The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-12-27
A Problem In Fur.

BY BLANCHE ELIZABETH WADE.
Copyright. 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Col
Gordon hated cats. To him the
name cat meant not a round. soft, silky
ball, with a contented purr somewhere
inside, but a gaunt. prowling creature
generally one-eyed and scalloped-
cared. and more often with three
sound legs. than with four: n monster
haunting backyard fences: a freak Civ
ting vent to unearthly shrieks 30 badly
aimed at the unoffending moon that IN
stead they pierce the innermost depths
OF poor sensitive mortal souls and stir
Up emotions better not described.
Therefore. Gordon did not Jump for
Joy after he had read the following let
ter from n wealthy aunt:
MY Dear Nephew: While the de-
scription you gave OF your new studio
charmed me. | observed that you lack
one thing. and that an important one"
C'Money! Always did. my dear aunt. >
That 10 which l refer. Is lndispen-
sable 20 every pretentious studio.
C"And To every unpretentious purse,
aunt.'O No studio. my dear nephew
should be without a" and here,
Gordon was seized with one OF the
aforementioned better-not-described
emotions. for the word he read was
cat. a cat" went on the letter, ia
as necessary 90 an artists success as is
his brush: indeed. | may say, the cat
adds a tone" cBetter say a hendish
noise. aunt. >. which Is not TO be OBJ
tanned by mere pictures and furnish
ings. Now, do not mean that | think
you ought TO take In an ordinary ami
mal;-better none at ALL than any
common type. Knowing you are not
so placed as TO be able TO make for
yourself a good selection. / have done
IL for you. and am now sending you a
most beautiful creature-a full-blooded
Angora, registered as John Alden. and
aged three months. lie Is valued NJ
fifteen dollars, but as he grows older
will increase In worth. Let me know
II he arrives safely. and what you
think OF him; also. do not fail 90 seno
me occasional reports OF him"
Then followed several pages or d.
rections for the care OF Angora cats
proper FOODS. etc. and Gordon dropped
the letter with disheartened sigh.
The next day John Alden arrived
At sight 81 him Gordon did not shud-
der as ne had fully intended TO DO. In
stead he timidly stroked the long. yell
low fur and laughed when this act
started a spinningwheel in John Al
dens interior. Then and there. OF his
own accord. with no thought OF doing
so for the sake OF his own interests In
pleasing n rich relative. Ernest Gordon
mentally swore TO do the right thing
by his new possession. and when purrs
gave place 20 hungry news. fastened
20 his small inner room, procured a
saucepan. lighted his oil-stoye. and
heated milk according TO his aunt's ad-
vice.
John lden was duly introduced "a
the elevator boy and TO the night
Waterman each OF whom gladly took
the oath OF allegiance 10 his furry
highness Thus was his installation
accomplished. his reign begun.
Your generous gift came safely.
wrote Gordon Co his aunt. II like him
immensely and appreciate your kind
interest In making the success OF my
new studio complete. have no doubt
my Angora friend and | will get on
famously together"
His lordsh.p was not long In estab.
fishing himself a. master OF the studio
Disdaining the comfortable basket
Gordon had arranged for him. he care.
fully selected the most expensive fab.
rics whercon to compose his dainty
limbs; scorning the spool and string
provided for his amusement. he tore
up and down velvet curtains and por.
there's. lie whiskod rs lightly az d
feather. back and forth. In and out
among costly vases and marbles. ant
though Gordon sometimes drew Ions
brcaths. he said nothing.
A week passed. during which John