The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-01

Is Ii bargain?"
"Sure. an l think can mana ge it,
she replied.
Early the next morning. Mr.. Grim. |
ston started out on his wheel with /
Mary Ellen under his arm. She did |
not seem to appreciate this form of |
locomotion, and when about a mile |
from home escaped from him and fed. !
a fash of white across the green of
vacant lot. He had intended to take
her much farther, but felt sure she
would not find her way back again.
At twilight he saw Bridget go out
of the back gate with an old peach
basket covered with newspape ON her
ar. From the interior of the basket
came feeble, but continuous protests
in the form of plaintive little squeaks
and walls. He asked no questions, nor
did Bridget upon her return vouchsafe
any information.
The following morning small boy
informed Mr.. Grimston that the old
lady who lived in the house with the
extensive grounds in the next. block
wished to see him. She was the rich
est woman in the neighborhood and
was said to be eccentric and more or
less of terror to her acquaintance,
Greatly surprised at her wish to see
him, and trying to surmise what her
object could be- Mr. Grimston called
there on his way TO the train. The
maid who opened the door left him
standing in the wide hall, after sourly
informing him that her mistress would
be down in a moment.
The mistress soon appeared; she
was tall and large in proportion. Her
mouth was so set with anger as to ap-
pear almost square, and her eyes had
so narrowed themselves as to be near
ly closed. She seemed to fill the hall
with an atmosphere of wrath.
II would have you know, sir," she
said, in low, intense voice, that my
| place is not a pound"
Certainly not, madam" agreed the
puzzled Mr.. Grimston.
Then what do you mean by leaV-
| ing your wretched cats herep
He understood her now. Bridget had
let the kittens escape, and they had
entered this woman's grounds.
oh" he said, smiling feebly. II am
very sorry, indeed. IL missed my
kittens, but had no idea where they
had gone. Am very sorry they came
here, but there is no telling where
cats will wander, you know"
"Wander! You don't mean TO say
that three kittnes will wander away
in a basket of their own accord, do
you? My youngest boy saw your maid
leave those cats on my back porch last
night. Determined to find who she
was he traced her to your house"
II sincerely regret this" he said, In
great distress. "Our maid is just oveI
from the old country. She does moi
seem to understand half that we say
to her. l haven't the faintest idea
why she brought the kittens here"
His antagonist surveyed him cynic
ally.
''It is your maids fault that the ole
cat also is here?" she asked.
II don't understand" murmured Mr.
Grimston.
Follow me, sir!" she commanded
and preceded him to the back porch.
Alas! There was the identical peacl
basket, there were the three kittens
playing about, and, worst of all, ther'
was Mary Ellen herself. who arche'
her back and affectionately rubbed
herself against him as one who JOY
fully greets an old acquaintance.
81 assure you, madam" declared tn
wretched Grimston, that l had moth
ing whatever to do with sending tn
cats herel"
my coachman passed your hous
early yesterday morning" said she
HE saw you start out with this cat
when he returned an hour later tn
creature was in my yard"
Mr.. Grimston felt that were this
case of murder the circumstantial ev
dence would be strong enough to han
him. He tried to explain, but sh
would not listen, being one of thos
persons who like 10 hug grievanc
to their hearts and are loath to hav
IL explained away.
: Take your animals and go!" sh
= said.
> He put the kittens into the baske
: not without some difficulty. for the
E objected strongly to the arrangement
i then, taking Mary Ellen under th
other arm, he bade the mistress OF til
house polite good morning and wer
out at the back gate. feeling that HI
exit was by no means a dignified on
l He carried his burdens home and lei
them in the cellar.
"If you let those cats out of her
u again." he said TO Bridget, relieved I
u find some one upon whom TO vent h
e wrath, "you'h be sorry LOT It'll"
e The injustice of this explosio
2 wrought upon Bridget's feelings |
s such a degree that when he returne
home that night he found his Wi
Ie with a tragic brow preparing Dime
S, and was informed that the maid ha
Ie departed.
d The garden. the cause of all IN
|! trouble, continued to grow with Il
le most surprising results. The lettut
S, had remarkable roots, but no tops.
&c sufficient quantity of small pale leav'
were procured from the ped one ds
10 10 garnish a dish Of cold ham, al
re that was the first and last appearan
IL OF Mr.. Grimston's lettuce in publ
The radish Ieayes were large al
er strong. but their roots were pale NJ
rs attenuated; the tomato plants gre
ut tall and vigorous and produced two