married. and the sooner he bet
len and make shs proposition On . pul
hnnlnaan haatn nnost faS~xvuoa =