The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

picking the first violet Of the year when
the small come by chance" announced
herself as a claimant for the lost daugh-
ter's vacant place, they had named her
Vilet, and taken TO her very kindly. All
this had happened a long, long time ago;
but although Nilet was, like her master
well stricken in years, she YVES a dainty,
pretty little cat still, with a feminine
vanity that insisted upon a perfectly
licked and glossy coat, with a special face
washing after every meal.
The old man loved her dearly. for she
was fer more than a cat to him; she was
the last living bit OF home left, and he
had to part with her because his home
was broken up and done away with. She
was soft and warm and gentle, with most
loving ways, and now all these things had
10 pass out of his life for pure otficialism
would take possession of him, and not let
go until parish boards enclosed his dumb
head and earth received her own.
1t broke his heart that he could not eX-
plain matters to her, and so often the
pain of parting. IF / could hev told her
twas for the best" he said to himself
over and over again, shed have bided
away. from me more patient-like; but
there's no reasoning wi grieving, and
maybe get served bad
His troubled thoughts were snapped
asunder by the hustle of an arriving cart,
piled high with the new tenants goods
and crowned by uprooted gooseberry
bushes. He rose then with quickly beat
ing heart, while Vilet at his feet fuffed
herself out Indignantly at more intruders
upon their beloved privacy. 1t seemed to
Joe that a regiment entered with hob
nailed boots and headed by a red faced
matron who was evidently at high pres
sure with the eXertion Of Kidding house"
She stared in displeased Amusement at
the old man, who should have been gone;
the fuffed-out Vilet was quite beneath
her notice Thorne explained himself
alphabetically.
'l'll be clean gone In a moment. missus;
/ only waited TO pay my respects and to
asst if you'd a mind to kip a cat-'tis a
wunnerful good cat, and turrble fierce
after rats and mice"
Ii is to be feared that he drew Ilpon his
imagination for the rats, but as regards
mice he was perfectly in order But for
her fever heat of business Mrs. Foot, a
kind hearted woman, might easily have
been touched into acquiescence by his
pleading face, quite working with anxiety
Unfortunately, too, the foolish little cat
was making perfect exhibition OF her
self under the stimulus of "A dog barking
outside-he knew better than to come i'm
with that apotheosis Of Indignation evoiv-
ed out OF mere cat. ready to hurl itself
in his direction. To coax her into n more
seemly demeanor Joe took her up and she
quieted at once, feeling so secure in her
masters arms.
She's so knowledgeabIe. he pleadad
timidy. as his eyes wandered ,ne9 siIs
to the troop of children as though he
feared the mother might accuse him Of
wanting 10 take the bread out of their
mouths, and not bit covetous or
greedy; she'll do with anything-iust a
few oddsies; and if she may bide long of
you. there's two-dree faggots in the back
house that youm kindly welcome to-
His voice trailed off into hopelessness
as Mrs. Foot eyed him and Vi'let MS
though she preferred their room to their
company. and enunciated verdict which
entirely conceded with Liza Leggs that
children was plague enough and she
couldn't be moldered with no cats
lie saw 1t was hopeless. so he laid his
Bible on the mantelshelf. saying he would
return for IL I'd reckly minute and sal
lied forth with an old ferret bag in one
hand and Vflet held close with the 9th
err.
As he made his forlorn way down to
the river the cats fur was dabbIed with
the old mans bitter tears. To have TO
serve his faithful little friend this last
shabby trick-to have with his own hands
to put to silence the living, loving thing