West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-11-21

Ea<szg out his ear trumpets, Of which
he had a good many. long ones and
short ones, and he was always leaving
them around. 60 the great annoyance
OF the dodgers. IL any one sat down
on chair, like as not they sat on one,
or one would be found on the dining
table.
He was n rather short. stout man,
with very little hair on his head and
no whskers or mustache. He was very
pleasant, and when he smiled lac smll-
ed all over his face. 50 that he seemed
60 beam on one.
He had large maltese cat named
Joachim that he thought the world of,
and often when lie came home at night
he brought some little tidbit for Joa-
chin. rushing up TO his room at once
to see his pet. or course, in a lodging
house, he wns Obliged TO keep the cat
In his own room, where during the day
It would lie IN the sun on the broad
window sill, and Mt night It slept with
him.
Now, no one had ever paid Mr. Mel
Vile any attention until Miss Abigail
Manning came up from Somerset to
spend the winter In London.
Miss Abigail Manning was n splnster
Of that uncertain age not mentioned by
the fair sex. She was short, with dark
hair and gray eyes. She had n little
property-enough to live on comforta-
, bly-but she had always been looking
for man and, not finding one i'm Som
ersetshire, had come up 10 the capital,
1qfnrrrs -. FOL 10 q ia
that was presented.
The truth was she had not dreamed
at first of catching Mr. Melville; but,
seeing that the poor man was left abso-
lutely alone, she overcame n dislike to
the queer shaped trumpets and talked
TO him half an hour at a time
Mr.. Melville was delighted. Here was
some one that he could talk to, and.
not hearing half that was said, he
thought Miss Abigail Manning agreed
with him in everything.
do you like catsY" was one OF the
first questions he asked her, and he un-
derstood her to shy that she liked them
when what she did say was that she
could not endure them.
You can have Joachim, then" said
Mr.. Melville. whenever you please
down In your room"
Now, 1t was about this time that
Miss Abigail. having questioned Mrs.
jenkins, the landlady. and found that
Mr. Melville had quite a little proper
~, decided with herself that the said
Air. Melville was the very man she had
been looking for. 1t was also about
this time that Mr.. Melville found that
In a couple of weeks business would ne
cessitate his going TO Paris for some
time.
What should he do with Joachim
Mrs. jenkins had refused once before
TO take care of him, so be could not nslS
her. All at once q brilliant idea oc-
CURED to him. He would ask Miss Alb
igail 10 take care of the cat. She had
said that she was so fond OF cats. He
would ask her that very day and have
II on his mind.
But It happened Miss Abigail did not
come home TO dinner that night, and
Ia the morning did not come down
until after he left, so Mr.. Melville de-
cided TO write note and leave It with
the maid when he went out. He wrote
and carefully directed the following:
Dear Ais Naunlng-I am going 70 ask a great
iayor n you You know how I love Joachim.
ard re you are fond q cats am roin,, 10 AK
5ou ~ take care q him Tor few days shall
re obliged TO 90 % Paris on business the 2sth 81
the month and shall be gone four or Eve weeks.
I would not ask you % Keep him tho whole time,
trt my brother James is coming 20 town about
the IL q next month 20 attend 10 some buripesa
ln ticca9iily. and be win then take joachim home
With him, II you viii kindly see to All arrange.
neHis in regard 90 his departure. The basket he
Travels 10 anJ tie pillow hnI the bottle Tor milk
ere aii IN ny closet. u sou VIII kindly consent
g. % tlis Tor me. shall be mot greatly obtiged
Most respectfully yours.
CHE1aroPu,n MELVILLE.
Ihis note the maid promised TO de-