The Southern herald., 1899-03-17
And Even the Cat Knew
BY Charles S. Hathaway

IL
- emption, upon the hassock at Aunt
Lucy's feet; her purr was louder than
usual and the narrow, sharp and per-
PCndicular lenses set hard in the green
ish yellow eyes were interrogation
points Strengthened out, but fun of
character.
AT least such was the analysis made
by the sweet faced woman, who, gently
rocking her chair, tapped an open let
ter with her glasses as she rocked and
smiled answers to the cats question
ings.
Then Betty arose and placing her
four paws closely together indulged in
a pretentious comfortable yawn in
which the semi-circular arch of her
back was the predominating feature.
1t was exactly as though she had adj
Nised her mistress to retain the secret
she had been so quietly coddling for
several minutes--a secret too, which
could not possibly be of any interest to
an outsider.
Of course no cat in such state of
mind could purr, and so, when Aunt
Lucy realized that her most intimate
companion was rebellious she laid aside
spectacles and letter, and smoothing
out her gown invited Betty to come up
and she would tell her all aboutit.
81 just couldn't put il off any longer"
said Aunt Lucy, as she was helping her
furry friend to secure a comfortable
coil in the ample Jap, because James is
getting along in years anditisc certainly
time for him to think seriously of mar
riage. 1t would be different II he had a
mother or sisters, or kin Of some de-
gree, then he might rely upon them;
but he is absolutely alone, he is 80 years
old and positively, do not believe the
thought Of taking wife ever entered
his head"
The cats opinion OF the revelation
made was indicated by closed eyes and
an aggravatingly comfortable condi-
ton, threfore Aunt Lucy continued:
And so, while James is the only son Of
my old schoolmate and while | am in
no sense beholden TO him, / couldn't
rid myself of the conviction that !
ought to do what could wish, under
reversed conditions, dear friend to do
for my boy, If l had.
Betty-she was wonderful cat
showed that she understood the value
Of the period that had been reached, by
a renewal Of her purring, so that Aunt
Lucy felt safe in resuming: "You just
wait and see when my little girl Julia"
Betty stopped purring-"reaches the
proper age, il I permit her to go stu
pidly, thoughtlessly and alone toward
an old age of solitude and helplessness.
No, sir, III do by her just as propose
doing by James. I'll show that I'm
business woman by presenting busi-
ness proposition" Then stroking Bet
tys fur with one hand as she reached
TO the table for the letter she mused:
81 told James l desired him TO call, to
listen to matter Of business, he has
sent me word that he would gladly ac-
ceGe to my request, and"
At this juncture Betty arose and
jumped to the floor quickly, running to
the door just in time to meet the "lit-
lie girl" Julia Munroe, Aunt Lucy's
youngest daughter and a bewitching
maiden still on the safe side Of 20 years.
The newcomer, with no little show of
impatlence, told her mother that she
had just seen shat old bachelor friend
Of yours, Jim Duncan, coming up the
walk, so III vanish"
Then as Betty and her younger mis-
tress disappeared through one door
there came through another door, Jim
Duncan and personality full of fhearty
good will, grace and self-reliance. Aunt
Lucy's greeting was cordial, confident
and wholly free from pretense, so that
the two close friends were at once easy
and natural. and within a very short
time Duncan asked: what is your
business proposition? I'm fairly daft
with curiosity"
"Indeed," answered Aunt Lucy, then
III keep the doors closed bit and en-
Joy myself An old bachelor who is GU
rious is unique and worth witnessing.
| know good investment when l see it
and usually profit by 1t when"
"That's fact" interpolatsd Duncan,
"your standing IN business way is
only excelled by your social value"
Aunt Lucy was not little fattered
by this direct compliment TO the great
est element in the list of her personal
vanities, so that she nearly rendered
her visitor speeehless by responding
bluntly:s Jim Duncan, want you to
get married, and the sooner the better,
and l make the proposition on purely
business basis, Don't inferrupt me -