The Washington times., 1901-12-22
MUNGER'S CAT
BY EMMA LEE WALTON.

On, give me some, cried Nan, sliding
the cake into the oven. Il just love
them
Sorry, but only have two or three
left in my pocket" said Tom, laying some
dilapidatcd nuts on the table. I've fed
most half pound to the animal. My,
but didn't he have a glarious I'll after
ward, thought"
'He didn't"
TO be sure" said Tom placidly He
went up and down and around and around
as if he were wound up. ! tell you, Nan.
if a man-and Of course it viii be a man
ever invents perpetual motion machine,
he Il have an able bodied cat in fit as the
foundation of it"
Il think you're cruel! Where is the
poor thing now?'
Resting quietly on the porch in the
shade said Tom, in a condescending
tone. Il rcsuscitated him"
How queried Nan. trying to continue
to be severe.
BY Christian science. / iust sat stili
and pretended that the cat wasn't having
a fit, and if you'll believe me. Nan. he was
Nan stuck a long st;aw into the cake
and said nothing.
say, Man." Toms voice sounded
little anxious.
Nan looked hard at the cake, and closed
the oven door with exaggerated care.
Your mother says you're going to have
a house party" vcntured Tom. TOO bad
7
isn't it?r
''oh, l don't know, said Nan, tanning
herself with her handkerchief. I'm
afraid you and Harry Morford wouldn't
get on very well together. However, you
can come over here when you want to
they're going to be here over Sunday.
You know can't bear Harry Morford,"
said Tom, swinging his feet with renewed
vigor
u didn't ask him for your benefit.
You'll knock all the paint OF the house
if you keep on kicking"
Il don't see what you see in him, really,
Nan. Tom went on moodily. He makes
me tired"
i don't have TO measure my friends by
=
l decide to do so I'll let you know"
I'm a little hard O. hearing" said
Tom, flushing, but think Ihear some one
calling ne away" and he dropped out of
sight uron the soft grass below. Nan
vas surprised when he vanished. He had
never minded what she said TO him before,
and she was sorry she had not been more
,lc,e.,} Cf;1r y, bad M rich, 80 d;,,afa
as to her choice Of friends. nor TO mis-
treat Munger's cat in that way, and she
did not care If he never came back. She
caught herself listening, nevertheless, as
she went on with her work, for his step on
the gravel walk, and could not help feel
ing disappointed that he did not return.
When her cake was done she had TO
dress, and then it was time to drive down
TO the s:3D train in the ld-fashloned car
ryall. for her guests. She was no. as glad
TO see them as she hRd expected 10 be,
but as they we're all ta.6ing at ouce, and
each one of the seven was busy admiring
the scenery and raving over the woods 1
and river, her lack of enthusiasm was not /
noticed. She was tired, and Harry Nor |
ford was unusually wearisome in his ef- /
forts to entertain her, telling jokes that !
Nan had read in the comic papers week !
before, mingled With bits OF sIuall talk /
and gossip in which she was net inter- |
ested. g
As they passed turn IN the road Nan |
saw Tom on horseback, waiti:ig at enc side |
for the noisy load to go by; and she laugh
s.lf Tsa 81. G.as
time.
That's young Bradley, isn't it?" he |
asked, removing his hat in languid bow. |
Il hear he's come back from abroad TO 4
go into journalism"
He has been foreign correspondent of |
the News for year said Nan, starting /
The old horse into trot by aapping the |
reins. "and has come back now to take an
on the staff"
'Indeed2" taid Morford, with a shadow |
Of snoer in his voice. Il should not |
think he'd want 70 work when he could
have gay time and live on his income"
Tom is not lazy, and has too much
TO be idle" Nan intended
this as home thrust. There, peoLi ie,
what do you think of our little cot;age?"
She was glad to have her mother come
out to welcome them as they drove up,
FOR it seemed as IL she could not hold up
her end OF the conversation any longer.
and Harry Morford was beginning to be
She reused herself now. and
entered into the fun, though her heart
was not in it. They danced, boated, play
ID cards and tennis, and she led them all
IN everything: but she found no plce sure
in it. and in her secret heart she knew
Thy. Her mother invited Tom TO dinner
1n Friday, but he declined on the score
,f previous engagement, and Nan saw
aim on the hotel piazza with one of the
girls, later. She did not care. and chowed
.he didn't by bowling coolly. and chatting
lway with Harry Morford as If sac en-
oyed it.
Toni too, was miserable. but Il never
uttered his head TO think Nan was really
angry He only knew that she had not
given him as pleasant a welcome as the
;ther girls had. and he did not want to
ise Harry Morford baslling in her favor
or all the world like Munger's cat bask-
ng in the sun. For that animal Tom had
10 sympathy. II ought 70 know best
What was good for 1t, after IFS large ex-
,erience with fits; and as for its eating
apaeity. he thought it might more fit
ingly have been named Hunger's cat.'
Meanwhile, having grown weary Of see
ng Nan among the gay company, after
Iaving refused. on various pleas, all in
-itations TO Join them. he became very at
entiye TO his mother. When she was
lred or busy be took long walks by him