Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-12
Short STORY
Of the Day
MISS NoRMAN's MENAeERIE.
BY Lillian Seville.


John Mercer, who believed he could
write plays, was in the country 70
secure quiet while he worked On what
he hoped would give him fame and
make his fortune.
Heavens abovel What in the
name of all that's wonderful is hap.
|ening now?"
Johns heart sank into his boots as
he watched the performance which
was going on outside.
The village bus stood at the wicket
gate of the little rose-covered cottage
next door to the one in which he had
settled himself for two months hard
slogging. Some one within the bus
was engaged in handing out-one by
one-a whole menagerie Of animals
and birds. Mrs. Higgins took each
one separately in her mother arms
marched with it into the cottage, and
returned yet again to the charge.
Three black cats, one white kitten
two pug dogs, two canaries, and one
green parrot!
Great Scott" gasped John. His
whole figure seemed to unknit and
come to pieces with horror. He
mopped his brow and glared at the
door of the, bus. Out tripped the
mistress of the menagerie-a quaint
locking elderly lady of the spinster
persuasion.
He rang the bell
Mrs. Sparkes, he said. I'm sorry,
but | must go; must go this very
evening. Three black cats, one white
kitten, two pug dogs, two canaries
one green parrot, and one old mail
have came to live next door,"
Mrs. Sparkes looked startled; then
the tears began to trickle down her
nose Wouldn't Mr.. Mercer try and
stay in? He had taken the rooms
definitely for two months. She had
written her other people off. The few
months of summer were her only
harvest, and so on. till John
felt like pitching something at her
head to relieve the intensity of his
overcharged nervous system.
MY good woman" he said, Ibid |
not tell you | was coming here to
work? Work is my bread and butter.
I'll pay you
He was going to pay the two
months board in full But, alack-
aday like so many rising young
geniuses, his pockets were empty.
Before he had time to make any
further remark. Mrs. Sparkes' 13-year-
old daughter came bounding into the
room.
Please, mother, Mrs. Higgins
sends her love, and says don't get
frightened. Miss Norman, the old
lady with the cats and birds and
things, has only taken the rooms for j
week.
John packed his bag and went back
to town. He remained for the rest of
Miss Normans week. When he re-
turned he sought Mrs. Sparkes.
She's gone, of course?' said he.
Mrs. Sparkes shook her head.
Not yet, sir. She's caught cold
and cannot travel today"
John only groaned. He had reach
ed the final heights of grim respair.
He walked till his legs nearly
dropped off. When he got back he
found two black cats l0lling in a
leisurely manner on the scattered
pages of his play, and through his
window came the screeching of the
parrot.
He didn't shy anything at the cats.
A man who has reached Johns state
of mind is past shying things. He
gently took the creatures by the skin
If their necks and threw them, over
the garden wall. AS they alighted on
the other side he was quite sure he
heard a merry, girlish laugh some
where. Mrs. Sparkes' little daughter
was the only young thing for two
miles round. and the laugh did not
belong to her.
All next day he watched for the de-
parture which did not take place.
Evening found him trying to make
friends with the white kitten.
II see her game perfectly, Mrs.
Sparkess' he said, when she came in
TO lay his dinner. She's staying on
TO spite me because I pitched her
blessed cats over the wall. She
thinks she'll force me to leave first.
But she won't. Mrs. Sparkes, I've never
been bested by an elderly spinster in